Nancy met his narrowed gaze without flinching. “I wasn’t accusing you of anything. All I’m trying to do is find out what caused Natalia’s fall.”
“And I’m trying to put a show on the road with fifty-odd kinkers who are edgy enough without your questions and insinuations!” he shot back.
“But it wasn’t an acci—” Nancy began.
He cut her short, jabbing the air with his cigar as he thundered, “This is the last time I’m warning you! No more questions!”
He jammed the cigar between his front teeth, then pushed past Nancy. She watched him march away, his angry strides leaving deep prints in the sand.
Now, what is he so mad about? she wondered. What am I missing—or what’s he hiding?
Chapter
Six
HEARING A shell crunch, Nancy spun around. Katrina was standing there. “Marshall’s not going to let you disrupt things,” she said. “He loves this circus.”
“Then why isn’t he more concerned over the oiled bar?” Nancy demanded.
“He doesn’t believe you. Neither do I,” Katrina added with a tight smile.
“Katrina, if Natalia had been hurt, there’d be no act. You must know that.”
Katrina shrugged. “It’s as good as dead anyway. Natalia is leaving for Ringling when her contract expires in midsummer.”
Nancy was taken aback. No one had said anything to her about this!
“It’s a big secret,” Katrina went on, seeming to take pleasure in Nancy’s surprise. “But I saw the letter myself. I went straight to Marshall and told him. I figured he had a right to know.”
Nancy realized Hayden must have been speaking of the Ringling Brothers when he mentioned they’d received an offer from another circus. Mulling it over, she watched Tim the clown lighting lanterns in the twilight. He waved and came over.
“Burgers are done. Who wants to escort me to the table?” he asked with a big grin.
“I will,” Katrina said.
Tim flushed with pleasure as Katrina slipped her arm through his. “You’d better come, too, before the food disappears,” he called to Nancy as they started away.
“I’m coming,” Nancy said. She trailed behind, thinking, Ringling Brothers! Wow! That explained Keiser’s anger with Natalia. He didn’t want to lose her. But why didn’t he seem angry with Hayden, too?
Hayden and Natalia were filling their plates at the food-laden table. However, there were too many people around for Nancy to ask about the Ringling offer. She decided to wait until later.
But Nancy never did get a chance to speak privately with Natalia and Hayden. Just then George, Bonnie, and Eduardo led a sopping Bess up to the food table. “A wave got her,” George told Nancy. “I think we ought to get her back to the motel—the night air is pretty chilly.”
“I’m okay, really,” Bess protested. But she was shivering.
“Don’t be ridiculous,” Nancy scolded gently. “You look like you’re about to freeze solid,”
“Go home before you catch a cold. We’ve still got tomorrow night,” Eduardo said.
“T-t-tomorrow n-night?” Bess echoed, teeth chattering.
“Sure. We’ve decided to throw an engagement party for Natalia and Hayden. You’re all invited, too,” Eduardo said.
“We’re there,” Bess said promptly. Nancy saw Eduardo’s delighted grin. Obviously, he had a crush on Bess.
Bonnie, Joseph, and Eduardo waved as the three girls drove away. On the ride back to the motel, Nancy told Bess and George about Keiser’s warning as well as what Katrina had said about Natalia’s plans to leave the circus.
“Well, that explains why Keiser is mad at Natalia. He won’t like losing her.” George echoed Nancy’s earlier thoughts.
Nancy nodded agreement, wondering just how much he would hate it. Enough to see Natalia injured rather than go to a rival circus?
• • •
Back at the motel, there was a message for Nancy from Stephanie and a fax from her librarian friend. In their room Nancy read the message. “Stephanie says immigration has no record of a Vera Petronov.”
“How can that be?” Bess asked, peeling off her wet clothes.
“It’s not so surprising, really,” Nancy said, thinking. “Vera probably changed her name when she defected. I’ll ask Natalia.”
