Elsa appeared in the doorway of her tent later that evening and swept an appraising gaze over her kingdom. Spotting Greta, dressed casually in red shorts and a loose fitting, strategically buttoned shirt, heading purposefully out of the dining tent in the direction of the big tent, she called her over. Her daughter turned slowly, as though unsure whether she had misheard. Her confusion increased as she received a warm smile and a nod, before Elsa motioned for her to join her and retreated inside her tent to wait.
"I heard what you did earlier… at the diner." Elsa told her as soon as the younger woman appeared nervously in the doorway.
"Oh…"
"It was incredibly brave of you, but also very stupid."
Greta rolled her eyes, not having expected praise of any sort from the older blonde. The first part of her assessment of the event had been the surprise, not the criticism. Instead of overreacting instantly, the girl bit her lips together and dropped onto the chaise lounge in her mother's tent. She reached for the bottle of schnapps that was constantly present, but Elsa moved it away with a speed that Greta had not seen coming.
"I am not a child."
"You are my child and you are only twenty-years-old. I am not giving you liquor."
"Fine. Well, what was I supposed to do?" She demanded, frowning at the bottle that was now perched safely out of her reach, before raising her eyes to her mother's. "Let those ignorant bastards carry on treating your monsters as such?" Greta did not approve of the term Elsa used to describe the troupe, however affectionately it was meant. "It is not right."
"No, my darling, it is not right." Elsa agreed. "But it is life. And it is our business. If we take away the mystery, paint them as the same as everyone else, then where is the magic of our show? We need to keep that magic and mystery alive to keep the audiences coming in so that we can survive."
"But they are people! They have feelings!"
The older woman nodded and smiled softly. "I am aware of that. Here, in this place, they need never worry about being ridiculed or treated with less respect than they deserve. This is their home... our home. They are our family. They will defend their own with their lives. Your little outburst yesterday proved that you are one of that family now."
"But I just–"
"I hear that you require some lessons on reading and writing." Elsa announced, completely flooring the girl with her abrupt change of subject. She opened and closed her mouth wordlessly, earning herself an amused smirk. "It is alright… in fact it is to be expected, really. You learnt in German." Elsa paused. "You did learn to read and write in German, I hope?"
"Of course I…." Greta started indignantly before sighing and looking at her hands. "No, not really… How did you...?"
"There are no secrets here, mein liebling. I have asked the twins to work with you." Elsa told her in a business-like tone. "They have agreed to teach you between rehearsals."
"Oh..."
"I have demands on my time that would mean a lot of disruption to your education. I must travel to recruit and be involved in decisions about acts. The twins will be far more useful to you."
"OK." Greta agreed realising that arguing would be futile.
"Now," Elsa began, "about your act in the–"
"What is that?" Her daughter asked quickly, cutting across her as she heard several sirens outside.
Exchanging a look, the two women left the tent and looked for the source of the noise. They shielded their eyes from the evening sun and spotted a trio of police cars drawing to a halt a little way off, throwing up clouds of dust in their wake.
"Was ist los jetzt?" Elsa huffed as the detectives walked towards her. As she and Greta walked further from the tent, she turned to her daughter warningly. "Do not say anything. Leave any talking that is required to me."
"Elsa Mars, we have a warrant to search the premises for evidence pertaining to the disappearance of Detective Robert Bunch."
"On what grounds, officer?" She demanded, snatching the warrant and casting a cursory glance over it.
"We received an anonymous tip. We have reasons to believe he was murdered here. Which one of these tents belongs to Dell Toledo?"
"What?" The strong man called from a little way off, furrowing his eyebrows with a mixture of irritation and confusion clear in his expression.
Elsa pointed lazily. "That one over there."
"Turn it upside down."
"Wait a minute… what the hell is going on?" Dell demanded furiously. He lurched forward but was held back by a large detective. "We only just got here a couple of days ago. We haven't done anything."
"Shut your trap."
They watched as Desiree burst from the caravan, screaming her husband's name. A detective, just outside the door, caught her as she lurched through the doorway and held her tightly. The woman struggled against her captor until he released his grip on her upper arms and she straightened her robe indignantly. Greta noticed a look passing between her mother and Jimmy, frowning as the young man looked away hastily when she met his eyes.
"We already got an earful about what a boy scout you are from Chicago PD." The detective told Dell, smirking.
"I'm telling ya, there's nothing in there." Apparently wondering the same as Greta, Dell scowled at Jimmy. "Why're you so smug?"
"You're the one with the guilty look on your face." The younger man retorted instantly.
"Nothing in the trailer, sir." An officer called, jumping down from the caravan and shrugging.
"Nobody moves a muscle until we search every tent here! Tear this place apart!"
