Page 39 of Her Cruel Dahlias
Cricket winced. Perhaps she should’ve told the others of the letter, after all. She should’ve known it would come to this. “On the victim found near the caravans, a letter was written to me with a single sentence asking why I didn’t perform. I thought it best to keep it to myself.” Only Juniper knew, but she wouldn’t mention Zephyr’s sister unless she wanted to tell them herself.
“You can discuss the letter later,” Bram said before Zephyr or Mistress Eliza could answer. “We have more pressing matters to tend to. Whether Charles is or isn’t truly the Dahlia Murderer, he still tried to kill Cricket.”
“What else do you need from me?” Cricket asked.
“I need you to go over every detail from the beginning, no matter how small or insignificant it may seem. When Miles finishes questioning the other performers, he’ll inspect the body.”
Cricket followed Bram out of the woods and fed him her recent stories with Charles, however short, detail by detail while Zephyr waited near Mistress Eliza. Cricket didn’t know what would happen with the carnival now. But none of this was the carnival’s fault.
Bram ran a hand across his jaw. “I promise to keep you informed on what I find. First, I will compare the letter with Charles’s notes at the office.”
“I understand if you need to haul me away in manacles and put me in a cell for the time being,” Cricket murmured, fidgeting with her skirts.
“I’m not going to do that. Nothing here shows that you did anything out of ill will. Zephyr and I witnessed his attitude toward you in the past.”
“But what if people believe that’s why I murdered him?”
Bram sighed. “You did it out of defense, Cricket. I know you wouldn’t hurt a fly. Just be careful until I confirm things, all right?”
“All right,” she said. “But for now, make sure Anika doesn’t come to the carnival. Tell her I’ll see her soon.”
Bram nodded, then walked toward Miles, where they chatted in low voices.
Cricket slipped past several performers and approached Zephyr and Mistress Eliza, a heated conversation taking place between them by the sound of their raised voices. The necromancer ran her hands down her face. “I suppose we might as well say goodbye to opening the carnival again until it’s time to leave.” Her gaze narrowed at Cricket. “I won’t reprimand you for not telling me a letter was left for you. But you do know that could’ve put my performers at risk, and it did put you at risk.”
“I know,” she whispered. “Yet it was addressed to me, and I was afraid you would send me away.”
“Last chance, Cricket,” Mistress Eliza snapped. “I’m relieved you’re all right, and hopefully you did murder the bastard that’s been doing this, but if you hold on to any more secrets, you’re gone. Do you hear me, child?”
“Yes, Mistress Eliza.” Cricket lowered her head as the woman nodded and limped away.
“This is my fault,” Juniper said, tears beading her lashes as she ran toward Cricket. “I’ll tell her it was my idea, and I made you do it.”
“Your idea?” Zephyr said through gritted teeth. “You knew about the letter and didn’t even tell me? Your brother?”
“I don’t have to tell you everything,” Juniper bit back. “Besides, the less who knew, the less chance that word would spread to Mistress Eliza. Cricket would’ve been kicked out that day.”
“It was my fault for keeping it secret,” Cricket said. “The choice was left to me, and I gave it to Bram since he’s the one who could search for a handwriting match.” By the way the vein ticked in Zephyr’s jaw, he wasn’t pleased.
“I would say you’re safe now,” Juniper murmured. “But death still comes for us all in the end.”
“Sometimes twice.” Cricket sighed.
Stormy rushed over and grasped Juniper by the shoulders. “What happened?” she asked rapidly.
Zephyr started toward the caravans, his shoulders stiffened. Cricket left the two performers together and caught up with him. Silence stretched between them, even as they entered his caravan.
“You’re mad at me, I know,” she finally said, sinking onto the bed.
He frowned, tightening his fists as he sat beside her. “Furious, but not at you. More so at that dead bastard. But I get it. You haven’t really known me as long as you have Bram.”
“I trust you, but I didn’t want you to worry or get on Mistress Eliza’s bad side after she already knew you dug up the grave with me. Besides, you’re the one person I trusted with that, right? Over Bram and everyone else.”
He smirked. “You still owe me for that.”
“A favor is a favor,” she drawled. “If you’re itching to take your mind off everything and do something else, you don’t have to linger inside with me.”
“I think I’m itching to stay right here.” Zephyr’s warm leg pressed to hers, and he reached toward her, his hand cupping her cheek. “You have a smudge of dirt here.” Her breath hitched as he slowly wiped the spot on her chin with his thumb.