Vance’s step faltered beside her. “On a date?”

  She winced at the word. It sounded so normal.

  Then she bit her lip, willing herself to answer. “Yeah, I think so. On a date.”

  37

  Like the rest of the performers, Billy and Bunny Weaver were about to be driven over to the hotel, but Leo hoped they could hold up this particular transport just briefly. He and Emma reached the patrol car at the same time as the Weavers.

  He focused on Billy, whose lips were set in a frown that suggested he already knew what was coming. Leo nodded to the girl at his side. “You mind if we have a word with your daughter?”

  He’d used the word on purpose. This was the man’s daughter in every way that mattered.

  Billy Weaver held onto Bunny’s shoulder for another few seconds, about to reject the request, but the young trick rider looked up at him and nodded. “It’s okay, Dad. I’m okay.”

  “You’re not. But I’ll let you talk to them.” He looked at Leo. “Please stay with her. She’s a flight risk. I’m gonna grab a few more things from the camper.” After smoothing his hand down his daughter’s hair, Billy left at a fast walk.

  Leo opened the back door for Bunny and let her perch on the seat, facing him and Emma. “I know it’s been a rough night. We’re gonna let you go with your dad and get some sleep soon. But I need you to be very honest with me about one more thing. It’s really important. You understand?”

  She pursed her lips. He noticed they were newly chapped from the cold night. “I understand.”

  Leo offered her a small smile of reassurance. “Emma?”

  Emma crouched in front of her. “Mr. O’Rourke could be in a lot of trouble, so we just need to know the truth, okay? Why was your clothing in his trailer? That yellow leotard we asked you about before?”

  “I…I…” Bunny bit her lip, and for a moment, Leo thought she might start crying again.

  Emma placed a hand on her shoulder. “Bunny, listen to me, honey. Whatever it is, you can tell us. You’re not in trouble, but there was blood on the leotard and your undergarments.” Her voice had gone softer, gentle and coaxing.

  Leo was glad for her presence. Personally, he wasn’t sure he’d have been able to get the necessary words out.

  Bunny pulled the oversize coat tighter around her body. Just when Leo didn’t think the child would answer, her little face crumbled.

  “I got my period.” Honest embarrassment poured from her red cheeks and tightly closed eyes.

  Her period.

  A mountain of tension drained from Leo’s shoulders, and he had to bite his tongue to keep from laughing in relief. Beside him, Emma sighed, and he guessed she’d just had to curb the same urge.

  If what she was saying was true, puberty had reared its head, and the girl had only gotten her period.

  Bunny glanced up at Emma, before she turned her face back down to the ground. “I didn’t know what to do. I mean, I kind of knew what was happening, but it was still scary. Mom and Dad had gone into town, and I couldn’t tell Jamie, so I went to Reggie…he helped me.”

  “Oh, honey.” Emma pulled her into a shaking hug. “That’s perfectly normal.”

  Bunny pulled back. “I was embarrassed, and there was so much blood. And Reggie always told me that if I needed his help with absolutely anything, I could go to him. He said he’d always be there for me. And with Penelope gone, well, I went and found him. My mom was at the store, and he called her and told her, and she brought…she brought what I needed…”

  Emma stroked her hair. “Why didn’t you tell me? I’m a girl. I understand.”

  Bunny kicked her feet into the dirt. “I didn’t tell Dad. He doesn’t know. So when you were asking before, at the corral, I didn’t know what to do.”

  Almost weak-kneed with relief, Leo leaned against the car while Emma comforted the girl, promising her that her father wouldn’t be angry she’d kept this secret from him.

  Understanding what had happened, and how absurdly innocent it all was, had released a tightness in Leo’s chest he’d barely realized was still there.

  O’Rourke hadn’t hurt this child. He’d only been trying to be there for her and be a father to her.

  Billy Weaver would have a lot to process.

  Gazing out at the circus in the gray morning light, Leo wondered if Ty hadn’t won after all. Likely enough, the entire circus would come to a close after all this chaos. The lives of everyone involved were in the process of changing drastically.

  And this father and child?

  Glancing up, Leo spotted Billy Weaver heading back their way, a large rucksack hefted over his shoulder. Leo met him some distance from the car, where they wouldn’t be overheard.

  “Mr. Weaver, Reggie didn’t hurt her. Bunny got her period. That’s what the blood was. She was just too embarrassed to tell you.”

  The fire-breather’s entire body relaxed. “Agent Ambrose, I…I don’t know what to say. Thank you. The things I had in my mind…I have to thank you and the rest of your team for trying so hard to protect Bunny. You’re a good man.”

  You’re a good man. Leo hoped he was. Tears unexpectedly pricked his eyelids.

