do you consider in magic?

If it looks as if final season was simply yesterday properly… it form of was! One of many few perks of pandemic-related taking pictures delays is undoubtedly that now we’re getting a 3rd season scorching on the heels of season two. If you happen to nonetheless wish to relive the magic of final season, or simply want a bit of refresher, recaps are up proper here.

You recognize, it’s form of a trope at this level for fictional detectives to get arrested doing no matter lurking, sneaking, and snooping they require for his or her commerce. What isn’t a trope is Ivy, of all individuals, having her mugshot taken, together with Clementine, The Superb Pawn Dealer from final season’s finale, and Barney the Morgue Bureaucrat, who’s apparently gotten critical sufficient with Ivy to reap the “advantages” of associating with Victoria Mars. Talking of whom, our heroine has additionally been arrested, and although she tries her normal “hey, there’s a mistake, let me discuss to Duke Silver” as normal, it doesn’t work. And so it’s that when Duke Silver ambles over to the lockup at Scotland Yard, he finds a bunch of very grumpy buddies and colleagues ready for him behind bars.

Victoria Mars: Hiiiiii.
Duke Silver, inside:

After being freed, Victoria Mars hastens to elucidate that she requested her buddies to assist as a result of it was a very advanced case.

Duke Silver: Uh, maintain up, are we calling Barney the Morgue Bureaucrat your good friend now??
Victoria Mars: No, lol, however he was there visiting Ivy when the cops got here to spherical us up. Anyway, you realize most of that is nonsense. Thanks for getting the fees dropped for them, I received’t trigger any extra bother for you.
Duke Silver: LMAO, yeah, certain Jan. Signal your paperwork, bye!
Ivy, coming across the nook: Dude, Barney the Morgue Bureaucrat is furious! He may by no means come go to once more!
Victoria Mars: I stated I used to be sorry! Anyway, that is Moses’ fault: if he’d been round I wouldn’t have needed to pull you all into this.
Ivy, asking the million greenback query: The place IS Moses, anyway?

Properly, he’s off competing in a boxing match, and let me let you know:

Our good friend Moses seems to be fairly rattling good within the ring, and is gathering his winnings when the match is raided by, in fact, Duke Silver and the boys.

Duke Silver: Hey bud! I’m certain you realize this, however playing and not using a license is unlawful. So… you’re coming with me. Right here’s the deal: I’m both going to arrest you, otherwise you’re giving me information. Particularly, I must discover a suspect. Case is very confidential; you possibly can’t inform anybody.
Moses: Is it… Logan Cooper?
Duke Silver: Significantly? How are you aware that?
Moses: Oh, that’s not all I do know. He’s wished for a theft on the financial institution, you’ve obtained two suspects in custody, and also you’ve began a manhunt however all you realize is that he was final seen in Charing Cross on Tuesday.
Duke Silver: OMG that’s CLASSIFIED! Who informed you?

Lol, I believed perhaps this was an inside job, however no: this time the thorn in Duke Silver’s aspect is simply True Crime Journalist, who revealed the entire thing in his paper.

Duke Silver, confronting TCJ: What the heck! You jeopardized this case, and it isn’t the primary time. Who informed you?
True Crime Journalist: Reveal a supply? Perish the thought.
Duke Silver, looming: If you happen to don’t inform me, YOU are gonna perish.
True Crime Journalist: Okay, okay: right here’s a listing.

You learn that proper: it’s not only one leak. Scotland Yard is principally a colander, at this level. Dragging the named crew into his workplace, Duke Silver reads the fellows the riot act. Cease taking bribes to provide out information, he bellows.

