Chapter Eighteen

"You weren't kidding when you said you were going to work your magic on me," Lila said.

She and Spencer were at Abra Cadarbra, a magic fair that took place just outside of Las Vegas every year. What made this fair unique was that both ameteurs and professionals alike demonstrated their skills for the crowd, as well as provided workshops for anyone who was interested. Lila and Spencer were walking hand-in-hand, stopping at the different stations. They were currently watching the dove pan, a trick where a magician produces a dove from an empty pan. As Lila watched the magician wield his magic, Spencer was explaining how the trick was performed.

"The pan is made of brass or aluminium and comes with a matching lid which has a very deep rim or shoulder all around that fits inside the pan when closed," Spencer began, keeping his voice low and his mouth close to Lila's ear.

"The pan is usually no more than ten inches in diameter and roughly 2-3 inches deep. The magician then puts a small quantity of a volatile liquid into it, which he then sets on fire."

Right on que the magician did just that, produces reddish/orange flames. The audience gasped in delight, as well as from the natural fear that fire produces. As the magician slammed the lid over the fire, Spencer continued whispering.

"The audience's attention is focused square on the flames so they don't notice the magician removing the dove from a cage underneath the stage," Spencer said. As if the magician had timed himself around Spencer, he slammed the lid over the flames. Upon removing it, a dove was produced. The creature perched himself on his owner's shoulder, looking quite pleased with himself.

"How amazingly simple," Lila replied, looking surprised yet impressed.

"That's all magic is about," Spencer said as they moved on. "Sleight of hand and distractions."

"How long have you been doing magic?" Lila asked.

"Since I was a kid. I read Tarbell Course in Magic when I was three and was instantly hooked. Magic was an escape for me."

"An escape how?" Lila asked. "do you mean from the fighting?" Lila remembered Spencer telling her about his parents' divorce when he was ten.

"That was part of it," Spencer agreed. He led her to a workshop, where a professional magician was teaching a group how to perform card tricks.

"What's the other part?" Lila asked.

Spencer shook his head and guided her attention to the presentation at hand. Lila wanted to hear more about Spencer's childhood, but she knew he would tell her when he was ready. For his part, Spencer was dreading having to tell Lila the truth about his past. Although he tried to act easy-going and put together around Lila, the truth was he was scared to death that she would take one look at him and run away screaming if knew innermost dark details about him and his life.

The magician was about to demonstrate how to perform the Magic Elevator Card Trick. He looked into the audience, saying he needed an assistant. His eyes scanned the crowd until he zoned in on Lila.

"You there," he said, pointing at her. "What is your name?"

"Umm.....Lila," she replied, feeling nervous. Lila knew almost nothing about magic, so the idea of getting in front of the crowd made her nervous.

"Come up here, Umm Lila and help me with this trick," he replied. After an encouraging gaze from Spencer, she obliged. She walked towards him and the man held out his hand.

"Hello, Lila, I'm David. Have you ever performed a magic trick before?" he asked.

"Well, I'm good at making chocolate disappear," she said with a shrug.

The crowd laughed, as did David. "That's an important skill for sure, but have you ever performed magic?"

"Never," Lila replied.

"Then today is your lucky day," David replied. He placed a stack of cards in Lila's hand.

"Do you know how to shuffle?" he asked. Although that question could come across as incredibly condescending coming from other people, David was an exception to the rule.

Lila nodded, remembering the lesson Spencer gave her not that long ago. She shuffled the cards as he had shown her, then waited for David's next instruction.

"Well, as you know, I'm going to show you a trick called Magic Elevator Card Trick. It's a relatively simple trick and a great place to start for budding magicians. First, take any card and place it on top of the ace of spades on the top of the deck."

Lila complied and David went on the the next step. "Very good. Next, use the pad of your pinky to hold a break between the top two cards and the rest of the deck." David looked at Lila's form and nodded in approval. "Very good." He looked at the crowd and said: "This is known as the pinky break."

David went through the rest of the trick, which included picking up the two cards as one and showing them to the audience before placing both cards back on the deck. Next came taking the top card, which was the six of hearts, and pushing it into the center of the deck. As the grand finale, David had Lila give the deck a shake and reveal that the ace of spades has magically returned to the top. The crowd applauded, including Spencer, who had a look of pride on his face. David thanked Lila for her assistance and she made her way back to Spencer.

"You did a wonderful job, Lila," Spencer said, wrapping his arms around her waist.

"It was fun," Lila admitted, standing on her tiptoes to give Spencer a kiss on the lips.

"Are you ready for more?" he asked, running his fingers through her hair.

"Definately...oh wait, you were talking about magic..."

Spencer blushed and Lila giggled, loving how someone who faced the darkest, most deranged members of society without flinching was so prone to rosey cheeks.

"You are so cute when you blush," she said.

"And you are beautiful all the time," Spencer said, kissing her nose. When he pulled away, she noticed his gaze was focused on her left ear. She gingerly felt it with her hand and found something there. As she fingers did the inspecting, she quickly came to the conclusion the object in question was a Lilac.

"How did you..." she asked.

"A real magician never reveals his secrets," he said with a wink.

"But they are!" she said, gesturing to the other magicans around her in mock protest.

"They're not real magicians," he said, shrugging his shoulders. Lila could see the merriment in his eyes.

"You better not let them hear you say that. We are kind of out numbered."

"Considering I have the head of the FBI on speed dial, I don't think we have anything to worry about."

Lila laughed and they spent the rest of the day at the fair, having a wonderful time. Although they went to most of the stations, Spencer purposely kept her from the ones that showed how to sneak something behind someone's ear or anywhere near the body. Lila just laughed, knowing she would have to find a way to go around him.

It was nearly eleven o'clock when Spencer and Lila returned to the hotel. They had eaten dinner at the fair, content with casual food at various stands from which to choose. As they left, they went to a suveneier stand so Lila could load up on magic books for beginners, as well as a beginner's magic kit. Of course Spencer made certain nothing was mentioned about slight of hand before she made a purchase, to her amusement. They stepped off the elevator, hand-in-hand.

"I had a wonderful time today," Lila said, looking into his eyes. As always, Jude kept a respectful distance.

"So did I," Spencer replied, giving her hand a gentle squeeze. Ever the gentleman, he was carrying her shopping bags.

"Would you like to come in for a while? Maybe have some wine and tear into my magic kit?"

Before Spencer could reply, something, or rather someone, caught his eye. There was a tall, well dressed, conventionally handsome man lurking near her door. Feeling the hairs standing on his neck, Spencer positioned himself in front of Lila, in protective mode.

"Excuse me sir, but who are you?" Spencer asked, eyeing him with suspicion.

"My name is Christian St. James and I'm Lila's manager," Christian replied. Although he had managed to plaster a smile on his face, Spencer saw right through him. Underneath his calm facade was a rage just itching to be released.

"Hello, Christian. Is it your usual business practice to lurk outside your clients' doors at all hours of the night or is Lila an exception?"

"In this business, there is no such thing has regular business hours," Christian replied, feeling his faux calmness dissipating. Not wanting to lose control with a witness close by, he forced the smile to return to his face.

"Lila, may I please talk you alone, in private?"