David Turner was in an aisle seat on the end of the second row. Claire Madison was seated beside him. Robin knew from reading the entertainment news that she and Turner were living together. The news reported that Chesterfield had filed for a divorce and was fighting to get a lot of money from her.
Turner’s career had been in jeopardy ever since Chesterfield had exposed his show-closing illusion on television. He had developed a new closing act, but it wasn’t as amazing as the illusion Chesterfield had exposed, and there were rumors that Caesars Palace might not renew his contract.
Seated near the aisle on the other side of the theater were Marco and Rafael. Robin also spotted Horace Dobson sitting in the last seat in the front row. She assumed he had reserved that seat so he could go backstage if he was needed. Sitting a few rows behind Dobson was Joe Samuels. Peter Ragland and two police officers were standing in the aisle against the wall next to his seat. Robin wondered if they were there at Samuel’s request to arrest Chesterfield. Robin also noticed Miriam Ross, Chesterfield’s former assistant, seated near the front of the theater. Iris Hitchens, Lily Dowd’s daughter, was seated midway in the theater in an aisle seat.
The gang’s all here, Robin thought as she worked her way down the row to her seat. Moments later, the houselights dimmed and Robert Chesterfield appeared onstage in a puff of smoke.
* * *
The first half of Chesterfield’s show was entertaining, but everyone was waiting to see the Chamber of Death. Chesterfield milked the suspense until the show was almost over. Then the houselights went out. When they came back on, the open pyramid was center stage, and a ramp connected the stage to one of the aisles. The pyramid was jet-black, and the curtains behind it were also black.
Fog rose around the pyramid, shrouding it in mist, and eerie music crept through the theater. The tension built. Then a bright flash blinded the audience, and Chesterfield appeared in front of the pyramid wearing a hooded black robe with flowing sleeves that Robin remembered from the rehearsal at the cliff house.
Chesterfield stared at the audience and let the suspense build. Then he began to speak. “In ancient Egypt, those who offended the gods were entombed alive in a sarcophagus and died a horrible death. I am known as an escape artist. Tonight, I will attempt to perform the ultimate escape: I will try to cheat death.”
Two of Chesterfield’s assistants appeared at the back of the theater dressed in bright red robes with flowing sleeves and hoods that hid their faces. The costume was decorated with yellow hieroglyphics. A sarcophagus rested on a slanting platform that sat on a dolly. The assistants began pushing the sarcophagus down the aisle, and a third assistant followed them. The sarcophagus was pushed up the ramp and onto the stage, and the assistants left it at the left side of the pyramid.
Chesterfield pointed at the pyramid. “This, my friends, is the Chamber of Death. Those who enter have never returned to join the living.”
One of the assistants pressed a button and the top of the platform that held the coffin tilted down. The three assistants pushed the sarcophagus onto the stage and maneuvered it so it was between the sides of the pyramid with one of the long sides facing the audience.
Chesterfield pointed to the sarcophagus. “I will be placed in this coffin.”
Two rectangular boxes sat on either side of the pyramid. Black cloths hid their contents.
“Are there any among you who may be affected by sheer horror? If so, I suggest that you leave the theater, because what you will see next is not for the faint of heart.”
Chesterfield waited. When no one left, he walked to the first box and whipped off the black cloth, revealing a glass case filled with writhing snakes.
There were gasps from the audience.
“These are some of the world’s most dangerous snakes: cobras, vipers, and Cleopatra’s favorite, the asp.” The magician pulled off the cloth that covered the second cube. “What you see in here are some of the most poisonous scorpions known to man.”
Chesterfield pointed to an object on the side of the coffin. “Please note the chute on this side of the sarcophagus. When I am locked in this coffin, my assistants will send this horde of death dealers down the chute and onto my body. According to the literature, I should be dead within