“This is Joey Bingham for Action 50 News,” the reporter said, grinning at his own camera. “I’m at the Abracadabra Hotel, where the Great Theopolis is about to use magic to bring back the boy who vanished at the noon show.”

The house was packed. Everyone who had gone to the day show was back, and so were loads of people who had seen Bingham’s earlier reports about the missing boy.

“Are you sure about this?” Charlie whispered. He sat with Ty on an overturned crate under the stage. They were going to help with the big finish Theopolis had promised. “We can still reveal the truth. We figured out that Theopolis isn’t a true magician, like he claims.”

“We could do that,” Ty said. “We could also enjoy all the publicity for this show, for the hotel, and for the theater. This is going to do wonders for the Abracadabra Hotel.”

“I suppose,” Charlie said.

“Besides, you convinced me and Annie, right?” Ty said. “And that was the point.”

Charlie nodded. Just then, one of the stagehands popped his head in the door. “Everyone ready down here?” he asked.

“We’re ready,” replied Ty.

Paul got up from his seat against the wall. “Finally,” he said. He stepped up onto the overturned crate between Ty and Charlie. “Uncle Theo owes me big time.”

Charlie and Ty stood and clasped their hands together. “Ready?” asked Ty.

“One,” they all said together, “two, three!” And with a great grunt, Paul was launched up and through the open trapdoor, into the wardrobe on the stage—the original wardrobe, with the false bottom and stamp that said “Hockney and Sons. 1935.”

Charlie and Ty sat back down and waited. Seconds later, they heard the crowd above burst into cheers and applause.

“I guess it went well,” Charlie said.

“And you know what it means when the hotel does well, and I’ve helped,” said Ty.

Charlie nodded. “Yup,” he said.

“A raise,” said Ty. “And that brings me one step closer to my Tezuki Slamhammer 750, Edition 6, in cherry-pop lightning red.”

“I guess when you get the bike you won’t need my help anymore,” Charlie said. “Right?”

Ty shrugged. “I don’t know,” he said. “I mean, there’s always a new mystery at the Abracadabra.”

“Which reminds me,” Charlie said. “Isn’t Brack planning another huge magic show?”

“Indeed I am,” a voice said. But when the boys turned to look, Brack was nowhere to be found.