Peter and Liza sat down, effectively blocking MJ into the booth. Her eyes darted back and forth liked a caged animal’s. In a trembling voice she said, “How did you find me so fast?”
Peter’s mind had been racing since they’d entered the restaurant. He needed to tell MJ a yarn, and it needed to be convincing enough for her to buy on the spot. That was going to take some doing, and he was glad he had Liza alongside to back up his fabricated story.
“One of my assistants was standing outside Grand Central when you ran out,” he explained. “He decided to follow you, and told me you were here.”
“Your assistant?” MJ asked suspiciously. “You don’t work Mondays.”
MJ had done her homework, and he wondered how much more she knew. Holly was scrying on him and MJ was spying on him. He wasn’t sure which was worse, and he said, “You’re right. My theater is dark on Mondays, which is when I rehearse new material. I’ve been working on an hour-long special for HBO that features illusions that I perform around New York. I was inside Grand Central with my team practicing a new illusion when you caught us in the act.”
“That black thing I saw was a trick?” MJ said. “Gimme me a break. That thing was real. You’re into dark magic, and have these amazing powers. Admit it.”
Peter gently kicked Liza beneath the table, and she picked up without missing a beat.
“What you saw inside Grand Central was a hologram,” Liza said in a matter-of-fact tone. “It’s a brand-new illusion in Peter’s show, and he was trying to see if it would work outside the theater. Unfortunately, there are still some kinks to be worked out.”
MJ leaned across the table to stare at Liza. “Are you into dark magic, too?”
“Not at all,” Liza said with a frozen smile.
“Then why are you lying for him?”
“What you saw is a trick,” Liza said, not backing down. “If you publish a story that says Peter has some kind of weird powers you’re going to look like a fool.”
“Is that so.”
MJ’s face flushed. Peter tried to read her mind but found her thoughts blocked off. The young blogger dug an iPhone from her purse and punched a command into it. She showed them the screen. “I’ve been collecting videos of you. I took this one at your theater on Saturday when that black thing jumped out of the Dollhouse trick. Take a look.”
On the small screen appeared a video of Peter striking the shadow person during Saturday’s matinee. How had MJ gotten into the theater without Snoop spotting her?
“Here’s another one of you doing real mind reading,” MJ said.
On the screen appeared another video taken inside the theater of Peter reading the mind of a woman from the audience. It was followed by an interview of the woman outside the theater on the sidewalk. The woman told the camera how Peter had known things about her past that not a single living person knew, and how could he not be a psychic?
“Want to see some more?” MJ asked when the video was over.
“How did you get inside my theater on Saturday?” Peter asked.
“Trade secret.”
“I could have you arrested for trespassing.”
“I wasn’t trespassing.”
“Taking videos is strictly prohibited during the show,” Liza jumped in.
“So sue me.”
“I just might do that,” Peter said.
“There’s more,” MJ said with a smirk. “I interviewed your classmates from private school and several of your teachers. They said you seemed to know the answers to questions before they were asked. One of your classmates said he once heard you talking to a ghost.”
“Are you going to put that on your blog as well?” Peter asked.
“It’s all going in,” MJ said.
Against one accusation Peter knew he had a fighting chance. But against a whole slew of accusations dating back to childhood he had little chance. MJ hadn’t just gone digging into his private life, she’d used an earth mover, and gathered enough secret information to expose him to the public and ruin whatever semblance of a normal life he enjoyed.
He started to laugh. It was the only way to respond without caving in. He nudged Liza with his toe, and she started to laugh as well.
“You don’t fool me,” MJ told them.
Peter rose from the table. MJ had resumed reading the menu while sipping her drink. She’d won this round, and she knew it.
“I’ll be right back,” he said.
He found the restroom and splashed cold water on his face. Drying himself with a paper towel, he stared long and hard at his reflection in the mirror above the sink.
“Mirror, mirror on the wall, tell me what the hell to do.”
His cell phone vibrated. He knew who it was without having to look at the face.
“I’m listening,” he said.
“Why don’t I cast a spell on her, and wipe her memory out?” Holly suggested. “I’ve gotten rather good at that, you know.”
“Will it harm her?” Peter asked.
“Of course. She’ll be a blathering idiot for the rest of her life.”
Peter groaned into the cell phone.
“All right, how about if I just make her blind?” Holly said.
“You’re not helping.”
“Spoilsport.”
“Any other ideas? Come on, I’m in a real bind.”
“Sorry, but I’m afraid that’s all I can offer you. The thing I don’t understand is, how did she get into your theater? Your security is awfully tight.”
Peter had been wondering that very thing himself. His security was so good that it had caught Dr. Sierra knocking on the front door that morning. So how had MJ snuck in and filmed him so many times without being spotted? After a moment the answer hit him. She’d had help.
“I’ve got to go,” he said.
Ending the call, he pulled up Snoop’s number. His assistant answered with dance music playing in the background. He was back at the pop-up club getting ready for tonight.
“How long have you and MJ been an item?” Peter asked his assistant.
“Who told you I was dating MJ?” Snoop said.
“I found out the hard way. Your girlfriend is writing an exposé about me. She used you to get into the theater. She’s going to tell the world that I’m a psychic, and ruin everything.”
“What? MJ’s a reporter?”
“Afraid so. You once told me that there wasn’t a computer that you couldn’t hack. Does that hold true for private computers as well?”
“Sure. They’re the easiest to get into. All you need is the person’s e-mail address.”
“Then do it.”
“Do what?”
“Do I have to spell it out for you in black and white?”
The line went silent. Then Snoop said, “But that’s a crime.”
“Like you haven’t committed crimes before? Call me when you’re done.”
Peter ended the call and headed back to the booth. MJ had gotten another tequila drink and had a sly smile on her face. Just you wait, he thought as he sat down.
He picked up a menu and studied the array of tasty appetizers. MJ was a formidable opponent, and he felt certain that this wasn’t the last time their paths would cross. To be forewarned was to be forearmed, and he pulled out his cell phone, and placed it on the table.
A minute later, it vibrated. Snoop calling. He answered it by saying, “All done?”
“Yup,” Snoop replied.
“What about backup?”
“That’s gone, too.”
“See you tomorrow.”
“Do I still have my job?”
“Of course. Just next time be more careful.”
Peter put his phone away. MJ was watching him. The smile had left her face. She was smart enough to know that something had gone down that wasn’t in her favor. He wondered how long it would take her to figure out what it was. He would have liked to have been there when that happened, but he had more important things to do, and he rose from the table.
“Time to get out of Dodge,” he said.
Liza rose as well. Without a word to MJ, they walked out of the bar. Under her breath, Liza said, “Are you just going to leave? She’s going to ruin you.”