Hardscrabble: However boss, that’s the way it’s at all times been! How else are we alleged to make more money on the aspect?
Duke Silver: You’re not! Look, I’ve let this slide for a very long time, however it stops now. No extra speaking to journalists!
Child Detective, simply walked in: WorkDad, I’m alleged to go see a present with my good friend who’s the opera critic for the occasions tonight, is that also okay?
Hardscrabble, doing a imply impression of his colleague: “oh, I can’t attend the opera, no matter shall I do!!”
Child Detective: I wasn’t asking you!
Hardscrabble: Properly perhaps it is best to simply shut up!
Duke Silver: You need to each shut up! Get again to work, I’ve day consuming to do!

Whereas he stews, throughout city, Victoria Mars and Ivy are doing a lot the identical. Ivy, naturally, is anxious about her boyfriend’s response to being in jail in a single day (truthful sufficient). Victoria Mars, alternatively, has taken this helpful lesson to coronary heart. She overstretched, taking over such a giant case.

Ivy: Oh, good, so that you’re going to relax out?
Victoria Mars: LOL, oh Ivy, you’re hilarious. No, I’m going to develop! I would like more cash. I’m going to the financial institution to get a mortgage!

Properly, she tries, at any charge. However as you possibly can think about, not a whole lot of banks are wanting to chuck cash at London’s First Feminine Detective. Returning to the workplace, dejected, she runs into Duke Silver.

Duke Silver: Hey, are we nonetheless on for dinner?
Victoria Mars: We had plans?
Duke Silver: We meet up the final Wednesday of each month, and each month I’ve to remind you. Friendship fail!
Victoria Mars: Blerg. Can we reschedule?
Duke Silver, aggravated: Positive. Once more. You probably did this final month too!
Victoria Mars, real: Yikes. I’m sorry, I’m simply having a very crap day.
Duke Silver: My prime suspect in an armed theft ran off, so your day can’t be worse than mine. Not that it’s a contest. Ugh, sorry, it’s not your fault, it’s HIS: I can’t consider you’re nonetheless studying True Crime Journalist’s paper! He retains leaking confidential information.
Victoria Mars: Can’t you get him to take away the story from the later version?
Duke Silver: Injury is already executed; that’s gone out to 200,000 individuals.
Victoria Mars, getting an thought: 200,000??
Duke Silver, lacking the harmful glint in her eye: Yup. What can I say, individuals love true crime!

I obtained information for you, pal: that isn’t altering any time quickly. Anyway, he ambles off to be grumpy elsewhere, leaving Victoria Mars to scheme. And scheme she does: quickly after, our good friend waylays True Crime Journalist outdoors a pub, the place she explains that she’d like to put an ad in his paper.

Victoria Mars: You understand how it’s, I’m SUPER busy, however you possibly can by no means have too many consumers!
True Crime Reporter: I’ve a greater thought: one thing higher than simply an ad. Lets?
Victoria Mars, who positively simply manipulated that precisely as she’d deliberate: We will!

Right here’s the deal: True Crime Journalist needs to rent Victoria Mars, after which run a 5 half collection about her. Why? He claims it’s as a result of his readers are so bored of studying concerning the cops, however I think there’s additionally a component of being frightened of ol’ Duke Silver/understanding that our Scottish pal will do his greatest to chop off all of True Crime Journalists’ cop sources.

Victoria Mars: Okay, I’ll chew: what’s the case?
True Crime Journalist: Final evening one in every of my illustrators was protecting a magic present. It began out as a monotonous efficiency, however then it grew to become something BUT.

I’m intrigued by that, and so is Victoria Mars, who heads to the theater to seek out out extra. See, final evening, when The Nice Alphonso did his vanishing act, he really vanished for actual. The magician’s assistant Miss Ling explains that she’s labored with Alphonso for years, doing the identical act each evening. Besides final evening, when her colleague really disappeared. Victoria Mars clearly wants extra information, and really will get Miss Ling to interrupt one of many cardinal guidelines of stage magic: by no means clarify the trick! Laborious in charge her although; you form of have to grasp how Alphonso usually pretend disappears to determine how he did it for actual this time. Mainly, there’s a secret compartment contained in the field, however it’s positively not sufficiently big for extended hiding.

