The Grand Oak Resort was magnificent.
If you wanted to try horseback riding, you could. How about ballroom dancing? They’d teach you. If anyone wished for a mud bath that might make them look ten years younger… well, that could be done too. How about a buffet with all-you-can-eat seven-layer chocolate cake? They had it… for breakfast! But many agreed the best part was the show on the stage in the main building each night after dinner. During the weekdays, the Grand Oak staff and the guests would show off their talents. Singing. Juggling. Dancing. However, on the weekends, big acts—some of the greatest crooners, comedians, musicians, and, yes, magicians of the age—took the stage.
“So luxurious,” Leila said as she led the group past the last of the topiary animals. “Since Poppa cooks here, I get to come hang out in the kitchen sometimes. So I know this place like the back of my hand. After hours, I find empty rooms to practice my escape tricks in. There’s even a whole wing that’s been abandoned! And a garden maze around back near the woods where people are constantly getting lost and needing to be rescued.”
Carter gazed up at the main hall’s giant columns as Leila waved to a bellhop. The old man opened the monumental door for them with a strained smile. Leila said, “Thanks, Dean!” Carter was paralyzed by the grandeur, so Leila took his hand and tugged him inside.
The lobby was in full swing, with people of every shape, size, color, and age coming and going. Tourists were at the concierge’s desk asking about hiking trips and shopping for secondhand furniture and antique knickknacks. In fact, much of the decor in Vernon’s Magic Shop came from little farms and houses all around Mineral Wells. People are always throwing away things that they think are junk but other people believe to be treasure.
The elevator doors opened and closed, taking in and pushing out families in need of nourishment or activity. Teenagers in dripping bathing suits zipped up and down the wooden staircase from the indoor pool to the dining hall.
A heaping brass luggage cart glided past, with a kid in an eye patch riding atop the highest suitcase, shouting commands like a pirate. Standing nine feet tall at the top of a staircase was a stuffed grizzly bear on its hind legs. Its claws were raised, but any fear factor was lost due to its sunglasses.
In the center of the room, a boy and a girl in matching plaid jumpsuits were tap-dancing on a small mirrored stage. An audience of guests gathered around to watch. Carter guessed the dancers were twins, but he wasn’t sure if it was the matching outfits, hair color, and facial features, or the easy and perfectly in sync moves of their routine. Despite the dizzying speed of their clicking toes and their swinging arms, they never missed a beat.
When the song ended, they launched straight into the next part of their act. “Hey, Izzy, what do you call a troupe of tap-dancing chorizos?” the boy asked.
“I don’t know, Olly,” the girl answered. “What?”
“Tapas!” Olly’s shoes did a tappity-tap-tap-tap.
“That’s Olly and Izzy Golden,” Leila said to Carter as she gave a wave. “They’re great. Their parents work here at the resort too. Their dad teaches comedy techniques and their mom is a ballroom dance instructor. We may be good at magic, but those two kids know how to make people laugh.”
“The first time I saw their show, I laughed so hard I cried,” Ridley added. “And I never cry.”
“I wonder if anyone has ever cried so hard they laughed,” Theo mused.
“I could help you find out,” Ridley said, tapping her fingers on the arm of her chair.
“Oh har-har-har.”
“I’m gonna cry if I don’t get my lucky lockpicks back,” Leila said. Carter’s heart began to race as he thought of what the Pock-Pickets might be doing to his wooden box. “Let’s get going!” Leila led the others to the concierge—a stunning woman in a smart pantsuit with a silver name tag that said QUINN. “Hey, Q!” Leila said, giving her a hug. “How’s life?”
“Wonderful!” Quinn said. “This weekend’s been so much fun. The Grand Oak is sold out, and everyone is buzzing about Bosso’s big show tonight. We don’t know what he’s going to do with that diamond. Maybe he’ll make it even bigger!”
“I’d just love to get his autograph,” Leila said sarcastically, trying hard not to roll her eyes. “Poppa said he was cooking lunch for them today. Do you know what time and where?”
“Of course I do,” the concierge said. “That’s my job! Mr. Bosso and his guests will be lunching in the Commodore Room at one. But you can catch him before that—he and his friends are relaxing by the indoor pool.” She leaned forward and whispered, “Maybe don’t tell them I mentioned it. They’ve been a bit intense as of late.”
“No problem, Q. You’re a doll,” Leila said. Leila led the others to a corner of the lobby. “So what’s our plan?”
“Get dressed up,” Ridley said, tapping the duffel bag resting in her lap, which was full of Mr. Vernon’s props. “Then divide and conquer.”
“Perfect,” Carter said. “Let’s get our stuff back.”
“I don’t want to come out,” Carter said from the bathroom door. “Are you sure we don’t have another disguise?”
“I only brought the four,” Leila said. “One for each of us.”
“Hurry it up,” Ridley said. “We need to get going while the villains are making waves.”
Carter stumbled from the bathroom into a hallway off the lobby. “I feel ridiculous.”
Leila and Ridley burst out laughing. “You said you didn’t want to be recognized,” Theo noted with a grin. “I believe this will do the trick.”
Carter had traded in his pants and shirt for a green Speedo, green goggles, and a green bathing cap.
The others were already dressed. Theo wore a bellhop uniform, and Ridley was dressed as an old woman (complete with white wig and face makeup). Leila wore a one-piece swimsuit covered in sunflowers and a swim cap with little fabric flowers and beaded pearls.
“Want to trade?” Carter asked Theo. Theo shook his head.
“If you’re that uncomfortable, I’ll trade you.” Leila giggled.
“Let’s just get this done,” Carter said.
When they got to the indoor pool, they all did some exploring.
The four friends took turns walking into the glass atrium at different times. Theo went first, pretending to work. Next, Ridley entered, pretending to look for a suitable space below the sunroof. Leila ran in and dove straight into the water. When Carter walked in, he froze. He’d never seen such an amazing place.