Page 37 of Lethal Danger

“The two attacks on Jazz have been overnight, in secluded areas.” Sof’s dark eyes aimed at Jazz. “I don’t think they’ll suddenly switch to jumping her in crowded places in daylight.”

Even if Sofia was trying to minimize the danger Jazz was in, Jazz liked where she was going this time. “There’s no way I’d give up fair security anyway. Not with the fair being threatened.”

“But she should at least check in or something, so we know she’s okay, right?” Nev looked only at Sof, probably because she knew what Jazz would say to that.

“Good idea.” Sof nodded. “Call Nev or Cora every thirty minutes unless you’re with one of us.”

“You’re kidding.” Jazz wanted them to be concerned, not make her feel like a teenager who’d been grounded.

A smile curved Sof’s lips. “Just for now. Until we can get a bead on who’s after you.”

“Speaking of the fair,” Cora intervened in her sweet tone, probably trying to prevent a confrontation, “their head of security, Butch Klika, called today to request bomb sweeps every morning.”

“Hear that, Toby?” Bris glanced down at her explosives detection K-9, who instantly popped up like he was ready to go. “We’ll have a reason to get up early again.”

Reassurance calmed the tension that had seeped into Jazz’s limbs at the reminder of the threat to the fair. Bris and Toby were a spectacular detection team. There shouldn’t be a repeat of sabotage using explosives with them on the job.

“It’s rotten what’s happening this year.” Nev’s eyes held a mix of anger and sadness as she looked at Jazz. “I can’t believe someone’s trying to sabotage the fair.”

A lump formed in Jazz’s throat. “We can’t let anything else happen. People will stop coming. Or start pressuring Aunt Joan to shut down the fair before it’s done.”

“Would that be the worst thing?”

Jazz had to bite her tongue to keep from asking Bristol how she could even think such a thing.

Nev put a hand on Jazz’s leg as she answered first. “So much money would be lost. The fair invests a ton of money in advance of the fair to put it on. If they don’t recoup that, it could jeopardize future fairs.”

“Not to mention all the people who depend on the Tri-City Fair for their livelihood.” Jazz couldn’t keep quiet any longer. “Vendors, farmers, breeders—there are thousands of people who rely on the fair to keep them afloat, to provide for their families.” And then there were the other reasons. The fact that the fair was the happiest place on earth for Jazz, and she was sure she wasn’t the only one who felt that way.

The fact that it was home. The place where she and Nev had spent their summers, having adventures together that bonded them like sisters, forever. The place where Jazz had been accepted by the friendly vendors and other staff she’d seen every year. The folks who knew she was the General Manager’s niece and treated her with respect and kindness. People who, like Nev, cared about her more than her blood relatives.

“Oh, my.” Lines crossed Cora’s pale forehead. “There is a great deal at stake, isn’t there?” At least the worry on Cora’s face meant she got it.

“Does anyone else think it’s a little too coincidental that the first attack on Jazz happened the same day as the fair opened and was sabotaged?” Bris scanned the group.

Nev pushed her fingers into her mass of curls. “I wondered about that. When Jazz finally told us about the first attack.” She tossed Jazz a glance. Still wasn’t going to let Jazz off the hook for not telling her right away.

“You mentioned your aunt.” Bris’s voice drew Jazz’s gaze to hers. “The sabotage at the fair must be aimed at shutting it down, right? Maybe the culprit thinks if they harm you or threaten you, your aunt will give in and close the fair to keep you safe.”

Nev nodded. “This could be the setup period where they’re showing they mean business, and then they’re gonna give Joan a sort of ransom demand.”

“Except that it would never work.” All eyes turned to Jazz. “Aunt Joan wouldn’t care if I was in danger.” The words stuck in her throat more than she thought they would. Silly, given that she’d always known her aunt didn’t care about her. Her own dad hadn’t. Why would her aunt? Jazz swallowed. “Definitely not enough to shut down the fair.”

A silence fell. Great. Now they’d pity her. So much for earning their respect and inclusion.

“Even if that’s true,” Bris’s gray-blue eyes held caution as she broke the hush, “the bad guys wouldn’t know that.”

She had a point. One Jazz hadn’t thought of.

“I wonder if Joan has already gotten threats?” Nev looked at Jazz. “I don’t think she’d tell anyone if she had.”

“True.” Jazz met Nev’s gaze. “I should ask—”

“I hate to interrupt the momentum of crime-solving minds at work.” Humor filled Sof’s tone as she rounded her chair and plopped into it. “But as interim leader, I feel I have to give the reminder Phoenix would at this point. Or would’ve several minutes ago.” She smirked. “We weren’t hired to investigate, and that isn’t our job.”

Nev groaned as Sof paraphrased Phoenix’s usual mantra. At least until one of the team members was in danger, and the threat was related to a job.

“We do need to prevent the sabotage on our watches.” Sof’s dark eyes aimed at Nev and Jazz. “I want you both to focus especially on limited access areas by the rides while you’re on patrol. I’m going to handle four to midnight myself to make sure we aren’t missing anything.”

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