Victoria Mars: And also you’re certain he didn’t sneak out?
Miss Ling: 100%
Victoria Mars: Huh. The place would he have been proper earlier than coming onstage?

On Miss Ling’s course, Victoria Mars heads backstage, the place she asks instructions from a person who’s so harried and careworn that I simply assume he’s a stage supervisor, regardless of his fancy outfit. He basically tells Victoria Mars to pound sand, so she’s left to eavesdrop on her personal. Arriving in a storage space, she runs right into a gal in a wonderful costume.

Victoria Mars: Sorry, I’m misplaced — are you able to level me to the magician’s dressing room?
Fancy Gal: Which one? My dad or the opposite one?
Victoria Mars: Alphonso? The lacking one.
Fancy Gal: LOL, he’d love that. He likes to play tips on individuals.
Victoria Mars: Ah, so that you suppose this can be a trick, huh? TBH you could be proper. I used to be employed to seek out him. I’m a personal investigator.
Fancy Gal: HA, what? Sorry, do individuals normally react like that?
Victoria Mars, charmed regardless of herself: A bit bit, yeah. What’s with the field?
Fancy Gal: I made it for my dad to maintain his tips protected. Magicians are tremendous paranoid.
Victoria Mars: Ah, so your dad is the OTHER magician. I see.

Keep in mind that wired impolite man from the corridor? Seems he’s really none apart from Fancy Gal’s dad, Slaven the Sorcerer, and he’s nonetheless not impressed by Victoria Mars, even after his daughter explains that she’s a PI. Leaving the household to their pre-show stress, Victoria Mars lastly will get the instructions to Alphonso’s dressing room from Fancy Gal, and heads inside for a snoop. And after I say snoop, please know that it’s a half-hearted snoop, at greatest: Victoria Mars appears to be more and more satisfied that is all only a publicity stunt. She’s about to depart, actually, when a flamboyant gentleman enters and introduces himself because the theater proprietor.

Theater Proprietor: Greetings! I simply talked to your consumer, True Crime Journalist. He says you’re one of the best within the enterprise, and now that I’m leering at you, I can see that you simply’re additionally simple on the eyes! How’s it going?
Victoria Mars: I can’t appear to discover a rational rationalization for what occurred, I’m afraid.
Theater Proprietor: Oh, properly that’s as a result of it’s not rational: it’s supernatural!
Victoria Mars:

Theater Proprietor, clearly has his personal factor happening right here too: Oh sure. It’s the work of the Flanders Phantom! We’re haunted AF. That’s what I informed True Crime Reporter, did he not say?
Victoria Mars: Wow! Wowee wow! I believe I’m all set right here. Toodles!

Usually, sure, I’d be proper there along with her, however one thing tells me there’s extra to this case than meets the attention! Whereas Victoria Mars heads residence in a huff, throughout city, Child Detective is out on the bar with Hardscrabble, of all individuals. Plainly their Norma Rae Second from final season made the 2 into one thing approaching buddies, though the space of the method remains to be a bit unsure.

Child Detective: Who have been you simply speaking to on the bar??
Hardscrabble: Oh, my good friend Nunya. Nunya enterprise! Ugh, for those who’re going to be bizarre about it, it’s a detective from Bow Avenue; we’re working collectively on the Cooper case. Anyway, I’m executed with my drink, time so that you can get the following spherical.
Child Detective: However I’m not completed but!
Hardscrabble: Too unhealthy! I don’t have cash for a second drink due to Duke Silver’s ban on speaking to journos. Pay up!
Child Detective: He’s simply attempting to do the proper factor!
Hardscrabble: Positive, however most of us don’t have household cash, child. Now go get me a drink! And since I outrank you, that’s an order!

