Helmut Goes Abroad by Matt Sheehan

Author:Matt Sheehan
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2014-01-28T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twelve

All the hotels were full, but Ramón got us a room anyway. We ended up in the penthouse suite of the Sterling Hotel. I’m not sure if Ramón used threats or bribes, and I really didn’t care. The second we stowed our stuff, and Shamus had explored the suite’s full bar, we made our way downstairs and over to the big top.

Since Ramón was still doling out Alliance money, he sprang for the high-end seats. As a result we got actual chairs of our own at ground level, rather than having to cram in with the unwashed public in the bleacher seating. Not that the smell could have been much worse anyway. Apparently they can train the animals to dance and jump through hoops, but not to hold it till the end of the show.

Shamus seemed to enjoy himself, and surprisingly so did Ramón. They both cheered for the animal trainers and gymnasts, laughed at the antics of the clowns and kept the food vendors busy with cotton candy and corn dog orders. I’m all for fried food, but I draw the line at carnie fare. I stuck with roasted nuts and iced tea.

Willie came along as well and had his own seat. The ticket booth operator didn’t mind, so long as we bought the dog a ticket. Willie ate his corn dog with ketchup.

I have to admit the gymnasts were fantastic. Now I can do a flip off a diving board and usually not land on my back, but I certainly couldn’t do it off a trapeze and then catch someone else’s arms as they swung past. I’m not even sure how you learn to do something like that without breaking your neck. Or why it would ever seem like a good idea to try. But I guess some people would say the same thing about administering beat downs to strangers in the street.

After the show, I jumped the rail separating the talent from us paying stiffs and made my way over to the base of the ladder where the acrobats were making their way down from the high wire. I have found when I am trespassing that if I act like I belong, people usually assume that I do. Actual security is a different matter, but I didn’t see any around.

I let them mill around a moment or two just to see how they sorted up. Many times troupes like this are family affairs, and I didn’t want to start out on the wrong foot by hitting on someone’s wife. It became quickly apparent by their conversations and body language which ones were matched up and which weren’t. I’ll give you a hint. The single ones still had that twinkle of hope in their eyes, the others just sad resignation.

A group of three cute young things saw me approach and began to whisper and fiddle with their hair. Fish on. Pickup line twenty-one, perfect for groups in casual situations, worked to perfection, and they promised to meet up with us later that evening at Antonio’s.

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