“How about impersonating a pilot?” I think about calling an officer over so I can get a look at his ID.

“It’s only a criminal act if I try to fly the plane.”

“Well, isn’t stealing trains the gateway drug to that?”

“I don’t bring up all your youthful indiscretions,” he smirks.

“I didn’t have any.”

“And that explains quite a lot about you. Not having any is the biggest one of all. It makes little girls grow up into authority figures who want to carry guns around and punish men.”

I close the laptop on the image of the feather. “Why are you here?”

“Two reasons. One, I don’t think you took my warning very seriously about being careful about this Warlock character.” In a relaxed gesture, he takes his pilot hat off and sets it in the chair next to him. “I don’t need to point out to you that you have the habit of attracting the unstable types.” He reaches down into his flight bag and pulls out a Sun-Sentinel newspaper and tosses it to me. “And there’s this. It’s a prepress of tomorrow’s edition.”

I don’t even ask him how he got such a thing. The front page headline is the reappearance of the Avenger bomber and pilot alongside a photograph. There are several stories about the incident covering the history of Flight 19, our investigation and the Michigan murder.

“I’ve highlighted the item I think you should be most mindful of.”

I turn the page. It’s an article about the FBI’s pursuit of the Warlock. One sentence stands out.

Sources close to the investigation say that the FBI has called in a specialist referred to as “the Witch” to help find the Warlock . . .

I set the paper down and look at Damian. “This is stupid.”

“Very. But did you see the photograph?”

“What?” I open the paper again. The image shows several agents standing on the beach looking out at the airplane. I’m in the middle. My black hair flowing in the wind. I’m surrounded by several dozen lighter-haired and balding men.

Damian mocks me. “I wonder which one is the Witch?”

I throw the paper at him. “I don’t need this bullshit.”

“Well, the good news is you look amazing in that photograph. Seriously. The bad news is I’m sure the Warlock feels the same way.”

I want to dismiss his notion, but I know he’s perceptive about these things. He’s certifiable, but he’s brilliant.

Damian is probably the greatest magician I’ve ever met. And it’s for one simple reason; the best magicians are the ones who live or die by their skills. Pickpockets. Card cheats. Damian’s whole life is a deception. When he’s not harassing me or pretending to be someone else, I suspect you’ll probably find him at a card table somewhere, slowly milking the house. Making big losses amid small wins that add up over time.

He handles a deck of cards like nobody I’ve ever seen. And I’ve seen the best in the world. Since I know he’s not staying practiced to perform at children’s birthday parties, I have to imagine it’s for gambling.