Deadly Magic (22 page)

“
Try the closet near the elevator,” Kyle said. “You can usually get good reception in there.”

Belle open
ed the door. “No, thank you. You’ve scared me to death with all of your ghost talk. The last thing I want to do is sit in a dark closet trying to check my voice mail. Besides, you have to stand on that box and point the phone toward the corner. I mean, honestly, between that and the elevator of death, it’s getting scary working here.” Belle closed the door after her.

Kyle rubb
ed his hands together. “Well, what’s next on the agenda, Marshal Grant?”

“
I’m Marshal Grant?”

He nodd
ed.

Grace lift
ed up his drawing of the lantern faced Marshal Grant. “I don’t think that’s quite a compliment.”

Kyle laugh
ed and took back his drawing. “No, that’s not you.” He shuffled some papers around. Pulling out another drawing, he proudly handed it to her. “This is you.”

Grace look
ed at the drawing of a beautiful red haired detective in a trench coat and hat. She had to admit Kyle had a lot of talent. “I think it’s great. Now, this belongs on the cover.” They laid the two drawings side by side. For the next few minutes, they argued over the various merits of each, before finally deciding to go with Penelope. “It doesn’t matter. This game is never going to see the light of day. I don’t know why Straker just doesn’t shut us down.”

Kyle laid the drawings on the table.
“Belle is certain that he’ll be able to get financing. Straker must know something we don’t. Last I heard we’re having another design meeting and he wants an outline of your new designs by tomorrow.”

“
How’s Belle coming on her design?”

He shrugg
ed. “I don’t know. I don’t think she’s been working on it much. That reminds me. I want to show you something.” He stepped out of the office.

Grace walked over to the wall next to Belle’s bookcase. Like her father’s dressing room, Belle had covered the wall with pictures, most of her and her father performing. She smiled at one of a young tuxedoed Belle on stage holding a small white rabbit and standing next to her obviously proud papa.

Kyle returned less than a minute later, holding a baseball cap and a handkerchief in one hand and a lighter in another. “I’ve been doing some research on magic—”

“
Why do you have a lighter?” she asked worriedly.

“
It’s part of the trick or illusion—”

“
Could you do it without the lighter?”

“
Well, yes, but it’s not nearly as much fun.”

Grace made a grab for the
lighter just as Valerie knocked on the door and let herself in. “Hey, I need to talk to Belle. Have you two seen her?”

“
Yeah, she ran downstairs,” Grace said. “She’ll be back soon. What’s up?”

“
I wasn’t able to get a reservation at the restaurant she wanted to go to—”

Belle came back in.
“That’s okay. We can have the party at Franklin’s place.” She flashed her phone at Grace. “I got a call. I’m meeting her at five o’clock at that Italian restaurant.”

“
Tabitha?” Kyle asked.

Unbuttoning her coat,
Belle nodded. Turning to Valerie, she told her that they would plan the dinner at Straker’s place. “I'll let Franklin know. Is he still in his office?”

Valerie shook her
head. “He’s having lunch at the deli across the street.”

Groaning,
Belle began buttoning her coat. “I wish he had told me. We could have had lunch together.”

“
He couldn’t find you. He said if I ran into you, to let you know.”

“I hope he hasn’t finished, yet,” she said, walking out the door again.

“
Lunch sounds good,” Kyle said. “I’m starving.”

“
Why don’t you go to the deli, too,” Grace said. “You can bring me back something when you’re done.”

“
The usual?” he asked, already reaching for the door.

She nodd
ed.

He took Valerie’s order before closing the door.

“Ethan called again,” Valerie said. “He couldn’t reach you through your assistant.”

“
He has my extension.”

“
He says he called and someone hung up on him. You need to have a talk with Kyle.”

“
That doesn’t mean it was Kyle. Belle hangs around in my office all the time. I have the feeling that she doesn’t particularly care for Ethan, either. She’s
accidently
erased some of my phone messages at home.”

“
Ah,” Valerie raised her eyebrows, but didn’t say anything else. “Anyway, Ethan wants to meet you for lunch in a few minutes. He said he‘d come by and pick you up. He has some news.”

“
Did he say what?”

“
No, but I got the impression it was about our little mystery here.”

“
Our little mystery? I hope he has good news because I’m stumped.”

Valerie sigh
ed. “Well, you know who my first suspect is.”

“
Still Belle?”

“
Mm hmm. I told you she wanted Straker and you just laughed.”

