Deadly Magic (20 page)

“
Kyle.”

“
Not anymore. You’re Daniel.”

“
Yes,” he said, practically skipping down the hall.

Straker look
ed back at Grace. “And you were all the way back there?”

She
nodded.

He roll
ed his eyes and blew out a disgusted breath.

She resist
ed the urge to formally apologize. “Had I known Daniel was about to be murdered, I would have made sure to be in a prime viewing location. Unfortunately, I didn’t get the memo . . .”

“
So, would I, Mr. Straker,” Allen said, from his place in their little recreation, “but I would have made sure to be in the elevator with him.”

Straker kept his eye
s on Grace. His lips began to curve up before the gruff mask dropped over his face again. “Were you by yourself?”

“
Kyle was beside me.”

Straker look
ed into Grace’s eyes. “The whole time?”

“
Yes.”

“
Good.” He walked away from the wall and out of Grace’s sight. “All right. Allen and Michael get into the elevator . . . Good. Go ahead, Valerie.”

“
I was here and Daniel was standing directly in front of the elevator.”

“
Like this?” Kyle asked.

“
No,” Valerie moved out of Grace’s line of sight.

Grace sigh
ed. Quietly, she crept down the hall until she could see the elevator. Kyle was now standing directly in front of the doors, with his back to the conference room.

Valerie got back into position.
“The elevator doors opened. Allen stepped out first and tried to talk to Daniel.”

“
I know that,” Allen snapped. “You don’t have to narrate.”

“
He then tripped over his own foot.”

“
I did not.”

“
You did, too.”

“
I—”

“
Enough!” Straker yelled. “Do exactly as Valerie says.”

“
Thank you.” Valerie smiled at Allen. “He tripped and fell into Ethan, who was trying to walk around him.”

“
Then what happened?”

“
Ethan pushed Allen back up. Daniel tried to move past them, but they were both blocking the elevator doors.”

Allen
glared at Valerie, but played along and fell against Michael.

“
Ethan finally got Allen off of him.”

Michael push
ed Allen away.

“
Ethan said hello or hi to me—”

“
Which was it?” Straker asked.

“
I don’t remember.” Valerie waved her hand around. “It was something like that. Ethan tried to walk towards me, but Allen got in his way—”

Allen
interrupted. “I wasn’t in the way. He had plenty of room to move around me.”

“
What were you doing?” Straker asked.

“
I had stopped to speak to Daniel. I wanted to tell him about the new line of dolls I was creating.”

“
Did you?” Straker asked.

“
No, I didn’t get the chance.”

“
Then what did you say?” Straker asked slowly.

“
I said, hello Daniel. How are you today? He said he was fine and asked me how I was doing—”

“
Valerie, keep going,” Straker interrupted.

Valerie began her narration.
“Daniel told Allen that he was busy or he’d talk to him later or something. Daniel was just trying to get into the elevator and leave. However, Allen wouldn’t listen and finally Daniel snapped.”

“
He did not,” Allen retorted. “He said he would discuss my ideas when he had more time to properly devote to me and give my ideas the consideration they deserved.”

Michael spoke up,
“Where was I? I mean Ethan.”

“
Ethan was standing behind both of them,” Valerie said. “He tried to get out of the way and come towards me, but Allen kept blocking him.”

“
Did not,” Allen whined. “She’s got this all wrong.”

Straker look
ed at Valerie. “What else?”

“
After Daniel snapped, Allen slunk off.”

They all turn
ed to Allen who straightened his back. With his head held high, he walked past the elevator, muttering, “I did not slink off.”

“
And?” Straker prompted.

“
Daniel stepped into the elevator and Ethan came to stand in front of me.”

Kyle stepp
ed into the elevator and Michael walked the few feet to stand directly in front of Valerie.

Valerie
smiled. “Not that close and he was over to the side. I could still see the elevator.”

Michael mov
ed out of the way.

“
I waved bye to Daniel as the doors started to close.”

“
How was Daniel standing?” Kyle asked from his position in the elevator.

“
He was facing me, with his right hand on one of the buttons.”

“
And?” Straker asked.

“
That’s it. That’s all I saw.”

Straker look
ed around the hall. He noticed Ellen sitting at her desk, at the far end of the hallway, watching intently. He pointed to her, “Has anyone asked Ellen what she saw?”

Grace nodd
ed. “She was at lunch.”

“
Wonderful,” he muttered disappointed.

“
What made you faint?” Kyle asked Valerie.

Everyone star
ed at her expectantly.

