No Exit by Taylor Adams 2

his forehead, which reminded her of a human fetus) she
noticed Lars was finally warming up to the others. At least,
there was a little more of a group dynamic now. Ashley was
showing Lars and Ed a card trick, something he called a
Mexican turnover. From what Darby overheard, you flip over
a card using another one in your hand — but really, you’re
switching them. In plain view. Lars was fascinated by the
maneuver, and Ashley seemed delighted to have an audience.
“So that’s why you keep winning,” Ed said.
“Don’t worry.” Ashley flashed a huckster’s grin, hands up.
“I beat you fair and square. But yes, if I may be permitted to
toot my own horn, I did take silver in a stage magic
competition once.”
Ed snorted. “Yeah?”
“Yeah.”
“That’s a thing?”
“Of course it’s a thing.”
“Second grade?”
“Third, actually.” Ashley shuffled cards. “Thank you very
much.”
“Did you wear a little tux?”
“You have to.”
“How’s the current job market for silver-medal
magicians?”
“Staggeringly poor.” Ashley shelved the cards with a
rattlesnake-chatter. “So I went to school for accounting. And
let me tell you, that’s where the real magic is.”
Ed laughed.
Lars had been listening to their conversation, his hairy lips
pursed, and now he seized this pause to involve himself in it:
“So, then, were the … ah, were the magic tricks real?”