A crowd gathered around the rumpled man in brown, whom Audie now recognized from the train.

“What’s missing?” someone asked.

“Has anyone called the police?” interjected another voice.

The large lady waved her enormous arms. “Give the poor fellow some air!” There was sufficient authority in her voice and girth that the crowd ebbed, and the rumpled man stood alone in the center, like the cheese in “The Farmer in the Dell.”

To Audie’s surprise, Cypher did not step forward to offer professional assistance; rather, he edged away from the commotion. She took a cue from his behavior, towing Bimmy with her.

“Take a breath,” the large lady suggested. “And start at the beginning.”

The man shuddered, a bit overdramatically to Audie’s mind. But these were theater people after all; perhaps that was to be expected. “I was gathering my props for an audition.” He smoothed his luxurious imperial moustache with a trembling hand. “At the Hippodrome.”

The crowd murmured appreciatively at this honor.

Someone handed the man a glass of water, which he gratefully accepted. Sipped. Spoke again. “Then I was called to the telephone, on the second floor.”

“They need phones on every floor,” someone grumbled.

The man continued, patting his forehead with a dingy handkerchief. “It had to have happened while I was taking the telephone call. My trunk hasn’t been out of my sight otherwise.”

“What was taken?” one of the acrobats asked, evidently eager to get to the punch line.

“Everything!” The man drained the glass, and water beaded up the fringes of his moustache. “At least, everything I need for the Asrah Levitation. What am I to do?”

“Your signature trick!” The large woman’s hand flew to her ample bosom in shock.

A murmur wobbled its way through the crowd.

The Great Oberon nodded slowly, solemnly. “I suspect a fellow magician,” he confessed in a tone veering on tragic. “Jealous of my audition at the Hippodrome.”

“Lemme through!” A beat cop weaved through the crowded lobby, clearing a path to the Great Oberon. “Back about your own business,” he commanded, pushing the odd performer this way and that. “Are you the fella’s missing a cape?”

“Not a cape.” The Great Oberon tugged his waistcoat, insulted. “The props for my grandest illusion.”

The policeman gave him a funny look.

“Trick,” clarified Oberon. “I make my assistant levitate.”

Again the policeman looked puzzled.

“I make someone float in midair.” The Great Oberon threw his hands up in exasperation.

“Oh, do you now? That might be worth the price of admission.” The officer cocked his head. “You’d best come with me and tell my sergeant all about it.” At that instruction, the Great Oberon fetched hat, gloves, and overcoat and then followed the policeman out of the hotel.

“How terrible,” Audie said. “Stealing someone’s trick like that.”

Bimmy was uncharacteristically quiet. Audie reminded herself that her best chum was new at this adventure game. She was bound to feel overwhelmed and out of her league, the poor thing.

“It’s a competitive business,” explained Cypher. “And it actually illustrates why we’ve been hired.” He corrected himself. “Why I’ve been hired to—”

“Keep an eye on me,” a pleasant voice finished.

Cypher’s face paled at the sight of the young woman at his elbow, dressed in a crisp white bodice and gored navy wool skirt. She held out an ink-stained hand. Audie counted six bits of string tied around assorted fingers. “Theodora Quinn,” she said, by way of introduction. “But do call me Theo.”

Cypher was grateful the bellman had not yet taken their bags up. He was going to need the headache powders in his valise. Perhaps a double dose. This was not part of the plan. In fact, this young woman wasn’t to have known she was being … watched. How did she find out? And how did she find him? Mr. Pinkerton was not going to be happy about this. Not in the least bit. Nor was Mr. Houdini.

Perhaps they’d take him back on at the White House.

Cypher cleared his throat, glancing around the still bustling lobby. “I assume you are the young woman who will be auditioning for our troupe?” he asked.

“Well, Mr. Hou—”

“Zut!” As if from thin air, Cypher conjured a trio of silk scarves and tossed them to the young woman.

Audie blinked. How could a person’s hands move that fast?

