"What?!"

The silence that met Jessica was almost deafening. After realizing she was once again alone, Jessica returned to reading the scrapbook.

The next set of pages held pasted on adverts for a sideshow boasting not one, but two real-life mermaids, but these placards seemed different than the one on the prior page. The first showed very stereotypical representations of classical mermaids, almost cartoonish in detail, while these portrayed the creatures in a more realistic, detailed manner. One was blonde while the other a brunette. Their faces were different, though a rough similarity could be seen. The brunette was slender and willowy while the blonde appeared to have a rounder, more voluptuous figure. Something in the drawing of the fairer mermaid seemed familiar to Jessica, but she could not put her finger on just what it was.

Jessica then realized one side of the pages seemed plumper than the other. It was as though something was between the thin paper of the book and the thicker cardstock used for the poster. It certainly merited further investigation. She carefully attempted to pry the heavier material away, and eventually found a small place where the glue had not been applied. With anxious patience, Jessica reached in and pulled out a folded piece of paper.

The scent of cheap beer and cigar smoke flooded her nose, causing her to wave her free hand in front of her face in a futile attempt to clear away the odors. Jessica carefully opened the paper and scanned the writing.

"Oh. My. God." Her eyes widened in horror.

Written with salacious detail was an advertisement for a special after-hours event, the first ever so the paper said, where one could view (and possibly more if one would like to pay extra) the mermaids as if they were in their native habitats. The accompanying illustration portrayed nude figures with long hair strategically concealing most of the more salacious bits.

Jessica suddenly found herself standing at the side of what appeared to be a local dive bar, dark and dingy, with the clinking of glass and sudden outbursts of laughter and curses mingling haphazardly around her. She watched as a man wearing far finer clothing than anyone else in the room approached a small group of inebriated men as he was reluctantly escorted by a younger man. He held up the advertisement she held in her hand and dramatically read it aloud, though to her it was as if in pantomime. Something blocked out his voice, though Jessica had no idea what, but she was grateful. His hand motions more than adequately illustrated his intentions.

A knife. A cut. A baby in arms. A body, pale and lifeless, cast aside.

She felt sick to her stomach at what was revealed.

"Tomorrow night, my friends! Tell anyone you think might enjoy these fruits of the sea!"

The shock of hearing once again, startled Jessica, and she was tempted to confront the man, but something held her still. Her eyes met those of the escorting gentleman, and while he did not appear to see her, there was stiff coldness to his body. She sensed he was telling her that he would handle everything with a swift and certain vengeance. Her own eyes widened as she recognized him from the blurry image of The Great E.

"Tell me, my boy," the ringmaster said to The Great E as they headed for the door. "What were they thinking?"

"Most will be there," came the begrudging reply. "A few will bring friends. No one intends to tell any authorities."

"Marvelous. Marvelous." He pounded on the younger man's back, completely oblivious to the anger bubbling just below the surface.

In a whirl of color, the bar disappeared, and she found herself back in the cozy kitchen of the Masen family.