Love is Like a Playing Card (J. Daniel Atlas) Chapter XVIII
“So,” Walter said, backing away from Merritt, “how’d I do it? Easy. You see, magicians like to control other people’s perceptions. In your heightened state of agitation, you saw the simplest cues- black tube, roof, and your mind filled in the rest. The tube you meant to go down was twenty feet to your right.” The Horsemen tensed. “Come on, sit down, sit down. There’s no point in standing there.”
The guards forced the Horsemen to the couch where Walter stood. Sutton sat down next to Lula, followed by Danny. “Anyway,” Walter continued, “once in the tube, yes, you’re right- blah, blah, blah. The strobe contained UV letters pulsing the word ‘sleep.’ That combined with the sound led you into an instant alpha pattern. You two,” he smiled, pointing to Sutton and Danny, “were actually quite cute. All cuddled into one another.” Sutton and Danny glanced at one another, blushing.
“And from then on, it really was just fun.” Walter ran over to the couch, squeezing himself between Jack and Lula. Sutton scooted herself closer to Danny, her legs practically on top of his. “And I can assure you, you don’t know what happened.”
Walter started a video which he cleverly titled “Our Trip to Macau.” Light music filled the air as embarrassingly uncomfortable photos of the Horsemen scrolled across the screen.
“That’s really creepy,” Lula said. Walter chuckled. “Really, really creepy.”
“That’s not cool,” Merritt stated as a picture of him and Walter showed on the screen.
“Yep, easy stuff, magic,” Walter announced. “I mean, if you put your mind to it.”
A picture of Walter kissing Sutton’s cheek as he pushed Danny away appeared. Sutton gasped, appalled, as the others sucked in a breath. Sutton felt Danny’s body tense at the sight. She took a cautious glance to see his jaw clenching tightly. “Alright, that’s enough,” Danny told Walter. He sucked in a breath to calm himself down, Sutton running a hand down his arm. “So-so why are we here then, besides you getting to show off how adorably clever you are?”
“Not to mention how pissed you’ve just made Atlas,” Merritt murmured. Sutton glared at him.
“Well, to start with,” Walter explained, “the man you stole from last year, turns out I invested quite a lot of money in some of his companies so a lot of what you stole was in fact mine. Good news is, it’s very easy for you to pay me back. I just need your skills.” A picture of Owen Case flashed on the screen. “Owen and I were like the Beatles, if the Beatles had been-”
“Elfin?” Sutton suggested. “Creeps?”
“Geniuses,” Walter clarified.
“Pretty sure the Beatles were geniuses,” Lula reminded Walter.
“And like them,” Walter continued, ignoring Lula’s comment, “we had a dream. Could we create actual, genuine magic?”
“And I’m guessing one of you achieved that dream, and it wasn’t you?” Merritt concluded.
“That is what he would like you to think,” Walter said, standing. Sutton moved herself to a bit more comfortable position on the couch with the gift of space. “My vision was a perfect blend of intelligence and technology, but Owen wanted it for himself so he humiliated me by exposing my private files to the board of directors. Convinced them that I am unstable.”
“Did you take a picture of him while he was sleeping?” Danny cockily questioned. Sutton snorted.
“He had me kicked out of my own company and now he goes around taking credit for a chip that’s not just a key to one computer, but every computer system on the planet,” Walter explained. “It can unencrypt anything, crack the defense firewall, manipulate markets, and spy on anyone.” The Horsemen sighed. “And now it’s being sold to the highest bidder.”
“If you’re so rich, why don’t you just buy it?” Jack questioned him.
“So he gets the money and the pleasure? No. No, no, no. Besides, why would I buy it when I can have you steal it for me?”
“Oh,” Lula gasped. The Horsemen chuckled.
“It’s being previewed tomorrow by various suitors,” Walter stated, “which include your targets. A crew led by a South African gangster.” Lula mocked him. “Yes, so how your team gets past security, that’s up to you. But once you do, you just need to inspect it and steal it.”
“That’s it?” Danny questioned.
“Yeah, come on. This is perfect for you, isn’t it? You’re magicians and thieves.”
“What makes you think we’d even consider doing this?” Jack asked Walter.
“Um, wait, I had a reason. What was it? Ah, yes! You see, back home you’re wanted criminals, but here, I control the police, the casinos, the media. I can give you a new life, out of hiding,” Walter explained. Sutton’s ears perked up. She looked at Danny who looked back at her. The other Horsemen were contemplating it as well. “And, if you don’t, I’ll have you killed.”
The Horsemen stared at Walter, challenging him. He smiled, trying his best to be charming. “You know what?” Jack spoke up as he stood. “I’m not stealing a thing for you, not unless Dylan tells me it’s okay.”
“Really? And Dylan’s where exactly?” Walter questioned.
“It doesn’t matter. Yeah, I’m with him,” Lula stated, standing beside Jack. “So you can go ahead and kill us because I’m not going to steal anything for you either.”
“Huh, strikes me that a consensus seems to be forming, Walter,” Merritt concluded, taking his place beside the other two rebels, “and we’re calling your bluff.”
The three looked back at Danny and Sutton as they sat together. Sutton glanced down at her fingers, thinking about Henley and why she left. Just as Sutton was about to say her piece, Danny spoke. “Actually, we’ll do it,” Danny stated as the others questioned him. “We’re in Macau. The oldest magic store in the world is here. We’ll get the supplies we need and, uh, we’ll do it.”
Danny stood and shook Walter’s hand, receiving a “thank you.” Walter walked off, leaving the Horsemen standing there in the empty room.