Read Danger at the Fair for Free Online Page B

each firmly holding one of Corey’s arms, ushered him away from the building. “You’re lucky that guy didn’t turn you in,” the older boy continued. “If you keep this up, you’ll be spending the night in the juvenile detention center.”
    The two boys kept a tight grip on Corey until they had walked for several minutes. Corey glared at them, studying their faces and memorizing what they wore. When the police finally arrested that pickpocket, Corey intended to give a complete description of these two boys. Maybe they would bearrested, too, for obstructing justice. Maybe
they
would spend the night in the juvenile detention center.

    AS ELLEN and Caitlin approached The Great Sybil’s trailer, a white-haired woman was walking away from it. When she saw the two girls, she smiled and said, “Are you girls going to have your fortunes told?” Without waiting for them to answer, she went on, “It’s well worth the price. The Great Sybil gave me the most wonderful news.”
    “She did?” Caitlin said.
    The woman dabbed at her eyes but Ellen could tell her tears were happy ones. “Harold is at peace,” the woman said. “I can stop worrying about him.”
    Wondering who Harold was, Ellen said, “How did The Great Sybil know?”
    “Oh, she talks to the spirits,” the woman said, “and they answer her. She specifically asked if Harold is all right and she was told, yes, he is. I can’t tell you how much better I feel. I’ve been terribly worried about Harold. He wasn’t ready to go, you know. He didn’t want to leave me and he wanted to watch the grandchildren grow up. It happened so fast; we didn’t have time to adjust to his sickness and, boom, he was gone. Ever since, all these months, I’ve worried that Harold couldn’t rest in peace because . . .”
    Ellen broke in to ask, “Did the spirits answer in writing?” She felt rude for interrupting but she had a feeling the woman would talk all day, given half a chance.
    “Writing? How could spirits write anything?”
    “They talked, then?” Caitlin said. “You heard someone?”
    “Oh, no, my dear. I heard nothing. If I could hear suchthings myself, I wouldn’t need to pay a spiritualist, now would I? The Great Sybil heard the spirits and told me what they said.”
    “But how do you know she got an answer?” Caitlin said. “What if she made it up?”
    The woman frowned. “Why would she do that? She never knew Harold. She can’t possibly care if he is happy or not.” The woman’s smile returned. “I’m going to be able to sleep tonight, without taking a sleeping pill, for the first time since Harold passed on. The Great Sybil said I won’t need pills anymore, now that I know Harold is at peace.”
    “I’m glad for you,” Ellen said.
    “Me, too,” Caitlin said. She nudged Ellen and started to walk on. “It was nice talking to you,” she said over her shoulder.
    “When you girls get your fortunes told,” the woman said, “I hope your news is as good as mine.” She walked away, smiling and nodding at everyone she passed.
    When the woman was no longer within hearing range, Caitlin said, “Do you think The Great Sybil really got a message about that woman’s husband, or do you think she pretended, knowing what the woman wanted to hear?”
    Ellen shrugged. “Does it matter? Either way, the woman is happy.”
    “I guess most people believe what they want to believe,” Caitlin said.
    “The trouble is,” Ellen said, “I don’t know what I want to believe. One part of me thinks it would be great if I could communicate with Grandpa. Another part of me says I’m asking for trouble if I try again. Also, there’s Corey to consider, assuming he is ‘the small one’ in the message. If he is going tobe in danger, I want to help him and I don’t see how I can, without more information.”
    They had reached the ticket booth. “Hello,” Ellen said to the man inside.
    He barely glanced up from the newspaper he held before he said,