However Child Detective doesn’t find yourself having to get that second spherical in spite of everything, as a result of simply then, Duke Silver reveals as much as inform them a physique’s been pulled out of the river. That manhunt of theirs may simply be completed! Wishful considering, clearly: as quickly as they pull again the sheet on the morgue, all three males know immediately that it isn’t Logan Cooper. However then who might this thriller corpse presumably be?

Throughout city, True Crime Journalist reveals up at Victoria Mars’ door for a chat.

Victoria Mars: Oh good, glad you’re right here. You recognize this lacking magician factor is only a publicity stunt, proper?
True Crime Detective: He’s not lacking… he’s useless! They discovered him within the river tonight. This factor simply grew to become a homicide investigation, and also you simply made the entrance web page!

The subsequent morning, Child Detective is doing his darndest to maintain everybody out of the theater. His darndest, sadly, isn’t any match for Victoria Mars, who’s breezing previous him with a “Duke Silver stated it was okay” when the person himself seems to contradict her.

Victoria Mars: Please??? I’m in the midst of a case!
Duke Silver: Yeah, for my nemesis within the press!
Victoria Mars: We might help one another — I have already got all of the background stuff. And True Crime Journalist promised he received’t print something till the case is closed!
Duke Silver: I’m certain you do, however this can be a homicide now, so it’s mine. And I don’t belief True Crime Journalist so far as Child Detective over there can throw him! Your dad would by no means have labored with a criminal like that.
Victoria Mars: Properly my dad had just a few extra choices than I do! And he’d be aggravated to listen to you be impolite to me like that. What?
Duke Silver: Oh, simply attempting to determine for those who’re really upset or simply attempting to trick me. I’m going with trick. You’re not coming in.
Victoria Mars: Nice. I’ll do that by myself!

I really like how they at all times say this, after which inside a half hour of run time, we’re again to collaborating. Come on guys, everyone knows higher than this by now! Barred from coming into the theater, Victoria Mars follows up on a hunch of her personal. See, within the present posters, Alphonso is holding a elaborate silver wand, but within the sketches executed by True Crime Journalist’s artist, the magician’s obtained a black wand. What’s up with that?

True Crime Journalist: Oh, that evening Alphonso didn’t use a wand. However, you realize, individuals hear magician, they anticipate a wand, so I made the illustrator add one.

Attention-grabbing! Heading again to the theater, Victoria Mars proceeds to comply with Miss Ling, who’s left the theater in favor of a comfortable drink with Theater Proprietor. Very cozy, for those who catch my drift. Victoria Mars sidles as much as the desk, and the 2 soar aside in a manner that virtually screams “secret date.”

Theater Proprietor: OH HI. I used to be simply comforting Miss Ling right here, no huge deal!
Miss Ling: Some huge deal, really — did you comply with me right here??
Victoria Mars: I simply wanted a couple of minutes to speak.
Theater Proprietor: It is a homicide now; the police will type it out!
Victoria Mars: Positive, however True Crime Journalist and I are each nonetheless very eager to determine what occurred! Look, I get that you simply don’t need publicity round somebody dying on the theater, however I nonetheless have questions.
Theater Proprietor: Positive, and sadly for you, nobody who works for me can be answering.
Victoria Mars: Gotcha. I assume True Crime Reporter’s readers will simply must get a extra private story as a substitute. Like a biography of you… you’re married with youngsters, proper?
Theater Proprietor: Nice. I’ll go away you two to speak.
Victoria Mars: I simply have one query: Alphonso didn’t use his wand throughout that efficiency. Was that bizarre?
Miss Ling: Very bizarre. However he’d informed me the day earlier than he was promoting it; form of shocking as a result of it had a whole lot of sentimental worth, however I figured he wanted the cash for his retirement. See, subsequent month can be his fiftieth anniversary within the enterprise. He was planning to provide the act up then.
Victoria Mars: Any thought the place he bought the wand?
Miss Ling: Yeah, the leisure store in Carnaby Avenue. I informed that inspector too.