“
I just don’t get it. Why would a pretty, successful twenty-five year old woman want the spawn of—”

“
Straker has a lot to offer.”

“
Money?”

“
Well, no. Not anymore.”

“
Lively conversation?”

“
No.”

“
His love and devotion?”

“
Probably not.”

“
Sex?”

“
No, that I think she’s getting elsewhere.”

“
Michael?”

“
Michael?” Valerie asked in surprise. “No, not him.”

“
Who?”

“
You haven’t guessed already?”

Grace shook her head.

“Love has blossomed under your very eyes and you’ve missed it.”

Grace thought back to Belle’s interactions with the male employees. She hadn’t notic
ed any sort of feeling between Belle and anyone. Well, maybe Michael.

“
Well, maybe not love. Lust would be a far more accurate description.”

Valerie smil
ed at Grace’s confusion. “Kyle.”

“
Kyle?” Grace asked a little more loudly than she intended. “They just met last week. Oh, you’re way off.”

“
You should have seen them yesterday in the break room. The looks they were exchanging when they thought no one was watching them.”

“
She just announced her engagement. Surely, they’re not that stupid. I mean right under Straker’s nose?”

“
I’m telling you. It’s Lily all over again. I showed you those checks to Dragovich. She wasn’t even trying to hide her affair.”

“
But how would she have killed Lily? She was standing right next to me when Lily fell. Straker received that text message no more than a minute before Lily died. I didn’t see Belle texting anyone.” Grace shook her head. “That’s the problem with Lily’s death—the timing is all wrong. Someone we know had to have been up there with Lily. They grabbed her phone. Texted that suicide message to Straker—while she sat there, not complaining—Then strangled her—again without any sort of struggle from Lily—in full view of Dragovich—pushed her off the scaffolding at the precise moment that she was supposed to come down—again with Dragovich down there watching. Drop the phone. And they did this at the same time they were sitting in the audience watching the show. Or, in Belle and Tabitha’s case, when we were all backstage.”

“
Yeah, but—”

“
You didn’t see her face when we stepped out on that stage and saw Lily hanging there. She was as shocked as I was. I just can’t believe she had anything to do with Lily’s death.”

“
She’s a performer. I’m sure she’s a good little actress when she needs to be.” Before Grace could protest, she held up a hand and said, “She must have had help. What about Kyle?”

“
What about him? He didn’t even know Lily.”

“
Are you sure? He and Belle seem rather close and like you said, they only met last week.”

“
But why would anyone help Belle kill Lily if her ultimate goal was to marry Straker? What would be in it for her accomplice?”

Valerie shrugged before looking down at the drawings on Grace’s desk. “These are good.”

“
Yeah. I especially like this one.” Grace handed the picture of the red-haired Marshal Penelope Grant to Valerie.

“
Nice. You know who this looks like—”

Someone scream
ed.

Valerie clos
ed her mouth. They both looked to the door and back at each other. Unsure of what they heard.

Then there was another scream.

Grace threw open the door and ran out into the hall. People were milling around, trying to determine where the screaming came from.

Another scream echo
ed through the hallway.

“
It sounds like it’s coming from downstairs,” Valerie said.

Grace dash
ed down the hall, next to Straker’s office and threw open the door to the stairwell. She looked over the railing.

Michael was down on the next level, bending over Belle’s body.

CHAPTER
TWENTY

Grace and Valerie
rushed down the stairs. Grace pushed Michael away from Belle’s body and reached for her wrist.

She breath
ed a sigh of relief when the other woman moaned softly and reached for the blue velvet hood covering her face.

Carefully
, Grace lifted up the edge of the hood and pulled it up enough to allow Belle to breathe freely.

“
What happened to her?” Michael asked coolly.

Grace look
ed up. Michael was standing against the wall. His hands were behind his back and he was looking down at them dispassionately.

Valerie, who was kneeling on the other side of Belle’s body, looked up at him angrily.
“Instead of standing there, why don’t you do something useful and call for an ambulance.”

“
Why? She’s dead. They can’t help her.”

Grace and Valerie exchang
ed worried glances. Belle was struggling to sit up, but they kept a firm grip on her shoulders. Valerie leaned over and whispered for her to be still.

“
Michael,” Grace said slowly, “she’s not dead. She’s still moving. Go call for an ambulance.”

He shook his head, as he slowly slid down the wall.
He wrapped his arms around his knees. “No. There’s no point, she’s gone now.”