Valerie groan
ed. With her face flushing, she quietly said, “I saw a white mist descend from the ceiling.”

“
Oh, that’s ridiculous,” Allen said behind Grace, causing her to jump. “How come Grace’s boyfriend didn’t see this mist?”

“
He was looking at me, not the elevator,” Valerie said patiently.

“
Hey, maybe it was a type of gas,” Belle shouted from somewhere inside the conference room.

“
But he wasn’t killed by a gas, he was stabbed, Valerie,” Allen said snidely.

Valerie point
ed to the conference room door. “Talk to her about it, I never said it was a gas. I said it was a mist,” she ground out through her teeth. “I’m telling you what I saw.”

“
Did Daniel react at all?” Grace asked.

“
Just as it was coming down. Daniel looked up and then the doors closed.” Valerie looked uncomfortable. “It looked like a hand was reaching for him.”

“
Was it a woman’s hand or a man’s hand?” Grace asked.

Valerie threw up her hands.
“It wasn’t real. There was no actual hand. It was this white, cloudy, misty type of thing that kind of looked like a hand. I could see right through it. I don’t know what it was.”

Belle
opened the door and poked her head out. “Maybe Kyle is right. Maybe we do have a ghost.”

Allen
snorted behind her. “This is ridiculous. I want to narrate.”

“
How can you narrate? You had left the area by the time the doors closed,” Grace said reasonably.

“
And yet I could probably still do a better job.”

Grace glanc
ed back at Valerie. “And Daniel was definitely alive when Allen walked away?”

Allen
nodded his head automatically before the implication of her question finally dawned on him. “Hey, hey, what do you mean by that? Of course he was alive. He was perfectly fine. Once your boyfriend got out of my way, I left the elevator and walked to my office. I had nothing to do with this.”

“
No one is accusing you,” Straker said.

All
but Grace nodded their heads in agreement. Grace looked at Valerie.

“
Yes. He was still alive when those doors closed. Something must have happened on the way down.”

They all broke into little groups discussing possible scenarios. Belle and Valerie were crowding around Straker as he examin
ed the inside of the elevator. Grace watched as Michael took a hold of Belle’s arm and whispered in her ear. She smiled up at him before taking his hand and leading him to the conference room.

Kyle
slid past Straker and took his place next to Grace. Leaning down, he whispered in her ear. “Are you sure this place isn’t haunted? How do we know she didn’t see a ghost?”

“Actually,” she said
, staring at the closed conference room door, “I’m wondering if she didn’t see a nice, fancy illusion.”

Friday, December 16th

CHAPTER
EIGHTEEN

Grace look
ed around
the conference room. There were a few less people than the last meeting. Those that could get jobs in other places did and the one that hadn’t been so lucky were sitting around the table in a sort of dreadful haze. Straker had another announcement to make. No one knew what to make of it, but decided that it couldn’t possibly be good.

She lean
ed over to her right and whispered into Valerie’s ear. “What’s going on?”

“I have no idea. He just told me to get everyone together for an emergency meeting. He seem
ed happy.”

Straker seemed happy.
Normally that meant bad news for someone else. Grace sank back down into her seat.

All eyes turn
ed as Straker walked into the room with his usual swagger. Belle followed him, shyly waving at Grace.

“
I have good news.”

Everyone sat up straighter and look
ed around hopefully.

“
Great news, actually.” He looked at their expectant faces. He reached for Belle’s hand and drew her to his side. “We’re getting married.”

Mouths dropp
ed. Valerie seized Grace’s arm in a death grip. She turned shocked eyes to Grace, before releasing her arm and taking a deep breath. No one spoke. They all just stared in surprise, their mouths slightly agape. Harcourt was the first to recover. Placing both hands on the table, he slowly stood. “This was the big announcement?” he mumbled, walking out the room. Michael was next; he just wordlessly shook his head as he followed his supervisor out the door. Grace noticed that he shut the door a bit more forcefully than necessary.

“
Well?” Straker asked. “Where are your manners? Normally people issue congratulations when a couple gets engaged,” he lectured.

Kyle was the first to speak, quickly offering his congratulations.
Grace threw her's in as well. Best to remain on the boss’ good side. After all, there was still a chance she could work in the toy shop after this was all over.

Louisa took several deep breaths.
“Congratulations? Congratulations? Are you serious? You can’t be serious. This is a joke, right?”

Straker put his arm around Belle’s shoulders.
“I would never joke about such a thing. Belle and I are in love. I’m sure you’ll come to love your new stepmother as much as I do.”

