The Deadliest Stunt Chapter 4

The Deadliest Stunt

Chapter 4

I showed the text to Reed who whistled. Whoa! Wonder what’s up. He checked his own phone and there was a text from his dad about 5 minutes ago. I didn’t hear the beep, he said. My text says the same thing. Something’s happened. I texted back

<be right there reed is with me>

I pulled out of the drive and headed to the fairgrounds in the early morning chill. The roads were quiet as we headed north out of town past the Port Salser Mall.

The fairgrounds were quiet in the morning mist. I parked in the parking lot. I saw Rhys’ car there so he must have just gotten here. We went in the main entrance and saw Rhys talking to his father. Rhys was having a heated discussion with his father when we approached.

Is this true?, Xander said to Reed when we stopped next to them.

What? Reed said.

What Rhys is saying. You spent the night at Justin’s in his guest room? Why? What’s wrong with the trailer?

He’s there, Reed said, eyeing his brother.

Look, you two have to settle your differences. Come on, you’re brothers after all. You used to get along. We don’t have time to discuss this now. Somethings happened. But we will talk about this later, OK?

Reed nodded and his brother grunted and looked away.

What’s happened? I asked.

Come with us, Xander said. We followed Xander back to where the buses were parked. I saw it right away. The side of Xander’s bus was spray painted with a message in bold red paint.

“go back home, liars”

I found this taped to my door this morning, Xander said, handing me a sheet of paper.

We know what you’re planning and it won’t work. Go back home and forget the charity show. You’re fooling no one. If you don’t leave there will be serious consequences for you and your family.

Whoa! I muttered. So our little ruse backfired. I handed the note back to Xander. So what are you going to do?

Well I’m not leaving. I’m going to stick around until this person is caught. We’ll put the word out again that the show is cancelled but I have a way around this situation. The saboteur wants me to go back home? Well, I will.

But I thought you said you weren’t leaving town, I remarked.

I’m not, he said with a slight grin. We’re moving to town.

What? Reed and Rhys both cried.

Your mom is feeling better and is on her way here today. I’ve put a down payment on a house over by the mall but we’ll live in the buses until the paperwork goes through.

This is nuts! Rhys shrieked. I’m not moving to this hick town. Bunch of yokels and nerds. He glanced at me. See the proof. Exhibit A.

Rhys! His dad admonished. That was uncalled for. Look it’s been in the works for a while. Your mother wanted out of L.A. and I figured my sister and her family are here, so I should put down roots here. I can still work out of Toronto. You two can go to school here.

That’s great, I said. You’ll fit in great at Port Salser Collegiate.

Reed was grinning but Rhys had a scowl.

Well I’ve already made friends, Reed said, but this remark only seemed to infuriate Rhys. Good for you, he muttered. Where does that leave me?

Rhys, if you would lose the attitude then maybe you would make friends as well. Heck, I’d even be your friend if you took back that “yokel and nerd” comment.

I don’t need you as a friend, he grunted. You’re friends with my sissy brother, so any friend of his is definitely not a friend of mine.

OK, I said putting up my hands in mock surrender. Have it your way, Rhys. No skin off my nose, dude.

Justin’s right, Xander said. You’re going to have to fit in here so you might as well start now. I want you to apologize to Justin.

No way, he muttered, then walked off.

Rhys! Xander called out but Rhys kept walking.

Don’t worry about it, I said. I’m a big boy, I can take it. He’ll come around—eventually.

No one was convinced.

So what are we going to do with the note? Should we call the police? Reed said.

No, Xander said, lost in thought. I’ll deal with it. We continue on as before, but I’ll make preparations to dismantle the equipment. I’ll also make an announcement that I’m—we’re moving to town but that the charity show is off. People will understand why I’m moving here, when I say my sister lives here, and that we want to settle down in a smaller town.

Good, I said. If we tell Canning and the authorities, they won’t let it go ahead at all. And we don’t want to be bullied into stopping the show. I promise I’ll get to the bottom of this. Today is Saturday. Give me a few more days.

Can I help?, Reed asked a wide grin on his face.

Sure, I said. Of course.

At that moment, Leland Mortimer walked up to us. I see the saboteur has struck again, he said. He was still dressed in the same suit and same tie as yesterday. Did he sleep with his suit on?

Yes, Leland, Xander said rolling his eyes.

What’s this? He asked taking the note from Xander’s hand, but Xander snatched it back. It’s private, Leland, Xander muttered.

Oh, really, Leland said with a smirk. Look Wyatt, I’m your manager. We need full disclosure on anything to do with your stunt business. You aren’t holding anything back from me are you?

Very well, Xander said finally. Here.

Leland took the note and read it. What does this mean “you’re fooling no one”?

I had no intention of cancelling the charity show. I just wanted everyone to think I had so the saboteur would lay off. But he wasn’t fooled.

