"Something tells me I'm about to do a disappearing act." Damon's fingers silently drummed the armrest. "If I do, when you find her, don't tell - " He inhaled sharply.
"Don't tell her about you."
"Yeah."
Finn turned at a hand-drawn parking sign.
"It wouldn't be right," Damon said finally. "She'll have a lot on her mind and that would just freak her out."
"I need her to trust me - and telling her I see ghosts, even yours, isn't going to help."
A tight laugh. "Yeah."
"Later, though, we could... figure something out."
Damon nodded. After a few seconds of silence he said, "Sure. If it works out. That would be good."
Five minutes later, Finn was flashing his badge at the ticket girl and stepping inside the fairgrounds. The backup team hadn't arrived, but Damon was still at his side.
"Maybe whatever power decided to let you help me is going to let you see her," Finn said.
"Or maybe it means she isn't here." Damon shook his head. "Damn, I'm a regular ray of sunshine tonight, aren't I?"
But as they walked to the midway, Damon's mood did grow sunnier. The bounce returned to his step. He started singing along to a song playing at the rides. His gaze scoured the crowd, hope sparking in his eyes every time he caught sight of a blond head.
"So where are you supposed to meet her?" Damon asked.
"Here."
"I meant where here."
"She didn't specify."
Damon stopped walking. Finn slowed, waiting for him to catch up. He didn't.
"Either you think I'm a complete idiot or you're hoping I'm too worried to think straight. This is my wife we're talking about, Finn. She'd never hang up without giving you a meeting place, complete with a description, the nearest entrance and optimal parking. Hell, the fact she didn't offer to send MapQuest directions to your cell phone already told me she's worse off than she's letting on."
Finn had resumed walking, scanning faces. "We got disconnected."
"What?" Damon strode up beside him.
"I was having trouble hearing her, then we were disconnected. I thought I heard a woman in the background. Maybe Adams. I couldn't make out what she said."
A passing boy turned to stare up at Finn. "Who's that man talking - ?"
His mother shushed him, then tugged him closer, arm going around him as she cast a nervous glance at Finn, stopping well short of making eye contact. At a place like this, people talking to themselves wouldn't be that uncommon. Still, he should be more careful or he'd find himself explaining the situation to security.
"Did she call back?" Damon asked.
Finn shook his head.
"Did you call her?"
He nodded.
"And?" Damon prompted.
"Her phone's turned off."