As Bess went to shower, Nancy scanned the fax. The old Washington Post article naming cities where Irina’s troupe had already toured had proved helpful. Her friend listed twenty newspapers as well as phone numbers, all of them in the East, where the tour had begun.
“We should be able to track down some articles with this—and maybe some clue to Natalia’s father’s identity,” Nancy added. “I’ll start calling first thing in the morning.”
But the next morning, Lieutenant Green phoned with the results of the lab test and gave Nancy something else to think about. The smudges on the towel as well as the tissue had turned out to be medicated petroleum jelly.
“I’m going to see if Katrina has any petroleum jelly in her trailer,” Nancy said as they waited for Bess to finish drying her hair.
“What if she catches you?” Bess asked.
Nancy glanced at her watch. “It’s almost eight now. I’ll make sure she’s busy practicing with Tom Luttrelli before I let myself in. I also need to start phoning these newspapers,” she added, fax list in hand.
“Why don’t we split up?” Bess suggested. “I’ll make those calls. I’m good on the phone.”
“You’ve had lots of practice, that’s for sure,” George said, and they all laughed.
Twenty minutes later, Nancy and George were at the circus grounds, leaning on the low fence that encircled the outdoor ring. There were eight horses, galloping in pairs, with four riders standing on the backs of each pair.
George watched intently, admiring the skill of one young Luttrelli as he did a backward flip and landed on the next pair of horses, right in front of his brother. “Think of the balance that takes! Tumbling skills seem to be part of nearly every act at the circus,” she marveled.
Nancy nodded. The beating of the horses’ hooves alone was enough to get the adrenaline flowing! She would have liked to watch longer, but the case was her first priority.
“Katrina’s not here. Let’s check the arena,” she said. They set off past the barn with its animal medley of camel grunts, elephant trumpeting, and the growls and roars of lions and tigers.
Hayden and Natalia were in the arena warming up. “Where’s Katrina?” Nancy asked, after greeting them both.
“We’re a little early,” Hayden pointed out. “She’s working with the Luttrellis until nine.”
“We were just there, but we didn’t see her,” George said.
Hayden shrugged. “Maybe she overslept.”
Nancy told them about the lab results. They had no idea how the medicated petroleum jelly could have gotten on the bar.
“Have there been other accidents? Anything suspicious at all?” Nancy asked.
They both thought it over. “No,” Hayden said finally, and Natalia agreed.
Nancy moved to her next question. “Natalia, did Vera change her name after defecting?”
Natalia said, “Not that I know of. Why?”
Nancy shared her theory that Vera’s strong opposition to the search for her father might be a result of a secret she was trying to hide, such as staying in the country illegally.
“No, that can’t be. She told me that after her defection, Marshall helped her seek asylum with the U.S. government. She’s a citizen.” Natalia said confidently. “I’m sure of it.”
“Immigration has no record of her,” Nancy said. “Not under that name, anyway.”
“That’s strange,” Natalia said. “Or maybe it isn’t,” she added, after a moment’s thought. “She wouldn’t tell me if she had changed her name. She’s very secretive about a lot of things.”
“Has she always been that way?” asked Nancy.
“Always.” Natalia added softly,
“I think it’s because she grew up in a country where people had to be so careful of what they said.”
“Because of communism, you mean?” George asked, and Natalia nodded.
Nancy decided not to press it. Natalia was clearly hurt by her mother’s secretiveness. Instead, she asked, “Is it true that Ringling Brothers has offered you a contract?”
Natalia exchanged a startled glance with Hayden. “Yes,” she said after a moment. “Hayden and I both received letters.”
“Six months ago, when Vera was trying to keep us apart, we videotaped an aerial performance and sent it to Ringling,” Hayden told Nancy and George. “This past week we both got letters offering us positions.”
“Are you planning to accept?” asked Nancy.
“It’s a great opportunity,” Hayden said. “But Natalia’s spent her life with Grand Royal. She needs time to think it over.”
“I’ve put off telling Marshall about the offer—I know he won’t like it,” Natalia said.
“What do you mean?” Nancy asked.
