Page 37 of Dublin's Danger Dancer

“I hear you were at a boxing match with Liam O’Shaughnessy tonight?”

“Word gets out fast.” I say leaning my arm on the bar.

“Ciara, you are a smart girl. What are you doing with that gobshite?” He asks fixing me with anI know bestsmile.

“I’ll let you in on a secret. He has a really, really, really, really big…. I pause for effect, “...Big heart.”

Kieran laughs.

“And I hear he was arrested for murder?”

Liam places a whiskey before me.

I suck the whiskey into my mouth. I needed a clear head for whatever was going to unfold tonight and drinking out of hatred for myself was going to get me nowhere. I bring my ultra absorbent handkerchief to my mouth, pushing out the warm golden liquid out into it.

Too many liqueurs mingle in the air for Kieran to notice.

The next person downstairs is Tanya. She stalks across the concourse swinging her Barbie pink rucksack.

She places the rucksack down on the copper bar top and beckons Kieran over. “Have I got news for you?” she coos.

Kieran leans in and she whispers something in his ear. He looks at her, backs away.

“If I were you, I wouldn’t do that,” he says.

“Oh, you’re just jealous, you are the one that’s been romancing him over messages. I’ll give you €500 from the money.”

“Shouldn’t do what?” I ask.

“Tanya wants to go on freaky Freddie’s boat for €2,000. He’s invited her all-expenses-paid plus her fee.”

“€2,000 for 2 hours’ work. I’d be a madwoman to turn the money down.”

“I’ll give you double if you don’t go,” I say. Kieran shoots me a look.

“What, you’re scared I’ll get cosy with Liam O’Shaughnessy?” she pushes a hand to her hip.

“If you are just doing it for the money, surely you want to double your money and you don’t even have to give me any of your time.”

“What’s in it for you?

“You don’t need to know that.”

“Ciara, have you gone completely mad?” asks Kieran

“One of my customers gave me ten grand the other day and said I should use it to help girls like me, and this seems like I can help girls like me.” I say, fluttering my glued on eyelashes to Tanya. “Who knows what Freddie is capable of. They don’t call him freaky Freddie for nothing.”

“To be honest, I’m relieved to not go on his boat with him. And €4,000. That’s a lot of money. I can put a renter’s deposit down on a flat.”

“I’m just spreading the love. I’ll bring the money for you tomorrow”

“Thanks Ciara. You are not as much of a bitch as I thought you were.”

Tanya storms down the corridor to get changed. Kieran looks up at me with laughter in his eyes and a smile spreading across his lips. “I think that’s her way of saying thank you.”

“Do you wanna donate money to another girl that needs help?” asks Kieran, brushing his cheek and pushing his hand to his hip, trying to create a feminine silhouette."

I open up my bag and count out €1000. I was joking.

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