“
Stepmother?” she screeched. “Dear God she’s young enough to be your daughter. She’s younger than me,” Louisa said, angrily pointed at her chest. “This is worse than Lily. At least Lily was an adult.”

Belle
began twisting her hair into a knot. “I’m an adult.”

“
You—”

“
Louisa, be careful what you say,” her father said gruffly. “We can discuss this later.”

“
No. We will discuss this now. She is not going to be my stepmother. I’ve had to put up with these money grubbing whores you bring into our lives for the last fifteen years. Each one worse than the last. I’m not putting up with this.”

“
Lily was not a money grubbing whore as you put it,” Belle snapped, quickly defending her godmother’s reputation. “She was a wonderful caring woman who loved you.”

Louisa laugh
ed harshly. “She didn’t love me. She hated me just as much as I hated her. She introduced Daniel to that tramp just to spite me. If it wasn’t for her, Daniel would be alive and my company wouldn’t be going under.”

“
It’s not your company yet, Louisa,” Straker said softly. “I’m still in charge.”

“
For how long? You’ve managed to run our family’s business into the ground. Of course, you had help. Lily’s help.”

“
That’s not true.”

“
Yes it is. Lily didn’t love you. She was using you. She was cheating on you with that magician. You’re such a fool.” She wiped away the tears that were spilling over onto her cheeks. “Well, like father, like daughter. We’re both fools. Still, I’ve wised up, but you're still making the same mistake.” She looked over at Belle in disgust. “Belle’s cheating on you, too. With that boy toy over there,” she said, pointing at Kyle who slid down into his seat.

“
Are you done?” Straker asked calmly.

Bursting into tears, Louisa fl
ed the room. To Grace’s surprise, Allen jumped up and followed her out of the office.

Straker patt
ed Belle’s arm and smiled. “Well, I think that went well.”

♣ ♦ ♥ ♠

Grace opened the doors to the Magic Shoppe. She passed by the novelty tricks, swords, disembodied heads and various cards to enter the back offices where Michael and Harcourt designed their various devices of trickery.

She knock
ed on the door debating whether she should say ‘open sesame’. Just as she was about to say the magic words. Michael’s voice came from the other side of the door.

Grace swung open the door. Michael was just in the process of throwing a sheet over his work desk.

“Hi, Grace. What can I do for you?”

“
I was just seeing how you were. You seemed rather upset when you left the conference room today.”

Michael blush
ed. He looked everywhere, but at her. “I don’t know what you’re talking about. I’m fine,” he insisted, staring at a spot just to Grace’s left.

“It must have come as quite a shock
to hear that Belle and Straker—”

He abruptly turn
ed back to his desk. “I noticed that you didn’t seem too surprised. Everyone else was shocked, but you weren’t surprised at all. How long had you known?”

“
A while,” she said.

He shook his head sadly. “I had no idea. I thought . . .
I’m really sorry, Grace, but I have a lot of work to do.” He glanced back up at her. “I really am okay,” he said softly.

“Good. Glad to hear it,” she said cheerfully. “I do have another question for you though?”

She watched his back stiffen.

“Do you know how the
crystal chest trick is performed?”

He smil
ed, suddenly more at ease. “Yes. It was Ilya’s design, but Harcourt and I created it here at the shop. Lily helped.”

“I thought he had been performing that trick for years.”

“He had, but he updated it about a year ago. He added some new enhancements.”

“Did he say why?”

Michael tugged on his skull and cross bone earring before shrugging. “To be new. Edgy.”

“Tell me something. Do you think a magician kill
ed Lily?”

He glanc
ed to the double doors leading to Harcourt’s office before simply shrugging. “Maybe. Whoever it was would have to know how the trick was performed. They also had to know she was waiting up there on the scaffolding.”

“What about Daniel?”

“I don’t know.” He shook his head. “The problem here is that I have no idea how he was killed mainly because I wasn’t there at the time. I’m having to go by a second hand account and I don’t think Valerie knows what she saw.” He bit his lip. “Why are you asking me all of these questions?”

“
You’re a magician.”

He turn
ed back to his desk, nervously adjusting the sheet. “So, what does that have to do with anything?”

“I sincerely doubt a ghost stabb
ed Daniel. Since he was murdered, pretty much in plain sight and in an empty elevator, I figured this would be something right up your alley.”

He shrugg
ed. “Not really. Some things just can’t be explained.”

“
Don’t tell me you believe in the ghost, too?”

Michael grinn
ed. “No. I’m just saying that I can’t tell how it was done.”

