I stared at Josh.
Bunch was gone—really gone?
Josh, Jenny, Molly, and I hurried outside.
Caswell followed us.
"I don't understand what's wrong," said Molly.
"Wasn't Bunch supposed to disappear?"
"Yes, but Bunch truly disappeared," Josh told her.
"Even my dad doesn't know where he is.
We've got to find him fast."
Jenny was about to cry.
"Poor Bunch! He could be lost!"
"I wonder how he got out of the box," I said.
"I didn't mean to do it!" cried Caswell.
We all stared at him.
"Caswell!" said Molly.
"What did you do?"
"I opened the box when I was under the table," said Caswell, hanging his head.
"I wanted to see how Bunch disappeared."
"So that's how Bunch escaped," I said.
"But where is he now?"
Caswell looked worried.
"I hope Bunch doesn't get stranded in the mountains."
"Too bad he didn't have any rainbow trail pellets, Iggy," said Molly.
"Then we could follow his pellet trail."
I glanced at the ground.
Luckily, most of the pellets that had spilled out earlier were still there.
Then I noticed something.
"Look, guys!" I said.
"Only the red pellets are left."
"What happened to all the other colors?" asked Molly.
"Bunch ate them!" I cried. "Except for all the red ones.
Bunch doesn't like red. Remember?"
"Maybe the trail of red pellets will lead to Bunch!" said Jenny.
"I'll go tell my dad!" said Josh.
"Wait!" I said. "I have an idea.
The audience can help look for Bunch.
Finding Bunch can be part of the magic trick."
"Awesome idea, Iggy," said Josh.
Inside, Mr. Chen was finishing his string trick.
Josh rushed up and whispered to him.
Mr. Chen nodded and then turned back to the crowd.
"We will now return to the vanishing dog trick," he announced.
"For this, I have a special surprise.
Everyone, please follow me outside."
The audience followed Mr. Chen outside.
Mr. Scary trailed along, frowning.
"This is a very unusual trick," he muttered.
"Are you absolutely sure it will work?"
I could see a little doubt in Mr. Chen's eyes too, but he nodded at Mr. Scary.
"Find the trail of red, and it will lead to the dog!" he called to the audience.
"Now let's all say the magic words."
"Abracadabra, click and clack.
Bring that little dog right back!" said the audience.
Everyone followed the trail of red pellets up to the tower.
"I see him! There's the doggie!" cried Brandy.
Sure enough, there was Bunch, sitting near the tower, licking his lips.
"What a great trick!" cried the lady in the blue hat.
"Hmm . . . that was quite a trick," said Mr. Scary.
"How did you do it?" he asked Mr. Chen.
Mr. Chen smiled. "A magician never reveals his secrets."
After that everyone trooped back down to the Lake Lounge for lemonade and cookies.
"Iggy's special pellet invention saved the day," said Josh.
"It certainly did," said Mr. Chen.
"That was a very fine invention, Iggy."
"But, Caswell," said Molly, "don't ever interfere with Mr. Chen's magic show again."
"I won't," promised Caswell, grabbing another cookie.
"I wonder why Mr. Scary keeps staring at my dad?" said Josh in a low voice.
"He looks like he has something up his sleeve," I said.
"Does he have a gold coin up his sleeve?" asked Caswell.
"Is he going to do a magic trick?"
"No, Caswell," Molly said.
"Iggy just means that Mr. Scary is plotting something."
"Maybe it's something good," said Josh.
I didn't say anything.
But I was watching Mr. Scary closely.
And I didn't think he was plotting anything good.