Thankyou to those of you that wished me a happy birthday - I had a great day.

And look at this: as a thanks, you get a very short author's note from me!

Myrtle


Chapter Twelve: Entertain Me

Emily

The atmosphere amongst our little group was tense, to say the least. The reappearance of Cook's former girlfriend and former best friend as a rival magic act had caused uneasiness to all of us. In the days following our discovery that we had competition, an almighty advertising campaign had started up. The 'Marvellous McLair and Elusive Effy' were everywhere. Their omnipresent faces smirked at us from billboards, magazines, and hoardings.

Cook, normally so laid-back, became particularly tetchy at their arrival. This was a double blow to our group, considering that he was the one to act as a buffer between Katie and Naomi. Their relationship became very strained. Naomi seemed convinced that Katie must have said something about our secrets in her meeting with McLair. Katie resented her suggestions that she couldn't keep stuff to herself, and flared up whenever the subject was raised. This only served to make Naomi more convinced than ever that Katie was hiding something.

I resolved to find out for myself exactly what Katie had told him. I waited until the two of us were alone one day, then brought it up in a less confrontational manner. I knew from experience that the way to get Katie to speak is to tread carefully with her.

"So what exactly did he say to you?" I asked, after a suitably cautious introduction. Katie shrugged.

"We just got chatting, really. You know, normal stuff when you meet a guy in a bar." I nodded, to show I was listening. "He said his name was Freddie, and he told me he'd just moved to Vegas for his work. But he never said he was a magician - I would have remembered that."

"But you told him about the show?" I kept my tone neutral, not accusing.

"Well yeah. He said he was sure I must be a showgirl, since I was so pretty."

I did my best not to laugh. It sounded like this guy's chat up lines were pretty cheesy, although that never usually deterred Katie.

"So I said he was close. I kept him guessing for a bit, then I told him. He was really interested, and asked me loads of stuff."

"Like what?" I probed. Katie frowned in the effort of remembering.

"I dunno. Like, about how hard it must be to rehearse, and did I have to remember loads of secrets." Katie suddenly looked pleadingly at me. "Em, I know what that Campbell thinks, but I didn't tell him about you, I swear. I didn't tell him anything about the show. She's banged on enough about that secrecy clause, I was hardly going to forget about it."

I nodded at her - I could see that Katie was sincere. It seemed obvious to me, even if it still didn't to Katie, that Freddie had singled her out in order to find out about the show. But he must have come up empty handed, because I believed Katie when she said that she didn't tell him anything.

"All that bitch cares about is her fucking magic show" grumbled Katie. I didn't say anything, because I hadn't quite made up my mind about that yet.


My conviction that our secrets were safe was no help at all in relieving any tension in the group. I did my best to persuade Naomi of Katie's innocence, but since her relationship with me was already strained since the night of our almost shag, I had little success. She now barely even looked at me unless she had to. It seemed ridiculous to me - if all that she wanted that night was a one night stand, then she can hardly still be dwelling on my refusal. If she wanted more than that, then she could have told me when I made my own feelings clear. I added it all to the long list of contradictory things about one Naomi Campbell.

As I walked towards the rehearsal room one day, I heard a raised male voice from within that wasn't Cook. Since every effort was taken to keep anyone but essential people out, my interest was piqued. I slipped quietly into the room and realised that it was Mr Tomone who had joined us. Naomi and Cook seemed to be in earnest entreaties with him.

"You can't pull the plug on us, we've signed a contract!" Cook insisted. Mr Tomone raised a hand to silence him.

"No-one is talking about pulling the plug, Mr Cook. I just want to know if you've thought about the impact another magic act will have on ticket sales?"

"We're gonna have a huge advertising campaign" Cook argued. "We'll be the only magic show people want to see in this town."

Mr Tomone didn't seem quite so certain as Cook. I could hardly blame him - the images of McLair and Effy were inescapable in this town at the moment.

"But the McLair show opens a fortnight before yours! If it's already a big hit before you even open..."

