Ira shook his head. “Sorry, but I’ve never heard of any Circle. And Tucker didn’t always come down here with the same people.”

   “What about Eira Snow? Have you ever heard of her?” I held my breath, hoping, hoping, hoping. . . .

   He shook his head again. “Sorry, but that name doesn’t ring a bell.” He waved his hand at all the photos on the walls. “A lot of people come through here every year. I can’t keep track of them all.”

   It had been a total long shot, that my mother had been here once upon a time and that Ira would remember her out of all the thousands of visitors, but disappointment washed over me all the same. Another dead end.

   Still, it wasn’t his fault, so I forced myself to smile at him and gestured at the cabin walls. “I’ve been wondering about your photos. I noticed them in your office. They’re quite stunning, especially the scenic shots of the hotel, park, and lake.”

   For the first time since I’d met him, a genuine smile lit up the dwarf’s face, softening his perpetual scowl. “Sweet Sally Sue gave me a camera the very first Christmas that I was here. I’ve been taking pictures ever since.” He glanced around at the photos, his gaze moving from one frame to the next. “Bullet Pointe might be a business, but I like seeing people so happy in the park and hotel. I like taking shots of their memories. It makes me happy to see them having a good time. It means more to me than the money.”

   I nodded. I felt the same way about the food I served at the Pork Pit. Seeing the enjoyment that other folks got out of my cooking always put a smile on my face. I liked brightening someone’s day, even if it was just in the small way of fixing them a good, hearty meal. Ira and I were more alike than I would have thought possible.

   “Thank you for saving me. For sticking your neck out for me. Not many people would have done that.”

   Ira waved his hand, dismissing my thanks. “What was I supposed to do? Let you lay outside and slowly freeze to death?”

   I grinned. “Well, I still appreciate it all the same.”

   As much as I was enjoying sitting here by the warm flames and talking to the dwarf, I stopped rocking and got to my feet. Because time was ticking away, and I needed to get the jewels and figure out how to save my friends before Tucker tortured and killed them.

   “What are you going to do now?” Ira asked.

   “Go back up to the hotel. That’s where the jewels are.”

   He shook his head. “You’ll never make it. Roxy and Brody have everyone looking for you. And you can’t get out of the park or the hotel either. They’ve got all the exits blocked.” He waved his hand again. “And it won’t be too long before they get the bright idea to come here and look for you.”

   “Don’t worry. I’m leaving. I’m not going to put you in any more danger. You’ve done enough for me already.”

   His weathered face creased into another rare grin. “Darling, I don’t care about the danger. Helping you and thumbing my nose at Roxy and Brody is the most fun I’ve had in months. But I’m not about to send you out there to get yourself shot up again.”

   “What do you mean?”

   “You need a disguise, just like you told your friend on the phone.”

   Ira got to his feet and disappeared into his bedroom. Some clangs and bangs sounded, as though he was rustling around in his closet. He came out a minute later holding up a wire hanger that featured an old-fashioned saloon-girl dress wrapped in clear plastic. Unlike the cheap costumes the performers wore, I could tell that this was the real deal, made of expensive silk, lace, and crinoline.

   “This belonged to Sweet Sally Sue herself.” Ira smiled at the dress and the memories it brought back. “She was a spitfire, just like you are, and I think that she’d like you wearing it. Especially if it will help you kick Tucker, Roxy, and Brody out of here for good.”

   I hesitated. I didn’t want to wear the dress for fear of ruining it, and Ira’s memories along with it, but he was right. I couldn’t go outside as Gin Blanco, the outlaw that everyone was searching for. I needed a disguise, and I wasn’t about to look this gift horse in the mouth.

   “I’m honored.” I took the dress from him.

   I held out the garment, and a smile spread across my face as I realized what shade it was.

   Bloodred. Always my color.

   * * *

   Ira’s cabin might have been relatively tidy, but he had a small shed out back that was just as messy as his hotel office. But instead of stacks of papers, the shed was filled to the brim with all sorts of odds and ends, including shoes, makeup, and even some wigs that the performers had discarded. I grabbed a few things for my disguise, then went back into his bedroom to get ready.

   The first thing I had to do was put on a corset.

   Seriously, a real, old-fashioned corset complete with whalebones to give it—and me—that classic hourglass shape. The frilly thing was covered with tons of black lace, and it took me a lot of time and a whole lot of effort to shimmy into it. The only saving grace was that the black ribbons laced up the front, instead of the back, but I still cursed whoever had invented such a foul, uncomfortable contraption.

   Next up was Sweet Sally Sue’s dress. The stiff black crinoline underskirt made the top layers of bloodred silk poof out all around my legs, making me feel like a human bell. On the plus side, the dress had long sleeves that hid the white bandage on my upper left arm, as well as two deep pockets for me to carry my knives. I tucked my other three knives into the garter belt and stockings that went with the dress.

   Black shoes with square, chunky heels and ankle straps were next, along with a pair of fingerless, black lace gloves that made the spider rune scars in my palms itch. I also stuffed my spider rune necklace down into my corseted bodice and tied a black velvet ribbon with a red cameo around my throat.

   Once my clothes were in place, I donned a blond wig with the long hair done in fat ringlet curls, powdered my face, and painted my lips the same bloodred as the dress. For the final touch, I stuck a small black beauty mark on my left cheek, close to my lips to draw attention away from my eyes, whose gray color I couldn’t change.