APEX by Paul Gordon & Merlins Magic - Trick

A deck of cards is shuffled and two 'random' cards are placed face up in full view on the table. The cards are mixed again and a face down 'mystery' card is placed on the table also. Two spectators randomly place the face up 'random' cards into the deck (they select exactly where the cards should be placed). The deck is then spread face down and separated at the two face up 'random' cards, creating three face down packets.

The cards right next to the 'random' cards are shown. Amazingly, the spectator has found the matching mate cards! First surprise!

The magician now turns the face down 'mystery' card to reveal an Ace. The top card of the middle packet and the two outer packets are flipped over to reveal the other three Aces!! Second surprise!!

Finally, you come clean and explain that this amazing effect was made possible by using a marked deck.

But, you say that the cards are not marked on the back but on the faces. With this statement, you spread all the remaining cards face up to show that all the cards are the Three of Clubs!!! Third surprise!!!