So Over My Head Read Free Page B

to be coconut cream.”
    “She’s a little shocky,” Officer Mark says. Like I’m not right here. Like I’m talking crazy. But who, I ask, would want her last breath to be taken nose-deep in raisin pie? Or a meat pie? It would be my luck I’d go in a big ol’ bowl of peas.
    Luke steps back, keeping his hands locked with mine. “Do you think you can tell me about it?”
    “I’d like to know too.” A girl in a sparkly leotard appears, her blonde hair slicked into a ponytail. Though she still wears stage makeup, her face is pale. Her eyes haunted.
    “This is Cherry Fritz,” Mark says. “She’s the owner’s niece.”
    “This was my parents’ circus.” Watery eyes meet mine. “Betty was my godmother.” As she steps closer I can see she doesn’t look quite so harsh beneath the makeup. “Do you think she—she . . . suffered?” Cherry’s tears inspire some of my own.
    “I don’t know. It didn’t really look that way.” Except for the sword the length of my leg sticking out of her back. “She did have dessert, if that’s any consolation.” Wow. My ability to comfort is just . . . awful.
    “Betty didn’t have any enemies. I just don’t understand. There has to be some mistake.” Cherry turns to Officer Mark. “Who would m-murder her?” Tears make tracks down her painted face.
    “We’ll get to the bottom of it.” Mark clears his throat. Probably has a peanut stuck in there.
    “Cherry!” The ringmaster roars explodes through the big top entrance. “Where have you been? We have a killer on the loose, and I couldn’t even find you!”
    I move closer to Luke as Red Fritz’s piercing brown eyes land on me.
    “You the one who found her?”
    “Um . . .” I swallow past a lump and nod. “Yes.”
    The seconds stretch as he watches me. I look away, my skin tingling.
    “Well, I’m sorry you had to see that.” Red stands beside Mark. “We are a family here at the Fritz Family Carnival. And I can’t imagine who would do such a vile thing. Surely it can’t be one of our own, that much I know.”
    Officer Mark jots down some notes. “Mr. Fritz, Miss Betty’s trailer will obviously be unusable for a while. Will Cherry be staying with you?”
    “My son Stewart lives with me in my own trailer, so space has always been too tight for the kid. I’ve contacted a distant family member in Truman to take Cherry until she can move back into Betty’s.”
    Ew. Like she’ll ever want to live in the place where her god-mother was murdered.
    A policeman enters the tent, getting Red Fritz’s attention. They speak in hushed tones. Red glances at his niece, then nods.
    “What family member, Uncle Red? I can’t go stay with a stranger.”
    A moment later, the entry flap opens again and Dolly O’Malley, my mom’s best friend, is escorted inside. She nods her head toward the ringmaster. “Red.”
    He tips his hat. “Looking as lovely as ever.”
    “How are you doing, Bella?” Dolly hugs me to her. “I can’t imagine what kind of night you kids have had.” She smiles at Cherry. “My, my. Aren’t you a spitting image of your mother. Do you remember me?”
    Cherry shrugs. “Kinda.”
    “Your mama was my second cousin. We used to play together when we were about your age.” She brushes a hand over Cherry’s hair. “I have a big house and lots of horses. Your Uncle Red thought it would be a fun place for you to hang out for a couple of days.” Dolly turns to Officer Mark. “Bella and Cherry will be going home with me. I assume the police are done talking to them?”
    “For now, but I’m sure there will be more questions tomorrow.”
    I follow Dolly and her cousins outside. Though it’s April and the night is warm, I shiver a little.
    “Wait—what’s going on?” Cherry breaks from us and runs toward a police officer. “Stop!”
    “The Amazing Alfredo,” Luke says, pointing. “It looks like they’ve cuffed him.”
    I strain to see him in the dim carnival lights. “Does this mean