“Well, I like to think he’d be happy for me. But at the same time, I know it’d be a blow to Grand Royal. The act has really helped bookings.”
“Mr. Keiser already knows,” Nancy said, and recounted her conversation with Katrina.
Anger flashed in Natalia’s eyes. “Of all the mean—! No wonder Marshall’s been so touchy with me!”
“But how did Katrina know about the offer?” Hayden asked.
“She says she saw Natalia’s letter,” Nancy said.
“But I’ve kept my letter in my sports bag ever since I got it,” Natalia protested. “Katrina couldn’t have seen it—unless she went through my things!”
Hayden’s face darkened. “She had no right!”
“It is pretty crummy,” George agreed.
“She’s gone too far. I’m going to confront her right now!” Hayden started away.
“I’m coming with you,” Natalia said, hurrying after him toward the exit.
Nancy and George followed the two flyers past the barn to the ring where the Luttrellis were still practicing. Katrina was nowhere in sight.
“Natalia!”
Nancy turned to see Hilary Luttrelli waving to Natalia. The loud whine of a motorcycle drowned out the rest of Hilary’s words.
Natalia hesitated a moment, then turned back toward the fenced-in ring and said to Hayden, “I’ll catch up with you.”
“Look!” George exclaimed, pointing to a steel globe rolling down the road toward them. “It’s the Sphere of Death! The guys must be practicing.”
Nancy’s eyes watered as the sun flashed off the steel sphere. The loud rev of the engine hurt her ears.
Hayden, banging on Katrina’s trailer door twenty feet ahead, didn’t give the globe a glance. Neither did Natalia, who was twenty feet behind, talking across the fence to Hilary.
But George and Nancy were mesmerized. The rider handled the ball deftly, making accurate turns, weaving to the left, then the right. He was clad in black leather and a black helmet, his face completely covered by the face shield.
“Is that Eduardo or Joseph?” George asked as the ball rolled past them.
“Who could tell in that gear?” Nancy replied.
The ball slowed. The motorcycle engine idled, as if the rider was holding back.
Nancy turned to watch the globe round the corner and roll past the outdoor ring. Natalia waved as it passed and moved away from the fence. She was about ten feet away from Nancy and George when the globe turned and came back.
The driver opened the throttle. The engine screamed as the ball rounded the corner and came toward Natalia. He’ll turn, thought Nancy. Any second now, he’ll swerve. But, boy, is he cutting it close!
Suddenly the hairs on her neck prickled. He was too close. He was going to hit Natalia!
Chapter
Seven
NATALIA!” Nancy screamed. She lunged at the girl, pushing her with such force that they both hit the ground and rolled. The Sphere of Death whizzed past, leaving them dazed and coughing in a cloud of dust.
“Nan!” cried George, rushing to her side.
“Don’t move them! They may be injured!” Hilary Luttrelli shouted.
As Nancy’s head cleared, she saw Hilary and her sons racing from one direction as Hayden came running from the other. White and shaken, he dropped down beside Natalia. “Natalia! Sweetheart!”
Nancy drew a deep breath and sat up, relieved to see Natalia unhurt and in Hayden’s arms. She dusted herself off and squinted into the sun, looking for the ball. “There he goes, out the gate. Who was it, George? Did you see?”
“He kept his helmet down. It could have been anyone,” George said.
“Let’s get the car and go after him.”
The girls took off at a run. As they passed Eduardo’s trailer, he came bounding around from the back. He was obviously distraught.
“Someone stole my motorcycle! Someone stole the sphere!”
“We’re going after it!” Nancy cried.
Eduardo was right on Nancy’s heels as they tore through the gate. There they stopped short. The Sphere of Death, trap door open, had been abandoned in the paved parking lot.
“Maybe we can still catch the guy,” Nancy said. They all piled into her rental car. Nancy rammed the key into the ignition and turned it, then backed out of the space and screeched toward the street.
“There he is! That black speck, two blocks down!” George exclaimed.
