“It was just a trick,” Alex said to his little brother, once they were in the car. “That’s what magicians do. It’s not real magic.”

Scott’s voice quavered. “But he’s not disappeared forever, is he?” 

Their mother’s voice came from the driver’s seat. “Hey, guys, let’s get ice cream!” 

“Yay!” shouted Alex, while Scott still looked dubious.

“Mama, how can he make people disappear?” 

“Sweetie, magicians don’t tell their secrets. I don’t know.”

All she knew was that she had paid the Amazing Otto five thousand dollars to make Danny, that abusive son of a bitch husband of hers, disappear.