  “I only wish we could have done more faster.” Leo held out his hand to shake Billy’s, and the man gripped it. “If we could have saved more lives…saved Betty…but I promise you we did what we could.”

  Billy nodded and shook Leo’s hand once more before letting go. “No one can save everyone. Nobody can.”

  Leo watched Billy head over to the car where his daughter waited. “I can still try.”

  38

  As the sun rose, Emma strolled through the fairgrounds, heading back to her Prius. Her mind was primarily focused on a few good hours of sleep when Penelope’s ghost popped into view once more, this time near the corner of a trailer.

  Having said her goodbyes to the performers, Emma hadn’t expected to say goodbye to the ghosts as well, but she wouldn’t refuse the invitation.

  Maybe she’d even get some answers now that the ghost was beckoning her over rather than pointing at clues before vanishing.

  Glancing around to make sure she was alone, Emma tucked her neck deeper into her coat and shifted direction. She followed the dead acrobat around the corner. They stood together in the little alley between trailers. The ghost smiled with the remaining half of her face.

  Emma struggled to smile back. The ghost’s teeth were red with blood, and her white eyes shined disturbingly. The blood on her gold leotard looked fresh and wet, too, which didn’t help. But, then again, maybe Penelope knew none of that. Who could tell how she saw herself with those eyes?

  “Thank you, Agent Last.” Maybe because of her injury, Penelope’s voice, as before, seemed to come from somewhere else, but goodwill radiated from her face even with her white-eyed gaze. Her one cheek actually looked flush with life.

  “You’re welcome, Penelope.”

  Emma thought that would be it, but the ghost stepped closer to her, until they were only a foot away. Had the woman been alive, Emma would’ve smelled her perfume.

  “It’s easier to be here, in the Other, knowing the person who decided my fate will have to surrender his own.”

  “Why didn’t you say more before? Or say anything that might’ve helped us find Ty faster? We could’ve saved Betty.”

  Penelope’s white eyes stared into Emma’s, sightless but seeing. “I wanted to. We all did. But it isn’t safe.”

  Emma needed to understand. “Not safe for who?”

  “It isn’t safe for you. So many in the Other don’t like you. Don’t like what you’re capable of. It’s better to keep the worlds as separate as possible. I shouldn’t be saying anything now…but I owed you a thank-you. As well as this warning. Please, stay out of the Other.”

  Emma found herself staring at blank air. Her heart raced in her chest, pounding beyond even what she’d experienced when taking down Ty.

  Whatever she’d expected the ghost woman to say, it hadn’t been that.

  And how the hell was she supposed to stay out of a place she’d never tried to visit?

  We’re way beyond what yoga classes can help with, Emma girl. Way beyond.

  Willing her heart to slow down, Emma left the alley and headed toward the circus’s entrance.

  Leo was strolling in her direction. Had he been looking for her? Or checking on something at the costume trailer again?

  “It was a stroke of genius, you know.” He squeezed her shoulder. “With that Penelope Dowe bit. Great job there. You threw Ty completely off his game.”

  Shit. He heard.

  Emma froze, briefly, then choked out a laugh. “Thanks.”

  Her voice sounded weak, but the other agent didn’t seem to notice. He was already walking away.

  She wondered what he’d think if she told him Penelope really had been there in that costume trailer. Well, no, she didn’t have to wonder. She knew the answer.

  He’d think she was cuckoo, sure enough.

  She hurried toward the entrance, more anxious than ever to be away from the circus.

  A flurry of movement off to her right caught her attention, and she couldn’t help slowing her step when a middle-aged woman in a brightly colored bohemian gown came hurrying toward her.

  “Agent, please wait!” The woman lifted her skirt and sped up. When she reached Emma, she placed her hand on Emma’s arm as if for support and panted out her introduction. “I’m Esther Payne.”

  “You’re the fortune teller for the circus.”

  “Yes, I’m sorry we didn’t get a chance to speak before. I spoke with your supervisor, I believe. A woman named Jacinda.”

  “Supervisory Special Agent Hollingsworth. That’s correct. Was there something you needed to tell her?”

  “No, my dear. No, it was you I wanted to speak with.”

  “Why’s that, Ms. Payne?”

  “Mrs. Payne, actually, but my husband and I…well, it isn’t important. Tell me your name, dear. Please?”

  Emma forced a smile, blowing out a stream of white air as she stepped away from the woman’s touch. “Special Agent Emma Last, FBI.”

  She’d been careful to avoid Esther like the plague, and running into her now, alone, wasn’t exactly on Emma’s list of desired outcomes.

  Exaggerating how the cold was affecting her, she rubbed her hands together and ducked her head against the wind. Maybe Esther would take the hint and leave her be.

  Esther came closer again but kept her hands to herself this time.

  No such luck, it seems.

