Perilous Pranks (Renaissance Faire Mystery) by Joyce Lavene, Jim Lavene Page A

“I was just talking to the young knight that Wanda was sleeping with. They were together last night. He said he left her before she was killed, but he does have a sword.”
    He wiped his hands on a napkin. “And you think this man may have killed Wanda? Or is this someone who can get you off the hook?”
    “I’m not on the hook. I know it looks like I had a part in this, but I didn’t.”
    “Who were you talking to just now, Jessie? Guilty conscience?”
    “No. I’m in contact with Wanda. She wants me to help her look for her killer.”
    He laughed and then almost choked on a large piece of turkey he tried to swallow at the same time. “This place can do funny things to people. Have you finally lost it?”
    I raised my head and held my chin high. “I haven’t lost anything. The knight’s name is Sir Marcus Bishop. He was at the Field of Honor. Maybe you should talk to him.”
    “And maybe you should let the police investigate this matter.”
    I started walking away from him. “I would— if you were investigating someone besides me .”
    “Watch your back, Jessie. We might be coming for you.”
    I ignored him and raced back toward the Main Gate. I thought Detective Almond would talk to Marcus. Chase was probably right about him being a good man, although I questioned him being a good detective. At least in the Village, he frequently had Chase do his work for him.
    “Lady Jessie.” The Tornado Twins—Diego and Lorenzo—bowed and swept their red, plumed hats from their heads. The brothers were similar in appearance—both black- haired and dark-eyed, short and thin. They weren’t twins though. That was only their stage act.
    “Twins,” I responded as I patted their pig that was on a gold leash. “It’s a wonderful day at the Faire.”
    “Indeed it is,” Lorenzo agreed. “News of Wanda Le Fey’s death has reached our ears. Forsooth, we are devastated—and intrigue d. Did you truly slay the lady?”
    “No. I just dyed her blue.”
    Both men started laughing so hard that their pig squealed and ran away.
    “Go get him,” Diego said to his brother.
    “No. I got him last time,” Lorenzo retorted. “You go get him.”
    Diego looked up and stared directly into Wanda’s scowling blue face. “I would, brother, but there’s a dead woman standing in front of me. I am afraid I have soiled myself.”
    “ You can see her?” I asked him.
    “No, he can’t see dead people,” Lorenzo said. “I’ve been telling him that his whole life—no dead people. Excuse us, Lady Jessie. We must catch our pig.”
    Lorenzo ran after the pig to the laughter of the nearby visitors. Diego didn’t follow him right away.
    “Be careful,” he warned. “Wanda looks mad .”
    “He can see me,” Wanda shouted as he ran away.
    “I don’t think he wants to see you,” I told her.
    “I don’t care.” She began following Diego. “I know you can see me,” she yelled at him. “I can see you too. Let’s have drinks.”
    I was starting to get a headache. Being followed by the ghost of a woman you couldn’t stand when she was alive could do that to you. I saw Chase quelling some kind of disturbance at the Fractured Fairy Tales tent and went to see what was happening.
    It seemed that Cinderella was having an issue with Prince Charming regarding their latest breakup. The evil stepfather (this kind of thing is what makes the fairy tales fractured) was egging them on, even offering his short sword to Cinderella.
    Chase grabbed the short sword and put it into his belt. The crowd of visitors cheered and shouted Huzzah! as the tableau ended. The stage emptied with Cinderella and Prince Charming still bickering.
    “There you are.” Chase saw me and put his arm around me. “What happened with Madame Lucinda?”
    I shrugged. “She told me I have to help Wanda find out who killed her and then she might go away.”
    “Not what I was hoping for, but I guess you’ve been trying to figure that out, right?”
    “Yes. I don’t