Terror In Gotham City

Chapter 8

*Accalia*

Dr. Thompkins and Barbara back away as Jerome lifts Sheba from her cage. The snake's tongue flickers out several times before it begins to move, slithering in the opposite direction to the main tent. Jim, Dr. Thompkins, Barbara, and the ringmaster follow the snake instantly, but Jerome hesitates. He doesn't want to see where this goes, but he has to. I gently take his hand and pull him along behind me, giving him a reassuring smile. He gives me a weak smile and begins to follow me, catching up to me with his long strides.

The snake leads us to a hay cart. Confusion rolls through me at the sight, and I share a look with Jerome. He's just as confused at the sight of Sheba sliding in under the tarp covering the cart. Stopping a few feet from the cart, Jim continues forward and rips the tarp off, revealing Lila's broken and bloodied form. She looks worse than earlier, and I didn't think it possible.

"Oh my god," Barbara gasps.

Jerome lets out a pained cry and falls to his knees, pulling me with him. I wrap my arms around him and play the part of a comforting best friend as Dr. Thompkins places a hand on Jerome's shoulder, Barbara doing the same to me, but digging her fingers in slightly. She knows something is wrong with this picture, but she's not voicing it. Jim's gaze turns to us and softens at the sight, but there's still a hard edge to his gaze. It's as if he's not believing what he's seeing.

I meet Jim's eyes and he raises his eyebrows in a silent question: 'Is he faking this?' I slightly shake my head, turning my gaze back to my best friend and resting my head on his shoulder. Jerome's fingers entwine with mine on one hand and gives my hand a squeeze, either thanking me for doing this or telling me that I am being a good actress. No matter which it is, I am glad that he is understanding I am here for him even when he's the murderer in this instance. The ringmaster looks away from the body and appears to have a guilty look in his eyes. Jim instantly notices it and glares at him. "You knew. You knew she was here."

"No."

"Look at me."

The ringmaster hesitantly meets Jim's eyes. "She was like that when we found her."

Jim's eyes darken. "Where did you find her?"

"Follow me." The ringmaster walks away, Jim and Dr. Thompkins following him. Barbara hesitates, sending a look down at Jerome and myself before following after them. Jerome meets my eyes and gives me a smirk once everyone is out of sight, and I find myself smiling in response. Climbing to my feet, I dust the grass off before following after everyone else. Jerome does the same and continues to pull off his act, sniffling and wiping his eyes. We meet them at the top of the small hill she was killed on. "A couple of riggers found her right here," the dark skinned man informs. "We decided to hide her on the truck. We were going to give her a proper burial as soon as we got back on the road."

"Decent of you. Who's 'we'? Who else knew?"

"Just me and the head of the families. If an outsider killed her, what can you do? An act of God. If it was one of us, we always find out. And we make sure they're punished."

"How?"

"We have our ways."

"And we have ours. Hook him up." An officer that had walked over to us slaps a pair of handcuffs onto the ringmaster's wrists, pulling him away. The man in red doesn't fight against the officer, but doesn't exactly go willingly. In the distance, members of the circus are being walked from the main tent and put into the back of police cars, ready to be transported to the precinct. Barbara and Dr. Thompkins leave with Harvey when he comes over, leaving Jim with a 'distraught' teenager and his best friend. "Do you two want a lift to the precinct?" Jim asks, keeping a careful eye on Jerome. He doesn't trust the ginger. "You're going to have to come in eventually."

I look over at Jerome and he nods. "We'll come with you. It would be easier than hailing taxi." Following Jim, my best friend and I make our way over to his car. Thankfully it isn't a cop car. Jerome slides into the back and pulls me in with him, much to Jim's distaste. Despite that, there's a softness in his steel eyes that makes me think that there's hope for a bond yet. The trip to the precinct is short and silent, but the entire building is going to be swarming with circus performers by the time we get there. Walking in a few minutes later behind Jim, Jerome and I bear witness to Harvey's utterly baffled expression. He isn't sure what to think about this sight - girls in leotards or almost nothing, feathers and boas, and glitter covering the entirety of all performers. Jim walks over to him with a giant grin. At least I have the decency to give Harvey an apologetic look on his partner's behalf.

"Morning, partner," Jim says cheerily, walking over and patting him on the shoulder as he walks past. "Gonna need a little help here."

"No kidding," Harvey says shocked, but catches himself. "I mean, you're kidding, right? This isn't an elaborate prank or...?"

I let out a small laugh, maneuvering Jerome around the desks. "Sorry about this, Uncle Harvey. The Snake Charmer was murdered late last night or early this morning. We've all been pulled in for questioning."

"Sure, kiddo. Of course there's got to be a damn murder to pull in the circus freaks."

Jerome half glares at Harvey. "We're not all freaks, Detective Bullock. Some of us were born into it and have no say about living in it."

"Accalia, Jerome," Jim calls, drawing our attention. "Up here. Protocol. Have to ask you a few questions."

***

"Tell me about your mother, Jerome," Jim requests, resting his arms on the table between the three of us.

"She's my mother," Jerome says, his voice utterly vulnerable and broken. He's a brilliant actor. "What can I say? I love her. She's perfect. Not a very good cook." Jim chuckles.

"Except for that..."

"Did she have any enemies? Someone with a grudge?"

"No."

"Boyfriends?"

"No."

"No?" Jim asks, surprised.

"She had lovers," Jerome explains. "They're sex partners really, but not boyfriends. She didn't want the commitment." I roll my eyes and lean against Jerome, suddenly feeling exhausted. Looking over at the clock, I realize why. It's almost seven in the morning and I haven't slept since last night's ordeal.

"Alphonse Grayson?"

"Yes, he was one of them."

"Owen Lloyd?"

"Yes."

"Any others?"

Jerome shakes his head. "Not that I could put a name to."

"How do you feel about your mother's love life?"

"I feel fine about it." Jim gives him a disbelieving look.

"If not for my mother's love life, I wouldn't be here, would I?" I fight the urge to scoff.

"Sex is a healthy human activity."

Jim's eyes widen and he looks as though he is at a loss for words. "Yes, it is." Jerome says nothing, but, when he glances over at me, there's a dark glint in the forest green. It's promising and daring, and a little dangerous.

"Do you have any other family?"

"The circus ismy family."