Okay, certain, it’s annoying that Duke Silver obtained this information first. However it’s additionally hilarious to look at our no-nonsense good friend work together with a detailed up magic store proprietor, and see his blood stress rise with every new coin plucked from behind his ear.

Duke Silver: Minimize that out. I’m right here to ask about Alphonso.
Magic Store Proprietor: Ugh, what’s he executed now? He’s at all times enjoying tips!
Duke Silver: He’s useless.

Victoria Mars, with impeccable timing as ever, chooses that second to enter the store, and is instantly escorted outdoors by an irate Duke Silver. However not for lengthy: she factors out that she will be able to simply wait outdoors after which ask Magic Store Proprietor the identical set of questions as soon as Duke Silver finishes, losing everybody’s time. After extracting a agency promise that nothing concerning the case can be printed earlier than they remedy it, Duke Silver reluctantly agrees, and the 2 head again inside.

Their questioning seems to be fairly useful certainly. Sure, Alphonso was a daily buyer on the store, and he was alleged to promote Magic Store Proprietor the wand, which the proprietor describes as extra of a household heirloom than a prop (Alphonso was the fifth individual to carry out beneath the Alphonso title). This newest Alphonso even went as far as to carry out in platform sneakers to take care of the phantasm that he was the identical magician as his father earlier than him. Anyhow, Alphonso was meant to promote the wand to Magic Store Proprietor earlier than the present the place he disappeared, and, on reflection, it was bizarre when Alphosno didn’t present up: he was punctual to a fault.

Victoria Mars: Huh, that is bizarre. Duke Silver, something attention-grabbing on the post-mortem?
Duke Silver: Nothing I’m going to let you know! I allow you to hang around whereas I questioned that man, however that’s it! I’m leaving.
Victoria Mars: Oho! You’re dashing off, and also you sniffed, which is one in every of your traditional tells: you’re mendacity to me! What aren’t you saying?
Duke Silver: Byeeee!

At the very least they’re each equally crap at mendacity to one another, I assume? Anyway, there’s nothing for it: later that night, Victoria Mars and Moses break into the morgue, Moses having ran into Barney the Morgue Bureaucrat so as to swipe his keys. Right here’s the deal: Alphonso had a small fracture on his cranium, however he died by drowning. Time of demise might have been anyplace between 6pm and midnight, and for the reason that present ended at 10, that provides them two hours to concentrate on. Additionally, he had some liver harm, so he might need been a drinker. Wanting by way of Alphonso’s stuff, they discover that his sneakers actually did function greater heels, and never only for continuity: one of many heels conceals a small key!

Taking their bounty, the pair head over to the theater seeking a protected, which Moses explains is the one lock that has that form of key. Bumping round at midnight, Victoria Mars makes an attempt to mild a lamp on the desk, solely to appreciate it’s caught down. Turning it, a panel pops up on the desk, revealing a hidden protected, and inside it, the wand.

Moses: Why would he do his act with out the wand if it was right here the entire time?
Victoria Mars: Identical purpose he missed his appointment; Alphonso wasn’t the one on stage that evening, it was an imposter. He was already useless!

Naturally, when Victoria Mars shares the replace with True Crime Journalist, he’s virtually salivating on the drama of all of it.

True Crime Journalist: In fact, I’m additionally so deeply sorry for his family and friends…. Anyway, what’s your subsequent transfer?
Victoria Mars: Uh, properly. It’s a homicide investigation, and I simply discovered vital proof, so I would like to inform the cops. Particularly, Duke Silver.
True Crime Journalist: He’s an important detective, for certain. However. You recognize, for those who remedy it your self, solo, that’s an important story. If HE will get concerned, no offense, it’s going to overshadow your nice work! Not on function, however you realize. He turns into the principle character, and also you’re simply greatest supporting actress. If you happen to waited a pair days, you may hit the proof jackpot; discover one thing crucial for courtroom, perhaps. Properly, then…

Compelling, and sufficient to nudge Victoria Mars within the course she wished to go anyway. Fortunately, she additionally has Ivy on her staff, who accurately factors out that if Victoria Mars delays too lengthy, she might get charged with perverting the course of justice, which might land her in jail for 7 years.

