Dangerous Relations

Dangerous Relations Read Free Page A

Book: Dangerous Relations Read Free
Author: Carolyn Keene
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less sullen. Apparently, she enjoyed Tim’s attention.
    Bess asked her, “How’d you go from diving to flying?”
    â€œThe circus bug, as Tim said,” Katrina replied. “I asked a retired trapeze artist to give me lessons. Tim and I joined different circuses, but we’ve both been with the Grand Royal for about three years now.”
    â€œIsn’t it scary to fall? What causes that, anyway?” Nancy asked innocently.
    â€œMostly, it’s a poorly timed trick,” Katrina said. “Hayden decides whether or not to catch a trick. If it isn’t coming at him right, he’ll let it go rather than risk not being able to hang on to it throughout the swing.”
    â€œSo even pros fall?” Nancy asked.
    â€œOh, sure,” Katrina said. “Though during shows, Hayden sometimes catches tricks heought to let pass. Especially Natalia’s. Guess he wants to make her look good,” she added.
    Noticing that Tim’s attention had strayed to his friends, Nancy reached into her bag and pulled out the towel Natalia had wiped her hands on.
    â€œNatalia was telling the truth about the bar being oily. Look at this,” Nancy said, waiting for Katrina’s reaction.
    â€œLooks like Natalia had something on her hands when she left the platform,” Katrina said in a sharp voice.
    â€œI don’t think she’d be that careless,” Nancy said. Watching Katrina carefully, she added, “Natalia thought you had something to do with it.”
    The redhead jumped to her feet, nearly spilling her tea. “You’ve got no right to accuse me! Take that back or you’ll be sorry!”
    The chatter at the table stopped dead. Nancy felt every face in the room turn her way. Tim the clown leapt out of his chair as Katrina stormed around the table and came straight at Nancy!

Chapter

Three
    A LARMED , Nancy pushed her chair back and stood to defend herself. But Joseph Pomatto jumped up, too, and stepped in front of Nancy.
    â€œWhoa, whoa, calm down, Katrina,” he said soothingly.
    â€œKat, take it easy.” Tim slipped his arm through Katrina’s. “Come on, let’s take a little walk.” He cast a glance at Nancy. “Don’t mind Kat. She didn’t mean anything. It’s just been pretty tense around here lately, with the show coming up.”
    â€œOf course,” Nancy said, though she didn’t think much of Tim’s excuse.
    Katrina glowered at Nancy, then turned and stormed out of the cookhouse. Tim followed at her heels, and the door banged shut after them.
    Eduardo blew out his breath. “What did you say to make Katrina so mad?” he asked.
    Briefly Nancy described what had happened during practice. All the clowns listened in. Finishing, she said, “Maybe someone oiled the bar as a prank. Or do you think it was meant to do serious harm?”
    When the men seemed reluctant to speak up, George said, “Well, I don’t know much about trapeze artists, but it seems to me that either way, Natalia could have gotten hurt.”
    â€œYou’re right,” Jiffy said. “A flyer needs to hit the net in a horizontal position. Otherwise, he or she could bounce right off it.”
    â€œThat’s what causes injuries,” Packrat added. “A few flyers have died that way.” Packrat drained his coffee cup and rose to go. The other clowns said goodbye, then followed him out.
    The clowns hadn’t answered her, Nancy mused. Hoping to do better with the Pomatto brothers, she asked, “Would Katrina purposely hurt Natalia?”
    Eduardo frowned. “Well, Katrina didn’t exactly like getting her boyfriend stolen,” he said slowly.
    â€œNatalia stole Katrina’s boyfriend?” Nancy repeated, startled. “You mean Hayden?”
    Eduardo nodded. “Hayden and Katrina came to Grand Royal together three years ago. They trained Natalia and put her in their act. Six months ago,

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