The tires squealed as Nancy turned onto the street. She pushed the accelerator down. They were gaining on him. He was only a block ahead now—she could see the motorcycle clearly.
“He’s turning left, Nan,” George advised.
“Turn, too! Maybe you can cut him off!” Eduardo cried from the backseat.
Nancy pulled hard on the wheel. The tires shrieked as she made the turn. She gripped the wheel hard and accelerated. At the next block she turned right. The street, lined with palms, ran parallel to the beach. At the intersection she looked up the street to her right. The cyclist should be coming straight toward them, she thought.
But the street was empty.
“We lost him!” Eduardo cried.
“He must have doubled back,” Nancy said. She drove half a block and stopped. “There! That’s where he turned.”
The gravel at the edge of a driveway had been thrown in a wide arc as the motorcycle had spun around and doubled back. Nancy sped to the next corner, but there was no motorcycle in sight.
“Gone!” she exclaimed in frustration.
“Whoever it was, he got away with my bike,” Eduardo said in a mournful voice.
“Could it have been Joseph?” Nancy asked.
Eduardo snorted. “Why would my own brother take my bike?”
“And he wouldn’t have ridden straight at Natalia like that,” George added.
“It was deliberate, no question,” Nancy said.
“What are you talking about?” Eduardo demanded.
Nancy told him about Natalia’s near accident. In the rearview mirror, she saw Eduardo’s eyes widen in astonishment. “It’s beginning to seem as if someone really does want to hurt Natalia,” he murmured.
“Marshall Keiser rides a motorcycle,” Nancy said quietly.
Eduardo looked shocked. “Sure. But riding inside the Sphere of Death isn’t like riding a street bike. It takes lots of practice.”
“What about Katrina?” Nancy pressed on. “Does she ride?”
Eduardo stared. “Katrina? She’s a girl.”
“So what?” George retorted. “She rides horses. She’s strong. She has a good sense of balance. She could do it, with some practice.”
“I’ve known Katrina for three years,” Eduardo said, “and I’ve never seen her ride.”
“Do you think Katrina is angry enough about losing Hayden and her star status to take revenge?” Nancy asked. She watched Eduardo in the rearview mirror. He was frowning.
“I don’t kno
w,” he said.
“What about Keiser?” asked Nancy. “Would he hurt Natalia?”
“No way! A lot of people come to the circus just to see the aerialist act. That’s money in Marshall’s pocket!”
“What if he thought Natalia was going to leave?” Nancy pressed. “What then?”
“He wouldn’t hurt her. It was probably some daredevil who’s seen the act and wanted to try it for himself,” Eduardo said. “And steal my bike in the bargain,” he added.
Nancy pulled into the circus parking lot. She could understand why Eduardo didn’t want to believe anyone was trying to kill Natalia, but as far as she was concerned, the evidence was clear.
The steel globe was still in the parking lot. Joseph and the Luttrelli boys were checking it over while a woman Nancy didn’t know looked on. She was in her thirties and slender, with large glittery-framed glasses and dangling earrings.
“Who’s that?” Nancy asked as the woman turned and walked onto the circus grounds.
“Morgan York, our performance director. She’ll be walking us through the rehearsal this afternoon,” Eduardo explained.
The moment Nancy parked, Eduardo was out of the car. He raced over to the globe, with Nancy and George following.
Nancy examined the globe. Essentially, it was a round cage. The door could be opened either from the inside or the outside. But, she thought, the cyclist would have to get the thing stopped to get out. It would definitely take skill.
She beckoned to George. “Let’s see if Katrina ever showed up. Then we’ll find out where Marshall was when the accident occurred,” she said. They started through the gate.
Hayden and Natalia were in the arena, practicing without Katrina.
“How can she cut practice like this?” George asked.
Nancy looked at her watch and was surprised to see it wasn’t even nine yet. “She’s still got ten minutes.”
Bonnie Luttrelli was alone in the outdoor ring as they passed on their way to Katrina’s trailer. Nancy called from the path, “Why aren’t Katrina and your brother practicing the rescue act?”