Ivy: I’ve been training my studying in your dad’s previous regulation books.
Victoria Mars: Look, he’s been an actual jerk about working collectively on this. I’m certain he’s figured some stuff out on his personal too!
Ivy: Simply don’t lie, you’ll get hit with perjury.
Victoria Mars: Can’t you learn Dickens or Austen like a traditional individual? I would like publicity, and I’m so near cracking this factor proper open!
Ivy: Properly if you’d like my recommendation on Duke Silver, watch what you say to him.
Victoria Mars: I’m not gonna say something, I’m going to keep away from him in any respect prices. Oh, hey, Duke Silver.
Duke Silver: Hey women. Simply occurred to be within the neighborhood, figured I’d cease by.
Victoria Mars AND Duke Silver, at one another:

Duke Silver: Something to share?
Victoria Mars: Nope! You?
Duke Silver: Nope! Properly. I’ll be going!

That proves it: they’re each hiding one thing from the opposite, they usually each comprehend it too. Tremendous mature, guys!

Child Detective: Did you inform her what you discovered?
Duke Silver: NOPE. And I received’t, with that author hanging round.
Child Detective: Need me to concentrate on this case? Since Bow Avenue helps with the Cooper factor I can in all probability be spared.
Duke Silver: Be sort; rewind. What?
Child Detective: The opposite evening Hardscrabble informed me they have been serving to out! I noticed him assembly with somebody known as Detective Lenihan?

I’m certain you’ll not be shocked to be taught that there isn’t any such detective at Bow Avenue. Duke Silver heads out into the bullpen to confront Hardscrabble about it. Given how intimidating most individuals discover Duke Silver, it’s weirdly hilarious how upfront Hardscrabble is about flaunting his boss’ guidelines. It’s only a bit of money, no huge deal!

Duke Silver: I’m not kidding. If this occurs once more, you’re out of right here. Get it?
Hardscrabble: Yup.

Enjoyable! Actually trying ahead to the inevitable battle that’ll arrange. Over on the theater, Victoria Mars runs into Fancy Gal and asks her the place Miss Ling is. Weirdly, Fancy Gal completely ignores her, carrying a field into Alphonso’s dressing room, which Fancy Gal’s dad has appropriated for himself.

Victoria Mars: What’s up?
Fancy Gal: Properly, I informed you about how nice Alphonso was, and within the paper it says he was a drinker with playing money owed, which is your fault! Right here, look!

Plainly True Crime Journalist wasn’t true to his phrase in spite of everything, and printed the primary a part of the story already. Victoria Mars heads proper over to confront him, calling him an untrustworthy criminal.

Victoria Mars: You broke our settlement! A few of the stuff you revealed will intrude with the investigation, and also you twisted what I stated and made it imply!
True Crime Reporter: I run an old-timey British tabloid, what did you anticipate? Imply sells papers, bud; nobody needs to examine a pleasant useless man.
Victoria Mars: Print a retraction or I’ll finish our settlement.
True Crime Reporter: Isn’t having your dad’s title in your shingle additionally a deceive lure clients? You’re nonetheless making your title, perhaps it’s a nasty thought to make an enemy in the meanwhile. You’re attention-grabbing now, however take into consideration the story that can bump you sooner or later. Individuals solely pay as soon as to see the sideshow.
Victoria Mars: I don’t want your recommendation; you’re a nasty author, and also you run that fishwrapper as a result of you possibly can’t get a job at an actual paper. We’re executed. Toodles!
True Crime Reporter: Okay, nice. Simply know I’ve taken down an important many highly effective males in my day. You’ll be a chunk of cake.

