Broken People Read Online Free

can take time,” Spinner
said. “We’ll have to see how serious the damage is before we
promise anything.”
    “It’s serious, though the bones weren’t
damaged. Can’t you speed up the process?”
    Spinner and Rake exchanged a glance, and
then Spinner said, “We can … up to a point. When can you bring your
friend over?”
    “He’s waiting in the car in the parking lot
near the train station.”
    “Oh dear, you left him out in the cold?”
Spinner jumped up. “Do you want to add pneumonia on top of it?
Let’s go and get him!”
    “I’ll gather some boys to help.” Jacko
rushed out the door.
    “One second,” Nicholas said, all
business-like. “We need to discuss payment first.”
    Dale stopped on his way to the door. “Give
me a number. I’ll pay you after my friend passes the test.”
    “This can get expensive,” Nicholas said.
    “Miss Aurore is vouching for me.”
    “In that case…” Nicholas’s gesture towards
the door prompted Spinner to lead Dale into the darkness
outside.
    Rake stayed behind. Miss Aurore was good for
her word.
    “You know, I don’t feel like I’ve been of
much help.” Nicholas returned to the table to finish his drink.
    “It went as well as expected.” Rake
shrugged.
    He hadn’t been worried about the meeting.
Everyone knew what they did when they were not performing. Clients
from all over town came knocking on their door, usually for little
things like minor adjustments or small components failing, but a
big job sometimes appeared, too. Like now. “Are you going into town
tomorrow to rent the theater hall for your act?” Rake asked.
    “Yes. I’ve got an appointment with the
mayor.” Nicholas took a sip from his glass. “I don’t expect any
problems. He’s let me rent it for the past few years, too.”
    “Good. Rent the whole building.”
    “Are you serious?” Nicholas let out a
startled laugh. “What for?”
    “Spinner got all excited about it, but
that’s difficult work we’re asked to do, and we don’t have the
funds for it,” Rake said.
    The magician spun his glass, making the dark
liquid swirl. “I thought the circus had some money stashed
away.”
    Since Nicholas handled the accounts, he
didn’t just think , he knew , even if he couldn’t
access it, but Rake let it go.
    “It does. But with Big Dino out … We need to
bring something to the table besides our skills. We can’t rely on
Miss Aurore for everything.”
    Nicholas nodded, but his eyebrows were still
raised. “So what do you plan to do?”
    “We’re going to put on a show,” Rake said,
bracing himself for … He wasn’t sure for what. Maybe more laughter
since this was not his area of expertise.
    “Are we?” Nicholas made a pensive face,
pondering the idea. “Listen, Rake, I can’t hypnotize an entire hall
of people to prevent them from running away screaming. I’m good,
but I’m not that good.”
    “You don’t have to. We’ll put on a classy
show. We’ll have to leave the animals behind, but the girls will
enjoy the change. We will tell the clowns to clean up their
language. The other acts will do, even if we have to do a tame
version.”
    “I—” Nicholas ran a hand through his hair.
“I don’t know. I can’t see it happening. It’s a huge load of
work.”
    “That’s why we’re renting the theater for a
week,” Rake said. “Plenty of time to rehearse. It doesn’t have to
be perfect. Just good enough to be deemed decent by the
locals.”
    “ If they come. And if we get
permission from the authorities to do such a show,” Nicholas
said.
    “They’ll come. Everyone who ever wondered
about what we’re doing here but didn’t dare cross the river will
run to buy tickets if it’s a legit show. Those who aren’t
interested but care about their social standing will come, too. It
will be a full house. As for permission … well, you know the mayor.
You can get it from him.”
    “Assuming I do it,” Nicholas said, “he’ll
insist on putting on a classy