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“What?” Chu said, as he stood up to lean across the desk “How is that even possible?”

Shaut stood up as well and leaned on the desk so his face was inches from Chu’s “That’s why I wanted to buy it”

“So I will repeat o?”

Shaut backed down and returned to his seat “If Floss was right, he didn’t go anywhere That’s why Max used it as his last effect He doesn’t actually disappear; it just looks like he does In his show, he would vanish, the lights would go out, and then the entire cast took their curtain call with Max in the center”

Pro got to her feet “Then take us back to your basement and show us any other exits”

“There aren’t any other exits, just the one front door When I had the renovations done, I even blocked off the stairs inside the building so that the only way in or out was that door”

“Didn’t stop Max,” Chu noted

“Believe rade my security system to include that door from now on,” Shaut said as he rose and followed Pro as she headed out of the building

“And you’re the only one who goes down there?” Pro asked over her shoulder

“Only me and my assistant,” Shaut said, as they stepped outside and walked down the concrete stairs

“Where is Brent today?” Chu asked

“It’s one of his half days He’ll be here later to juggle phones if there is an eht”

“That’s right,” Pro said “A Night Of Wonder is in an off-Broadway theater every Monday night”

“For twenty-six years,” Shaut pointed out proudly “It is the longest running ic show in New York—maybe the world!”

They reached the sidewalk and Shaut stopped “Hey, you guys ought to coht! It’s usually a sell-out, but I am sure I can find some seats for a pair of New York’s finest!”