See Jane Run

Chapter Three

“Hey!” Riley frowned. “Henry the Hornet is a beloved mascot. And if you didn’t fail math this year, Mr. Rose would trust you to count money. Your stinger is sagging, by the way.”

Shelby grunted inside the giant, fabric-covered hornet head. “Just for that, I’m sending all the creepy clowns to your booth.”

Riley spent the evening making change and nursing a large Coke. Shelby hadn’t made good on her promise, but Riley kept an eye on her anyway, catching Henry’s giant hornet head as Shelby waddled through the crowd, her antennae bobbing with each step. The crowds were starting to die down, and Riley yawned then waved across the midway to where Shelby was hiding out—a little shadowed V underneath the Tilt-A-Whirl.

Riley beckoned her over.

“I can’t believe you’re still in that ridiculous costume. I thought you would have ditched it hours ago.”

Henry the Hornet shrugged.

“Can you watch my booth? I’ve had to pee since we walked in.” Riley edged her way out of the booth and beelined through the crowd, not waiting for Shelby to answer. She was halfway back when Shelby—sans Henry costume—sidled up next to her.

“Hey! Who’s watching my booth?”

Shelby shrugged. “I give up. Who’s watching your booth?”

“It’s not a joke; it’s a question. You were supposed to be watching it.”

Shelby’s eyebrows rose. “Did you find one of those vodka Slurpees?”

“Shelbs, I’m serious! How did you get out of your Henry costume so fast?”

“I’ve been out of that thing for hours. Paid Trevor Gallagher ten bucks to take over.”

Heat snaked up Riley’s spine. She pointed. “Trevor Gallagher is right there.”

“No, he’s—who the hell is wearing the Henry costume?” Henry’s big head bobbed up and cocked, his enormous bug eyes seeming to pin Riley back. He raised a hand and waved then turned on his heel and disappeared behind a bank of food carts.

Riley yanked her purse out from under the booth and searched through it then pulled out the cash box. “It doesn’t look like he took anything.”

“But who the hell was that? Hey, Trevor!” Shelby yelled. Trevor trotted over, giving a short nod to Riley.

Shelby put her hands on her hips. “You were paid good money to be Henry. He’s a beloved mascot!”

Trevor shrugged. “You paid me ten bucks to be Henry for an hour.”

“Then who is Henry right now?”

“I don’t know. I took that thing off the minute the hour was up. That head smells like ass. I should have asked for fifty bucks.”