“Let’s head down there first, then I’ll check in with the boss.” He jerked his chin in the direction of the carnival rides. “What have we got?”
Furst nodded. “We believe there’s at least one device on the merry-go-round.”
Beyond the food stand, the garishly outfitted carousel spun in a slow circle. Jake frowned as he noted it was the only ride in motion. The only one with people on it. But there was no music playing. The entire carnival was oddly quiet.
“It’s on there? Why is it running?”
“Instructions from head of Security, sir,” Furst explained with a grimace. “The threat came through to her via text message. Whoever is doing this said not to stop the carousel.”
“Text message?” Jake turned his head sharply, his brow furrowed in confusion. “And we think the device is on the ride?”
Sergeant Furst’s lips thinned into a tight line as he nodded. “The informant gave specific instruction not to the stop the ride. They claim there are multiple devices scattered around the grounds.”
“Do we know how many?”
“Head of Security is guessing twelve, but we are not certain.”
“Twelve?”
His tone was sharp enough to elicit a head tilt and a grunt from Max. Without looking, he reached down and placed a hand on his K-9 partner’s head to reassure the dog. Max sometimes had a better read on his emotions than he did himself.
He bent to be sure Max’s lead was securely clipped to his harness. The breakaway feature of the leash allowed him to deploy Max when they needed his speed and agility, but there were too many people around, and Jake didn’t have a clear picture on where they should begin their search.
“Who are all these people? I didn’t think the fair opened until tomorrow.”
“Media Day.” They set off in the direction of the corn dog stand. “There are also workers finishing setup.” An autumnal breeze carried the scent of smoked meats and cooking grease. “Food prep, too, I imagine,” Furst added with a wry smirk. “They were taking photos with the governor and some kids from one of the local schools when Security called us in.”
“The governor’s here?” Jake’s eyes widened.
“Safe. His personal detail got him off the ride and into Barton.” Furst pointed toward the old arena in the center of the fairgrounds.
“And there was no detonation?” Jake asked.
“No, sir. We’re not sure what might trigger one, though,” Furst admitted.
Once the premier entertainment venue in Central Arkansas, Barton Coliseum lost its headliners to newer, flashier arenas, but still served as home to rodeos, monster truck rallies and other regional events.
Jake looked around. “And where is this ‘head of Security’…?” he prompted, letting the question dangle.
“Walker,” Furst advised.
Jake’s steps slowed as he caught sight of a blonde woman on one of the carousel benches, holding hands with a gangly boy seated across from her. The fanciful seahorses on the ends of the seats sported glittering blue-green paint. The boy sat on the edge of his seat, a black backpack looped over his narrow shoulders.
“Why is there a kid on there?” But before he could pick up the pace again, the woman moved to sit on the same bench as the boy. They hugged, then seemed to tussle a bit. “What the—” Jake clicked his tongue once and took off in a flat run. “Hey, lady! Miss!” He sprinted toward the carousel. “Ma’am! Stop!”
Max galloped easily beside him, insultingly unwinded and enjoying the uphill jaunt.
“Ma’am,” Jake tried again, but he was too late.
Somehow the woman had managed to loop her arm through one of the backpack straps as the boy slithered loose. Now her young friend stood at the end of the bench and the black straps were settled firmly on her shoulders.
“Somebody grab him,” she shouted as they spun past again.
The wind caught the little boy’s oversize orange T-shirt as he stared at the ground swirling past the edge of the platform, his hand wrapped tightly around one of the poles supporting the canopy.
Using his nephews as a gauge, Jake guessed the kid was no more than six or seven. Tears ran down the boy’s face as he inched closer to the edge. Jake heard the woman call out again, shouting for someone to help the boy down.
They pulled up inside the metal fencing around the ride. Unfurling some slack in Max’s lead, he gave the dog the command to stay and then stepped forward. “I’ve got you, buddy.” He reached out to the boy the next time he passed. “You can meet my dog.”