"We can't open sooner" said Naomi firmly. "We're just not ready yet. But if we're smart, we can have a buzz happening about the show before we open." She glanced around the room to make sure she had everyone's attention. "The papers love a bit of good old-fashioned rivalry. We'll start some off-stage antagonism between us and them - ride along on some of their publicity. Make it all seem personal."

"Is it personal?" Asked Mr Tomone.

"Is it personal?" repeated Cook. "Let me see: he stole my girl, he stole my act, and he stole my best friend." He counted them off one by one on his fingers.

"Right, not personal at all then" muttered Naomi under her breath.

Mr Tomone nodded thoughtfully.

"It could work, but be careful what you say. If you get sued for libel, The Garda Resort will have nothing to do with it." Naomi shook her head firmly.

"That won't happen. They'll get just as much publicity from all of this as we will. It'll help both shows." Cook looked particularly unhappy at that part of the plan, but he didn't say anything. Naomi continued. "It will work. Rivalry between magicians always catches the public interest: Harry Keller and Alexander Herrmann were rivals, it worked for Houdini and Howard Thurston in the early twentieth century. God, even Paul Daniels and Wayne Dobson had a big rivalry going in England in the eighties."

Mr Tomone seemed a little happier when he left a short time later. As soon as he was out of the room, Naomi let out a sigh and sank into a chair.

"I just hope it works" she muttered, more to herself than to anyone else. "We need to see that show" she told the room at large. "I've got us some tickets for the opening night. Cook: you, me and Emily can go."

She carefully avoided looking at me as she said my name. This was beginning to get very frustrating.


The night of 'Marvellous McLair's' grand premiere soon came around. Cook, Naomi and I went along as planned to see the show. We moved into the theatre looking for our seats, trying to look as inconspicuous as possible. It felt like we were sneaking into the cinema without paying, knowing that the stars of the show probably wouldn't want us there. Cook led the way along the aisle. As he indicated the right seats, Naomi grabbed his arm.

"You sit there" she hissed at him, pointing at the middle of our allocated seats. Cook squeezed past her and sat in the indicated seat. I sat down next to him, feeling somewhat hurt that Naomi seemed unable even to sit next to me.

Those thoughts disappeared as the show began. I felt Cook tense beside me as the 'Marvellous McLair' strolled onto the stage. He was dressed in an old-fashioned style, with a top hat, a cane and a frock coat. He seemed well suited to being on stage, and addressed the audience with flair.

"Ladies and Gentlemen! I would like to welcome you to this most beautiful theatre." He gestured his arm in a sweeping arc of the room. "You are in for an evening... of wonders!"

From the other side of Cook, I could hear Naomi grumbling something about the show, but I couldn't make out what her criticisms were.

The show was very enjoyable. The first part moved at a fast pace through some surprising illusions. Freddie was assisted throughout by Effy, who was dressed more like a burlesque performer than anything else. She wore a succession of lacy basques, accessorised with long gloves, fishnet stockings and Dr Martens. Her eye make-up was smoky, and her hair had a distinct 'dragged through a hedge backwards' chic to it.

A little past the halfway point of the show, Freddie stepped out alone to the middle of the stage. The theatre fell silent to hear his address.

"Tonight, you are in for a very special event. My beautiful assistant is a most mysterious, and enchanting woman. I first met her in England, in an asylum for those with... challenged minds."

Cook snorted derisively. I already knew that Freddie met Effy when Cook introduced them to each other in New York. Freddie's story was nothing more than dressing for whatever was to come.

"Ladies and gentlemen: may I present to you... Effy!" He swept his arm towards the rear of the stage. His assistant strolled out in a long, Victorian style dress. It seemed ridiculously conservative, considering her earlier attire. Effy took a seat in the middle of the stage. Freddie produced a blindfold, and proceeded to cover Effy's eyes with it.

What followed was a lengthy demonstration of the 'Elusive Effy's' powers as a mind reader. She revealed personal information about a succession of audience volunteers, she correctly identified the owners of some borrowed items, and even correctly copied a drawing done by a volunteer, while still blindfolded.

