The man shoves Jacob to a stop, and growling, clamps his other hand on Jacob’s shoulder.
Man
I know what you’re doing, boy.
Jacob
Wh-what? What am I doing?
Man
Don’t act so innocent around me.
Man
I am a magician after all.
Man
Please! Don’t tell me you don’t know…
Man
That I’m the Great Malvolio!
Jacob
The Great Malvolio?
Malvolio
I know all the latest tricks of the trade.
Malvolio
And have perfected the basics in my years of study.
Malvolio
I see you’d like to learn a secret or two — so I shall tell you a trick, boy.
Malvolio
It’s one you may have already mastered, sneaking in as you did.
Malvolio
Did you pay admission to get into the Bruinsboro Faire this evening?
Malvolio
That’s what I thought, you clever, conniving boy.
Malvolio
You already know the basics to performing a good magic trick
Malvolio
For the magician distracts his audience with one hand…
Malvolio
In order to sneak something away with the right.
Malvolio
You, boy, cannot fool me with your innocent act.
At first Jacob is stunned by the accusation.
But then, in a sudden burst of confidence, he realizes that he may be able to dig up dirt on the magician —
So Jacob shouts at the man in front of him.
Jacob
And what — or should I say who — are you sneaking away, exactly?!
Jacob
Would you be sneaking someone INTO the faire?
Jacob
Someone who just wants to go back to their happy life?
Malvolio
DON’T yell at me, boy.
Malvolio
I was only doing what was right.
Malvolio
Besides, who are you to define happiness?
Malvolio
I didn’t ask you a hard question.
Malvolio
Can you really know whether someone is happy?
Malvolio
Can you know just by looking at them?
Jacob crosses his arms in front of him, speaking sarcastically.
Jacob
Um… I’ve kinda had a few conversations with her.
Malvolio
Oh-HO! A few, you say?
Jacob searches Malvolio’s eyes.
Why doesn’t the magician understand that Jacob knows Emily
Could he and Malvolio be talking about different people?
Malvolio leans in close, poking a thick finger into Jacob’s chest.
Malvolio
You act like you know everything…
Malvolio
But in reality, I know more than you’ll ever BEGIN to understand.
Malvolio
You, boy, know nothing at all.
Malvolio spins quickly, waving his cape around him.
But doesn’t turn back when he calls his final words at Jacob.
Malvolio
Be gone! Or I’m calling the cops.
Jacob knows when he shouldn’t wait around.
He races toward his bike and doesn’t even slow his pace before hopping on it.
He desperately wants to text Celia, but doesn’t wait a moment until he’s safely home and in his bed.
But once he’s nestled under the covers, an incoming text lights up his phone.
Emily
There’s a giraffe in my pen.
Emily
The giraffe. He was looking right at me before.
Jacob
What does that mean though?
Jacob
Emily, you’re not making any sense.
Jacob takes a few minutes to allow his panicked heart
To beat at a normal pace. Then he texts Celia.
Jacob
Do you know anything about a giraffe?
Jacob
Em said that there was a giraffe in her pen. Do you know what that means?
Jacob
Is it some kind of clue?
Celia
Sorry, but I don’t know.
Celia
Ugh, I feel terrible. I wish I did.
Jacob
Don’t beat yourself up. I don’t have the slightest idea either.
Jacob
I’m glad you’re awake though — I didn’t think you’d be up.
Celia
I haven’t been able to sleep.
Celia
Too worried about Em, you know?
Jacob
But if we keeping looking, we’ll find her.
Jacob
I was dumb to think this giraffe thing could be a real clue.
Jacob
We can’t dwell on it. It’ll only distract us from the suspects — it’s gotta be someone who works there, right?
Celia
I think so. It’s like you were saying…it’s probably someone who kidnapped Emily because of her arm.
Jacob
Yeah. Let’s not get into it with Officer Veil, okay?
Jacob
I think he should stay focused on the suspects at the faire instead of chasing weird texts from Emily that don’t make sense.
Celia
Yeah, I agree. We know Emily the best, and we couldn’t figure it out. There’s no way Officer Veil will.
Celia
And honestly, I don’t think the giraffe thing even sounded like her.
Celia
She’s not usually cryptic like that.
Celia
Do you think someone took her phone?
Celia
Yeah, it’d be terrible to lose contact with her.
Celia
Anyway, how DID it go with Officer Veil today?
Jacob tells Celia about his conversation with Officer Veil and how he snuck out that night.
He also tells her about the frightening magician at the faire.
Jacob
I know the contortionist was creepy, but after my conversation with Malvolio…
Jacob
I just feel like it’s gotta be him.
Jacob
He legit said that he thought he was doing something right by sneaking someone into the faire.
Celia
Didn’t you just tell me that you weren’t 100 percent sure that you were talking about the same person?
Celia
Didn’t he insinuate that you’d only talked to the person he snuck into the faire a few times?
Celia
I’m just not sure he’s talking about Emily.
Jacob
Okay, fine — maybe he wasn’t THAT time.
Jacob
But that doesn’t mean he doesn’t have the capacity to sneak someone else in.
Jacob
Maybe he DID sneak Emily in, and he was just referring to a different victim!
Celia
Jacob, I don’t know…
Celia
I feel like you might be coming up with a big scheme because you’re tired and stressed.
Jacob
But it’s HIM! I know it!!
Celia
Look, don’t get mad at me for asking this but…
Celia
Does this have anything to do with the fact that Rosemary is his wife?
Celia
Jacob, please…I’ve read all your texts about her.
Celia
And I’m Em’s best friend…
Celia
So I can tell you like her.
Jacob
I mean, she’s nice and all, but she’s MARRIED.
Jacob
Besides, I have more important things to focus on.
Celia
Like finding your sister?
Jacob
Exactly. Look, let’s table this for now — I’ll text you when I wake up tomorrow?
Celia
Definitely. I want to get to the faire asap.
Jacob falls into a fitful sleep, anxious about his day and for the morning to come.
But when he wakes up to his mother’s scream, echoing from the downstairs kitchen,
He wishes he could go back to the land of dreams and make believe.
