We fall silent, and I rack my brain, remembering my old life and how I spent my time. An idea pops into my head, and I sit up straight. “What about a manicure? They lotion your fingers during the hand massage… What if we got her nails done before the performance? If the person doing the massage could switch the rings without her noticing…”

He opens his eyes. “It’s not a bad idea, but it would take skill, sleight of hand, flexibility… Could Kyran pose as a manicurist?”

“He could switch the rings, but is he any good at painting nails? Maybe Sophia could help?”

Behind him, a pigeon coos on the windowsill. Garrett opens the window and picks up the bird, untying a ribbon around its leg.

“We should find out,” he says. Releasing the pigeon, he opens the small velvet pouch the bird delivered. “The rings are ready.” He places the replica in my hand. It looks exactly like Nicki’s ring.

“Hey guys,” Rayelle says, walking in behind me.

I grab her hand as she passes the couch, examining her orange lacquered nails. “Did you do these yourself? They look professional.”

“Of course. I used to give manicures to my mom and sisters all the time. When you’re the clumsy one in a family of circus performers, you find a way to be useful.”

“Did they wear chips?” I ask.

She glances at Garrett. “No. That’s against Keystone Code.”

“It would be helpful if they were chipped,” he says, smiling to put her at ease.

She grins and lowers her voice. “I may not be the best at programming most things, but one thing I can code is a manicure.”

My eyes meet Garrett’s, and he nods.

“I’ll go invite Nicki to a manicure and a show,” he says. Putting in his AMPs, he heads to the balcony, shutting the door behind him.

He casually leans against the balcony railing, totally engrossed in whatever version of Nicki his AMPs are seeing. The new Chloe information hot on my mind, I can’t help but wonder if his interest in Nicki is real. Ugh. Why do I care?

“I wish Kyran looked at me the way Garrett looks at you.” Rayelle sighs, startling me.

“How? Like you’re an annoying fly he wants to swat?”

She laughs. “That’s how he looks when you are looking. When you aren’t, he’s—I don’t know—protective.”

Goose bumps race up my arms. “Probably because he’s afraid I’m going to ruin his heist.”

“Are you kidding? He trusts you. He’s given you a ton of responsibility. So far, all Kyran has let me do is be a decoy. I’ve tried everything to make him notice me—been his buddy, his cheerleader, worn tight clothes, loose clothes, orange nails—and nothing. Except for the day of the heist when he actually hugged me, it’s like I’m nonexistent.”