Towards the end of the show, Freddie stepped to centre stage once more. He raised his hands to ask for silence.

"Ladies and gentlemen. For my final effect, I would like to show you all something truly... dangerous. I have been advised by my lawyers not to perform this particular illusion, but..." He paused for dramatic effect. "... I never really listen to lawyers!" A ripple of laughter flitted across the theatre. Freddie waited for it to subside before continuing. "Many magicians have attempted this illusion, and many magicians have died in their attempts." Cook, Naomi and myself exchanged nervous glances. Surely he wasn't about to perform our final illusion? Collectively, we held our breaths as Freddie announced: "Ladies and gentlemen, I give you the mystery of... the bullet catch!"

"Shit!" Naomi's curse caused a few heads to turn in our direction. She checked herself before continuing in a whisper towards Cook and myself. "He's stolen our fucking trick!"

We each watched in a daze as Freddie began the lengthy process of setting up for his final illusion. We paid barely any attention as audience members were called on stage to verify that the gun and the bullets were genuine. It was only as the loaded weapon was taken up by Effy that Cook finally spoke.

"Is it wrong that I'm hoping this goes horribly wrong?" He asked in a whisper.

"No" said Naomi firmly, her tone making it clear she was hoping for that very outcome herself.

A resounding crack split the air as Effy discharged the weapon at Freddie. For one horrible moment, it seemed as if the trick may have gone wrong. Freddie reeled and staggered, as the audience gasped en masse. Then he straightened himself and grinned at the audience, before showing the bullet between his teeth. There was an infinitesimal pause, then the entire audience - apart from myself, Naomi and Cook - burst into rapturous applause.


"I can't fucking believe it!" Naomi had grumbled non stop about Freddie's final illusion since the show ended. At Cook's insistence, we had snuck our way into the after-show party, and were currently glugging free champagne, waiting for the man of the moment to work his way around the room to us.

"He never fucking changes!" Insisted Cook, his mood particularly black. "He's still stealing his act from me!" Over his shoulder, I caught sight of Freddie heading our way. I had no chance to let them know, before he was right in front of us.

"Coooooook!" Freddie spread his arms wide, as though expecting a warm reception from his former friend. "Great to see you, mate!" He wrapped his arms around Cook in a hug that was not returned. Undaunted, Freddie let him go and glanced at Naomi. "And this of course is the famous Naomi Campbell!" He offered his hand, but let it fall as he realised that Naomi had no intention of shaking it. She stared at him with her most withering look, but Freddie pretended not to notice. He turned to face me. "And this..."

"Yeah, babe. We've met" I answered coldly, in my best imitation of Katie's voice. Naomi stared at me in surprise. Little did she know that I had been Katie's understudy for the past twenty four years. I was more than capable of handling this situation. Freddie just grinned at me and stepped closer.

"Of course we have! I couldn't forget such a pretty girl as you, Katie!" He wrapped an arm around me. I tried not to grimace as his hand slid lower and skimmed in an all too familiar way across my arse. This guy was seriously beginning to make my skin crawl. My only small consolation was the flash of anger that I spotted in Naomi's eyes. Channelling my inner Katie, I grabbed Freddie's hand and yanked it away from my bum.

"Don't fucking touch what you can't afford!" I told him imperiously. "You never told me you were a fucking magician!" Freddie chuckled.

"I just thought it would be nice to get to know you!"

I curled my lip into a sneer that I had regularly seen on Katie's face.

"And try to steal our ideas! How the fuck did you find out about the bullet catch anyway? I never told you!" I just prayed that my trust in Katie would be rewarded by that little gamble. If she hadn't told Freddie anything, then he may just confirm that for me in Naomi's hearing. Freddie grinned broadly. He seemed pleased that I had asked that question.

"It's amazing what you can find out with a little digging!" He turned and waved over another man, who ambled over to join us. "My magical advisor has been doing a little research for me. Cook, you remember JJ, right?"

Cook scowled at the new arrival.

"JJ man, I thought you were my mate!" JJ seemed startled to be addressed like that by Cook.

