CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN

When Faith, Lucia, Lily, and Tori walked into the circus the next day, the crowds were double what they had been. The final days of competition were bringing everyone in, and the dancing monkeys were certainly drawing the crowds.

As the women got closer to the ring, the music began, and the monkeys came out with their trainers, spinning and performing amazing dance moves. Once again, they pulled people from the audience to dance, then focused on bringing two young women into the ring.

Tori and the others were so focused on the monkeys they didn't understand what was happening when the crowd gasped and stepped back. Looking around, they all stared open-mouthed at the incoming act.

"Holy shit," muttered Lucia. "Comms, are you seeing this?"

"Um, yes. The others are nearby. Just hold tight."

"Hey! What are you doing?" yelled Patrick. "This is our act. This is our time!"

"Well, now, you better tell her that," said the old woman. Semu stood tall, letting out a wild cry. The monkeys crouched low, knowing that they were no longer the main attraction.

"Make those damn monkeys pull in a partner," growled Sean to the trainer.

"I can't make them. She's the alpha, not me. She will tell them what to do," said the trainer.

"Come, Semu, let's show the audience what a good girl you are," said Irene. Semu picked up Irene, kissing her cheek, then gently set her down. She walked toward a woman holding a baby, trailing her long black finger along the child's cheek, then kissing the baby sweetly.

"Oh, my God! That's amazing," said a woman in the back.

"She's sweet as honey," said Irene. "Now, she don't like meanness. And she don't like men who make her friends do things they don't want to do."

Tori looked beside her to see Matthew smiling from ear to ear.

"Mister Matthew, shouldn't we get her out of there?" she asked.

"Are you kidding me? That's my girl. She knows what she's doing."

The women all smiled at Matthew, knowing that if he approved, all would be okay. When Gaspar and the others approached, Matthew gave them a look that said, stand back.

"Semu, go fetch our friends," said Irene sweetly.

The gorilla loped off, nodding the entire time. While she was gone, Irene droned on and on about how sweet gorillas were and how misunderstood. They heard soft screams coming from somewhere, but no one seemed to care or pay attention.

"What in the hell is happening?" growled Patrick. "She's ruining this!"

"You tell her. She's the one with the gorilla," said the trainer. "I quit."

He stormed off, the monkeys following their leader. When they heard the gasps of the crowd, Sean and Patrick turned to see the gorilla in the center of the ring.

But this time, she wasn't alone. She was carrying four mummified remains.

"Those are delicate!" yelled Patrick.

"Yes, they are. They're delicate because they ain't fake. They're real. Yes, indeed, ladies and gentlemen. These men have been kidnapping women and sellin' em. The four you see here, three women and a man, were their victims, and they did this to them. They mummified them, putting them in a sideshow because they couldn't sell them to anyone."

Gasps and cries of outrage flew at the brothers.

"She's lying!"

"She's not lying," said Cruz, walking forward. "I'm a registered nurse and medic. So is my friend here. We took x-rays and DNA sampling from the mummies, and all four were listed as missing persons. Gus Presley, Maxine Pine, Ruth Snow, and Carrie Zosko. These men murdered them and hid their buddies in this way."

The two brothers tried to back into the tent, but a wall of men stood behind them. Men they recognized. Semu touched the heads of each of the mummies, the sad expression telling the audience she knew exactly what they were.

Mama Irene stared at the gorilla, giving her a sign. The howl of anger and pain coming from the animal made everyone back up again. When the crowd parted like the Red Sea, Gasper began cussing.

"What did I tell you!"

"I don't listen well. Didn't you know that? We've known one another a lifetime," smirked Trak. "Besides, Alvin was missing Semu. And he's hungry." Trak glared at the two brothers, Sean actually soiling his pants.

"H-hungry? Are you crazy? Are you mad? That's an alligator!"

"Yep. And he's hungry."

"Trak, we can't feed them to Alvin. They have to answer for what they've done," said Ghost calmly.

"They will. Alvin's way."

"Dear God, you're all giving me a stroke," said Gaspar.

The sheriff was standing nearby, not saying a word but definitely enjoying the show. Finally, he stepped forward.

"I'd consider it a personal favor if you'd allow us to take them in, Trak. No offense to Alvin, but he'll have to get his meal elsewhere tonight. On second thought, just stick around for a bit."

Alvin hissed at the sheriff, and he took a step back. Trak looked down at him, holding up a finger.

"Fine. We'll find someone, something else."