Are you crazy? Leland blurted. You lied to me?! I can’t believe it. You must have suspected me of the sabotage then, because you didn’t let me in on your “secret plans”. Leland turned to me. And I suppose you knew about it?

Yes, I said. But I’m trying to track down the saboteur. The police are working on it as well. We hoped we could flush them out then go on with the show.

You? You’re only a teenager, he said with a laugh. What could you possibly do to help? Get your toy chemistry set and take fingerprints?

I’m an amateur detective and my father is a private investigator so I’ve learned a lot from him. I’ve solved a lot of cases around town. And I have experience working with the police.

Very good for you, Leland sneered, then turned back to Xander. I don’t know how this will affect our relationship, he muttered. You need to tell me these things. It still hurts that you suspected me. I thought you trusted me?

I do, Leland. It’s just that you’re—

I’m what, he said.

How long have you had that suit? 20 years. Come on, bro. you need to go with the times. Frankly you’re cramping my style.

What do you mean? He asked taken aback.

Come on, you know what I mean, Xander said with a smile.

You want me to—update my image? What’s wrong with this suit? I bought it 10—20 years ago, OK? It’s still in style.

Xander just shook his head.

Well, I’ve never been so insulted. I can’t believe we’re having this conversation. I suppose by updating my image you want me to shave my head as well?

Well I wouldn’t go that far, Xander said still grinning. Unless you want to, that is. It would look good on you, dude.

I don’t want to, he muttered. And don’t call me “dude”.

OK, but can you buy a new suit. Here, I’ll give you the money for one. And get a haircut. That style went out 30 years ago.

Leland harrumphed and turned to walk away. Then changed his mind. Very well, I’ll buy a new suit but I got my own money.

And not one from the thrift shop either, Xander called after him as he walked away, mumbling to himself.

Wow, Dad, Reed said with a grin. You told him off. But you’re right. He is a bit of a dork, now that you mention it.

I just nodded agreement.

So, who’s going to help me get this spray paint off the side of the bus?

We worked for two hours and by 10 am most of the paint was off. Rhys had kept away so Reed and I were able to talk.

I know I have to patch things up with Rhys, but he’s just so ticked at me, Reed said. And last night didn’t help, he added with a rueful grin. Maybe you could invite him out tonight without me?

I was thinking about it, I said as we poured out the buckets of dirty water on the grass and put the buckets away in the storage room of the fairground supply shed.

First I would like to talk to some of the crew. See if anyone stands out as a suspect for the bomb. It must be someone working for your dad, who else would have access to the fairgrounds? And to his trailer last night?

I can introduce you to some of them. Most of them are leaving today, though.

Let’s concentrate on those that are staying behind. Whoever wants to stop the show will want to stick around to make sure it really doesn’t go ahead. We didn’t fool them with the announcement last night so they will be doubly on the alert. I hope when your dad makes the next announcement that the person will take it seriously.

We made our way to the main fairgrounds where some of Xander’s stunt equipment was in the initial stages of being set up. The original plan was to set them up, then Xander would practice the stunts over the next several days and tweak anything that wasn’t right.

He wouldn’t have that chance now if all the equipment wasn’t set up until only a few days before the show on Saturday.

The quicker I found the saboteur, the quicker the equipment could be set up again for real and Xander could practice.

A young man, who looked to be in his mid-20’s was over by the fairground building and was dismantling a device that looked like a ramp attached to a large ring. He was tall and skinny and had long dark hair pulled back in a ponytail. He had a scruffy dark beard. He waved to Reed as we approached.

Hey Denny, Reed said, shaking the young man’s hand. This is Justin—a friend from town. How’s it going?

Good, good, Denny said, shaking my hand. He had a firm grip.

Is this a fire ring? I asked checking out the device up close.

Right, Denny said. Xander was going to ride a motorcycle up the ramp and through the ring that would be lit on fire. It’s an old stunt but a good one. They still use fire in stunts a lot these days. Some of it is CGI but a lot is still done by stuntmen.

Very good to know, I said and Denny broke out into a wide grin.

Well, we’ll see you around, Reed said, waving goodbye.

We met a few other people. Raina was a young woman who was in charge of the fire and explosives for the stunts. She was about 30 with short blond hair and multiple piercings in her ears, nose and lip. She would be a prime suspect as the bomb could have been planted by someone with her knowledge.

Reed, what are you up to? She said with a grin when we entered her tent.

Just showing a friend around before we leave, he said. This is Justin Macdonald. He lives here in town.

Nice to meet you Justin. Raina turned back to Reed. Your brother was looking for you a few minutes ago. Did you see him?

No, Reed said with a gulp.

Come on, let’s find him, I said.

We went back outside and scanned around the area. We saw Rhys about 200m away—over by the fence the surrounded the fairgrounds. He was talking to someone I didn’t recognize. A younger woman with blond hair. A moment later she turned and walked away in the opposite direction and was soon lost in sight.

Now that looked a little suspicious!