Part 23 (1/2)

”Cuc.u.mbers.”

”Whatever.”

I shook my head. If I saw anyone else looking the way she did, I would've called paramedics. Such an incredibly stubborn woman.

I moved away from her so I couldn't choke her. I could see the C.A.K.E. people ahead of us scrambling to get in place for their pa.s.s at the judges. Something didn't look right, though. They weren't smiling or having fun.

They looked nervous.

I moved back next to Julianne. ”Listen. Something may happen here in front of us.”

She arched an eyebrow. ”Those weirdos in the neon s.h.i.+rts?”

I nodded. ”I'm not sure what, but I think they've got something planned.”

”Like a dance or something?” she said. ”They can't hold up the line. Everyone will freak.”

”Not a dance,” I said. ”But something else. And if it goes a little nuts, we're leaving.”

”I already told you, I'm not . . .”

”Jules, I love you,” I said, taking her by the elbow. ”But shut up. I'm done with the stubbornness for today. You look like h.e.l.l and if anything goes weird up here, we're leaving and you are going home and getting in bed and that is the end of that. I will throw your pregnant rear end over my shoulder and carry you out of here if I have to. So just stop. Got it?”

She stared at me, her mouth open, like she couldn't believe I'd just told her to shut up. I was kind of pleased with the fact that I'd left her speechless. Of course, given the fact that she was nearly ten months' pregnant, I knew there was no possibility of her catching me if I had to run from her.

She started to say something, but stopped, then shook her head.

”Thank you for not arguing,” I said.

”The only reason I'm not arguing is because I think I just had a contraction,” she said.

45.

”Are you serious?” I asked.

”Don't I look serious?” she said, her teeth clenched. ”I'm covered in sweat and grabbing my stomach. Yes. I'm serious.”

”You've been grabbing your stomach and sweating since we got here.”

”I can still punch you.”

”I'll get Carly,” I said. ”We need to go.”

”You'll do nothing,” she said, glaring at me. ”I'm going to time them and we're going to keep walking. I'm going to make sure this little beast is coming out for sure before I go anywhere. I don't trust it. Would be just like this kid to try and fake me out. It's a little liar. So we are gonna wait.”

”Jules.”

”Now it's your turn to shut up,” she said, smiling at me. ”And check your watch. I'll let you know when the next one arrives. The only thing you're gonna do is count.”

This was the problem with marrying a mule-stubborn woman.

I sighed and marked the time on my watch. The C.A.K.E. people were mobilizing in front of us as we approached the judges' tower. Scarecrow was on the float standing next to the ”Earth,” looking like he'd stolen something. Dorothy was walking next to the truck, her hand pressed to her ear. I squinted and could see a small Bluetooth receiver in her ear.

Odd.

Two other guys were on the float next to Scarecrow and they looked just as nervous. Other members of C.A.K.E. were flanking each side of the float, moving like they were the Secret Service, scanning the crowds on the sidewalk. I couldn't tell if they were actually looking for something specific or if they were just keeping watch.

Their float began to slow as they approached the judges' tower. I could see Mama up on the tower, under her umbrella, a clipboard on her lap, her expression hidden behind a large pair of sungla.s.ses. Bruce was next to her, looking bored. Matilda was next to him, trying to smile and wave, but she didn't seem too into it.

The C.A.K.E. truck stopped and I could see Dorothy's lips moving, but she didn't seem to be talking to anyone near her. Clearly, the Bluetooth was in her ear for a reason.

Scarecrow shuffled around the Earth and put his hands on the paper-mache orb.

And then lifted off the top of the Earth.

”Oh, c.r.a.p,” I said. ”Here we go.”

”Number two,” Julianne said through gritted teeth and bent slightly at the waist. ”That was like almost fifteen minutes, right? We're totally fine.”

I glanced at my watch. ”Yeah. Fourteen minutes.”

She took several quick breaths, then made an undistinguishable sound that was somewhere between a squeal and a grunt.

”No problem,” she said, her hand still resting on her stomach, but trying to straighten her posture. ”I'm good.”

I moved my eyes back to the Earth. The top was now on the flatbed next to the planet and several more members of C.A.K.E. had popped out of it.

With thick firefighter hoses.

”This is what fracking feels like!” Dorothy suddenly yelled.

Matilda and Bruce looked confused, but Mama looked p.i.s.sed that anyone had the nerve to do anything out of the ordinary at her parade. She leaned forward in her seat, mouth open, about to yell something at them.

And then she looked wet.

The Earth, in addition to containing people, was also filled with some sort of water container, because the hoses were spraying the judges. Long, heavy streams of water crashed all over Mama, Bruce, and Matilda.

And the C.A.K.E. members were now chanting ”NO FRACKING!”

The crowd was screaming; people were running around, unsure as to whether this was part of the show or it was something they needed to be worried about.

And, off to the side, I saw Susan Blamunski sneaking down the sidewalk, trying to disappear in the chaos.

I knew it. I knew she had something to do with George's death and I'd spooked her. There was no way I was letting her get away.