A TOUCH OF MAGIC
byAs Detective Erin Piper gazed around the nearly-empty Elk Creek Center for the Performing Arts, she thought how different the venue would appear in a few hours. Tonight was the evening the entire town had been looking forward to for months. After seemingly endless negotiations by the town council, Mysto the Magnificent had agreed to a one-night performance. Everyone hoped the event would put her town on the map as a must-see entertainment destination.
“Detective Piper,” said an approaching figure she immediately recognized as Harvey Channing, Elk Creek’s mayor, “am I glad to see you.”
“I got here as soon as I could,” said Erin. “What’s the problem?”
“Just that I’m going to have to cancel tonight’s performance.”
“I don’t understand,” said Erin. “I thought all the det
