Magic Mansion by Jordan Price (best fiction books to read .txt) 📕

“Jia,” Bev said, “twenty-one people also selected you as the best performer.” Jia’s mouth worked. John had never seen her so gobsmacked. “That makes your total score sixty-two.”

Monty cut in and said, “Kevin, many audience members told the producers that watching you perform was like seeing David Blaine step out of a 1940 time machine.”

Kevin gave a one-shouldered shrug. “Gold Team would know better than me, Monty. They met him.”

Bev said, “They must have meant it as a compliment. Kevin, in the category of performance, you scored thirty points.”

Twenty-one, twenty-one, thirty, subtract it from one hundred, add it to the other score, whatever it was…where was a scoreboard when you needed one? Could someone just tell John whether he’d won or lost?

“It’s a close game, indeed,” Monty said. “Did Professor Topaz earn enough points to take this final challenge?”

Bev consulted her scroll. What did the expression of focused concentration on her face mean? John had no idea. “The professor scored very high in performance also, Monty. Twenty-eight points, for a total score of eighty-eight.”

All four final contestants sat scowling as they tried to recall the scores and add them up. But finally Bev took pity on them and said, “But our big winner for the Boardwalk Challenge, with ninety points, is Kevin Kazan.”

Kevin hissed, “Yesss,” as Jia clucked her tongue, and Ricardo gave John’s hand another squeeze, then released it and folded both his hands on the table in front of him. John turned to Kevin, offered a handshake, and said, “Congratulations.” Since he’d caught glimpses of Kevin’s act in the brief snatches of time in which he’d looked up from his own—when he’d managed to tear his eyes away from Ricardo in those skin-tight jeans, at least—Kazan had obviously made an impression on his audience. John could hardly begrudge him the win.

Kevin reached for John’s hand cautiously. He’d only won by two points, after all. And, of course, there was the whole treadmill incident from that morning between them—though if Kevin found two men fooling around intimidating, maybe he should reconsider living in Hollywo—

 The handshake felt like a joybuzzer as John’s Truth pried between the plates of Kevin Kazan’s armor, and finally, really saw him.

True magic smoldered in him like a red-hot coal—a coal shielded under a layer of ash so thick as to render the ember inside invisible, at least until it was caught by the wind, and flared to life.

Kevin’s eyes widened slightly. Had Truth recognized Truth, or was he even cognizant of this thing inside him that came out when his magician “character” was living and breathing him? Hard to say, particularly in front of all the cameras, but before John could get a good look at it, Kevin’s expression shifted, and went sly. “Jus’ like I told you when I broke up the Red Team. I’m gonna win. Me. So let’s finish dis thing…Professor.”

Chapter 38

FINAL PREP

“Kevin Kazan wins,” Monty said, “by a slim two point margin…and this competition’s not over yet. There’s one ultimate event standing between our Final Four and the grand prize: the Sands of Time Challenge.

“The legendary escape artist Harry Houdini made history by getting out of a number of tight situations—including a straitjacket. Our Final Four contestants will begin this challenge just like good old Harry. And who better to strap you in…than the eliminated players?”

The curtain at the far end of the room fell (after some swearing by Iain and some ineffectual tugging that would be edited out later). Standing, poised and confident as if they’d been holding those poses the entire time the scores were being tallied, were four eliminated contestants.

“Kevin,” Monty said, “as the winner of the Boardwalk Challenge, you’ve got first choice. Who’s going to be the one to tighten those buckles on the straitjacket? Will it be Chip Challenge in his blue suede shoes?” Chip winked over the top of his sunglasses and pointed at the jib.

“Or Sue, the gift shop girl from Magicopolis?” Sue gave her honey-blonde hair a subtle toss and smiled for the camera.

“I’m sure nobody’s keen on being locked down by our escape artist extraordinaire, Ken Baron.” Ken, in a superhero-looking black lycra bodystocking, crossed his arms forbiddingly.

“But why bother, when you can trust yourself to the tender mercies of your old flame, Amazing Faye?” Faye blew Kevin a kiss.

They were people, just regular contestants, like John himself. And yet seeing them there, costumed and spotlighted, made his heart palpitate with anxiety. This was really happening. The moment Kevin announced his choice, the final challenge would be underway.

It made sense for Kevin to pick Faye. First, there was the trumped-up “romance” between them, which meant they at least knew how to negotiate with and tolerate one another. Aside from that, on a purely physical level, Faye was so thin it was unlikely she had the strength in her to pull the straitjacket straps particularly tight.

So why didn’t Kevin immediately pick her?

John turned and looked at Kevin, and found him assessing the eliminated contestants through narrowed eyes. Ah, yes. Of course. It would be totally unlike Kevin abandon his precious “strategy” so late in the game. John looked back at the eliminated players. They all smiled or glowered or winked as they’d been directed to—no doubt they’d all been paid a fee to make an appearance, and really, none of them likely cared which magician’s straps and buckles they ended up in charge of.

None of them but—

“It’s a tough choice,” Kevin blurted out sudden and loud, “and Miz Faye knows she’s my bootylicious baby gal, but imma have to go wit’ Sue.”

Of course.

Ricardo groaned and thunked his forehead into the table.

Monty said, “It’s safe to say you’ve got some strategy in play. Let’s hope your girlfriend can forgive you.”

Faye pretended to study her nails.

“Professor Topaz, you had the next highest score in the Boardwalk Challenge. Who will you pick to do the honors?”

John’s heart thrummed even harder. Three eliminated players to choose from: Chip,