Page 26 of Lethal Danger

Jazz turned toward Hawthorne. “Yeah. The heat on the hard surface evaporates the scent. And there’s a lot of contamination here. I’m surprised he could follow it this far. Especially when the scent could be from last night, or even earlier.”

Hawthorne followed her gaze back to the slide about sixty yards away. “At least we know the culprit must’ve approached the slide from the back, avoiding the stairs or anything at the front of the slide.”

Jazz nodded. “Even with fewer security guards overnight, an unauthorized visitor could easily be noticed if they were on the stairs or the slide itself.”

“Coming from behind and underneath would definitely be safer. But still pretty bold.” What kind of person would take such a risk? It was the same question Hawthorne often asked when crafting a character for his novels. Someone with a powerful motive. And something worth the risk.

“PT2 to PT3.” A woman’s voice came over Hawthorne’s earpiece.

“This is PT3, go.” Jazz glanced at Hawthorne as she answered.

“Mrs. Cracklen wants to see you at the slide. ASAP.”

Was it Hawthorne’s imagination or did Jazz’s flushed skin pale a little?

“PT2, Roger.” Jazz started off at a near jog before she’d finished the words. She must really want to see her aunt.

The subtext of Nevaeh’s radio call had Jazz booking it back to the slide. She spotted Nev’s big hair and red short-sleeved T-shirt at the left of the slide staircase, in the staff area by the shed.

Aunt Joan stood by her, saying something that probably matched her severe expression.

A man in a gray suit way too hot for the temperature waited behind her. Uncle Pierce. Must be there to visit his campaign booth. She’d seen one set up for his campaign for governor, and the sign had said he’d be there today.

So now Jazz would get to face both of them at once. Just like old times.

Maybe Nev would stick around.

“Well?” Joan’s curt question prevented the friendly greeting Jazz was going to try.

“We found evidence of a personal effect behind the slide, and we tracked the owner for a distance over the fence and onto the path. But the scent is too old or not surviving the heat.”

“Is that supposed to help?” Joan planted a hand on her hip and glared at Jazz as if this was all somehow her fault. Wondered when she’d slip into the old Jazz-is-always-to-blame routine.

“Of course, that helps.” Nev’s eyes flashed as she boldly stared at Aunt Joan. “Now you know it wasn’t an accident. Maybe the Ferris wheel wasn’t either.” Good old Nev. She’d always jumped to Jazz’s defense whenever she could.

It never helped. Aunt Joan had simply barred Nevaeh from setting foot in their house. But it had always made Jazz feel better. Knowing one person cared.

“As if someone sabotaging the fair is good news.” Aunt Joan didn’t lose a hint of her ire with the retort.

“Now, Joan.” Uncle Pierce placed his large hands on her shoulders. “That’s wonderful they found some evidence and were able to determine where the culprit gained access. We do want to know the truth so we can stop the perpetrator, don’t we?”

Her expression cooled slightly as she pulled her shoulders back. “Of course.” She shifted her gaze to Jazz. “You did what you could. But frankly, we hired you people to make the fair safer, and yet it’s been our worst year ever. And we’re only on day two.”

“That’s not Phoenix K-9’s fault.” Jazz jumped in to respond before Nev could this time. “We don’t even know when the culprit set up the explosives.”

“That’s right, ma’am.” Hawthorne’s confident voice drew Jazz’s attention to the tall man who stepped forward and looked fearlessly at Aunt Joan. “The explosives could have been rigged well in advance with a timing device or to be detonated remotely.”

“And how do you know that?” Aunt Joan gave him her classic eyebrow arch, intended to freeze everyone into their rightful places—beneath her.

Hawthorne didn’t even blink. “I have training in the area. But I’m sure the police will confirm it with the evidence. And we might find something helpful if we examine the overnight security footage.”

“Butch should be doing that.” Joan jumped her glance away, probably scanning for the head of security. “There he is.” She marched off, and Uncle Pierce followed her, heading toward where Butch stood with another security guard beneath the slide. Looked like they were examining the remaining supports.

“There goes your brunch invite.” Nev’s quip made Jazz’s mouth tug with a small smile. Even though the truth it carried stung a little.

But humor had always been the way Nevaeh and Jazz coped with life’s troubles. It had worked so far. So Jazz gave Nev a grin. “I was so looking forward to the eggs benedict.”

Nev laughed.

---