Across the stage, the High Princept was growing more agitated, and Evelyn was watching with her red mouth drawn into a smirk and her eyes bright with anticipation. A moment later she touched the High Princept on the arm and leaned over to whisper something into his ear.
The old man’s eyes went curiously blank, and though he seemed completely calm, he barked for the vault to be opened. Evelyn’s doing.
The audience went quiet as the combination was given and the large tumbler of the lock was rotated carefully. Esta tried to pull herself away from Sam Watson, who seemed to have a grip of steel. If she could just get away, she could slow time and find Harte. She could maybe even get him back into that safe before anyone understood what was happening.
But before she could find a way to disentangle herself from the reporter, the door swung open.
A gasp swept over the theater when the audience realized Harte was no longer in the safe.
“It’s the girl!” Evelyn said, pointing at Esta as she came across the stage to where Sam still held on to her. “I told you, didn’t I? I warned you they were up to something.”
“So you did,” Sam Watson said as he gripped her arm even more tightly and jerked her around to face the High Princept.
“This is all part of the effect . . . part of the act,” Esta tried to tell them, but she couldn’t keep the tremor out of her voice. “You simply have to close the safe and give him a chance to reappear.”
“She’s lying,” Evelyn said, walking across the stage to where Sam Watson held Esta. “Harte Darrigan makes other people disappear. He never gives up the stage on his own. He’s up to something, and she’s helping him, just like I told you. She’s no baron’s daughter. It’s all a con. I heard them myself. ‘Here’s to bringing down the Order.’ Isn’t that what you said?”
Esta shook her head, but she couldn’t force out the words.
“Where’s the magician?” the Princept snarled, so close to her face that she could smell the alcohol on his breath. “Where is Darrigan?”
“I don’t know,” she said honestly. Not that he would believe her. Not that any of them would believe her.
“Lock the entire building down,” the High Princept shouted, his aged face turning an alarming shade of red. “I want every inch of this place searched until he’s found. And you—” He pointed at Jack Grew, who was sitting white-faced and wide-eyed in the front row. “This is your fault. I won’t forget that you were the one who brought them here.” Then he turned to Sam Watson. “Take her to the safe room, and if you ever want a chance at full membership, do not let her get away.”
The Princept stormed off down the steps, into the chaotic crowd, leaving Esta trapped by Sam Watson’s strong grip. The theater had erupted into chaos.
She tried to shake off ?Watson, but every time she tried to maneuver, he countered it easily. Finally, he had her pinned, so she couldn’t move.
“Please . . . this is a simple misunderstanding. I had nothing to do with him disappearing.”
“Shut your lying mouth,” Watson said, pulling her arms back until her joints screamed in pain. “You don’t think I know you were a part of this too? I know you’re one of them—” Before he could finish, Watson went stiff and released his hold on her. Suddenly, his head snapped backward, and then he buckled forward, doubling over and falling to the floor.
Esta stared, shocked. “Jianyu?” She didn’t have time to react before Jianyu materialized before her.
“Come,” he said, gesturing toward the back of the theater, where a large man stood in their way.
Jianyu put his arms up, ready, but she grabbed his hand instead and pulled at time. All around them, the movement in the room went slow. The frantic activity stilled. Men in tuxedos halted midstep as they tried to climb over one another, their faces portraits of rage and fear. Evelyn’s overly painted face froze in its look of shocked surprise as she reached for Sam, who was now lying on the floor.
Jianyu’s eyes went wide, and then he gave her a slow smile. “I see,” he said, nodding with appreciation. “Come. We’ll go together.” She watched as he maneuvered the small disks in his hand and saw the shadow fall around them. “It’s safer this way.” ?Then he started to lead her in the direction of the rear of the stage.
“We have to stop Harte,” she told him, pulling in the opposite direction. “He changed the act. He’s going after the Book.”
“I know,” Jianyu said, refusing to go.
“You know?”
“It was all part of the plan.” Jianyu gave her another tug, and she was confused enough that she let herself be pulled toward the room styled like an Egyptian tomb. When they found themselves back in that ornate chamber, she pulled him to a stop.
“I don’t understand.” All around them the building was silent, and the eyes of the enormous figures lining the walls seemed to watch them. “You knew he was going to switch the act on me?”
Jianyu nodded. “He came to Dolph with the idea a couple of days ago. He said he wanted to draw suspicion away from you.”
“No, that’s not right. It’s another trick,” she said, sure that it was only one more level of Harte Darrigan’s game. It had to be.
“If it’s a trick, Viola will dispense with him soon enough. Come.”
She didn’t trust Harte, but she knew what Viola could do, so Esta allowed Jianyu to lead her through the chaos of the building and out into the street.
Outside, the night was alive with confusion. Already she could hear the clanging sound of the fire brigades rushing toward them. There were flames lighting the western edge of the building, the dark smoke pouring out of broken windows. They used the confusion to dart away, toward the place where Dolph’s carriage was waiting.
When they made it to the carriage, Nibs looked down at them from the driver’s seat.
“Where’s Darrigan?”
“He’s not out yet?” Jianyu asked.
Nibs shook his head.
Esta’s chest felt too tight to draw breath. All she’d shown him, and it hadn’t been enough.
She heard the sound of footsteps coming toward them, and they all turned as one. For a heartbeat, hope flared in Esta’s chest. For the space of a second, she expected to see Harte.
But it was Viola, dressed all in black and running toward them. “Go!” she shouted as a group of men stormed out the door behind her. She turned long enough to throw a knife back at them, hitting one in the throat so he crumpled to the street.
“But Darrigan—” Nibs said as ?Viola climbed into the cab.
“It doesn’t matter. I have the Book,” Viola told him.
“You’re sure?” Nibs asked, his eyes flashing up to the building.
“I took care of him.”
“What do you mean?” Esta asked, not wanting to really understand. But understanding just the same.
“He’s gone, capisce?” She held up the bag. “We have what we came for.” Viola slammed the door of the carriage.
Nibsy whipped the horses into action, and the carriage leaped away, leaving Harte Darrigan behind them.