Miss Quinn caught the scarves in a messy clump. “Zut?”

“It’s a circus phrase,” Bimmy explained. “It can mean ‘Are you ready?’ or ‘Let’s go!’ ” She pressed her palms together, thinking. “Or just about anything, really.”

“Of course, as a performer yourself, you are well aware of that,” Audie said brightly.

“We have very high standards,” Cypher continued. “We would not want someone inexperienced holding us back.”

Gamely, the young woman tossed the scarves into the air, one after another.

“Oh, very good,” Audie cheered, when she saw that neither Bimmy nor Cypher was going to encourage Miss Quinn. Who, clearly, had not sought them out with the intent of auditioning for a role in the Pomegrantos. Though brief to date, Audie’s experience with the rescue business had been lengthy enough to recognize when someone needed saving. Case in point: Miss Quinn. And why was that scruffy-looking man with the fantastically large nose lurking behind the potted philodendron? He seemed to be taking a great interest in the current conversation.

“Is there somewhere quiet we can go?” Audie asked. “To continue the … audition?”

Cypher bristled at Audie’s apparent attempt to take charge of the situation. Then he, too, caught sight of the nosy man. “I have identified a café around the corner that will provide some privacy.”

“Brilliant!” Theo exclaimed. “Because I’m starving. I completely forgot to eat yesterday.” She reflected a moment, her chocolate-drop eyes large behind the round spectacles a bit askew on her nose, as she studied the wiggling fingers she held up in front of her face. “And perhaps this morning as well.”

After a short walk to the café, the party was soon seated in a booth, lunches ordered for all except Cypher, who merely drank coffee. Many cups. When the food arrived, the girls tucked in. Audie herself was famished, but did offer Cypher a bite of her apple pie à la mode, which he declined.

“Quite right,” Audie conceded. “Not as tasty as anything Beatrice whips up.”

Cypher did not comment.

The girls’ mealtime conversation was lively and educational, thanks to Theodora Quinn.

“You are a whiz!” Audie’s head was spinning from Theo’s explanation of her latest experiment. Something to do with light and refractions.

“I can take this off since I’ve now eaten. Though I could manage a second piece of pie.” Theo removed a string from one finger. “I am a whiz at many things,” she admitted without a hint of boastfulness. “Things scientific. But people completely mystify me.” She picked up a piecrust crumb with her forefinger and put it in her mouth. “Mr. Houdini, for example. I am a nobody. Why would he hire you to protect me?”

“I cannot imagine whatever gave you that idea.” Cypher did his best to don a shocked expression.

“Not whatever.” Theo arched her brow. “Whomever. As in Mr. Houdini himself.”

Cypher blanched. Why on earth would his employer reveal such information? “I am not at liberty—”

“Maybe Mr. Houdini felt Theo’s being fully informed was her best protection?” Audie suggested.

Another small dose of headache powders disappeared into Cypher’s mouth. “It would be much more efficient if those not involved in the safety and security business left it to those of us who are so involved.” That was the last critical thing he would say of Mr. Houdini. Though Cypher could foresee himself thinking a great many more.

“But I’m a scientist,” Theo protested. “From whom could I possibly be in danger?”

Cypher’s only answer was to take another sip of coffee. When the waitress refilled his cup, he ordered another slice of pie for Theodora Quinn.

Audie felt she must show the more cooperative side of their team. “I do not mean to alarm you, but there are those in Mr. Houdini’s profession who will resort to drastic measures to ensure their own success. Why, moments ago, the Great Oberon was a victim of an unthinkable robbery. Likely committed by a jealous competitor. Isn’t that right, Bimmy?”

“About that—” Bimmy began.

“The police did not confirm the robbery,” Cypher cautioned. “Take care when it comes to the word of a vaudeville performer.”

“A robbery?” Theo Quinn pushed her spectacles up the bridge of her nose. “What was pilfered?”

Audie pondered Cypher’s remark. “You mean it might be like the time Miss Maisie was certain her butterfly brooch had been stolen and all the while it was behind her dressing table?”

