Chapter 235 Amusement Park Crisis Part IV

Chapter 235 Amusement Park Crisis Part IV
Bradley POV

Jacob came running toward us, pulling Joanne by the wrist. My son's face was excited, but Joanne was practically skipping to keep up with her brother's pace, her other hand clutching a paper cup filled with bright orange juice.

"Careful," I called out, but it was too late.

Joanne's foot caught on an uneven paver. She stumbled forward with a small cry, the cup in her hand flying through the air. The bright orange liquid splashed across the concrete as she fell to her knees.

Diana and I both lunged forward, my heart hammering as I reached Joanne first.

"Are you hurt, sweetheart?" I asked, crouching before her and examining her knees for scrapes.

Tears welled in her eyes, but she bravely shook her head. "My juice is gone," she whispered, bottom lip quivering.

Diana knelt beside us, her fingers gently brushing Joanne's hair from her face. "It's okay, we can get you another one."

Jacob hovered nearby, shifting his weight from one foot to the other. He still clutched his own cup of juice, miraculously unspilled during their hasty return.

Once I was certain Joanne wasn't injured, I straightened and fixed Jacob with a stern look. "Why did you two leave to get juice? You were supposed to wait by the fountain."

Jacob lowered his eyes. "I—"

"I was thirsty," Joanne interrupted, her earlier distress already forgotten. "And a doggy bought them for us. She was nice! But now my juice is all gone."

Jacob extended his cup toward his sister. "You can have mine, Jo."

I immediately reached out and took the cup from his hand, frowning. "What doggy? What are you talking about?"

"The mascot," Jacob explained, looking up at me with earnest eyes. "The one dressed like the park dog character. She saw us waiting and asked if we wanted juice."

A chill ran down my spine. "You took drinks from a stranger?" I kept my voice measured, but Diana must have heard the tension because she placed a calming hand on my arm.

Jacob shook his head. "I was suspicious at first, Dad. But she was a park employee, and she bought the drinks right there at the stand. We watched her pay for them."

I looked in the direction they were pointing, but saw only the regular flow of park visitors, no mascot in sight. My jaw tightened. Instinct told me something wasn't right.

"Listen to me," I said, crouching to meet their eyes. "We don't accept things from strangers, even if they're wearing park uniforms. Especially not when they're trying to be extra nice for no reason."

"But—" Joanne began.

"No buts," I said firmly, glancing at the cup in my hand. Even if it was bought from the store, it still passed through a stranger's hands. Who knew what could be in it? "We can't be sure this is safe."

"The doggy was nice," Joanne insisted, her face falling. "And now I'm still thirsty."

"I'll get you both fresh drinks," I said, walking to a nearby trash can and deliberately dropping the cup inside. "Wait here with your mother."

When I returned with the drinks, Diana gave me a questioning look. I shook my head slightly—we'd discuss it later, away from the children's ears.

"Can we go on some rides now?" Joanne asked, happily sipping her new juice.

"Of course," Diana replied, her smile not quite reaching her eyes. She'd understood my unspoken concern. "What would you like to ride next?"

"Something with fewer people on it," I suggested, still scanning the crowds, half-expecting to see someone in a dog costume watching us. "Not like the inflatable castle where too many kids are playing at once."

"The Ferris wheel!" Joanne exclaimed, pointing to the massive structure that dominated the skyline of Adventure World. "It never has a long line because it's always moving."

I nodded, relieved to focus on something normal. "Good choice."

We made our way to the Ferris wheel, which indeed had a manageable queue. After one rotation, Joanne's enthusiasm hadn't dimmed.

"Again! Again!" she pleaded as our car reached the loading platform.

My phone buzzed in my pocket. I glanced at the screen, recognizing the number of the psychiatric hospital.

"You three go ahead for another round," I told Diana, pressing a quick kiss to her forehead. "I need to take this call."

"Everything okay?" Diana asked, her eyes searching mine.

"Just business," I lied smoothly. "I'll be waiting right here when you finish."

As Diana and the children boarded the Ferris wheel again, I stepped away from the crowd and answered the call.

"Mr. Booth," the director's voice was strained. "I apologize for contacting you directly, but given the circumstances—"

"What's happened?" I cut in, watching as the wheel carried my family higher into the sky.

"The recent weather event caused significant damage to our facility. There was a landslide that compromised the east wing. Several patients went missing in the chaos."

"And?" I prompted, already knowing what was coming.

"The three individuals you asked us to monitor..." he paused. "We've found two bodies. Preliminary identification suggests they are Judith Miranda and Renata Sullivan."

My breath caught. "And the third? Marisa Pierce?"

"Still unaccounted for. We don't know if she escaped or was buried. Probably buried, though, since Judith and Renata's bodies were recovered from the landslide debris. Their rooms were adjacent. We're continuing to excavate."

"Thank you," I said mechanically, my mind already racing through implications. "Keep me updated."

I ended the call, a strange mix of relief and dread washing over me. So those three women who had caused Diana and me endless suffering were dead? Good. That saved me from having to worry about them anymore.

A sudden commotion drew my attention back to the Ferris wheel. People were pointing upward, voices rising in alarm. I turned, my heart stopping as I saw the massive structure shudder.

A metallic groan echoed across the park as one of the wheel's support cables snapped. Several of the passenger cars swung violently, their connection points visibly straining.

The ground beneath the Ferris wheel began to crack, small fissures spreading like spider webs across the concrete foundation.

As screams erupted around me, I frantically searched for the car carrying my family. Finally, I spotted them at the very top of the Ferris wheel—Diana waving desperately and calling out, her voice lost in the chaos below.

Their car was wobbling precariously, the metal hook connecting it to the wheel bending under the strain. It could break free and plummet to the ground at any moment.