I flipped the box set over, where it had a list of episodes. One called “The Magician’s Nephew” had been circled in red with more question marks.
Magician. Magic. Magic shop?
Another clue!
My heart raced, and my feet followed. “Thank you, Holly!” I shouted as I headed out the door and ran across the hall.
I’m not sure what I expected, but Daniel was not there. In fact, I was the lone customer in the shop. An out-of-order sign had been taped to the Elvis fortune-telling machine. I guess even fate broke down once in a while.
“We’re just about to close. Can I help you?” a middle-aged man said from behind the counter. I’d seen him before, showing kids how to walk an invisible dog on a trick leash that had a wire inside to make it stand up. I thought perhaps he was one of the owner’s sons.
I showed him the DVD set and cleared my throat. “Um, hi. You wouldn’t happen to know anything about this, would you?”
He stared at me.
I smiled back.
Nodding, he pressed a button on the register. Itdinged as the drawer opened, and he pulled out an envelope with my name written on it in red. “This you?”
I nodded. “Did Daniel leave this?”
He zipped his lips. “A magician never reveals his secrets.”
I nodded excitedly and took the envelope from him. “Thank you.”
Walking briskly, I left the store and stopped near the Swami fortune-telling machine to inspect the envelope. It had my name written on it, and it was sealed.
I impatiently ripped the side off the envelope and puffed it open to peer inside. When I tipped it sideways, a card spilled onto my palm. It was...
An Elvis not-a-penny fortune card.
I flipped it over and read the text:
I see that you will have a chance meeting with a dark stranger who will reveal great secrets to you. If you collaborate, a bold and dashing adventure will be in your future. But beware of perilous pitfalls that lead to ruin. It takes a level head and determination to survive a run through the gauntlet. In great attempts, it is glorious even to fail, because in conflict you will find common ground together.
This was the same fortune!Myfortune! Maybe not the exact card, because this one had crisp corners, unlike mine, which got bent when I jammed it into the frame of a bedroom mirror. And there was something else: the word “gauntlet” was circled in red with three more question marks.
Crazy emotions pinballed around my chest. Embarrassment over my stupid sex-gauntlet proposal at Green Gables. But also a shimmering, distant hope that he was acknowledging our private joke for a good reason.
And there were other clues on the card. When I squinted, I could just make out a few words written in tiny print at the bottom.
Moonlight Diner. 8 p.m.
Did this note mean eight p.m.tonight? That was almost two hours from now. I flipped the card over several times and peered into the envelope but found no other information.
Was I going to follow the card’s direction?
How could I not?
Trying not to hang too much hope on any of this, I decided to go ahead and walk to the Moonlight. I holed up in our usual booth and ordered tea from one of Ms. Patty’s nieces who by some miracle I had never met. Then I used not only their free Wi-Fi and restrooms, but also the peace and quiet to think. Perhaps I did too much thinking, because Imayhave fallen asleep. But I didn’t beat myself up over this. My doctor said managing narcolepsy was never going to be easy, so I should get used to losing a few battles now and then. But by the time it got closer to eight, I was fully awake again and began watching the door like a hawk.
And watching and watching...
Eight came and went. No Daniel. No nothing.
WAS THIS ALL AN ELABORATE SETUP?
“Get it together, Birdie,” I mumbled to myself, blowing out a long breath.
