Judi left the office at noon and headed home.  She was going to shower and change.  After graduation, she had gotten her first reporting job with the Miami Herald.  It wasn't much; she covered society and parties but it was a start.  After one year of covering the fluff, she had finally gotten a decent assignment.  The paper was going to do a small investigation, on its own, of the murder of the magician and illusionist Roger Killian.  He was killed five years ago, and the police had closed the case.  No arrests had been made.  Now, the Herald had decided to do a bit of poking on its own.  Her assignment this afternoon was to interview The Great Santorini, a retired magician who made his home just north of Fort Lauderdale.  She was looking forward to this.


Since her graduation, the only time she saw Kelly was at Mirax's compound.  They would make love once in a while, and Judi had developed a fondness for taking on two or three of his guards at the same time.  But the job cut down on the number of trips Judi could make to Xenon.  She bounced to the other dimension roughly every second or third weekend.  Maybe, on Saturday night, after she had written up and posted her interview notes, she would travel.  For now, she had rent to pay.


Judi headed home in her beat-up Subaru, got a shower, and changed.  She didn't need to wear anything fancy.  A simple jean skirt, a pale yellow golf shirt, and sandals completed the outfit.  She grabbed some pens, pads, and her laptop and headed north on I-95 to the magician's home.


The Great Santorini had actually been born as Roberto Ianni in upstate New York.  He had become fascinated with magic around the age of ten, and had a very fine career as a magician and illusionist, playing some of the best hotels in Vegas, the Caribbean, and Monte Carlo.  He had also spent a great deal of his life exposing phony mediums and spiritualists.  He retired, but still did the occasional show.  The lifelong bachelor, when he retired, bought a nice home in an exclusive and secluded area of Fort Lauderdale and settle in to "catch up on his reading," as he was fond of saying.  


Judi arrived at the gated community, was given clearance to enter, and headed to Santorini's home.  A butler showed her out back to the pool, and told her to make herself at home.  Santorini would join her in a minute; he was on the telephone.  There was a pool and two picnic tables.  One table was set with fruits, juices, and tea.  The other table was empty.  Judi unpacked her case and set up her laptop, pad, and pens at the empty table.  


After a few minutes, Santorini joined her.  He was dressed in sandals, khakis, and a short-sleeved sport shirt.  Judi noticed he was very fit and trim and did not look anywhere near his age.  The only hint that he was an older man was the very, very full head of silver-grey hair.  He smiled warmly at the woman and extended his right hand.


"Judi, welcome!" he said, with a warm smile.  "It's a shame you didn't bring a bikini, the pool is lovely.  No matter.  There is a table set with fruits, juices, and teas.  Let's make a small plate and then we can begin."

Judi smiled, shook his hand, and made herself a plate of fruit and a cup of tea.  Then the two sat down and began to work.


"Now, I know why you are here," said Santorini, being serious but not overly so in his manner.  "I assume you have a prepared list of questions.  Let's throw that out of the window and go with a free-form interview.  I think I will be able to give you much more information that way."


Judi agreed, and the two began.


"Roger Killian," said Santorini, taking a sip of juice, "was a superb illusionist.  To close his act, he was nailed to an x-shaped cross and the cross was set on fire.  As the cross burnt, he would magically reappear in the back of the audience.  The gag was a smash hit.  Everyone loved it.  It was quite original and thrilling.  Except for the last performance."


"Yes," said Judi.  "Someone shot him with a crossbow.  The bolt ended up in his neck.  And he died.  Any ideas, Mr. Santorini?"


The Great Robert Santorini sat quietly, nibbled on some fruit, and stared at the table.  It appeared as though he were composing his thoughts.  He looked up at Judi, smiled, and began.


"Judi," he started, "I am going to tell you something you may, or may not, believe.  The choice is yours.  Fair enough?"


"Yes, of course."


"Well, Judi," began Santorini, "and please call me Bob, you probably know that there are theories concerning the number of dimensions in the universe.  Well, they are not theories; they are fact.  And in some of these dimensions, magic, and not science rules.  Now, it is possible to travel between the dimensions.  However, one must be very careful.  The dimension we are in now, our plane of existence, so to speak, is a scientific dimension.  One can use magic here, and people have, but one must do it delicately.  Certain balances may not be upset.  Killian used real magic as part of his act.  He upset balances, and he was killed by an assassin from another dimension."


Judi merely looked at Santorini and smiled.  She knew exactly what he was talking about.


"I see by your expression, Judi, that you don't believe me.  Stand please and I will give you a little demonstration."


Judi made an entry on her notepad, smiled, and stood.  Santorini smiled, pointed at her with the index finger of his right hand, muttered something while waving his hand in the air, and her shirt and skirt magically disappeared.  She stood there clad only in sandals, bra, and panties.


"Well," Judi said with a giggle, "if you wanted me to strip, all you had to do was ask.  Or tell me to bring a bikini.  But, it's only fair to warn you, my bikini shows a bit more than my lingerie."


"This is just a silly demonstration," said Santorini.  "Besides, I like to see a girl in a bikini.  It is just to show you that magic is real.  Now, let's continue on with the interview."


Judi sat, and for the next hour Santorini filled her in on magic.  At the end of the hour, he led her into his den.  There was a rather large an ornate mirror, oval-shaped and full-length, in the den.  Santorini explained that he was taking her to where he had transported her clothing.  He stepped into the mirror, and extended a hand for Judi to follow.  Judi followed.


Judi found herself in the bedroom of a lovely apartment, her skirt and shirt folded neatly on the bed.  Santorini guided her onto the balcony.


"Judi, this is the dimension of Xenon," he said.  "We are in the area known as Bazaar.  It is a hotbed of magic."


"I see," said Judi.  "I have a request.  I would like a second interview, and could we conduct it here?"


"Of course!" said Santorini.  "But you must bring a bikini."


Judi only smiled.
