“What’s going on?” cried Annie.

Mrs. Yu sighed. “It’s not your problem, Annie,” she said. “Don’t worry about it.”

Theopolis smiled widely. “In fact, it’s everyone’s problem. If that fraud Brack doesn’t come up with the payment, then you, young lady, are out of a job.”

Annie opened her mouth, but nothing came out except a tiny squeak.

The magician picked a piece of lint off his sleeve with one of his snow-white gloves. Charlie thought he looked dressed for a performance, with his perfect suit and long swirling cape.

“Is he right?” asked Annie. “Can he take away the hotel?”

Miranda Yu held her hand to her forehead as if she had a headache. “This is impossible,” she said.

Walter Yu looked at Annie. “I’m afraid he may be right,” he said. “Brack always makes payments at a certain time every month. It’s part of the contract. And if he doesn’t make a payment by tomorrow —”

“If he doesn’t make the payment by tomorrow,” interrupted Miranda Yu, “then the hotel is forfeit. In other words, the hotel would automatically change ownership.”

“To me,” finished the smug Theopolis. “It all dates back to the very beginning of the hotel, when Abracadbra and I were dear friends.”

“That’s hard to believe,” Charlie muttered.

“Friendship is a tricky thing,” said Theopolis. “Especially between magicians. Especially when one magician steals a trick from another and…” He stopped. His ears were the color of ripe tomatoes. The magician cleared his throat, smoothed out his cape, and resumed his speech.

“Abracadabra and I were partners. He had the vision for this hotel. I had the cash. At the time, I was the world’s most sought-after performer. I was planning a tour and had no interest in overseeing the actual building. So I gave Brack the money, and he said he would repay me. Then I went on my tour and left this dreadful country behind.”

“Brack did repay you,” said Mrs. Yu. “He repays you every month, on time.”

“Yes, dear lady,” said Theopolis. “But as you know, our agreement includes an interesting clause in the contract. If Brack fails to make payments on this pile of bricks, then the ownership defaults to me.”

“That’s crazy,” said Charlie. “Can’t someone else make the payments for him? Like Mrs. Yu?”

“No,” said the sneering magician. “The contract says that Abracadabra must pay. It must be his signature on the check. Or his skinny little fingers that hand over the cash. And, as an old friend, I would certainly give him a few days to make his payment, but… well, he doesn’t seem to be around, does he?”

Theopolis’s smile disappeared. “I shall be back tomorrow at this same time,” he said.

“And if Brack is still not here,” he went on, “then I shall expect your resignations within the week.” He glanced around the lobby. “This used to be such a lovely place in its day. Ah, well, a renovation is clearly in order. And a more competent staff. Good day.” With a swirl of his cape, he vanished into the shadows of the vast lobby.

Mr. Yu patted his wife’s shoulder. “Don’t worry, dear. We’ll think of something.”

Mrs. Yu glanced over at her husband. “I’m worried about Tyler. I’ve been beeping him for the past half hour.”

Annie grabbed Charlie’s hand and pulled him behind a pillar. “We have to find Brack right now!” she said. “And Tyler.”

If not, Annie and Tyler and his parents would have to find new jobs, maybe a new home.

A crowd of people, carrying umbrellas and shaking the rain from their coats, entered the lobby from outside. A few photographers were flashing cameras and shoving microphones into wet, smiling faces.

Annie groaned. “I forgot all about the magic show.”

“Another one?” Charlie asked.

“The real one. It starts in a couple hours, but people come early to get good seats.”

Charlie recognized grabbed Annie’s hand. “Let’s head up to the fourteenth floor. We haven’t been there yet, and that’s where the two magicians are staying.”

Riding in the elevator, Annie complained about Theopolis. “He’s such a snake!” she said. “The way he looks at people. Ew! And even his clothes. He dresses up like a big shot, like he’s better than us.”

Charlie’s thoughts were elsewhere. Why did Theopolis want the hotel now? Did he need money? Was he no longer in demand as the world’s most sought-after performer?

“You’re right, he did look awfully dressed up,” said Charlie. “He even wore those white magician gloves.” That made him think. “Did you notice anything else about his clothes?”

“Just that he looked like he was going onstage,” said Annie, sourly.

“They were perfect,” said Charlie.

“His clothes?”

“Perfectly dry.”

Annie’s eyes lit up slowly. “And there’s a thunderstorm outside.”

“A big thunderstorm,” added Charlie. “There should have been some rain on his clothes. Or his shoes.”

“And he didn’t have an umbrella,” Annie said. “He came from inside the hotel.”

When Charlie thought about it, this whole mystery was all about where people were and when.

He listed everything in his notebook.

When the elevator let them out on the fourteenth floor, Annie led Charlie toward the magicians’ rooms.

“Did you really mean it when you said you knew how the trick was done?” asked Annie. “The wormhole trick?”

“Sure,” Charlie said. “I saw it on the blueprint. That glass door doesn’t open. It has no hinges. But you can get around it.”

“How?” Annie asked.

“It slides,” said Charlie. “The glass can slide into the wall on either side, several inches at least. You noticed how skinny Dragonstone was, right? He slid the door to one side and squeezed around it. Then he slid it back in place, grabbed the end of the ribbon, and tied it around his waist.”

“Wow,” said Annie. “It seems so easy when you explain it. Not like magic at all.”

“I know,” said Charlie. “Most tricks are like that once you know how they’re done. Here, let me show you on the blueprint.”

He reached into his backpack to gather the rolls. That’s when he saw the folded piece of paper.

“What’s that?” asked Annie.

“I forgot to show you,” said Charlie, unfolding the yellow paper. “I found this upstairs with Brack’s stuff, too. I figured it was important. Magic carpets and stuff, see?”

Annie looked at it carefully. “What does ‘turn lily’ mean?” she asked.

“That says ‘Tiger lily here,’” said Charlie.

“No, it doesn’t. It says ‘Turn lily there.’ Lilies. Like these on the wall.” Annie pointed to the flowery wallpaper.