Three quick knocks sounded on the door. She stuffed the tin box into the bodice of her costume before the door squeaked open. Gabriel’s head popped in. Inky oil marked one cheek. He wore his signature cap but sweat coated the curls on his neck.
“Hey,” she said gently. They hadn’t spoken since the Sánchezes’ accident.
“Hey yourself.” Gabriel’s gaze roamed her small space. He slumped. “I was hoping Camila was in here. I’ve been searching for her for an hour.”
“She isn’t.”
“Yes,” he said. “I can see that.” He narrowed his eyes. “New costume?”
When she woke up that morning, she’d found a wrapped box on her doorstep with the most beautiful costume she’d ever seen inside it. It was an opal-white one-piece with feather tuftson the rear and shoulders. Shimmering diamonds had been sewn into the lacy gauze at the hips. But it was the massive wings that had her awestruck. They were angelic, and intricate, and so large they flowed down her back and swept the ground near her heels.
The notecard had given her instructions to put it on or risk being disqualified from the Running. With everything going on, the challenge for lead act was the last thing on her mind. But she did as she was told because what else could she do?
She fidgeted with one of the feathers and decided to do what Camila suggested—wade through her discomfort and be a real friend. “I know you’re angry that I continued in the Running after the accident. You have every right to hate me for being so selfish.”
Gabriel snorted. “Hate is a strong word, amiga. Disappointed? Sure. But Camila told me you two hashed things out last night.”
“And she told me you were going to leave with them.”
He nodded.
“But what about the rules? We aren’t supposed to depart before our year term. There are consequences.”
“What can the ringmaster possibly do to me that hasn’t already been done? Will he take all the money I’ve saved like he did to you? Fine. Let him.” He swiped at the oil on his cheek. “Rosco and I have been building a motorized chair for Pilar.”
“Rosco the monkey? The pickpocket?”
Gabriel grinned. “He’s great, right? I paid him in sweets to steal some of the machine parts I needed. We just finished, actually. We can leave right away.”
“So soon.” Esmeralda couldn’t help but feel suddenly cold.She and Ignacio couldn’t possibly leave now. They hadn’t found anything that would truly incriminate the comandante yet.
Gabriel swept forward and knelt beside her, taking her hand in his. He had the biggest brown eyes, the kind that seemed to always be full of mischief. Sometimes she forgot how young he was. How young they both were. But the two of them had learned how to scrape by in a world that was not kind. And that aged a person. It did things to their bodies only people like them could understand.
“I sent a telegraph to Javi like you asked. I told him to see if anyone he knows might have something interesting to tell us about the carnival.”
“Did he find anything?” she asked.
“One of the snuff dealers for the king’s court made it sound like the rich are all in on the game. And I meanthe rich. Lawmakers, corporation owners, the gentry, hell, probably King Amadeo himself. They are perfectly aware that people go missing all the time within the carnival. Did you know that no one from the outside world has seen any of the acts that competed in the Running again? And the previous lead acts? Nothing. How could someone whose face is plastered on billboards across Costa Mayor just vanish? They say theyretirebut to where?”
“Why hasn’t anyone tried to stop this?” she asked.
“Because we’re nobodies.”
Anger bubbled inside her. Gabriel wasn’t a nobody. He was clever and handy and a good friend. The Sánchezes weren’t nobodies. They were funny and kind and did everything for their family. Every performer and hand she’d met within the carnivalwas a somebody. No matter their station in life. She was so sick and tired of those with power looking down on anyone who wasn’t deemed worthy in their eyes.
“Whatever is going on, we are getting out of this place before anything worse happens,” Gabriel said. “As soon as I find Camila, we are—”
“Did you say you were looking for Camila?”
Esmeralda’s spine stiffened. It was the ringmaster’s voice. She and Gabriel both whirled toward the door.
Gabriel jumped to his feet. He took off his cap and bowed his head. “Yes, Señor Veracruz.”
“I just saw her walking into the Fun House. I’m sure you can catch her there.”
“Um…thank you, señor.”
The ringmaster scooted to the side of the doorway so Gabriel could depart. But Gabriel didn’t move. He peeked over his shoulder at Esmeralda, unsure if he should leave her alone.
