Read Online Ten Thumb Sam by Rachel Muller - Free Book Online Page A

asked as he studied the picture Harriet had printed off the Internet.
    â€œNo.” Harriet shook her head. “But like I said, he was in the audience when Loki flew into the trapezes and when the safety net came down.”
    â€œSorry, guys,” said Sam’s father. “This is good detective work, but all you’ve proved is that this man has been in our audience watching us. That might make him a spy on a scouting mission for Circus Enormicus, but it doesn’t prove him guilty of sabotage.”
    â€œShouldn’t we at least go to the police?” Harriet asked.
    â€œThe police would laugh us out of the station,” said Mr. Pigatto. “You can’t make accusations against someone like Beaverwick without evidence, my dear. Circus Enormicus is an international corporation. We’re just a little traveling show—why would they believe us?”
    â€œWe can still get evidence,” Sam said stubbornly. “It’s not too late.”
    â€œIt
is
too late, Sam,” said Max. “He’s got us. If we don’t come up with the money for our fines by next Monday morning, the Triple Top will be shut down.”
    â€œWhy can’t we come up with the money?” Sam asked. “We have a whole week. Our shows in Hamilton haven’t been canceled. That’s five performances between now and next Monday.”
    Mr. Pigatto let his hand fall on Sam’s shoulder. “Your father’s right, Sam. The fines are just too big. Even if we sold out every performance, we’d still be short several thousand dollars. We’ve talked to the banks, we’ve talked to the other performers—we just can’t raise enough money. Maybe if we had a little more time…”
    â€œAs things stand, we’re out of options,” said Max. “We have to accept Beaverwick’s offer.”

    â€œI still can’t believe they’re letting Beaverwick get away with this,” Sam told Harriet two mornings later. The circus was all packed up and on the road again, bound for its engagement in Hamilton. Sam and his cousin had chosen to begin the journey in the back of the Fritzi bus, away from their siblings.
    â€œDoes it really matter who owns the Triple Top?” Harriet asked. “You want to leave the circus the first chance you get anyway.”
    â€œBut it’s not fair!” said Sam. “For weeks people have been talking behind my back, saying that I’m the onewrecking things. But now that we know who it really is, no one’s doing anything about it!”
    Harriet shrugged. “What
can
anyone do? We don’t have enough evidence to go to the police. And you heard what Mr. Pigatto said. Even if we sold out every performance between now and next Monday, we still wouldn’t have enough to pay off both fines.”
    â€œThere has to be a way,” Sam insisted. “We can’t just sit back and let Beaverwick win.”

    â€œAre you busy?” Sam asked his parents that evening when the circus convoy was stopped for the night. “Harriet and I were hoping to talk to you about something.”
    â€œWhat’s up?” Max asked as they approached a large oak tree where Harriet and the Pigattos were already waiting.
    Sam cleared his throat. “We were talking about the fine and how you said we didn’t have time to pay it off,” he began nervously. “Harriet and I were wondering what would happen if we added extra performances to the schedule this weekend.”
    â€œExtra performances?” asked Max.
    Harriet nodded. “Like an extra matinee on Fridayfor preschoolers and their parents or for school kids on field trips.”
    â€œAnd an extra show on Saturday morning and another one on Sunday evening,” said Sam.
    Mr. Pigatto rubbed his chin thoughtfully. “That’s a very ambitious schedule.”
    â€œBut wouldn’t it be worth it if it meant making enough money to save