Read part 8 here!
~*~
Marcie decided to speak up. “We know the circus is somehow related to the string of vandalism around Pipersville,” she said. Everyone stopped and stared as if they had forgotten she and Brian had been standing there.
“Marcie,” Brian hissed. “What are you doing?”
Marcie ignored him. “What’s going on?”
They all looked from one to another as if trying to agree on how much information they should divulge—or any at all.
“Look, we love the circus,” Marcie continued. “All we want to do is help.”
They didn’t look impressed.
Brian took a step forward. “My sister and I have lived in Pipersville our whole lives. We can help.”
That caught their attention, and now they were interested.
Marcie wished he hadn’t said that. They didn’t know if what they were doing was illegal or not. All Marcie had wanted was information, and now Brian had just signed them on as accomplices.
“We could use someone who knows their way around,” the young woman named June said. “It’d help a lot.”
George, as they had called him earlier, narrowed his eyes at them. “I don’t know…but we were up all night trying to make this right and couldn’t get him back. I don’t suppose we have a choice. C’mon.” They all started to run in the direction of town, but Brian held up his hand for them to wait.
“Before we go, you need to tell us what’s going on.”
“We don’t have time for this!” June insisted. “He’ll only stay in one place for so long before he gets bored and moves on.
We need to go!”
Brian stood firm, crossing his arms over his chest. “Summarize.”
June scoffed. “This is ridiculous! Someone fill them in so we can git!”
“One of our chimps, Rosie, escaped last night. It created quite the uproar,” George said. “It wasn’t until late last night that we realized Rosie wasn’t the only one who escaped.”
“What do you mean?” Brian asked.
“Someone”—George threw Luca a pointed look—“neglected to see if both chimps were there. Rosie wasn’t the only chimp who got away. In the middle of all the confusion, Spacer took off too.”
Marcie’s jaw dropped. “You mean…?”
June nodded vigorously. “Yes, yes! Spacer’s on the loose in Pipersville, and he’s having a ball exploring people’s yards, ponds, and pinwheel gardens. Losing one chimp is bad, but two in two days? We need to get him back before people figure it out.”
Silas exited the tent with a bag of grapes in one hand and car keys in the other. “Are we ready?” he asked. “I’ll drive the van while the rest of you go on foot, in case you meet him on the way.”
June led the way. “Come on, everyone, let’s go!”
Part 10 coming soon!
Stories n Stuff 