“No, carry on,” said Edward.

John flourished a three of hearts. “Was that your card?” he asked.

“No,” said Penny.

“Oh.”

There was a pause.

“Sorry.”

“What happens now?” asked Penny.

“Shall I have another stab at it?” asked John.

“I think we’ll leave the magic now,” said Edward.

“Good idea,” said Penny.

154

Samuel Thorn got on the phone and was told that there was a crisis at KKRC and could he call back later? Samuel said he knew the true identity of the Dr. Frankburg they had in the studio and demanded to be put on to the show.

The station said they’d call him back and hung up.

“What happened?” asked Dr. Frankburg.

“They cut me off.”

“Outrageous. Try them again.”

Samuel dialed again.

153

Dan poured from a whiskey bottle. He and Beth drank out of toothbrush glasses. They toasted Beth’s top-ten phobias.

To hypnophobia: fear of sleep. Clink. To athazagoraphobia: fear of being forgotten. Clink. To dementophobia: fear of insanity. Clink. To illyngophobia: fear of vertigo. Clink. To dystychiphobia: fear of accidents. Clink. To anuptaphobia: fear of staying single. Clink. To mastigophobia: fear of punishment. Clink. To mnemophobia: fear of memories. Clink. To onomatophobia: fear of hearing a certain word. Clink. To optophobia: fear of opening one’s eyes. Clink.

152

“Don’t you think we would get a bit further if you let my producer go?” asked Penny.

“I think we’d get less far,” he replied.

John had to agree with him there, even if it was Tamy’s birthday. From his own experience, the guy with the gun was the guy calling the shots.

“What is it you want?” said Penny.

“I’m here as backup,” said Edward, looking at Ali.

“Backup for what?” asked Penny.

My brother winked at Ali.

“Why does he keep winking at you?” said John.

“Tell the magic guy to shut up,” said Edward.

“Sorry,” said John.

“The magic guy doesn’t speak from now on.”

“Okay.”

“No more words from Mr. Magic.”

“None coming.”

151

Someone at KKRC had called the police. Squad cars had sealed the street. The police advised the controller of KKRC to stop broadcasting.

The controller of KKRC watched the listening figures climb and climb and said that the guy with the gun was calling the shots and the guy with the gun wanted to stay on air so stay on the air they would.

150

Five o’clock came. Penny’s time slot was over. The next DJ started whining and muttering about contracts. The controller told him to can it. He’d never get figures like Penny was getting. In fact he was fired. The DJ stormed out. Then stormed back in again, assuming the controller was joking.

149

The KKRC receptionist was sobbing in the toilets. Wishing with all her heart that she could turn the clock back and be more vigilant about who she let in to see Penny Lock. If anything happened to her, then she’d never forgive herself. She looked at herself in the mirror, wiped away her mascara and tried to see the glamour in the situation.