Rustles

Part 16

William and Silver just pulled him on his feet and handcuffed him. They headed back from the way they came from while Tony stayed with her and Jameson in the tent.

She was massaging her nose root. This was not how she planned their first meeting. She had had a very simple plan, a working one – they never met or saw each other.

Jameson didn’t move. Instead he leaned against one of the metallic posts and waited, explained impression on his face. Tony kept staring him down, but with no success.

“I really need to know your official cover story.” She said to Tony.

“There is none.” He said and kept staring at him. “Who is he?”

“Jameson Jakobs, he juggles with devil sticks and works with animals.” She introduced them. “Sergeant Isley… something.”

Jameson choked on laughing, but he still took several steps ahead and reached out his hand.

“Hi.” Jameson reached out his hand and sergeant responded with quick shake.

“Hi.”

She pulled her jacket closer to her body. Jameson was supposed to be asleep, not tending the horses.

“Don’t worry. Circus folk know how to keep a secret.” Jameson said with curt smile. Sergeant nodded. “I won’t even ask what it was.”

She coughed lightly. This was too much.

“I thought you said you work at the zoo?” he turned to her instead. He was frowning.

“I’m serving Godfathers, Jellybeans, Kamikazes and Dirty White Mothers to never ending customers, who think they’re so clever with their witty drunken humor! Yes, I’m working with a zoo!”

He cracked a smile. “You really love your job?” he asked with sarcasm.

“Oh yes, dream of my life.”

“And this one here?”

“Was one of the customers?” she offered. “You wouldn’t believe what they do after sniffing some fairy dandruff.”

“Then why did you warn Hunt about some panther?”

“I’m sorry, I wasn’t that quick thinking. We caught the guy, we’ll have to go back now.”

“Good for you. Will you come back later?”

“Like when?”

“Tomorrow. Aunt Mag still believes you’re hunting a panther.” His eyes fell on the riffle Tony was supporting on his chest.

“His name…” she paused, thinking for once during this long night that perhaps this was one lye too much and she shook her head. “I’m sorry, didn’t want to tell him I’m after some lunatic.”

“You should have.” He scolded her. “To start with, he wouldn’t have got me up to check on Miss Becky and Sir Mad House over there!”

“Who?”

“Tigers.” She said sadly to Tony and went past them to go after William and Silver.

Jameson stopped her with his reached out hand and he hugged him gently against his side. “I’m glad you’re ok.”

She reached out and kissed him on his cheek. “Me too. Junkie is a good cover-up, by the way.”

He grunted. “Thanks!” He let her go and stuffed his hands in his pockets, watching her go.

Tony followed her out to the car waiting next to the ticket boot. Only Hunt and the watchman were standing there besides the crew and were whispering between each other.