The Magic Misfits - Neil Patrick Harris Page 0,61

the hall to find a stooped man standing in the doorway—Dean the bellhop.

“It’s all right,” Mr. Vernon said from the shadows as he wheeled his oxygen tank along beside himself. “Let the man in.”

Ridley crossed her arms. Was this a good idea? Dean had betrayed them, after all.

Dean stepped across the threshold before anyone could stop him. He closed the door. “Thank you, Mr. V.,” he said through chattering teeth. His bellhop uniform was dirty and ragged, as if he’d been camping in the woods without a tent. Or maybe in the mouth of a cave. “I’m sorry to bother you all. But I’ve got something to say. I was hoping you might be willing to listen and maybe lend a hand with a problem I’m having.”

The Other Mr. Vernon stood beside his husband, wrapping an arm around his waist and propping him up. “Always willing to listen, Dean,” said Mr. Vernon.

Dean nodded. “Much appreciated.” He removed his hat and smoothed his hand over his scalp. Somehow, it seemed as though his thin hair was suddenly thick. Darker. He removed a handkerchief from his jacket pocket and dabbed at his forehead.

Something didn’t feel right to Ridley.

Moving his gaze to meet each of the Misfits’ eyes, Dean went on. “You’re all aware that I was assisting the man you know as Kalagan.”

“We remember,” said Ridley, feeling a hardness stuck in her voice.

Dean’s eyes fell on her. “I told you some things about him back when we were all in the cave together. But like most stories”—he paused—“the one I told you was only part of the truth. To get to the other part, I’ll need to take you back in time.”

Ridley glanced at her friends scattered around the entry foyer. All of them looked as confused—and maybe a little nervous—as she felt. She was glad their guardians were with them.

“Several decades, in fact,” Dean went on. “To a time before the Emerald Ring had even been imagined.”

Mr. Vernon flinched, concern passing across his face like a cloud. “I’m sorry, Dean, but what’s this about? Kalagan is in jail.”

“I’m getting to that, Mr. V.,” Dean answered. “Now, all of you know I’ve been working at the Grand Oak for a long time. The story I need to share has to do with a couple other employees of the resort—a husband and wife pair of housekeepers named Augustus and Diana Kalagan.”

“Kilroy’s parents,” Theo whispered.

“That’s right.” Dean nodded, dabbing his face with the handkerchief again. As he did so, his skin seemed to brighten, the gray circles under his eyes beginning to fade. “Augustus and Diana lived here in Mineral Wells. And they had quite a few secrets of their own. Though they were honorable employees of our town’s fabled resort, they made money in other ways. Ways in which Carter is probably familiar.”

“Wait,” said Carter, growing pale. “What?”

But Dean went on. “They were grifters. Con artists. They had run the shell game up and down the coast for years before finding stability in Mineral Wells. But they were always dreaming bigger. Augustus especially. When his wife gave birth to twin boys—Kilroy and Kincaid—he hatched a scheme for what he hoped might turn into his biggest con ever. A con for the record books.” Dean cleared his throat… and slowly began to straighten his spine.

Was he suddenly taller? Ridley wondered, nervous energy coursing through her. How could that be?

“It took some convincing to get his wife to agree, but Augustus managed to make it look like one of the twin boys had died. He and Diana buried a tiny casket in the local cemetery. Even got the kid a grave marker that said his age had been less than a year. The truth was much more sinister.” The room was silent, except for the mice scurrying through the walls. “You see, Augustus believed that if he could make the world think that they had only one son, he and his wife could get away with so much more. Often, one twin would outright steal from hotel employees, while Augustus made sure someone witnessed the other twin being perfectly innocent during the time of the theft, so that no one could accuse him of the crime.

“One of the family’s favorite tricks was to have one twin disappear around a corner as the other would come up behind a hotel guest and shout hello. Startled, the guest always thought they’d witnessed some sort of impossible teleportation. As the guest tried to figure out how Kilroy had