  “Emma, my dear, I had a vision of you while you were sleeping—”

  While I was sleeping?

  Emma took a step back. “I’m sure it was just a dream—”

  “Oh, no…no, it wasn’t.”

  The woman gripped Emma’s arm now. Esther’s white-blond hair practically glowed in the early morning air, the lines on her face deep with worry. Her serious blue eyes suggested she knew exactly what she was speaking of.

  “Mrs. Payne, please let go of me. I don’t know what you—”

  “Please don’t pretend, dear.” Esther shook her head violently. But her voice was soft. The fortune teller gazed around to ensure their privacy before focusing back on Emma. “Don’t pretend you don’t know that there’s much more to this world than most can see.”

  Protests died on Emma’s lips. She didn’t have the heart to deny the existence of the Other, where apparently all the ghosts hung out. Not with the truth shining out of the woman’s eyes and right into hers.

  “What do you want?”

  “Agent Last, forces are gathering around you. And if you’re very quiet, very still, you will sense them coming.” Esther rested her other hand on Emma’s shoulder, her gaze remaining unblinking on Emma’s. “The path to the wolf is covered in innocent blood, and that is the path you must take.”

  The woman went silent and released her grip on Emma. She smiled gently and was turning to walk away when Emma found her voice again.

  “Wait. Wait, Esther. What do you mean? About the wolf, and innocent blood, and…and the path I need to take?”

  Esther shrugged.

  “I don’t know, dear. I don’t know.” And the woman turned and walked away.

  It was maddening.

  Behind her, Emma remained still and alone in the middle of the circus’s thoroughfare, unable to move or even think.

  One ghost had told her to stay out of a space she’d never attempted to enter.

  And a living, breathing woman had just spoken of a wolf, blood, and what seemed to be Emma’s personal destiny.

  Dear Fortune Teller, if you don’t know what you’re talking about…how am I supposed to?

  The question burned in her mind, speeding her steps. Her car felt like the only safe space in the world.

  Emma worked hard to keep her walk from turning into a run.

  The End

  To be continued…

  WHAT’S NEXT?

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  I hope you enjoyed Last Breath. I have a very special and exclusive FREE Book offer for you - Last Inception: the Prequel. Can you imagine Emma as anything other than an FBI agent? It’s true. She’d been molded to follow in her father’s footsteps until a chilly autumn evening changed everything. How did she find the strength to break free of her father’s expectations and become an advocate for the living...and the dead? Find out in this exclusive FREE Book offer of Last Inception: The Prequel. CLICK HERE to Get Your FREE Copy Now!

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  Storm’s Fury (Amelia Storm Series: Book 1)

  Military veteran Amelia Storm returns to her hometown of Chicago when her beloved police officer brother is killed in the line of duty. Now she is a special agent with the FBI. No longer a scared girl, she vows to avenge her brother and do what she can to end the city’s deep wells of corruption. A television documentary puts a spotlight on a four-year-old kidnapping. Amelia and her colleagues in the Organized Crime Division know there’s more to the girl’s case than meets the eye. The twelve-year-old wasn’t just abducted. She was targeted by a human trafficking ring. Now, Amelia is the storm that will unearth the city’s long buried secrets. Or die trying. Start reading Storm’s Fury now. Just click HERE!

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  EMMA LAST SERIES

  Last Breath (Emma Last Series: Book One)

  Coming Soon

  Last Vendetta

  Last Three

  Last Chance

  Last Heist

  Last Sinner

  ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

  How does one properly thank everyone involved in taking a dream and making it a reality? Let me try.

  In addition to my family, whose unending support provided the foundation for me to find the time and energy to put these thoughts on paper, I want to thank the editors who polished my words and made them shine.

  Many thanks to my publisher for risking taking on a newbie and giving me the confidence to become a bona fide author.

  More than anyone, I want to thank you, my reader, for clicking on a nobody and sharing your most important asset, your time, with this book. I hope with all my heart I made it worthwhile.

  Much love,

  Mary

  ABOUT THE AUTHOR

  Mary Stone lives among the majestic Blue Ridge Mountains of East Tennessee with her two dogs, four cats, a couple of energetic boys, and a very patient husband.

  As a young girl, she would go to bed every night, wondering what type of creature might be lurking underneath. It wasn’t until she was older that she learned that the creatures she needed to most fear were human.

  Today, she creates vivid stories with courageous, strong heroines and dastardly villains. She invites you to enter her world of serial killers, FBI agents but never damsels in distress. Her female characters can handle themselves, going toe-to-toe with any male character, protagonist or antagonist.

  Discover more about Mary Stone on her website.

  www.authormarystone.com

 

 

  Stone, Mary, Emma Last FBI Mystery 01-Last Breath

 

 

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