The Case of the Circus Murder

VIII

The show started off rather oddly. A thin man, looking stiff in a suit and black bow tie, came walking out and announced himself as the ringmaster. The crowd applauded slowly for him (except for Amelia, who was clapping ferociously).

"I remember his name now!" whisper-shouted Uncle Felix. "Maxwell Watton."

"Who?" asked Lavinia eagerly.

"Oh, what is it, Uncle?" Daisy pestered.

"That man is not the ringmaster." Uncle Felix informed us. "That man is the entertainment critic."

Lavinia and I gasped, Daisy squealed, and Amelia simply continued clapping for Maxwell.

"...for the Estatique Circus." Maxwell was saying. "We have Collette."

A young and pretty woman trotted onto the stage on the back of a shining black horse, who shook its magnificent head.

"Oh look, the horse looks like you, Lavinia." whispered Daisy as they horse stamped its hoof and shook its head again.

"It does not!" Lavinia shouted over the clapping.

Maxwell introduced more circus performers (a tall acrobat and a ridiculous clown) until he got to a name that caught my attention.

"And finally, Il Mysterioso!" called out Maxwell.

I gasped and looked at Daisy.

"Is that-" I began.

"Why, I believe it is!" she cut me off, her mouth hanging open.

"What is it, girls?" asked Uncle Felix.

"We think that we have seen this man before." I said with Daisy-ish smoothness.

"Ah, yes, he is quite famous." Uncle Felix nodded and straightened his tie uncomfortably.

The show began. It started with Collette, who performed magnificent tricks on her horse, Beauty. Next, the acrobat named Lola did some dangerous tricks that even made Daisy sit on the edge of her seat.

After the short break, the clown went on stage. He was an awful act and I chatted to Amelia and Daisy on either side of me whilst he performed. Even Amelia didn't smile once during the act. 

"A mystery!" hissed Daisy at once.

"Daisy, shush!" exclaimed Lavinia, staring at Amelia.

"What? Oh, what?" Amelia asked nosily.

"We are detectives." I said, giving a brief glance at Daisy.

"Brilliant ones." added Daisy.

"Oh! Me too!" Amelia exclaimed, smiling brightly. "I have solved three thefts!"

Daisy spat rudely on the floor. "Hazel and I have solved two thefts and four murders."

"Wow! That must have been exciting!" Amelia said, eyes bright.

She reminded me slightly of Alexander.

Alexander who was possibly staying in the same hotel as us.

"Ooh, yay, the performance has finished." Lavinia said yawning.

"Uncle Felix." said Daisy sweetly. "Please could we go into the ringmaster's tent? You know, Hazel, Lavinia, Amelia, and I."

"Why?" said Uncle Felix sharply.

"Nothing." Daisy smiled prettily.

Uncle Felix glared at his niece. "I don't trust you, Daisy. What do you really want to do."

Daisy let out a fake groan. "Ugh, fine. I just really wanted to see the show."

"Behind the scenes?" asked Uncle Felix.

"Oh, yes." Daisy, Lavinia, and I all agreed at the same time.

"I'll trust you to go alone. But come back quick." said Uncle Felix.

We all stood up gratefully from our seats.

"This is exciting." said Amelia, eyes sparkling. "I can't wait to see behind the scenes."

"Think like a detective!" Daisy exclaimed sharply. "We are most certainly not looking behind the scenes. We are investigating the ringmaster's tent! There are so many questions to answer!"

"There are?" asked Amelia.

"There are." Daisy nodded. "Where is the ringmaster?"

"Why did Maxwell replace the ringmaster?" I asked.

"Why was the show not cancelled?" Lavinia added.

"See! They're thinking like proper detectives." said Daisy.

"And what am I?" asked Amelia.

Daisy considered. "Amateur. But we will soon turn you into a real detective."

"Real detective." Amelia nodded.

We went over to the tents and I scraped my knee (badly) on who-knows-what. It began to bleed.

"Goodness, are you okay, Watson?" asked Daisy as I yelped.

"Yes." I winced, staring at the visible part of my long cut.

"Okay." Daisy nodded, but still kept concerned blue eyes on my knee. "And are you ready, Watson?"

"Ready, although you're making it sound like we're about to do something dangerous." I grinned.

"Lavinia?"

"Yes, now hurry up."

"Amelia?"

"I was born ready."

I walked into the tent and frowned. I didn't know why I frowned, but nothing was there, and I suppose I am used to mystery. I am a magnet and murder is metal.

If only I had stayed in the tent and looked around more carefully. Maybe then, I would have discovered the truth before the case had even officially begun.

"Nothing?" asked Daisy.

"Nothing." I confirmed, coming out.

"Should we check the other tents?" asked Amelia.

Daisy let out a small moan and I could tell that she did not like the idea of someone who was not me, Lavinia, or herself suggesting a good plan. However, she forced a fake smile and uttered a, "Excellent idea, Assistant Downing."

"Assistant?" asked Amelia, dark eyes shining again.

"Did I call you assistant?" said Daisy, grimacing. "Argh! Well, I suppose you are. For now."

Daisy really does not like people knowing about the Society unless they are 'worthy'.

"I'll search Il Mysterioso's tent." said Daisy. "Hazel, don't look at me like that. I know that he is trustworthy, but a detective can never be too careful. Hazel, search Collette's. Lavinia, search Lola's, and Amelia, search Rustle's."

"Rustle!" spat Amelia on disgust, but she went off anyway.

I found a small red and white tent with a little wooden sign next to it reading 'Collette Woods' and entered.

At first, the room looked quite normal. A few books thrown open on the table, parchment covered in untidy scribbled writing that looked like plans for a circus performance, a clean white mug sitting on the table filled with brown tea that looked quite cold. Daisy says that a detective should take in any details that are out of the ordinary, but I would say that a cold cup of tea does not fall under this category.

But then, when I looked in the far corner of the tent, I saw something out of the ordinary. I saw a table, two seats on either side, and walked over, finding myself back in the Deepdean gym.

I gazed in horror for a while and then laid my hand on his red, velvet coat, right on his chest.

That was when I knew for certain. I knew for certain that I was back with Miss Bell, with Mr. Curtis, with Mrs. Daunt, with Elizabeth.

The ringmaster was dead.