Cypher rubbed his temples. This conversation was rapidly sliding out of his control. “May I repeat—”

“A prop for his most important trick,” Audie explained to Theo. “His signature illusion.”

“About that—” Bimmy began again.

Cypher slapped his hand on the café table. Dishes rattled. Diners around them stared. Cypher inhaled. Composed himself. “No more robbery talk.”

Bimmy also inhaled, sitting up in her seat. She edged a bit closer to Audie for security and support. “There is one thing I should say on the topic.”

The waitress approached with a slice of pie.

Cypher’s hand waved “no.”

“Oh, you didn’t want this after all?” the waitress said.

Cypher groaned.

“Here, please.” Theo patted the space in front of her. “Oh, cherry. My favorite!”

“Dear Cypher,” Audie pleaded. “Do let Bimmy speak her mind.” She noticed her good friend had eaten around her meal, not of it. And she hadn’t even touched a bite of dessert. Though not up to Beatrice’s standards, the meal on the whole was quite enjoyable. This lack of enthusiasm was not like Bimmy, who generally had a hearty appetite.

Cypher gritted his teeth and sat back. He was going to have to stock up on headache powders. There was no doubt about it. Fortunately, he’d seen a pharmacy on the opposite corner. “Go on, then.” A muscle in his jaw twitched.

Bimmy tugged on the dark curl over her right ear. “Oberon wasn’t robbed.”

“You see, I warned you about jumping to conclusions,” Cypher said.

“Oberon wasn’t robbed because that wasn’t Oberon.” Bimmy put her hands in her lap.

Audie’s fork clattered to her plate. “What?”

Cypher closed his eyes, as if in prayer. “Ladies, if I may—”

“Oh, this is so thrilling!” Theo clapped gleefully. “I must get out of my laboratory more often.”

Bimmy glanced at Audie and then at Cypher. “Do you remember in the cab I told you Oberon and I had performed in the same circus?”

“Oh yes!” Audie’s eyes sparkled with the memory. “He gave you a rabbit. Which you set free in the woods.”

“Clever girl,” Theo approved. “Animals deserve to live in their natural environments. I myself once rehabilitated a small barred owl. Though it does return to my window from time to time, it seems to have fully embraced its natural state. Quite remarkable, really.”

Cypher rubbed at his temples with vigor. “This is all fascinating, but might we return to the subject at hand?” Keeping a conversation on track with these three was more difficult than herding camels!

“Yes. Well.” Bimmy rearranged her silverware just so. “At first, I hesitated to say anything. You see, it’s not uncommon on the circuit for performers to fill in for one another. Once when Papa contracted the influenza, Monsieur Reynaud took over. Though he wasn’t as handsome as Papa or as skilled at aerobatics, the audience did not know the difference. Mr. Oberon often suffered from something Mama and Papa called the ‘bottle flu.’ There were many, many times he could not perform because of this illness.” Bimmy reached for her milk glass and sipped. “So it wouldn’t be that unusual for another magician to step in for the Great Oberon and assume his role.” She glanced from Audie to Theo to Audie again. “It happens more often than you might realize, especially on the road.”

“Completely fascinating.” Theo took out a small notepad. “And no one ever notices these substitutions?”

Cypher stirred another spoonful of sugar into his coffee, clicking the spoon energetically against the cup. He had been about to ask that very question. And he said so.

“No.” Bimmy shook her head. “Since we’re often only in one town for a day or so, it’s not likely anyone in the audience would know whether the Great Oberon was tall or short, fat or thin.” Her shoulders slid ear-ward. “A good performer can don another persona as easily as one dons a costume.”

“But, Bimmy, dear,” Audie interjected. “Something must be different about this substitution. Or why would you even note it?”

Once again Bimmy reached for her milk as if to sip. “It doesn’t add up. What he said.” She set the glass down, brows crinkling. “A magician’s trunk generally goes straight to the theater. Being so heavy and all.” She nibbled at a bit of piecrust. “Not to the hotel.”

