Extra Sensory Deception by Allison Kingsley Page A

she didn’t feel at all amused. “Tatters is a sweetheart when you get to know him.”
    The clown glanced down at the dog but still kept his distance. “I’ll take your word for it. I got bitten once, and ever since then I’ve been real careful around dogs.”
    “Oh, I’m sorry.” Clara paused a moment, then added, “I guess there are all kinds of danger in your job.”
    “Danger?” He seemed taken aback by the suggestion. “It used to be dangerous when I was messing with the bulls, I guess, but I don’t do that anymore. I let one of the brutes get the better of me.” He patted his knee. “That’s how I got this bum leg. Had to replace the knee joint, but the shin bone got pretty messed up. It never did heal right. I can’t run anymore, so fighting bulls is out for me.”
    “I’m so sorry.” She felt genuine pity for the man. It must have been hard for him to lose his career like that. “But you must enjoy entertaining the crowds. Especially the kids. They adore you.”
    His smile brightened his whole face. “When I hear those little kids’ laughter, it makes up for everything. I can feel their love while I’m out there.” He gave her a knowing wink. “Everyone needs love in their lives, right, hon?”
    “Right.” She was feeling frustrated. Somehow she had to warn him. Maybe she should just come out and say it. “Still, with all that tumbling around that you do, you must worry about getting hurt again.”
    He shrugged again. “What’s a few bruises here and there, when you can make a little kid happy?”
    “Just be careful, okay?”
    He gave her a startled look. “Don’t you worry. I will.”
    “I’d hate to see something really bad happen to you.”
    Now he was frowning. “Are you trying to tell me something?”
    She felt awkward, aware that she was getting into deep water. “It’s just intuition. What you do seems dangerous to me and I just don’t want you to get hurt.”
    His frown disappeared. “You’re a sweet lady, hon. That young man of yours is real lucky. You can tell him that from me.”
    She laughed. “Thanks. Maybe I will.” She had done her best, she assured herself. There wasn’t much more she could say without sounding paranoid.
    They had reached the clearing where Stephanie waited in the car. Glancing over at the group of trailers, Clara noticed a handful of pickup trucks alongside. She wished she’d been able to see more clearly the truck in her vision. It had been too dark to see what color it was, or make out any distinguishable marks on it.
    “I hope the show goes well tonight,” she said, as Tatters strained on the leash.
    “It should, considering everyone had a night’s rest. I just hope we get the crowds in to watch it.” He lifted his hand in a salute. “Thanks for the company. I enjoyed talking to you.”
    “You, too.” She watched him limp off, while Tatters pulled impatiently on the leash again.
    The sound of her car’s horn made her jump. Opening the rear door, she waited for the dog to jump into the backseat.
    Stephanie twisted around in her seat to glare at her. “You sure took your sweet time. How far does that dog need to go to pee?”
    “Sorry. I was talking to Marty.”
    “That was the clown?” Stephanie peered through the windshield at the figure disappearing into the crowd. “He sure doesn’t look all that creepy. I would have liked to meet him.”
    “Maybe another time.” Clara started the engine. “Right now we have to get up to the resort and talk to Paul Eastcott if I’m to make it back to the bookstore in time for my shift. How is Molly doing, anyway?”
    “She’s okay. She says it’s pretty quiet for a Friday.”
    Noticing her cousin’s frown, Clara nudged her arm. “Cheer up. By this afternoon the shop will be full of tourists.”
    “From your mouth to God’s ear.”
    Clara shifted the gear stick and took her foot off the brake. The next instant she slammed the brake down again as a figure appeared in front of