He took a seat next to her, like it was something novel. “Is this what it’s like to wait for a bus? I’ve never done that before.”

“You know what happened to Todd?” Lara felt the need to repeat herself now that they were seated.

“Tsk. Tsk.” He wagged his finger at her. “I require something for that information. If you want to know what happened to Tom.”

“Todd.”

“Whatever.” He shrugged and kicked at a cigarette butt with his shoe.

“What do you require?” She put her hand to her forehead, which was covered in sweat. They sat side by side like the spies in thriller films, speaking conspiratorially.

“Oh, don’t look so frightened. I’m not asking for your soul, if that’s what you mean. At least not yet.” He chuckled. “I simply need for you to come to Paris. You are needed there.” He seemed uncomfortable. “I need you there.”

“Why?” She looked over at him. “Is it because of the Devil’s Circus?”

“An inaccurate nomenclature, I assure you.” He slouched down. “But yes. Le Cirque Secret requires you. In return, I’ll tell you everything you want to know—the fiancé, great-grandmother Cecile, all of it—if… and only if… you come to Paris. But it must be our little secret. Do you understand? That mother of yours cannot know.”

“Why are strange things happening to me?” She hadn’t meant to blurt it out, but maybe he would give her some answers or at least admit which of the strange happenings he was behind.

“If you do not come to Paris, it will keep getting weirder, my dear. The fabric of this quaint little community your family has built for you is beginning to tear apart. Without my help, I fear it could be the end for you all.”

At his confirmation of the threat against her, Lara found she could not speak. She recalled what Shane Speer had said: She is coming for you.

He smiled slyly as though he read her thoughts. “She is, indeed, coming for you, you know. And make no mistake, she is dangerous.” There was a tiny hint of pride in his voice.

“Who is she?” Lara nearly shouted.

“A very powerful creature.”

“What on earth would a powerful creature want with me?” She was getting tired of him talking in circles.

“Well, that’s a rather complicated tale. Let’s just say that you pose a threat to her.”

“How on earth would I pose a threat to anyone?”

“I fear it’s my fault.” He wasn’t looking at her; rather, he focused on each detail around them with a sense of wonder—the mailbox, the streetlamp, the Kerrigan Falls Express newspaper stand—as though he was witnessing such details for the first time.

“Your fault?”

“When you were little, Margot and I came to visit you in the field. Do you remember that?”

“I do.”