Karma's A Bitch (A Pet Psychic Mystery) by Shannon Esposito Page A

ample cleavage and a tattoo. I couldn’t make out what the tattoo was from this far away.
    I turned back to Sylvia. “Can you introduce us after the show?”
    “Yes, of course.”
    A waitress came over and took our order right before a spotlight lit up the stage in front of us. A man stepped into the light.
    “Ladies and Gentlemen, welcome to a magical evening with Landon Stark! We just ask that you sit back, enjoy your dinner and open your mind!”
    The spotlight disappeared and fog rolled onto the stage. Even this filled me with a sense of expectation and adventure. This was, after all, my first magic show.
    A rumbling—like far away thunderstorms—began, building until the whole room vibrated with the sound. A fast drum roll, then a loud crack of cymbals and multiple spotlights scanned the stage, crisscrossing each other as if searching for something. The waitress slipped our drinks onto the table. Two young women dropped from the ceiling, mirrors of each other in silver leotards, blonde hair slicked back into tight buns. Between them, they held a black satiny cape. I took a sip of my wine as they let the cape flutter to the stage. Yum, crisp and fruity. Whoa! The cape suddenly rose off the floor and took the shape of a person. The girl on the right, with one hand poised on her hip, grabbed the cape with her free hand and ripped it from the air.
    There stood Landon Stark!
    Applause erupted. Sylvia and I shared an impressed smile while we applauded with the crowd.
    And that began what turned out to be a seriously cool two hours of illusions and great food. Including a memorable moment where Mage appeared from an empty box, with a rose in his mouth, and proceeded to jump off the stage and drop it in Sylvia’s lap…then did a little doggie bow! Yeah, she was a goner.
    After the show, Landon himself came and sat at our table, faithful Mage lying at his feet.
    “That was just amazing!” Sylvia clapped. “Simply extraordinário!” She picked up the rose and pressed it to her nose, glancing down at Mage. “And muito obrigada, thank you, Mr. Mage, for the beautiful rose.”
    Landon smiled, his head tilting in a subtle bow. “I’m so glad…and honored that you ladies could make it this evening. Darwin? How did you enjoy the show?”
    “Oh, it was magnificent! And not just because it was my first magic show ever. I mean, it really blew me away. The part where you put the two girls…are they twins by the way?”
    “Yes. Tammy and Tonya.”
    “I thought so. So, when you put the two of them in that tiny box and only one popped back out…I was worried there for awhile until she showed back up in the end.” Okay, I realized I had downed three glasses of wine and was chattering away like a squirrel. I pressed my lips together and nodded. “Great job.”
    He chuckled, signaling for the waitress to bring him a drink. “That’s a very enthusiastic review, Darwin, thank you.” He let his dark eyes focus on Sylvia, who finished up the last of her frozen, milky umbrella drink. He was about to say something, but a voice behind me interrupted him.
    “Landon! Wonderful show as always!”
    Landon stood to greet Frankie Maslow with a two cheeked kiss. “Good evening, Frankie.”
    Now that she stood closer, I could see the powdered wrinkles and gray root line that revealed her true age.
    Her assistant recognized me. “Darwin, right? From the pet shop?”
    Boutique. Pet boutique! Oh, the tattoo was a rose with a drop of blood falling between her cleavage from a single thorn. Oops, was I staring? “Yes, I’m sorry. I didn’t catch your name before?”
    “Maddy.”
    “Maddy.” Maddy had dark circles that she tried to cover with a shade yellower than her skin tone. Her hands were trembling. “Nice to see you again. How are the pups doing?”
    “They’re good. Sleeping through the night like babies. Thanks for your help.” At least they were getting some sleep. Looked like Maddy needed a bottle of her own flower