The magician needs to make himself disappear to outwit the hitmen!

This slapstick novella sets the stage for the larger mystery of Mad Bill's Island, and the dark secret that lies at its heart.

The story starts in Hobart in 1974 with the opening of Australia's first legal casino.

William Clarin is banking on a career in politics to prop up his sagging legal practice.

But when he disappoints some gangsters who mistakingly think he's called The Magician because he can make charges go away, he has a choice to make. Fight or flight?

If he legs it, he'll be turning his back on the generous public purse.

William finds himself out-gunned, out-muscled and out-ranked on the high seas. He really has to pull something special out of his hat this time.