Charles was wearing a skintight black bodysuit and thigh-high patent leather boots. He had a simple diamond earring and a gold nose stud. He stared contemptuously at the audience. He did this for several uncomfortable moments, his eyes full of hatred and disdain for every case he encountered.
At least twice, I thought that he looked directly at Jamilla and me.
So did she.
“Yeah, we’re watching you too, asshole,’ she said, raising her beer in mock salute.’You think those two pitiful creeps know we’re here?’ ‘Who knows? They’re good at this. They haven’t been caught yet.’ ‘I hear you. Hopefully, they both have stomach cancer and will die slowly and painfully over the next few months. Cheers,’ she raised her bottle again.
Charles leaned down and spoke to a college-age couple at a table near the stage. He was miked.
‘What are you two airheads staring at? Watch out, or I’ll turn you into a couple of toads. Upgrade you on the food chain.’ He laughed, and it was deep and throaty. To my ear, it was also unnecessarily unpleasant, way over the top. The kids in the audience laughed and cheered him on. Civility seems to be dead. Nasty is chic; nasty is so cool and real.
I looked over at Jamilla.’He sees them as food. Interesting how his twisted mind works.’
The second magician sauntered onto the stage a couple of minutes
later. No magic gimmicks to announce the entrance, which surprised me. I had heard this was a real light-and-sound show, but not tonight. Why the style change? Was this for us? Did they know who we were?
Tor the uninitiated, I’m Daniel. Charles and I have been doing magic shows since we were twelve years old and living in San Diego, California. We’re very good at magic. We can do the “Vanishing Performer” - Houdini’s personal favorite; the “Sword Cabinet”; Carl Hertz’s “Merry Widow”; DeHolta’s “Cocoon”. I can catch a bullet fired from a Colt Magnum in my teeth. So can Charles. Aren’t we special? Don’t you wish you were us?’
The crowd howled and cheered. The rock music from the speakers had been lowered some. Only the beat droned on.  ‘The illusion you are about to witness is the same one “Harry” Robert Houdini used to close his show in Paris and New York. We’re usi............