"Well, I just... we are friends Cook, but Freddie is now my employer, and so I felt obliged to carry out his instructions with a view to..."

"Fuck off!" Said Cook dismissively.

"Looking good, James."

I jumped slightly, as Effy spoke to Cook. I hadn't even seen her sauntering up to us. I glanced at Cook. His expression, not exactly sunny all evening, was now particularly dark.

"Eff." Was his only greeting, spoken through his clenched jaw.

"Well, as much fun as this little reunion has been, I think we'd better be going" said Naomi. I couldn't blame her for wanting us to leave. Cook looked on the brink of losing control, and a scene here would do us no good at all. Naomi gave a dazzling smile to Freddie and Effy. "Loved the show, by the way. Very... traditional." She put as much emphasis as possible on the final word. Then she turned and walked from the room, followed by me and Cook. The second we were out of earshot, Naomi dropped her calm exterior. "Fucking couple of tossers! Why the fuck were you ever friends with them?"

"That was all a fucking act" insisted Cook. "Freddie was never like that before."

A magician with a hidden side to him - now why doesn't that surprise me?

We all fell silent as we walked back to the hotel. Cook led the way, striding rapidly on ahead, making all conversation impossible. As we entered the casino of The Garda Resort, I expected him to head straight to the elevators. Instead he headed to a fairly quiet bar to one side of the casino floor. As he ground to a halt inside, I noticed that Naomi suddenly looked uncomfortable. Cook seemed to notice it too.

"We all need a drink after that. No arguments." Without waiting for an answer, he turned and headed to the bar. Naomi shrugged, and sat down at a table. I quietly sat down next to her and watched as she stared resolutely at her fingernails. Cook returned a moment later with two drinks. He set them down on the table but remained standing. Naomi finally looked up from her hands. She frowned as she saw there were only two drinks.

"I need to be by myself for a bit" said Cook softly. Naomi rose to her feet, ready to make her excuses, but Cook glared at her. "And you two need to start talking to each other." He stared at Naomi until she meekly sat back down again. "Put whatever happened - or didn't happen - behind you, so that we can all keep working together, okay?"

Naomi only grumbled a reply, but Cook accepted it as agreement. He nodded, then walked out of the bar without a backwards glance.

"I'm not sure he should be alone" said Naomi. Her voice was uncertain, and I knew that although she was concerned about Cook, her real reason was that she didn't want to be alone with me. I felt so bloody sick of her behaviour.

"He'll be fine" I snapped. I felt pretty convinced that if Cook really wanted to be alone, there was nothing anyone could do about it anyway. At my harsh tone, Naomi's eyes finally met mine. She looked guilty.

"I'm sorry" she said with a shrug. Her voice sounded small. It was only a tiny olive-branch that she was offering, but I decided to take it and let my anger at her go.

"Yeah, me too" I answered with a smile. Naomi sighed, and a little of the tension that she had been carrying in her shoulders seemed to slip away.

"I've been a complete tit."

I nodded, not feeling any need to contradict her. Naomi frowned, before relaxing into a smile. It was the first genuine smile that I had received from her in quite some time, and it made her look even more beautiful than ever. I smiled back at her.

"Emily, I really like you. I just..." She let her sentence trail away, and I held my breath wondering if she was about to be honest with me for once. The silence between us stretched on, before Naomi cleared her throat awkwardly. "We're going to need something new to end the show with" she said at last. I sighed to myself at the abrupt change of subject. I guess hoping for anything other than avoidance was always wishful thinking with Naomi.


Okay, so I know their relationship is progressing at a snail's pace at the moment, but there will be a developement soon. I have a specific time-frame in mind though, so we have some stuff to do with the show to get through first.

I guess I've changed Freddie quite a bit, but since hardly anyone seems to even like him, I thought you'd let me get away with that.

For anyone thinking that Effy's outfit was a bit over the top, try doing a google image search of 'magician's assistants'. It really backs up my little rants about sexism in magic. For some reason, the search also brought up a still of Kitty and Nan from Tipping The Velvet in matching top hats and tuxedos, so it wasn't all bad.