14

They headed back over the granite concourse with a mixture of disbelief and pride. Had they really just bypassed security at Scotland Yard and told one of the country’s leading investigators how to do his job? Had Alex really held one of his size-six shoes over the man’s sofa to get him to do their bidding? Yes. Yes, they jolly well had!

‘Well, I’d say the Young Magicians’ first mission was a humungous success, wouldn’t you?’ sang Jonny, raising Sophie’s hand in the air.

She dragged her arm back down again. ‘But what do we do now?’

‘I guess we just wait for the evening papers,’ said Zack. ‘If DI Caulfield takes our advice, then he’ll act today.’

‘Well, in that case,’ said Sophie, always practical, ‘we’ve got our auditions to think about. How about we use the time to teach Alex some magic that doesn’t involve cards? What do you say, Alex?’

He nodded, pleased. He knew about as much about non-card magic as the armed guard on the left with the missing toenail knew about finger knitting. But with more pressing things to attend to – namely saving the nation’s gold from falling into the hands of a bunch of cunning crooks – Alex hadn’t wanted to bother his friends with his worries.

‘Great idea!’ exclaimed Jonny, reaching into his pocket and bringing out a rather grubby metal fork. ‘I can teach you how to do this if you like!’ He began to rub the end of the fork furiously between his thumb and forefinger, willing it to bend. The others stared at the piece of cutlery.

After thirty seconds of straining and huffing, Jonny gave up. ‘I think this might be the wrong fork … As in, I think this might be a real fork,’ he clarified.

‘OK, so maybe don’t do that tomorrow, Alex,’ joked Zack.

The others laughed as Jonny took the fork in both hands and bent it the good old-fashioned way, popping it into a nearby bin that smelled of Henry.

‘Promise I can still be one of the Young Magicians, though?’ he said as he caught up with them.

None of them noticed the passer-by who narrowed his eyes at them and quickly followed …