How had things gone so wrong? They had been so close. So honest and real with one another. She’d trusted him withher heart and her body. Perhaps that had been too much for him. Perhapsshehad been too much for him. He might have grown tired of all her sharp shards. She asked too much of him. She should never have begged him to run away with her when she learned his father had enlisted him in the Blackbirds. She had known he idolized the comandante back then.
She cleared her throat. “What is your plan now?”
He seemed to regain his wits. “I must find whoever wrote to my father.”
“Who are your suspects so far?”
“You.” He grinned when she scowled. “I’ve taken you off mylist.”
“Well, thank the stars for that.”
He chuckled. “Truth is, it could be anyone here. The ringmaster, the tailor, Gabriel.”
She shook her head. “It couldn’t possibly be Gabriel. I won’t even let you think that for a moment. And the ringmaster hates the comandante as much as we do. Why do you suspect the tailor?”
“He welcomed Keara just now. She had on her uniform and yet he let her in. He dressed her as a fox.”
Jorgehadbeen acting a bit jumpy when she saw him earlier. “We should start there, then,” she suggested.
“We?”he asked.
She licked her dry lips as his brows pinched together.
Gabriel poked his head in the doorway. He looked harried. Stressed. “I cannot hold your customers off any longer. People are starting to leave.”
“Of course,” she said.
What was she thinking in sayingwe? She couldn’t go on wild goose hunts with Ignacio. She had to stay in the ringmaster’s good graces. And Ignacio so obviously didn’t want her help anyway. The look on his face when she’d saidwehad screamed of revulsion.
“Come in, Gabriel. Let’s prepare for my guests,” she said.
Ignacio opened his mouth as if to protest. Her heart squeezed with hope.
But he said nothing.
She inwardly deflated.
You’re such a fool, she snapped at herself.
With a nod, Ignacio turned around and left.
Too easily.
Just like before.
15th of October, 1917. D+P: Age 14
Dovie. What is something that keeps you up at night?
Remembering that I was left behind.
If it’s any consolation, that will never happen with me.
Oh, I know. Because I’d chase after you and tackle you to the ground.
That’s adorable that you think you could actually catch me.
You realize I’m fastest in my class, right?