Yikes! Moderately than sit and take into consideration that, Victoria Mars heads proper over to Duke Silver’s workplace to apologize, to fill him in on what she discovered, and to say each sturdy willed individual’s least favourite sentence: you have been proper. Fortuitously for her, Duke Silver is fairly amused by the truth that she known as their mutual enemy a washed up hack, and as a substitute of staying mad, simply asks for any clues Victoria Mars has rounded up.

Victoria Mars: Properly, the opposite magician was fairly fast to take Alphonso’s dressing room; no love misplaced there. And his assistant’s having an affair with the theater proprietor. No proof both manner. I’m pretty certain that since Alphoso’s wand was within the protected throughout the efficiency, that wasn’t Alphonso on that stage.
Duke Silver: Hmm.
Victoria Mars: Which you additionally suspected. Rattling, I knew you have been hiding one thing!
Duke Silver: Pot, kettle, and so forth. Promise me you aren’t working with True Crime Journalist anymore.
Victoria Mars: Promise! He’s in all probability off writing an article to destroy me proper now.
Duke Silver: I did suspect an imposter, however I didn’t know concerning the different wand.

The WHAT? Yeah, there’s one other wand, which Duke Silver discovered on Alphonso’s physique. Much more intriguing? The wand Duke Silver’s been protecting in his desk drawer has a secret compartment inside hiding an image of Alphonso’s dad. Naturally, the detectives’ subsequent step is to look contained in the wand Victoria Mars has been holding, and inside that one, they discover one other {photograph}, taken contained in the magic store. They head straight there.

Duke Silver: Did Alphonso use a reproduction field to vanish?
Magic Store Proprietor: Want I might say, however a magician by no means reveals his tips!! It’s a code!
Victoria Mars: That’s too unhealthy; perverting the reason for justice has a seven 12 months sentence. Proper, Duke Silver?
Duke Silver: Uh, sure?
Magic Store Proprietor: Nice, nice. Sure, I made him a reproduction — it had a false backside with a lock, so he might disguise in there. It’s an actual murals!
Victoria Mars: So he wished to make use of that for his closing efficiency?
Magic Store Proprietor: Needed to exit in a blaze of glory. I get it. Anyway, I did design the field, however I didn’t make it. His assistant did. He was so proud he requested me to take an image of each the containers collectively. He was going to place that inside a duplicate of his wand to provide to her as a memento after the efficiency.
Victoria Mars: So then Miss Ling should have recognized what he was doing!
Magic Store Proprietor: Oh, I’m not speaking about Miss Ling!

On the theater, the opposite magician and his daughter Fancy Gal put together to take the stage, however solely one in every of them will make it on the market: Duke Silver arrives to deliver Fancy Gal in for questioning proper earlier than her dad introduces her. Whereas he does that, Victoria Mars examines the field Fancy Gal confirmed her earlier, and also you guessed it: it initially had Alphoso’s title painted on the surface. Again on the station, they get the total story.

Fancy Gal: I grew up with Alphonso; my dad and him have been at all times a double billing. He didn’t have youngsters, so he taught me. He was sort, not like my dad, who doesn’t suppose a lady needs to be something however an assistant. Alphonso stated someday I could possibly be a magician.
Duke Silver: So he allow you to assist him make that field for his retirement present.
Fancy Gal: That manner not even his assistant would understand how he disappeared! An enduring legacy 🙂 However he was anxious about retirement; he was getting unhappy, and consuming extra. No one else knew. Magic was his life, and understanding that it was coming to an finish was killing him.
Victoria Mars: So what occurred the day he died?
Fancy Gal: The evening earlier than, he was unhappy, and he informed me there was no level to his life anymore. He at all times obtained to the theater precisely an hour earlier than he was due on stage, so when he didn’t that evening… I simply knew he wasn’t coming again. Whenever you discovered his physique it wasn’t a shock.
Duke Silver: You suppose he died by suicide?
Fancy Gal: He talked about it typically when he was drunk. I hoped he didn’t imply it.
Victoria Mars: And that’s why you impersonated him?
Fancy Gal: I wished him to have the ending he deserved! That manner his final act can be performing the trick of his life.
Duke Silver: And nobody else knew?
Fancy Gal: No. Miss Ling was additionally helping the following act, so she didn’t have time to verify over the field totally. I simply hid in there till the stage hand dropped the field off within the storage room.
Victoria Mars: And then you definately swapped the containers again so nobody might determine it out.
Fancy Gal: Yeah. Made it right into a chest for my dad. Alphonso was the one one who believed in me, and now he’s gone.

