Irish Throwdown (What Happens In Vegas Book 4) by Matt Lincoln (short books for teens .TXT) 📕

“It’s okay,” I insisted before she could start screaming again. “I can just get one of these.” I gestured toward the sheep figurines right in front of us. I wasn’t sure if she would actually like it, but I just wanted to get out of the store.

“Nonsense,” Myrtle chirped. “I have something much better if it’s sheep she likes. Come over here.”

She took off through the small shop without another word, and I followed behind her, careful not to bump any of the displays or racks of clothes as I went.

“Now, have a look at that!” Myrtle proclaimed proudly as she handed me a stuffed sheep doll. The white cloth it was made of was fuzzy and soft to the touch, and it was sticking its tongue out. Best of all, it was wearing an emerald green top hat half its own size that had “Dublin” written across it in glittery silver letters. Honestly, it was precisely the type of thing she would like.

“It’s perfect,” I admitted.

“Excellent,” Myrtle grinned as she walked me back to the register. “You said it’s for your girl, eh? I’ll wrap it up nice and pretty for you then, no extra charge.”

“Thank you.” I smiled as she placed the sheep into a green paper bag before stuffing it with pink tissue and tying the top closed with a pink bow.

“Will you be needing anything else, then?” She asked as she swiped my card through the reader.

“No,” I answered quickly. As cute as the sheep was, I didn’t want to wear any of the tacky jackets in the store, and if I stayed any longer, I was genuinely worried Myrtle would talk me into buying one.

“Alright, then,” she beamed as she handed me the bag. “Have a lovely Halloween. Stay safe out there!”

“You too,” I replied before heading out the door. I let out a small sigh of relief once I was outside. I felt a little pathetic after that interaction. What kind of federal agent could go head to head with hardened criminals but completely dissolve in the face of a rosy-cheeked woman selling overpriced trinkets?

Still, it had been a pretty memorable experience, and I was sure that Fiona would get a kick out of it when I got back home and told her about it.

The rain had let up for now, but it was sure to come back, so I refocused on my current mission to acquire a new jacket and set off again into the streets of Dublin.

29

Charlie

I finished my soda and set the glass back down on the metal patio table. I was sitting on the terrace of a bar just a few steps away from our hotel room and having an early dinner. Junior and I would be meeting with the police in about an hour, and I’d decided to stop for a bite to eat before heading back to the hotel after getting Amber’s souvenir.

I’d been tempted to order a beer or even another one of those Irish Coffees that Junior had given me the previous day. It had become glaringly obvious to me that drinking was a big part of Irish culture, and it was impossible to go more than a few steps without running into a bar. Right now, especially, every bar and restaurant seemed to be advertising drink specials for Halloween.

I knew it was a stupid idea to drink right before a major mission, though, so that would just have to wait until after we were finished.

I watched as a group of children ran by, giggling and joking around as they competed to see who had gotten the most candy that day. I wondered if Eliza had taken Amber out trick-or-treating this year. She’d been jumpy ever since what had happened during our last case, and with everything going on with the spiked cough syrup, I seriously doubted she had.

When I was a kid, people used to tell urban legends about candies spiked with LSD and chocolate-covered razor blades. Of course, none of it was true. They had all just been rumors and hoaxes. The fact that someone had spiked medicine with a dangerous drug was just as terrifying, except this time, it was all real.

I sighed as I stood from my seat, lifted the paper bag containing Amber’s gift off the table, and walked off the patio. I figured I should probably go meet up with Junior before we headed over to the police station.

It had rained most of the morning, and although it wasn’t anymore, the sky was dark and threatening, and looming gray clouds threatened to burst at any moment. I walked the short distance back to the hotel and then decided to take the stairs to our rooms on the third floor. It wasn’t very high up, and the anticipation of the mission had me buzzing with nervous energy.

“Oh, hey!” Junior called as he stepped out of his room just as I turned the corner into our hallway. “I was just about to ask if you were ready to go.”

“Just about,” I replied as I approached him. “Nice jacket.”

“Thanks.” He grinned at the compliment. He was wearing a dark bomber jacket with the word “Dublin” written across one of the sleeves in black lettering. “I never did get my other one back. Though, considering the circumstances, I don’t really want it anymore.”

I frowned as I remembered what he was referring to. I hadn’t asked Seamus about Callahan since he told us that he was stable, and he hadn’t mentioned it. Realistically, it had only been a couple of days, but it felt like so much time had passed in those few hours. I made a mental note to ask Seamus about him when we saw him later.

“Oh, what did you get for Amber?” Junior asked as his eyes drifted down to the bag in my hand.

“A music box,” I replied. “It plays traditional Irish melodies.”

“Wow.” Junior smiled. “That’s so nice. She’s going to love it.”

“I hope