As I took off for the Tilt-A-Whirl, I swore I heard both man and beast sigh behind me. I climbed into one of the ride cars and looked around.

“It went faster before,” I said.

Gabriel definitely sighed now.

“See that booth?” I pointed to the operator’s box, the Plexiglas a spider’s web of cracks. “The guy in there ran the ride and the tunes, and he’d yell, ‘Do you want to go faster?’ And I’d scream at the top of my lungs. Even Dad shouted with me. It never went any faster. Dude just cranked up the music to make it seem like it did. Total cheat.” I twisted to look around. “You know, if both you and Lloergan grabbed a side and pushed…”

Lloergan hopped into the car with me.

“Sure,” I said. “We can do that. Only you need to be on the inside so I can fall against you. These seat restraints have seen better days.” I waggled the moth-eaten padding.

When I looked at Gabriel, he was still standing there, the very picture of patience.

“Ferris wheel?” I said. “I’ll climb up and then you can release the brake.”

“I have several important cases going to trial this winter and absolutely no time to replace a dead investigator.”

“You’re so sweet.” I hopped out and shielded my eyes against the sun and the blinding layer of fallen snow. “Oh! There. Perfect!”

I broke into a run.

“Olivia! Watch out. The pavement is still—”

My boot slipped. Gabriel ran to grab me, glancing around as if fearing he’d be spotted. I was about to laugh at his dignity-check when I saw a blur between a concession stand and a dart game booth. Lloergan’s head swiveled toward it.

“Did you see that?” I said to Gabriel.

“See what?”

I vaulted over the game booth counter. The rear door was cracked open, and I gave it a shove, hoping to startle whoever lurked behind it. No one was there. And no footprints marred the pristine snow.

Lloergan walked to me, her nose working overtime as if to say, Huh, could have sworn I saw something.

I backed into the game booth, where dead balloons still dotted the pockmarked board. I plucked out a dart.

“You ever try this game?” I said to Gabriel. “Yes, they’re all rigged, but if you know the tricks, you can pick up some sweet prizes.”

“Stuffed animals that aren’t even worth the cost of the tickets to win them?”

“Hardly the point. Didn’t you ever—”

Didn’t you ever bring a girl to a county fair? A girl you wanted to impress by winning her a prize?