Nabbed!: The 1925 Journal of G. Codd Fitzmorgan (11 page)

“Who would give you a present like this for your engagement?” I asked, handing her the towels.

“I don't know. There's no card. But whoever gave it to me doesn't know me very well.” And that was true. Judge would never
be a part of anything that even hinted of illegality.

“Do you think has something to do with John's disappearance?” I asked her.

“I'm not sure, but I hope not.” She was quiet for a bit, soaking up the liquor. I could tell she was thinking things over.
Finally, Judge said, “Grab that book from my nightstand, G. Codd. We can check if that second plane is one of ours.”

I turned to pick up the book—and spotted Mang lurking in the doorway of the bedroom.

His eyes shone brightly above his long dark beard. “I knew I detected ze smell of something with ze nose!” he said in his
strange accent.

“Yes,” Judge said. “I was just going to see if the waters have calmed. I want to send someone to the mainland to alert the
police.”

Judge headed for the door.

In my study of illusions, I have seen magicians perform many acts. But none was as terrifying as the transformation that took
place just then. In an instant, Mang's face twisted into a smirk of grim satisfaction, and he drew himself up to his full,
powerful height.

In surprise, Judge took a protective step toward me. Like a snake shedding his skin, we watched Mang ze Magnifico, Master
of the Séance, drop his disguise. The man he truly was began to emerge.

He moved with deadly confidence now, closing the bedroom door and blocking it with his body. The man crossed his arms over
his wide chest. Without a trace of an accent, he said, “No one is going anywhere.”

Mang blocked the door!

Mang was a fraud!

“I knew you weren't for real!” I cried.

“You're a fraud, just as I said!”

Immediately, I realized he must have something to do with John's disappearance. Before Mang could even respond, I shouted,
“Who are you? What have you done with John?”

“Keep your voice down, boy” Mang, or Whoever he really was, hissed in a threatening tone. “I'll tell you all about John, more
than you might want to know, but only if you take me to the other boxes like this one.” He pointed one long finger at the
broken box on the floor by the bed. “I must have what's inside them.”

“You want the hooch?” I asked. At the same time, Judge said, “What other boxes? You can't keep us here!”

Mang gave her a smug Smile. “I have more authority than you might think,” he told her.

Judge laughed. “Whoever you are, you have the wrong idea. This box isn't even mine!”

But Mang ignored her. “You must lead me to the other boxes like this one”.

This was getting annoying. I said, “You're not listening to us. We don't know about any boxes. Who are you?”

“That will be revealed to you shortly.” Mang's whisper had a sharp edge. “Once I have what I came here for.”

Judge took a step toward him. “I demand to know Who you are!”

The man's eyes turned to slits. “All right. We'll see if this makes a difference.” Mang reached into his cape. Was he grabbing
for a weapon?

I had to do something. “Wait!” I shouted. To my surprise, Mang stopped. He looked at me curiously, and I could see intelligence
flashing behind his eyes. This man was not the fool he had pretended to be. I had to outsmart him somehow.

“Yes, boy?” he asked, one eyebrow arched. “I'm waiting. But what exactly am I waiting for?”

Maybe if we played along with him, I could get Mang out of the room. Then I could lock the door and pound on the walls for
help—even climb out the window if I had to.

“Fine, all right.” I let my shoulders slump as a sign of defeat. “Judge, you'd better take him to the boxes.”

Dumbfounded, Judge gazed at me as if she thought I'd lost my mind.

Many illusionists claim that they have telepathic abilities.

They choose audience members and claim to communicate with them without speaking. I doubt that strangers can really accomplish
such a feat But I do believe that close friend and family, through years of shared experiences, develop their own secret language.

January 4,1925

Dear Master of Telepathy

Harry Houdini told me you didn't learn my birthplace by using telepathy. When you went for a glass of water, you snuck to
the public library next door! You used public records to find where I was born and returned saying you'd read my mind. Shame
on You.!

Sincerely.

Ignes Bemel

Houdini helped put a stop to this “library” trick!

I stared at Judge and hoped she would understand the look on my face.

Please follow my lead. I think this might be our only chance.

