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e-mail. No cell phones. It’s not a big deal. Drake knows to meet me at the train station on Tuesday.”
    â€œThat’s when you’re leaving?” I asked. “Two days from now?”
    â€œMagic is really draining, so Drake likes a few daysof rest before traveling to the next show,” Hugo said. “But like I told Officer Fernandez, I fully expect that he’ll be at the train station Tuesday.”
    â€œHugo!” Ariana and Ayela ran toward us.
    â€œNancy!” Bess and George called my name as they entered the hotel.
    â€œThe radio!” they cried at the same time as Ariana and Ayela yelled, “The radio!” Apparently the four of them had been listening to the same station.
    Hugo and I rushed to the closest TV set, in the hotel bar. A handcuffed Drake Lonestar was on the screen, flanked by Officer Fernandez on his left and Officer Collins on his right.
    Beyond them were screaming fans, desperate to get a glimpse of the magician. There were countless women carrying signs that said I LOVE YOU and MARRY ME! A guy was standing on the courthouse steps selling Drake Lonestar T-shirts. The crowd was chanting his name.
    Even with all the chaos surrounding him, we clearly could hear Drake shout, “I’d rather spend a lifetime in prison than reveal how my magic is done!”

CHAPTER EIGHT

Jail Time
    I’D NEVER DRIVEN SO FAST in my life.
    When Bess, George, and I arrived at the courthouse, Drake Lonestar was already inside—getting booked, I presumed, but I hadn’t a clue under what charge.
    The courthouse was usually closed on Sunday, just like Saturday, but today, like yesterday, it was bustling.
    Reporters were milling around, waiting for a story. My dad was off to the side with Ned. Even at a distance, I could see that Ned’s hair was standing up and his suit, the same one he’d worn the day before, was rumpled. He’d clearly been working all night.
    Hugo, with Gritty Grand’s nieces in tow, pulled his rental car into the space next to mine, and all six of us ran across the parking lot together. I raced up to Ned.
    â€œI wondered when you’d show up,” he said, kissing me hello on the cheek. “News travels fast in River Heights.”
    â€œI saw the arrest on TV.”
    He nodded. “But the news only reported that Lonestar was picked up. An hour ago John Smallwood was also brought in for questioning again.”
    â€œWhy?” I asked.
    Ned opened his mouth, when my dad cut in. “Tell her everything,” my father told Ned. “Every detail.” He looked at me. “We need your big brain on this one,” he said.
    â€œBig brain?” I laughed. “A genetic mutation from your side of the family, I believe.”
    â€œAnd a good thing, too. Now put that mass of gray matter to use and figure out what is going on, okay?” My dad gave me a kiss on the top of my head.
    â€œI’ll try my best,” I told him, then returned my gaze to Ned.
    â€œThe police finally found Drake Lonestar. Turns out that unlike you or me, he needs a lot of sleep,” Ned said. “He was in bed in his hotel room.”
    â€œPerforming magic is exhausting,” I repeated what Hugo had told me earlier.
    â€œRight.” Ned rolled his eyes as if Drake was simply a prima donna who had no idea about real work. “Anyway, the officers discovered that not only was the magician staying in the same hotel as Smallwood, but the two men had rooms across the hall from each other.”
    I lurched forward in surprise when Ned quickly added, “Apparently the magician was initially put into the same room as Smallwood, but that was a mistake.” He shook his head. “When Drake walked in, Smallwood was in the shower. The hotel cleared it up, putting Drake in the room across the hall.”
    â€œShower? That must have been awkward.” I chuckled at the thought of walking into a hotel room that was already