Chapter One

It was a cool fall evening and the circus was in Gotham. Jim and Lee went to it for a date and wasn't disappointed. The acrobats were flying through the air with so much grace it was mesmerizing. You could feel the music and the energy. That was until the end of the act when suddenly the clowns came into the ring. They suddenly attacked the acrobats and soon it turned into an all out brawl. The fight escalated and soon Jim had to walk up to the fight and broke it up.

After the fight broke up Jim went around asking questions to the acrobats as well as the clowns but they all answered the same thing. They don't know why the clowns attack the acrobats and the clowns had nothing to say to them. But a young couple confessed something to .
They confessed that the reason they could be fighting was because of a woman named Lila.

"Hey" Jim called to Lee "Sorry the date went south" he tried to apologized but soon got shut down when Lee said.

"Are you kidding? Best date ever. Who get to see a circus brawl."She chuckled and Jim scoffed.

"True but none of them will talk of course"He said with sarcasm dripping in his voice."Still don't know what those two were fighting over "

"I think they were rival lovers. Their families have been fighting each other since way back "she said in a curious voice"but this particular fight was over a woman named Lila." She then formed a grin"She's a snake dancer in the side show" Jim gives a face full of curiousness in it.

"Wow"He replied simply not knowing what to say. But Lee only got more excited.

"I know right. I mean how cool is that? A snake dancer" she smiled brightly

"No. I mean wow, you're really good "Jim chuckled

"People talk to doctors. "Lee gloats.

"I guess so. "Jim smiled. "I should find this Lila. You know make sure she's okay. Might take awhile. I'll have a patrolman take you home."he said to her. But as he was about to guide her to one. She responded.

"Oh. I could come with you"She said in a hopeful voice.

Jim didn't see it that way and tried to reason with her. "Lee, this is police business"

"Come on Jim. I'm dying to meet Lila" she broke out her million dollar smile that she knew could break him.

"Well, bringing along medical personal is a justifiable precaution, I guess "He said when he gave in.

"There you go"She giggled. Jim asked the ringmaster to take them to Lila.

Time skip a few minutes

Jim, Lee , and the ringmaster all went to the trailer park behind the tent where all the circus people stayed. They walked to a trailer with a snake. The ringmaster knocked on the door waiting for Lila to come out. But she didn't instead a clean cut young man with bright ginger hair opened the door.

"G.C.P.D. We need to talk to Lila."Jim told the young man.

"She's not here "said the boy as he came out with his jacket on."Why? What's happened?"He asked worried.

Jim asked"Where is she?"

"I don't know. "He told him. "She was suppose to be home ages ago."
"You a relative" Jim asked him.
"I'm her son, Jerome."he told Jim. Soon a raven haired girl dressed in a white sheer dress on come out from behind the trailer.

"Jerome? Is everything ok?"She asked the boy. She couldn't be older than 16. She walked over to him and held his hand.

"Yeah don't worry Aria. "He grabbed a blanket from the trailer and wrapped it around her. "You shouldn't be out in this weather dressed like that. "

"What's going on?"She asked him.

"They're looking for my mom."he told her.

"Jerome, when was the last time her?" Jim asked the ginger.

"This morning." He said look up from Aria."She was here when Aria and I left for the library."

The ringmaster decided to step in. "Relax Jerome. This gentleman is just here because of Owen and Al had a disagreement."

"Of course they did. "Aria mumbled.

"Your mother's fine. Gone on her spree, no doubt. You know how she is."

Jerome looked at him in disbelief. "A spree? Without her hat? Her coat? Her purse." He tightened his hold on Aria's hand

" , when was the last time you saw Lila?"Jim directed towards the raven haired beauty

"Last night when I left the trailer after Jerome and I finished studying. "She told him honestly.

"Not this morning?"Jim questioned.

"No." She snapped at Jim"Look I avoid her when I can. She and I aren't friends. I'm only friends with Jerome.I stayed out of their trailer this morning out of respect."

"Look at Sheba. "He said then looked at Jim. "She's distraught. She knows something's wrong."Aria looked at the snake and petted her.

"The snake is agitated"Jim commented as he watched how Jerome and Aria acted around each other.

The ringmaster quickly stepped him and whispered into Jim's ear. "She is what you call a party girl. Back in the morning with her knickers in her handbag. Sure as eggs" Jerome heard him and frowned. Aria noticed this and hugged him. She knew he and his mother weren't very kind to one another but she also knew that those things hit a nerve or two.

"But she didn't bring her handbag, did she?" Jim said in an aggravated voice. "How fast does a snake that size move/" he asked Jerome. When he did Aria tighten her grip on his arm.

" A fast walking pace. They mostly rely on surprise." Jerome grabbed her hand knowing she was terrified of Sheba and snakes in general.

" Let her out." Jim commanded.

"I'm sorry?"

"Let her out" he said once more. Jerome lets the snake and moves Aria behind him. They follow the snake until they found a truck with a tarp over it. Jim walked to it and pulled the tarp off. It revealed a dead woman laying in the hay. Suddenly Jerome falls to his knees and cries his eyes out. Aria hugs him from behind and comforts him by rubbing his back and letting him rest her head her shoulder