Grace remained persistent. “I’m surprised. I thought for sure another magician could figure out how an illusion was performed.”

“
Sometimes, yes, but not always. Take Ilya Dragovich for instance. I’ve seen him perform over a dozen times and I still can’t tell you how he makes himself dissolve into a mist and turn into a dozen black crows, or how he saws off his own head. I’ve been within a few feet when he does that and I still don’t have any idea. I’d like to think that some of my illusions would baffle him, too.” He smirked. “Probably not. He never seems too impressed by what I do. What does Belle think of all of this?”

“
I haven’t talked to her about it yet.”

He look
ed thoughtfully at her. “The mist Valerie saw was obviously a smoke screen. While hers and Daniel’s attention was focused upward . . .” He screwed his face up. “I just don’t know. I mean, the whole elevator would have to been set up and I just don’t see how. The police were all over it once they found Daniel’s body. They would have found whatever mechanism that had been used—if one had been used.” His eyes took on a faraway look. “I was thinking that someone may have been hiding on top of the elevator, but . . .”

“What?”

He screwed up his face. “Kyle would have noticed . . .”

“Why do you say that?”

Michael shrugged. “He had been in the elevator shaft that morning.”

“He had?” Grace ask
ed, surprised. “How do you know that?”

Michael start
ed to look uncomfortable. “I overheard Belle and him talking. I wasn’t eavesdropping,” he said quickly, before looking down at the floor. “I shouldn’t have said anything. I don’t want to get him in trouble.”

“He’s not in any trouble,” Grace quickly reassur
ed him. “I’m just curious as to what he was doing up there.”

“He said he was in the attic looking for a squatter.” Michael gave her a shy smile. “I think he thought they may have been hiding in the elevator shaft. I don’t know. You should talk to him about it.”

When Michael refused to elaborate, Grace decided to change the subject. “You were here when Daniel died, weren’t you?”

“
Right here, actually.” He pointed to the desk and the thing sitting under the sheet. “I was sitting right here working on my new project.”

“
And Harcourt?”

He point
ed over his shoulder to a pair of double doors. “He was in his office.”

“
How long were you two in here?”

“
Awhile. We only came out when the fire trucks had arrived.”

The double doors bang
ed open. Harcourt walked out holding a pair of skulls. “What is this? Do you really think—” He stopped when he saw Grace standing there.

“
What are you doing here? Is Belle with you?” He didn’t bother waiting for an answer. He stalked back to his office, muttering, “Ilya Dragovich and his brood are not going to force me out.” He slammed the door hard enough to shake it on its hinges.

Grace winced.
“Is he always this cheerful?”

“
Only on his good days.”

Grace walk
ed to the double doors and knocked. They opened immediately.

“
Tell Straker we have a contract. This is not Dragovich’s Magic Shoppe. This is Harcourt’s Magic Shoppe.”

“
Well, the sign says Straker’s Magic Shoppe,” Grace pointed out, shutting the doors behind her.

“
Hmm. Not for long. I’m going to buy him out.” He smiled gleefully. “He’s so desperate, he’ll take anything.”

“
I don’t think so. This was Lily’s pet project.”

“
So?” Harcourt walked over to a black tufted velvet couch sitting against the wall. “Haven’t you heard? Lily’s been replaced and sentimentality isn’t going to keep his business afloat. Hard cash will. Straker will sell. You mark my words,” he said, picking up his cane and pointing at her. “Mark my words.”

“
Duly noted.”

He lower
ed the cane. “Why are you here? You’ve never knocked on my door before.”

“
I’m working on designing a board game for teenagers. It’s going to incorporate a magician or a wizard. I haven’t quite decided yet and thought you might be able to help.”

He sniff
ed. “You’re asking the wrong person.” He pointed the cane to the doors. “You want to know what the little hoodlums are interested in, go talk to the Grim Reaper out there. I’m sure he can give you some . . . ideas.”

“
Why do you call him the Grim Reaper?”

“
Have you looked at him? Black Hair. Black Eyes. Black clothes. Black fingernails.”

Grace look
ed at the older man in disbelief. He could have just as easily described himself. Her feelings must have been written on her face because he immediately defended his position.

“
My hair and eyes are natural. His aren’t. I also didn’t feel it necessary to get a dragon tattoo on my back or the grim reaper on my chest.” He snarled. “I’m surprised he doesn’t just throw on a shroud and walk around with a sickle. He’s all show. No talent. He thinks if he dresses all dark and foreboding the audience won’t notice how bad he is.”