The Bullet Trick Read Free Page B

always the animal lover.'
     
    He shook his head.
     
    'I’m not sure following form quite qualifies you as St Francis. Won’t keep you warm at night neither. You want to quit all that and get yourself hooked up with a nice bird.'
     
    'That’s good advice coming from you.'
     
    Sam grinned.
     
    'You know what I mean. How’s old Fagin? You seen him lately?'
     
    'He set me up with tonight.'
     
    'Aha.' He sat down on the single bed opposite me and took a sip of his drink. 'That’s where you’re wrong. You’ve got old Sam-I-Am to thank for this particular box of tricks.'
     
    'Yeah?' I tried to look grateful. 'Rich didn’t say anything.'
     
    'Well he wouldn’t would he? Wants to make sure of his 10 per cent, greedy sod.'
     
    'Cheers, Sam.' I raised my glass in a toast, then put it to my lips and took a sip. Its cheap sourness cut through the chill. 'Thanks.'
     
    'No worries, you and me go way back.'
     
    'And…?'
     
    Sam laughed.
     
    'You may not be a whizz with girls and horses…'
     
    'You can add dogs to that.'
     
    'Ah, William.' Sam shook his head, looking like a priest caught between sorrow at the sin and the satisfaction of being able to squeeze a few more ‘Our Fathers’ from the sinner. 'Despite all your weaknesses, when it comes down to it, there’s no flies on you. OK there might be a bit more to tonight than meets the eye. But you just sit tight and it’ll all come out cushty.'
     
    Sam was a young comic who had also been under Rich’s tough love care. We’d spent a long summer season together until he’d decided he could do better under new management. I’d not seen him for a year, maybe longer. In that time he’d grown leaner, but in a sleek way. He chinked my glass and knocked back the last of his wine.
     
    'I’d better shift myself. Bill’s got a jealous streak. He’s already suspicious about why I suggested you.'
     
    'You mean you and him…?'
     
    'Yeah,' Sam’s face lit up. 'You wouldn’t think it to look at him would you?'
     
    'No, you wouldn’t.'
     
    'Yep, he’s a mean queen-killing machine. For me to so much as look at a bloke is to condemn him to a cement overcoat.'
     
    'Maybe you should open the door then, let him see there’s nothing to worry about.'
     
    Sam laughed.
     
    'Your face, William. Don’t worry. I’m just having you on. Now he’s seen you he won’t be worried.'
     
    'What do you mean?'
     
    Sam got to his feet and moved to the door.
     
    'That’s what I love about you William, always able to laugh at yourself. I’ll catch you after the show eh? Bill likes me to stay in the wings when he’s got business on, but we’ll grab a drink, the three of us, when you’ve done your set.' He gave me a last grin and I thought I could see a new, tougher Sam beneath the comic I’d known. It was hard to imagine this new shiny version bothering to parry some of the heckling I’d seen the old Sam spar with. He said, 'Don’t let me down. I gave you a big build.' Then shut the door gently behind him.
     
    I sat for a moment, after Sam’s footsteps had faded down the stairs, wondering what I had got myself into. Then I took the bottle by the neck, slipped into the hallway and tapped at the door of the girls’ dressing room. A female voice said, 'Oh, for fuck’s sake!'
     
    There was the sound of another woman laughing then the Asian girl opened the door. I held up the bottle of wine.
     
    'I thought you might fancy a wee drink.'
     
    Shaz leaned in the doorway, her left hip jutting towards me, right arm swinging the door slowly against her body.
     
    'We’ve got our own thanks.'
     
    Through the slim gap I could see the blonde sitting at the dressing-table, intent on her reflection. Both girls were wrapped in long cotton dressing gowns, their makeup bright and showgirl thick. The door started to close on Shaz’s smile. I slid a foot into the room, and her smile died. She said in a calm voice, 'Jacque, will you phone down to the bar and tell them we’ve got