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We’d just stepped onto the platform when my blood ran cold. The sparse crowd inside the depot made the old man stand out, despite the dim light of the station lamps. I recognized the black suit, and those coal-black eyes burning with an unholy light of their own. Mr. Grey was anything but forgettable.
He stared at the three of us before he haltingly approached. Ned was behind me, so I couldn’t see his reaction, but Rex slumped his broad shoulders and a deep growl of dissatisfaction came from his throat.
“Typical,” he muttered as Mr. Grey came nearer to us.
“I see you managed to succeed where I failed,” Mr. Grey said as a greeting. His unmasked disapproval conveyed how unhappy he was about this being so.
Ned eased the gun barrel away from my ribcage and Rex stepped forward as he looked down at the older man. “Is that a problem?” he asked, almost challenging Mr. Grey to say that it was.
The older man matched Rex’s disdain with his own pointed stare. “That will depend greatly on this young lady’s actions from this point forward.” He emphasized his words by stomping on the platform with his foot hard enough to make me jump. “I will tolerate no repeats of the Olathe debacle.”
“Neither will we,” Rex said while Ned walked around me to stand by Mr. Grey’s side. “We’re going to take extra precautions when we return.”
Mr. Grey pointed a gnarled finger at the bigger man. “You had better, Rex. I’m already underwhelmed by this season’s profits. Allowing our little contortionist to miss her final performance only made our situation that much worse.”
Again, I ignored the sensible side of me in exchange for instant gratification. I chose to satisfy my boiling anger by stepping in between the two men. Mr. Grey’s angry eyes landed on me while Rex looked at me in surprise. Regardless, I held my ground and matched Mr. Grey in my stare. “In case you’ve forgotten,sir, our little contortionist is standing right here,” I said, putting as much contempt in my tone of voice as I could muster.
From the corner of my eye, I thought I saw the beginning of a grin on Ned’s lips. But Mr. Grey was not amused.
“Ah, yes, so you are,” he spat derisively. “Apparently, you have no appreciation for the perils of your current position.”
“Feel free to enlighten me,” I said, boldly putting my hands on my hips in defiance. “I’m tired of getting nothing but half-truths and outright lies. How refreshing, for once, to have some uncorrupted honesty.”
I received a look of deadly intent from Mr. Grey, indicating I’d overstepped my bounds, but I couldn’t say I cared. I felt the strength of Rex’s big hands on my shoulders as he slightly pulled me back. I couldn’t help but wonder: was he doing so to protect me? It sure felt like it. Mr. Grey’s bullying manner made me wonder if ‘The Incredible, Indestructible Man’ were any match for this alleged investor if it came to a physical confrontation. Even though Rex was easily the larger, stronger man, I had a feeling Mr. Grey had some secrets of his own.
“Ah, there you all are!” shouted a familiar voice from the far end of the platform. “Good to see that everyone is now safe and sound!” With that loud announcement, Laurent strode up to us at a speedy clip. His signature smile and sartorial splendor made him stand out from the small crowd milling about the station. Like Rex, Laurent also wore a suit but with much more panache and ease.
Mr. Grey raised an eyebrow at our newest arrival. “You have an uncanny knack, Laurent, of always arriving just when things become difficult.”
“If you say so, Mr. Grey, I shall not argue with you,” Laurent replied, subtly stepping between me and the older man. “That said, I had a sneaking suspicion that our wayward lamb would reappear most likely.” For once, no one responded to Laurent’s usual patter. In the awkward silence that followed, he cast uneasy eyes at everyone before clearing his throat and asking, “Would I be correct in guessing that not all of us are in a celebratory mood?”
“Whatever could have given you that idea, brother?” Rex asked sarcastically, sounding as friendly as a bear with a toothache.
“Oh, a number of things, Rex, as these situations so often arise,” Laurent responded with a small laugh, patting Rex on the chest. Rex glowered at him, but Laurent ignored it and continued his monologue. “But may I ask, what is there to be angry about?” He clapped his hands together in apparent delight. “Our crisis is resolved, our tents are all set up for our next engagement, and the new precautions we’re now observing will make certain this situation never arises again. How is this not the best time for elation and merriment?”
I stared at Laurent with incredulous rage. Being forcibly abducted and brought back toCirque du Noir, I had no reason to celebrate.
“As I expounded to your brother, Laurent,” Mr. Grey said, turning his baleful eyes on the ringmaster. “I have no cause for celebration after seeing this season’s sales thus far.”
“Nonetheless, we are at the penultimate conclusion of our tour,” Laurent argued. “And our final stop in this fine North Dakotan city has been the salvation of previous difficult seasons, time and again, has it not?”
I could tell Mr. Grey wanted to argue the point, but he couldn’t. Laurent often had that effect on people. He was as shameless as a traveling medicine man yet so charming and flawless that people often had no resistance to his unctuousness.
After a frustrated sigh, Mr. Grey replied, “Your point is well-taken, Laurent. But you have merely postponed our discussion of this topic. I shall resume it at the conclusion of the tour.” He pointed at Ned. “In order to protect my investment, I must insist that Edward stay on duty for the remainder of the tour.”
Rex ever-so-subtly tightened his grip on my shoulders. “You said he’d only be here as long as—”
“Now, now, Rex,” Laurent smoothly interrupted him. “For our season finale, any extra acts will do much to boost our sales.” He turned and gave Mr. Grey a theatrical bow. “Merci beaucoup,monsieur. We remain, as always, grateful for your assistance as well as your sage advice.”
“Oh, spare me your disingenuous flattery,” Mr. Grey snapped. “If you fail to fulfill your quota, our next conversation will be a great deal more critical than this one.” He waved a finger at Laurent, Rex and me. “Do not disappoint my already low expectations.”
Saying that, Mr. Grey whirled around and walked away. His anger echoed in each footfall he made on the platform before he faded from sight. Oddly enough, that’s exactly what he did. In minutes, there was no trace of him anywhere. It was as if the shadows had simply absorbed him.
“Well,” Laurent said, suppressing a shudder. “I suppose that went as well as could be expected.”
Rex stared at the now-empty space that Mr. Grey formerly occupied. “Not sure I agree with you.”
Laurent grunted and smiled, but his humor faded a little when his eyes fell on me. “Oh, Bindi, look at the mess you’ve made.”
