“It’s a card trick,” Gus said. He reached for a card and waited until Shawn knocked his hand away. Then he reached out with his other hand and snatched a card out of the deck. “What do I do now?”

The putto looked confused. “I’m trying to remember. It’s been so long since anyone actually said yes.”

“Come on, Gus,” Shawn said. “Let’s find Bud Flanek and get out of here.”

“Wait, wait! I remember,” the putto said. “You look at the card. That’s right. You look at the card and then put it back in the deck.”

Gus glanced at the card. It was the five of hearts. He slipped it back into the deck, which the magician had helpfully shoved back under his nose. The magician gave the deck a couple of sloppy shuffles, then proudly pulled out one card.

“This is your card!” the putto pronounced, holding up the two of spades.

“That’s right, that’s amazing, that’s astonishing,” Shawn said quickly. “If only there was a tip jar.”

Shawn pulled Gus away toward the bar as the putto gaped after them.

“You know that wasn’t my card,” Gus said.

“And so did he.”

“So, what, you were trying to spare his feelings?”

“I was trying to spare us another fifteen minutes watching him pretend to be a bumbling idiot while he worked you over,” Shawn said. “You still have your watch, don’t you?”

Confused, Gus checked his wrist. The Fossil was firmly in place. “I don’t know why you say he was pretending,” Gus said.

“Why are you limping?”

“I’m not.” Gus stopped, realizing that he was. He pressed his left foot down on the floor. “I think there’s something in my shoe.”

“Maybe you should take it out.”

Gus sat on an overstuffed couch, fighting a sneeze as dust motes flew up around him, and pulled off his left oxford. He peered under the tongue. “Nothing there.”