Charlie hardly slept for the next two nights. On Saturday, he knew he should go down to the Abracadabra Hotel for some last-minute investigating, but he couldn’t bear to.

There’s no point, Charlie thought. I might as well stay in bed and watch TV all day.

But that evening, the phone rang. It was Ty.

“Why aren’t you here?” Ty said.

“Why should I be?” Charlie said. “It’s over. Theopolis won. Even Brack can’t figure out that crazy trick.”

“Don’t be such a wuss,” Ty said. “Besides, I have figured it out.”

Charlie sat up and pushed the blanket to the floor. “What do you mean?” he asked.

“It was something Brack said last night, right before you left,” Ty said. “Four magicians rolled into one.”

Charlie scratched his head. “What do you mean?” he asked.

“I’ll explain when you get down here,” Ty said, and he hung up.

* * *

Charlie was dressed and heading for the hotel in no time flat. If Ty was right, there was only a little time left to solve the mystery and stop Theopolis from ruining Brack’s farewell show—and taking the hotel from him. He ran the whole way.

At the Abracadabra, the lobby was totally packed, just like it had been a week before.

Then he realized that many of the magicians were in costume, as if they were going to perform. He spotted Mr. Thursday, who was wearing his finest tuxedo. He was hauling his case of juggling objects.

And there, by the big window along the front wall, were Mr. Madagascar and Dotty. Mr. M. was in fancy robes, ready to put on a show. Dotty was in her old-time magician’s assistant outfit: a leotard and high-heel shoes.

Over by the box office, Charlie saw Theopolis. As usual, a group of hangers-on and reporters surrounded him. Among them was Ty.

Charlie hurried over. “What are you doing?” he hissed, tugging on Ty’s maroon jacket sleeve.

Ty shushed him. Then he raised his hand and called out, “Mr. Theopolis, sir?”

The crowd hushed. Ty’s voice was loud enough to be heard over all the reporters.

“Who said that?” Theopolis said, looking around. “Oh,” he said when he spotted Ty. “What do you want?”

“Well, sir,” Ty said. Charlie could tell he was doing his best not to smile. “You’re all dressed for a show tonight,” Ty went on. “But you’re not on the marquee outside the hotel. Mr. Abracadabra is.”

“If your old friend Brack hasn’t figured out the illusion in my performance at his party by now,” Theopolis said, “I don’t think he will in the next thirty minutes.”

“I think I see what you’re getting at,” Charlie whispered to Ty. Then he said out loud to Theopolis, “Will you share the stage with any other performers?”

“Of course,” said Theopolis haughtily. “I never perform alone. Other magicians are helpful for getting the crowd warmed up.”

He smiled hugely and looked out over the faces of reporters nearby. “Of course,” he added, “since I’m the greatest magician ever to live, they can’t help but pale in comparison to me. They agree to join me because they know I can lift them to greatness.”

The press laughed and cheered. Theopolis’s assistants clapped and threw flower petals over him.

But not everyone was cheering. Charlie looked for Mr. Madagascar. The levitationist’s face was bent in an angry scowl, and his arms were crossed over his chest.

Mr. Thursday was standing there too. He held a bowling pin in one hand and slapped it into his other hand over and over.

“If looks could kill, huh?” Ty said, nodding toward Mr. Thursday.

Charlie sighed.

Dotty Drake was between the two men, with her hands on her hips. She shifted and glared at Theopolis as the press cheered for him. The three of them looked pretty mad.

“We better find Brack,” Charlie said. “He only has a few minutes to win this bet.”

“And I know how he can do it,” Ty added.

* * *

“I had a hunch we’d find you here,” Ty called as he and Charlie stepped off the elevator.

Brack stood up from his spot beneath a tree on the Abracadabra Hotel’s roof. “How did you two get up here?” he said, but he didn’t seem angry.

Ty held up his key ring. “Turns out Rocky had the extra key,” he said.

Brack shrugged. “I had to make a copy for emergencies,” he said. “Are you here to say good-bye?”

“Of course not,” Charlie said. “But we have to hurry and get downstairs before the show starts.”

“Right,” said Ty. “You’ve got to get on that stage and announce that you’ve won the bet.”

“I haven’t,” Brack said sadly. “I’m sorry, boys. I don’t know how he did it.”

“We do,” Ty said.

“We’ll explain everything on the way down,” said Charlie.