Everyone looked on anxiously as the men began ransacking the camp, meeting each other's eyes briefly before looking away. The police officers opened boxes and tipped out the contents, apparently enjoying the task far too much. The performers were forced to stand in silence and watch as their home was all but destroyed. One officer barged past Greta roughly, purposely knocking her sideways with his shoulder. Elsa's arm shot out to steady the younger woman, her eyes blazing after the man who had dared to touch her daughter.
Shaking her head as the older woman opened her mouth to say something, Greta rubbed her arm quickly. Elsa nodded to Eve, who came to stand protectively beside the younger blonde, while her mother moved away hurriedly to stand closer to Jimmy.
"I do not need a bodyguard." Greta assured Eve with a smirk.
"I never thought you did." The Amazon replied casually. "Maybe it's me who needs protecting from the cops."
Greta laughed softly at her words, not wanting to draw attention to them. Then the smile faded slowly from her face and the girl furrowed her eyebrows at the comment, realising that Eve looked genuinely worried. Her focus was flitting between the searching detectives and the conversation taking place between Jimmy and Dell. They were speaking too quietly for the two women to be able to hear what was being said, but from the expression on the younger man's face, Greta guessed it wasn't a pleasant conversation.
"What is going on?" Greta hissed at her friend. Eve opened her mouth, either to give her an explanation or fob her off, but she was prevented from answering by a shout from one of the officers.
"We found it, sir." Everyone watched, horrified, as the man dragged Meep across the grass towards the detective in charge of the search. "It was under his bedroll."
He held up the metal badge his officer had just thrown him "This is Detective Bunch's badge."
"I'm shocked, officer. Shocked." Elsa told him, displaying almost no emotion at all.
"Take this freak to the station."
They watched in silence as Meep was marched over to the waiting car and thrown unceremoniously in the back. Greta's mouth dropped open as no one spoke or moved to stop them. She took a step forward, intending to do something, but Eve put a hand on her shoulder and stopped her. When the young woman looked up into her face, she shook her head sadly.
"Meep? They cannot seriously believe he has done anything?" She demanded as the police cars drove away and the gathered performers began to disperse. "He is like a child!"
"Come on…" Eve muttered, pulling her towards her caravan by the arm.
As soon as they were safely inside Eve's trailer with the door closed behind them, the blonde started demanding answers from her friend. "What is going on? Why did you look absolutely terrified when they started searching the camp? Why were Dell and Jimmy arguing?"
"OK… that detective they're looking for? Bunch?" Eve started, sitting down on her bunk beside the younger woman. Greta shrugged and nodded, urging her to continue. "He came here… he tried to take Dot and Bette away. Jimmy killed him and Paul and I helped him get rid of the body. That badge… it was all that was left."
There was a long pause while Greta digested the information. The brunette watched her anxiously, wondering what her reaction would be. Eve thought she had taken a huge risk by admitting the truth to the younger woman, who could easily take the information badly. She watched Greta carefully, her eyes moving slowly over her features as she attempted to work out what the blonde was thinking. Finally Greta nodded slowly.
"The only parts I do not understand is how the badge ended up in Meep's trailer and how they knew to come and look for it." Greta said thoughtfully. "Who had it?"
"Jimmy."
Wordlessly, Greta got to her feet and moved towards the door. Eve panicked and grabbed her arm, yanking her backwards. The sharp movement caused the blonde to topple over and land flush on top of the other woman on the bed. They both gasped at the sudden close proximity, their noses touching. Greta could feel Eve's breath on her cheek and felt as though her heart was going to beat straight through her chest.
Pulling herself together, Greta wriggled slightly in an attempt to stand up. Her cheeks flushed as her knee slipped between the older woman's thighs and Eve let out an involuntary moan in response. Greta suddenly felt very hot and her stomach flipped uncomfortably. Resolutely not meeting Eve's eyes, she managed to get to her feet without further incident.
"I am going to speak to Jimmy, to find out what is going on." The girl explained hastily, before fleeing from the trailer and leaving Eve and her embarrassment behind.
She leant heavily against the side of Jimmy's caravan, banging the back of her head against the cool metal of the wall several times and inwardly cursing herself for causing the awkward situation. Pulling herself together and feeling the need to get out of clear view of anyone who cared to glance out of their trailer or tent, Greta turned and knocked on the door to attract Jimmy's attention. When there was no answer after a couple of minutes, she opened the door and let herself in anyway.
"What d'you want?" Jimmy muttered eyeing her irritably but not moving from his position, curled up on his bunk.
"Are you alright?"
"What d'you think?"
Greta sighed and moved further into the caravan, closing the door firmly behind her. "How could anyone think Meep is capable of anything bad?"
