Now You See It... Part 8

"You like it?" he asked.

"Do I like it?" she responded scoldingly. "You know very well I like it- Ifs a wonderful effect."

He smiled and nodded, gratified again. "It is," he agreed,

42 Richard MatfceuR

Harry began to speak in an attempt to parallel Ca.s.san- dra's pose that nothing was amiss. But Ca.s.sandra spoke first "You came in through there," she said, pointing to the floor beneath the chair.

Max nodded. "Trap door-indistinguishable, of course."

"It's marvelous/' she told him.

Harry broke his silence with a burst of (excessive) enthu- siasm. "Marvelous?" he cried. "Ifs dynamite! Hey, Max!"

He moved behind the desk, where Max stood to greet him. Was I the only one to note how labored Max's move- ments were? No, at least one other person noted it as well.

Max took Harry's thrust-out hand in both of his.

"How are you, pal?" asked Harry.

"Very well/ old friend," Max answered. "And you?"

"Not complaining," Harry replied.

Max smiled at him; a tired smile, I thought. "You've been

lying in the sun," he said.

"You know me. Max," said Harry with a grin. "A little sun, a little run. Keeps the blood in motion."

Max reached up to touch Harry's hair. "Plugs flourish- ing, I see," he teased.

Harry chuckled, obviously not pleased to have his im- plants mentioned. I wished I could have laughed aloud. I

hadn't known about them.

"Not bad, anh?" said Harry, pretending that he wasn't

displeased.

At which point in the procedure, who should stride into the room but Brian? As himself now naturally, hair dark, male clothes, his resemblance to Ca.s.sandra nonetheless ap- parent "Hi," he said to Harry, smiling.

"How you doin', kid?" Harry responded. He extended his right hand and Brian squeezed it in momentary greet- ing.

"Fine," said Brian. "How are you?"

"Couldn't be better," Harry said.

Now You See It- 43

"Good," said Brian.

Their politesse was total sham. Harry had nothing but contempt for Brian, whom he regarded as a no-talent leech, a gofer to the bone. Brian, in turn, loathed Harry for a num- ber of reasons which will presently emerge; I have to follow the rules of proper story-telling, don't I?

At any rate, they smiled and spoke most pleasantly to one another. Absolute hypocrisy.

It was going to be that kind of day.

Brian removed a slip of paper from his shirt pocket and handed it to Max. "Everything you want on here?" he asked. Everything I have to gofer? I added in my mind.

Max put his gla.s.ses on and perused the list. He nodded.

"I believe so. Aren't you a little late departing, though?"

Brian shook his head. "Train doesn't leave for thirty min- utes."

"You off?" asked Harry, totally disinterested, I knew, but maintaining his pose of sociability-an agent's skill.

"Have to pick up props in Boston," Brian told him.

"Ah-ha." Harry nodded. "Have a good trip, then."

Brian nodded. "Thank you." He turned to Ca.s.sandra.

"We'd better go," he said.

"Be right with you," she replied. "Wait in the car."

"All right." Once more, Brian smiled at Harry. "Nice to see you again," he said.

"The same," said Harry, reciprocating the lie.

"See you later. Max," Brian said.

Max did not reply but raised one languid hand. I didn't really know what he thought of Brian. I had always as- sumed that, however kindly disposed he might be to his young brother-in-law, he could not have had too much re- spect for him. How little respect I found out later.

44 Richard Matbeson

Brian walked to the doorway and exited into the entry

hall.

As he did/ Ca.s.sandra turned to Max with a look of grave concern. "Harry told me you asked him to come here," she said. "I hope-"

She broke off, sighing. "Well, you know what I hope,"

she added.

Moving to Max, she kissed him on the left cheek, men re- garded him anxiously. "It can all be what it was," she said.

Max smiled at her. "Let's see what happens," he told her.