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Chu opened the door and stepped in as an automatic bell announced their entrance. The shop was small but very clean, with only two display cases. Props sat on a single bookcase against the wall that faced the door. A thin man with long, unkempt hair and glasses with a thick frame came out.
“Can I ‘elp you folks?” he said with a British accent that sounded cockney.
Once again, the detectives showed their shields.
“Ah! ‘ow can I ‘elp the NYPD today? Maybe some tips on catching a card cheat?”
“Are you Sam Lovell?” Chu said.
“Indeed I am,” he replied as he pushed his glasses farther back on his nose with his pinky.
“Max Marvell,” Pro demanded, as Chu extracted a print of the mug shot taken while Max had been in police custody. “We are looking for him.”
“‘Ave you tried in Vegas? Last time, I ‘eard that’s where—”
Pro interrupted, “Don’t be coy, Mister Lovell. We know that Max came to see you within the last twenty-four hours.”
Chu took over. “Max Martin, aka Max Marvell, escaped from NYPD custody. If you have assisted him in any way, you can be brought up on charges of aiding a fugitive. Those are serious charges.”
During this speech, Lovell’s eyes were riveted on Pro’s face, and when she returned his stare he spoke up. “You’re Prophecy, aren’t you? Your blue eyes gave it away, they’re so striking.”
Pro nodded, her mouth a thin line. “Yes, I am. Now please answer the question. Have yo
u seen Max Marvell?”
“He came by yesterday, right when I was closing up. Said ‘e needed ‘elp, and that he was tracking down the person who stole his ‘Prism’ effect. Told me someone murdered old Al Floss. Is that true?”
Pro sighed. “Yes, it is. Did he ask you about any buyers trying to get their hands on the trick?”
“That ‘e did. I told ‘im Adrianna Gray and Mike Mystique were both in the market from what I ‘eard. I was interested meself but bowed out when the price tag got too ‘igh.”
“Why?” Chu interjected, his notebook in his hands.
“‘Cause it’s amazing. I saw the video online. Man, you want to talk about an ending…”
“We haven’t seen it,” Pro stated flatly.
“Really?” Lovell exclaimed. “Stay right ‘ere. I’ll get me laptop.”
He wandered through a curtain, and Pro wondered why all the magic shops had a curtain between storage and retail? What was wrong with a freakin’ door?
A moment later, Lovell came out with a laptop in his hand. He placed the device on the counter, turned it to face the detectives, and pulled up a video.
“I downloaded it so I could watch it over and over,” Lovell divulged. “It was shot with a cell phone, but it is the only footage of the effect ever smuggled out.”
He hit the space bar on the computer and the video began to play.
It was Max on stage, looking like the classic magician in black tails with a white vest. He carried a black walking stick as he entered to the applause from the audience.
“This is ‘is finalé,” Lovell explained. “He’s done the full show and this is ‘ow he ends it.”
Max acknowledged the audience, and the live orchestra ceased playing. Max spoke, his booming voice carried and amplified throughout the room. “I have one last effect I want to share with you. I have to tell you, it is unlike anything you’ve ever seen. I would like to say it is the closest thing I have ever done to real magic.”
As he paused, the curtain behind him went up. On the stage were two large, triangular crystals standing upright on top of two revolving platforms. They flashed and caught the stage lights in the depths of the glass.
The orchestra played quietly as Max stepped back and moved one of the platforms to a specific location on the stage. It slid easily on wheels. With a touch to a foot pedal, it locked in place. As a flute played a solo with a wistful tune, he rolled the other to its proper place.
“For centuries magicians have been able to disappear with the use of mirrors, black curtains, trapdoors, and the like,” Max spoke over the music. The beige microphone that hung off his ear amplified his voice. “We will have none of that here!”