"They couldn't… he isn't."
"Exactly, so why did the police find that badge in his trailer?" She demanded. Jimmy rolled over to face her, fixing her with a look that Greta knew well enough to understand that it meant that he wasn't about to tell her anything. Scowling, she walked over to stand beside his bunk, folding her arms and looking down at him. "Jimmy Darling… I am not a child. I want to know what is happening here."
"No, Greta, you don't." He told her firmly, finally pulling himself into a seated position. "You need to stay as far away from this as possible."
"But that is not possible. This is my home now. Whatever is happening here affects us all and the more I know about it, the easier it will be for me to stay out of trouble."
"Greta–"
"What do you see when you look at me, Jimmy?" Greta asked in a softer voice.
He frowned. "I see a scrawny, scrappy blonde kid… basically a less vindictive, taller version of Elsa."
"I am not a kid!" She argued vehemently, barely restraining herself from stamping her foot and proving him right. "You have no idea what I have seen and done in my life, Jimmy. I know that you killed that detective."
"What?"
"I know you did. Do not bother trying to deny it."
"How did you find out?" Jimmy asked, sighing dejectedly.
"As my mother told me, there are no secrets here." Greta reminded him gently. "I do not care about what you did, Jimmy. I just want to help you. We are family."
"I don't wanna drag you into this mess."
"It is too late for that. Tell me what happened. Why did the detectives take Meep?"
"Elsa and I decided that Dell needed to go after what he did. I hid the badge in his trailer during the show and made the call to the cops, but he must have found it and hidden it in Meep's trailer instead."
"But… Meep?"
"He's an easy target." Jimmy told her bitterly. "We all are around here. No one cares about us… we're just freaks."
"Hey!" The girl shook her head vehemently. "Stop it. Do not say things like that. Jimmy, everyone around here looks up to you… you are the one they rely on to reassure them. If you give up then there is no hope for the likes of Pepper or Suzi or the twins or… me. We need you to keep your head."
"I can't always be the one that solves things around here."
"I am not saying you have to be." Greta sighed and sat down, taking his hand in hers and holding it tightly. "I will help… just… do not give up."
"Jimmy, I wanted to–" Elsa burst into the caravan, but stopped abruptly at the sight of her daughter sitting beside the young man. "What is going on?"
"Nothing."
"Really?"
"Yes, Elsa." Greta told her, rolling her eyes.
"Good, because I have warned you, Jimmy Darling." Elsa reminded him, pointing her cigarette threateningly in his direction.
The younger woman raised her eyebrows and turned to her quickly. "I am sorry? You have warned him? Warned him about what?"
"She warned us all that if we laid as much as a finger on you she would kill us."
"What?" Greta demanded, scowling at Elsa.
"I am just looking out for you, my darling." The older blonde replied with a shrug. Motioning towards the door, she indicated that she wanted her daughter to leave. "Sleep well, liebling."
Realising that she had no choice in the matter, the young woman stood and moved towards the other end of the trailer. Glaring at her mother, Greta slammed the door open and left the caravan. Not being able to bring herself to face Eve again so soon after embarrassing herself so completely earlier and still being furious at the knowledge that Elsa had warned everyone to stay away from her, the young woman made her way to her tent.
After changing quickly into her pyjamas, she lay down and stared up at the canvas above her. She was sure that it would take her a while to fall asleep, with everything that was going on in her mind.
No sooner had she finally managed to fall asleep, than a terrible scream ripped her back into consciousness. Greta sat up and looked around wide-eyed, trying to work out where the sound had come from and what had caused it. Before she had completely regained her bearings, the flap of her tent was thrown aside and a figure appeared against the night sky.
"Greta? Are you alright?"
"Evie?" The blonde let out the breath that she hadn't realised she'd been holding. "What is going on?"
"I don't know." Eve replied, looking over her shoulder and out of the tent. "I wanted to check you were OK before I went to find out."
"Thanks." Greta smiled warmly at her as they left the tent together and headed in search of the sound that was still going on.
Eve gasped and covered her mouth with her hands as they reached the group of people gathered around the entrance to the big tent. There was a bundle on the ground; something wrapped in what appeared to be a blue tarpaulin. Jimmy was on his knees in front of it, crying desperately.
"Ethel?" Greta asked quietly, putting a hand on the young man's back and rubbing a calming circle. "What has happened now?"
In answer, Jimmy flipped the tarpaulin open and revealed the battered and bruised, lifeless face of Meep. A lump formed in Greta's throat as she stared down. She didn't react when Jimmy turned and buried his face in her stomach, barely even feeling it as he wrapped his arms around her waist. Greta slowly moved her arms around him, running a hand through his hair soothingly as tears fell silently from her eyes.