It took only an instant. Her expression spoke back to me, I trust you.

Her entire body posture transformed as she decided to play along. She glared at me and yelled, “What are you doing, boy! You
fool! You just gave us away” Judge took a breath and faced Mang. “All right. I'll take you to the boxes. Just don't bring
the boy. I don't trust that he won't interfere.”

Smart move. She was trying to get Mang to leave me alone in the room, which would give me a chance to find a way to get help.

Mang shook his head. “I can't do that. He might alert the wrong people.”

“True.” Judge bit her lower lip as if thinking of what to do. She gave me a quick glance—Now it's your turn to trust me—and
looked back at Mang.

“Then you'd better tie his hands and legs,” she said. Other people might have felt betrayed by Judge for giving Mang such
an idea. But other people do not have Houdini as their hero. They can't escape ropes as easily as I can.

“Ropes…,” Mang mused, nodding. Our plan was working!

“I have a better idea,” Mang said and pulled out a pair of handcuffs from beneath his cape. Before I could protest, he sat
me down and handcuffed my wrist to the leg of a heavy dresser.

“Yes,” Mang said, testing the cuffs to make sure they were secure. “This will work nicely.” Judge was speechless for a moment
Clearly, she had not planned on handcuffs. But she recovered and continued with our act. “Good idea,” she said. “Let's go.”

TEC TIP

FIVE WAYS HOUDINI ESCAPES HANDCUFFS

1. Key: Often Houdini hides a key on himself to open the cuffs.
   
2. String: With older cuffs, Houdini can create a shoestring “lasso” to hook inside the lock and pull the bolt back.
   
3. Placement: Houdini has cuffs placed higher up on his arms–this looser fit allows him to simply slip off the cuffs.
   
4. Trick Cuffs: Houdini presses a secret lever on a pair of fake cuffs and they snap loose.
   
5. Bang: Some cuffs can be opened just by banging them–keyhole facing down—on a hard surface. Houdini sometimes hides a lead
   plate in his pant leg for this reason, but the heel of a shoe or the floor will do.
   

Mang leaned in close to me. “By the way, don't even think of shouting for help or banging on the wall. If I hear you doing
either, I will be back. And I won't be happy. Come on, Miss Pinkerton, we have a date with a few boxes.”

Judge shot me one final look, Her expression was easy to read: Good luck.

Mang and Judge left the room, closing the door behind them.

No problem, I thought, looking down at the handcuffs.

I could see at a glance the best way to open these cuffs. A good knock against a hard surface should snap them right open.

Unfortunately, the cuffs were hooked to my wrist and the dresser at an awkward angle. There wasn't any way for me to bang
them against the floor with enough force.

Hurry up! I shouted at myself.

With my free hand, I reached down and took off one of my shoes. I brought the hard wooden heel down on the cuff around my
wrist. “There was a sharp jolt as part of the heel struck the bone of my arm.

But the metal handcuffs clattered to the floor, and just like that, I was free.

Judge! I have to help Judge!

I ran out into the hallway. I was opening my mouth to shout for help—but then I remembered Mang's threat If he heard me, things
might get worse for both me and Judge.

I didn't know where Judge and Mang had gone. For all I knew they might be behind one of these doors. If I knocked on one,
Mang might open it and recapture me!

Even Houdini might be stumped by this situation. I wasn't sure who I could turn to for help. Mr. Hatherford was too sick to
disturb. Any of the other people in the mansion could be working with Mang.

I stood paralyzed in the center of the long hallway, unsure what to do next. On the bright side, it felt good to give the
villain a face. If Mang was the bad guy, he must have been the one who kidnapped John—and probably the Scotsman, as well.

I examined the case in my head, looking for a thread that I could pull to unravel some of the mystery.

The Scotsman!

Yes, there was a thread I could really grab onto. I decided on a plan.

While part of my brain shouted at me to rush off and help Judge, I knew that was risky. Once I found them, what would I do?
Mang was much bigger than I, and I couldn't overpower him.

I'd have to let Judge deal with Mang on her own. If anyone could handle the situation, it was she.