Kay Hooper - Hunting Fear

Metcalf said, "To get ready for tonight's show, I suppose."

"That is how I make my living."

"Cheating people. Lying to them."

Samantha sighed. "Sheriff, I'm trying hard to make allowances for someone who's ignorant of what he's talking about and worried half out of his mind because someone he cares about is missing. But right now, I'm cold, I'm tired, my hands are beginning to hurt, and I really don't give a shit what you think. So why don't you concentrate on doing your job and finding Lindsay and just leave me the hell alone."

Metcalf turned on his heel and stalked back toward his cruiser.

"Way to get local law enforcement on your side," Jaylene murmured.

"I don't care if he's on my side."

Lucas was eyeing her thoughtfully. "You usually don't go out of your way to antagonize them, though."

"Usually? There's no usually, Luke, at least not that you know. It's been more than three years since you were any part of my life. Things change. People change. Now, if you wouldn't mind, I'd like to get back to the carnival."

"You should see a doctor about your hands."

"Ellis is still an LPN, and I'll see her."

Jaylene said, "I guess one of us can collect your stuff back at the station and drop it off at your motel first chance we get."

"That'll be fine."

Silently, Lucas gestured toward his rental, and all three went to the car. Samantha got in the back and was silent, staring out the window, all the way to the fairgrounds. Once there, she merely said, "Thanks for the ride," and got out before either of them could say anything.

Watching the other woman walk away, Jaylene said, "I think I should be the one to gather up Sam's stuff."

"You think you'll pick up something?"

"I think she's acting strangely. And I think you think the same thing."

"Maybe. She's right, though-it's been years. Maybe neither one of us knows Samantha at all now."

"And maybe there's something specific she doesn't want us to know."

Lucas frowned. "Her whole attitude seemed to change once she had that vision. You think she saw something she didn't tell us about?"

"I think I want to touch her belongings and see if I can pick up anything. And I think we've got some long, hard hours ahead of us trying to find Lindsay."

"Yeah." With an effort, Lucas pushed Samantha out of his mind and turned the car back toward town.

Leo spotted Samantha and met her halfway up the mostly deserted midway. "Hey."

"Hey. Did the sheriff arrest anybody, or was Jay able to stop him?"

"Well, between us we managed to convince him he was wasting valuable time here."

"That must have been fun."

"The high point of my day." Leo studied her and said more seriously, "My guess is that your day was even worse."

"I'll have to tell you about it sometime. At the moment, though, I need to see Ellis. Is she around?"

"Yeah, in her caravan. You sick?"

Samantha showed him her palms. "Just a bit dented."

"How the hell'd you do that?"

"Long story. Leo, I want to open my booth tonight."

Both his bushy eyebrows lifted. "You sure? I mean, we've had tons of interest, even with your poster not out on the marquee, but-"

"Put it out, please. My hours tonight will be from seven until. I'll see as many as I can."

"And when the reporters show up asking to speak to you?"

Her smile was wry. "Tell 'em to buy a ticket like everybody else."

"I'll love the publicity," he said frankly, "but are you sure, Sam? What's good for the carnival isn't necessarily good for you, we both know that."

"I'll be fine."

"You look tired already," he pointed out. "After three or four hours of readings, you'll be half dead."

"As long as I'm half alive." Samantha shrugged. "Don't worry about me, Leo. Just pass the word that my booth will be open tonight, please. I'll see you later."

"Hey, try to take a nap or something before tonight, will you?"

"I will," Samantha lied. She continued on past Leo, heading for the line of RVs parked off to one side of the midway and colorful collection of booths, rides, and tents. She knocked on the door of one RV whose protective awning was hung with multiple wind chimes and whirligigs and, when she received a response, went inside.

"How was the voluntary jail time?" Ellis Langford was at least sixty-five but looked twenty years younger, an improbable redhead with a still-head-turning figure. And she dressed to turn heads.

"Bearable," Samantha replied with a shrug.

"Even with Luke Jordan there?"

"Him being there didn't change a thing."

"Don't tell me what you think I want to hear, Sam, tell me the truth."

Samantha grimaced. "Okay, then. It was hell. That's the truth. Half the time I wanted to scream and throw things at him, and the other half…"

"You wanted to find the nearest bed?"

Without replying to that, Samantha thrust out her hands, palms up. "I'm told this is frostnip. What should I do about it?"

Ellis studied her hands, brows rising. "Is the feeling coming back?"

"A bit. Tingling. Sort of an ache."

Ellis went into the kitchen area of her RV and filled a large pot with warm water. Then she returned to the living area and instructed Samantha to sit down and immerse her hands in the water.

Sitting obediently with warm water up to her wrists, Samantha said, "How long do I have to do this?"

"Do you have somewhere else to be?"

"Not immediately. But I want to get my booth ready to open."

Ellis sat down across from Samantha and picked up her knitting. What she was knitting looked rather like a tulip-shaped vase. Samantha didn't ask what it was supposed to be; Ellis was famous for presenting friends with odd knitted things, and Sam already had quite a collection of tea cozies, caps, paperback dustcovers, and various other colorful accessories.

"So you'll be reading tonight?"

"I thought I would."

Needles clicking, her hazel eyes fixed on Samantha, Ellis said, "You think he's coming back, don't you?"

"Maybe you should be the one doing the readings."

"No, I don't have your gift for reading strangers. I read people I know. And I know you. Why do you think he'11 come back here, Sam?"

"Because he likes carnivals well enough to have been here at least twice; much as I love this place, one visit usually satisfies anybody over the age of twelve." With a shrug, she added, "And because he doesn't know about me yet."

"I don't suppose you've mentioned that to Luke."

"It didn't come up."

Ellis shook her head slightly. "Sam, we've had reporters nosing around here the last couple of days. Leo took down your posters, but even so a few photographers got pictures. What if this maniac sees you on the six o'clock news? He'll definitely know about you then."

"I don't think he watches the news. I think he watches Luke."

"Willing to bet your life on that?"

Samantha shrugged again. "The life of a cop I happen to like can be measured now in hours. If Lindsay isn't found by late tomorrow afternoon, she'll be found dead. The other cops are doing their thing. Luke is doing his, or trying to. The only thing I can do is what I can do. Open my booth and do readings, and hope he shows up."

"For a reading? Would he be that reckless?"

"Depends. He might be curious, the way most people are. If I'm for real. If I can sense what he's up to."

"And if you can?"

"Then I'll do my damnedest not to let him know I know while I memorize his face and try to gather all the information I can from him."

"Dangerous."

"Not if I keep my wits about me."

"Even if. And do you really believe he'd leave someone he kidnapped alone while he visits a carnival?"

"Yes." With a frown, Samantha added, "I don't know why I believe that, but I do. If Luke hadn't pulled me out of that car, I might have seen more, heard more, picked up something to tell me who the bastard is."