Real Magic by Stuart Jaffe

"Were you looking for this?" He laid down four aces.
    Duncan replayed the deal. He knew he had counted right. He knew he had nullified the deck. How did this happen?
    "Good game, everyone," Vincent said.
    Ben grabbed the tally sheet, "Looks like Lucas is the loser. You all have no money except for Vincent and Lucas has the most points."
    "Hold it," Vincent said. "This deal isn't done yet. I've got a few cheats to call Duncan on. One, he stacked the deck when he pulled in the cards. Two, while shuffling, he riffle stacked until he could complete the stack to his satisfaction. Three, he controlled the deal so that he'd get all four aces. Ain't that right?"
    Duncan nodded.
    Ben pointed to the tally. "Then it's a tie with Lucas, each with three points."
    "Oh, one more thing," Vincent said. "He also cheated on the cut. Tried to restore it. But he didn't count on me. See, Duncan used Lucas and the tally as a distraction, but he had to address Lucas for a moment to get us all looking at him. And when you did that, I switched the decks." Vincent produced Duncan's stacked deck from under the table.
    "That makes four points for Duncan," Ben said. "Guess you're staying here to clean up."
    Morty slapped Duncan on the back. "Don't worry about it. You did a great job. Even grumpy Lucas has got to admit you're everything Vincent said. A real talent with the cards. So clean this up fast and go figure out Vincent's trick so we can all have a good time party together."
    "And don't play cards with my sister," Vincent said. "She cheats."
    The gang laughed as they crowded out the door and off down the street.

Chapter 11
    Â 
    Lucy chuckled — a gentle but knowing sound. "Vincent isn't lying, y'know. He taught me how to play cards."
    Duncan shook his head, his mind still on the last hand. He had looked at Lucas for no more than a second. How had Vincent duped him so fast? And why? With a frustrated sigh, he collected the dirty glasses and brought them over to the counter.
    "Don't feel bad," Lucy said. "My brother always likes to show up people, especially a new guy. It's his way of keeping everybody in their place. And you're good. Much better than those clowns. So he doesn't want to lose his standing as the best in the magic club."
    "Then why even invite me in?"
    "Because Vincent admires talent when he sees it. One look at you shuffling the cards and I could tell you knew what you were doing. I'm sure Vincent fell in love with your hands right away. Besides, he always wants to get better. He wants to be challenged. You think Morty challenges him? Or Ben?"
    Duncan stacked the chips and put the card decks back together. He glanced at the blue and white door. He would have to figure out Vincent's little trick. No other way around it. But he felt it deeper than that. He didn't simply want to join the club to use it as a base from which to locate the magic door, and he didn't simply want to appease Nelson Walter to avoid a golf club to the brain. Some ember of the kid practicing his pass while sitting by Pappy warmed within his gut — he wanted to show Vincent just how good he could be with a deck of cards.
    "You like it here, so far?" Lucy asked, her voice shaking Duncan from his thoughts.
    "It's ... different."
    Lucy cocked her head as if giving the idea serious attention. "It's nice, though, don't you think? I mean, it's big for a small town, and there's lots to do for a guy and a gal."
    "I don't know." Duncan wondered if he should finish cleaning fast and try to track down the guys. "I suppose it's like anywhere."
    Lucy hopped onto the counter, spun to the other side, flashing a bit of leg in the process, and then put on a cute pout. "What's the matter? Did Vincent hurt your feelings?"
    Duncan looked at her directly with the intention of dismissing Vincent and the magic club in order to maintain control over the way she saw him — but he froze. Gazing upon her, he felt a quiver in his chest. Something about this girl moved him unlike