The Last Goodbye

Tony Carpenter boasted that his newest illusion was more dangerous than anything ever before attempted. “Even Houdini would be impressed,” he proclaimed. When he told his friend and mentor John Michaels—America’s Foremost Magician—of his intention to perform the illusion, John summed up his answer in one word: “Don’t.” Tony Carpenter died of asphyxiation trying to escape from an air and water-tight, steel and glass box. When the police asked John Michaels if he would replicate the illusion, they said, “Your expertise will be instrumental in determining what went wrong.” He cautiously agreed. Tragedy struck a second time.