Immerse yourself in the captivating and darkly humorous world inside the compelling novel Unnatural Circumstances. Embark on the journey of three unconventional individuals who willingly set out on an adventure only to become entangled in a disturbi...
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Out of curiosity, Casper retrieves the pink diary from Soleil's hands. He opens it, examines Louisiana's times, dates, and locations written between the blue lines, and massages his chin.
Millie had investigated Elias for three years. She stalked him at diners, nightclubs, the rundown toy factory, and the despicable amusement park where Joe Piedmont once occupied.
"Fuck," Casper remarks. "I don't know who this Millie chick was, but she was as smart as you, Soleil."
Helping the girls create a large murder board, Benji glances at the shapeshifter's general direction and scratches the back of his head.
"What did Millie know about Elias?" he inquires.
"Well, before he worked as a circus ringleader," began Casper. "He helped Joe Piedmont fund his prototype trackers at the Ludwig factory. After it shut down, Elias disappeared for five months and then showed up at the grand opening of Salty Joe's Emporium. Rumor had it that he was on drugs."
Staring at the empty corkboard on the wall, Soleil tacks a small plastic bag containing the tracker Benji and Casper recovered. She then takes her time to put her hair in a ponytail before removing the photograph of the bloody message from her pocket.
"Was it true?" Soleil inquires, searching the drawers for clear tape.
"No, as it turns out," huffed Casper. "He was fucking abducting mermaids and sea creatures from France."
Carefully retrieving a torn page of The Daily Oracle newspaper from the diary's binding, Casper shows it to his best friends and gradually turns to the next page.
Soleil and Cricket's eyes grow mournful. They see the bone-chilling headline discussing the mermaid's disappearances - a few younger than Soleil's niece.
"Oh God," said Cricket. "How did Millie know it was Elias?"
"Maybe the council told her," Benji suggests mournfully.
Casper twists his face with doubt. The council is a lot of things, but giving away information, especially to a young monster hunter like Millie, is not one of them.
The Blüdhaven Council keeps everyone in the dark, including Casper. Even though he understands the discretion, it makes it hard for Casper and his friends to investigate the problem - let alone spare them from internal bleeding.
Speaking of the council, Cricket receives a call from them as she finishes tying a woolen red string around the colorful tacks. Benji and Soleil stop debating where the notes should go, then gawk in Cricket's way.
"Is it them?" asked Soleil.
Cricket slips her hand inside her left pocket. She whips out her flip phone, stares at the screen, and slightly bobs her head.
"Well, answer it," Casper insists. "Maybe you can ask the council what they knew about Elias."
"I'll try," Cricket says, pressing the ANSWER button with her thumb. She heads out of the scrapbook room, hoists the phone to her left ear, and shuts the door behind her.