Later, Duke Silver tells Victoria Mars that the coroner confirmed that the fracture on Alphoso’s head might need occurred postmortem; it does appear to be he died by suicide in spite of everything.

Victoria Mars: So what occurs now? Will she be charged?
Duke Silver: Properly, we might have figured this out quite a bit quicker if she hadn’t pretended to be Alphonso. So she could possibly be charged, however I can’t see who it’d profit. She looks as if a decided younger girl; I do know she’ll get the place she needs to, however I hope it doesn’t take over her life. There’s greater than work on the market. Another person might in all probability be taught that lesson too.
Victoria Mars, utterly oblivious: Don’t be so exhausting on your self, you could have different issues in your life than work!
Duke Silver: I wasn’t speaking about me, buddy.

Hey, bear in mind how Hardscrabble obtained in bother earlier? He’s nonetheless fairly mad about it, and takes the chance to threaten Child Detective, and in addition smack him round a bit. When Child Detective drops recordsdata off for Duke Silver later, it’s instantly fairly apparent that the youthful lad has a huge shiner.

Child Detective: I received’t let you know who did this.
Duke Silver: Okay, however then are you able to inform me how we cease this from taking place once more?

Child Detective doesn’t know, however Duke Silver has a fairly good thought. He takes his work son to the underground boxing ring the place Moses fights, and pays our good friend to show Child Detective the ropes. Duke Silver being much less of a jerk to Moses? Moses hanging out with out his shirt on extra? BOXING LESSONS? It’s like somebody learn my diary!

Alas, we’ll have to attend for subsequent week for an replace on that, as a result of we additionally must wrap up the unfastened finish of Victoria Mars’ tentative truce with Barney the Morgue Bureaucrat, which has been considerably broken by his arrest. The subsequent day, Victoria Mars finds the person hanging out in her kitchen, and makes an attempt to fix fences. He’s, unsurprisingly, nonetheless fairly salty about the entire thing, however I’m certain he’ll come round. Whereas he finishes breakfast, Ivy brings in True Crime Reporter’s newest to allow them to do harm management. Hilariously, there isn’t really any harm: reasonably than unhealthy mouth Victoria Mars, True Crime Reporter has elected to disregard her utterly, utilizing up all of the area within the story to speak about how nice Duke Silver is.

Victoria Mars heads straight over to thank Duke Silver, having accurately deduced that he was the reason for her lack of printed tar and/or feathers.

Duke Silver: No huge deal, I simply informed him he might discuss to my guys once more. I’d have needed to do it anyway, they have been near throwing a riot. Anyway, get out of my chair.
Victoria Mars: Nonetheless, I’m sorry for any bother I precipitated working with him. I didn’t suppose all of it by way of very fastidiously; I simply wished to win. You’re a great good friend. Which is why dinner is on me tonight.
Duke Silver: Oh, we’re going out?
Victoria Mars: Yup! There’s extra to life than work, bud!

Lovable, and an effective way to kick off the season! Will Moses be capable to flip Child Detective into a reliable fighter? Will the tentative peace between all these characters maintain? We’ll simply have to attend for the following episode to seek out out!

If you happen to or a beloved one is contemplating suicide, please name The Nationwide Suicide Prevention Lifeline 1-800-273-8255.