“What a sharp mind!” Theo exclaimed. “Have you ever thought about immersing yourself in the natural or physical sciences?”

“I beg your pardon?”

“She thinks you’d make a wonderful scientist,” Audie clarified. “And I wholeheartedly agree.”

“I have room in my laboratory for an assistant,” offered Theo.

“You mean, come here to work?” Bimmy’s face paled.

“Not much monetary reward,” admitted Theo. “But there is always the chance to change the world.”

“Oh, I couldn’t leave Audie! And the Waywards!” Even as she voiced these declarations, Bimmy felt intrigued. A scientist! My, my. “At least not now.”

Theo smiled warmly. “The invitation is open-ended,” she said.

Cypher drained his coffee cup. His vision flickered slightly due to excessive caffeine. He blinked. Twice. Now there was the proper number of girls. “I believe we should leave the faux Mr. Oberon to the police and concentrate on the matters at hand.”

Audie was distressed to notice she had absolutely devoured every bite of her meal. There was not even the smallest bit of pie remaining. Quel dommage, as Beatrice would say. Regardless, Audie pressed on. “And what are the matters at hand?”

Cypher glanced around, lowering his voice. “I hadn’t planned on sharing this information with Miss Quinn—”

“Oh, do call me Theo.”

“With Miss Quinn. No sense causing unnecessary worry.” Cypher pulled a piece of paper from his vest pocket. “But Mr. Houdini hired me because he was worried about something along these lines.” He showed the crude letter to the girls. “He received this yesterday.”

“Bees and bonnets!” Audie surmised this was the envelope that Cypher had been given at the hotel. She read the letter, taking in the threats on the page. “Kidnap Theo? But why?”

“Given what you’ve said about the Great Oberon, I believe I can answer that.” Theo reached across the table to pat Audie’s hand. “You see, I have designed for Mr. Houdini one of his most ambitious and—if I may be allowed a modicum of conceit—most amazing illusions.” She shifted in her chair, glancing left and right. “I am the one who will help him disappear an elephant.”

Audie’s pie sat leaden in her stomach. She wrestled with a dual set of potent emotions: curiosity about such a feat and anxiety at the topic of elephants. After all, these were the very creatures that, while stampeding, had taken the lives of her dear parents.

As if intuiting Audie’s inner turmoil, Bimmy placed her hand on her chum’s shoulder.

Audie composed herself. “I saw that in the newspaper at Pennsylvania Station.” She turned to Theo. “I suppose it would violate some ancient code if you were to tell us how such a thing might happen.”

“You are wise beyond your years.” Theo swallowed her last bite of pie. “I cannot tell you. Nor will I tell anyone. Not even if I am kidnapped.” She lifted her chin and spoke firmly and bravely to Cypher. “Or worse.”

Cypher leaned forward. “Well—”

“You have nothing to worry about!” interrupted Audie. “Cypher will keep you safe. And, if I may say so, I am quite useful in kidnapping cases.”

“I am in good hands, then,” Theo declared.

Audie sat up proudly. “The best.”

“All shall be well,” Cypher assured her. “As long as you do exactly as we say.” He explained the complex plan he had concocted for keeping her safe, a plan that involved Theo joining the Pomegrantos. Their juggling rehearsals would provide the opportunity for Theo and Mr. Houdini to be at the Hippodrome at the same time. Cypher explained how Mr. Houdini had arranged for Theo to confer with him in private to finalize the illusion’s last details. At the end of his lengthy dissertation, Cypher ran a hand through his handsome dark hair. “And there is one more thing.”

“Name it!” Theo Quinn’s eyes sparkled like jewels behind her spectacles.

Cypher rubbed the bridge of his nose. Even with Mr. Houdini’s endorsement, the Pomegrantos’ act still needed to meet certain standards. “You will need to improve your juggling skills.”

Theo moved a string from her ring finger to her forefinger. “Absolutely.”