Grace look
ed up. Louisa, Allen, Harcourt and Ellen stood on the upper landing, watching. Ellen, explaining that she would call, quickly turned around and rushed out into the hallway. Louisa merely shrugged and followed the older woman out of the hall.

Softly speaking in Russian,
Belle reached out a hand and gripped Michael’s ankle.

He look
ed down at her hand. Finally realizing that she was still alive, he curled up into a ball next to her and softly stroked her hair.

♣ ♦ ♥ ♠

“Belle, would you stop fidgeting?” Grace asked exasperated.

“
I’m tired of lying here. I want to go home.”

Grace
thumbed through the magazine lying on her lap. “You can’t go until they release you.”

“
Has anyone gotten a hold of my father, yet?”

“
Not yet, but don’t worry, Valerie said she’ll keep trying until she reaches him.”

Belle threw up her hands before folding
her arms across her chest. “This is ridiculous. I’m fine.”

“
Yes, I know. It’s a veritable miracle.” Grace looked up from the magazine to the woman lying in the hospital bed. Other than the setting, she looked the picture of perfect health. Bright eyes, rosy cheeks and not one broken bone or sprain. “You’re very lucky.”

Belle nodd
ed solemnly. “As soon as I get out, I’m going straight to the nearest church. I thought I was a goner.”

“
What happened?”

Belle shrugg
ed and then winced. “I don’t know. I couldn’t find Franklin at the deli, so I came back to the office and I was grabbed as I was climbing the stairs.”

“
Did you see who it was?”

“
No. I heard someone come behind me, but I thought it was Kyle.”

“
Why?”

“
I had just seen him at the deli. He was gathering up everyone’s lunch when I left. I just assumed it was him coming up the stairs behind me.”

“
Are you sure it wasn’t?”

“
Positive.” Belle shook her head quickly, only to wince. She reached a hand behind her neck and groaned. “Kyle wouldn’t hurt me. I just assumed it was him. Anyway, all of a sudden, that hood was thrown over my head and someone tried to push me down the stairs. I reached out and grabbed hold of the bannister. When whoever it was couldn’t push me down, they tried choking me. I pushed them off me and I think I fell down the stairs. I don’t think I fell far. I was already pretty close to the third floor landing anyway. I must have blacked out a few seconds. The next thing I remember, is hearing you talking to me.” Belle looked around as the emergency staff milled around them. “I hate hospitals.”

Grace dropp
ed the magazine on the table next to her chair and picked up another one. “It shouldn’t be much longer.”

“
Where’s Michael?”

“
He’s out in the waiting room with Valerie.”

Belle chew
ed her lower lip. “Can you go check on him?”

Grace smil
ed. “You’re the one who was hurt. Besides, I think the police will be checking on him.”

“
Did you see him attack me?

“
No.”

“
Then you don’t know for certain that he was the one who tried to kill me.”

“
He was kneeling over you.”

“
I know, but he . . . please, just make sure he’s okay.”

Nodding, Grace laid the magazine down and walked out of the emergency room and back toward the waiting room. Before she could open the door to the waiting room, she could hear shouts and the sound of things crashing about.

She warily opened the door. The room was a mess. Chairs were scattered across the floor. In the center of the room was Michael who was lying on his back, holding a hand to his jaw. Medical personnel were standing over him, shining a light into his eyes.

On the other side of the room was Ilya Dragovich,
his arms pinned to his sides by several large men. His fists were clenched and he was breathing hard, but he didn’t seem to be struggling. Cautiously a couple of the men stepped away from him. Once they did, she caught a glimpse of Ethan who had his arms wrapped around the magician’s waist.

She look
ed around the rest of the room. Everyone was breathing hard and stood restlessly around the edges of the room. The only one who didn’t look tense was Straker who was sitting against the wall, his feet propped up on an overturned chair. He looked back from the magician to Michael on the floor, a small grin on his face. The only thing missing was a drink and a bucket of popcorn. The grin quickly fell from his face when he realized the show was over. Glancing at his watch, his perpetual scowl returned.

Ilya look
ed behind him and snarled something causing Ethan to loosen his hold.

The men surrounding Dragovich took a few more steps away from him. Their bodies still
clenched and ready to rush him if he made a move towards the young man on the floor.

Ilya took a step toward the emergency room doors. He didn’t get far. A few police officers suddenly appear
ed and led him from the room.

Once both he and Michael had been remov
ed, Grace walked toward Ethan, who quickly enveloped her into a bear hug.

Looking over Ethan’s
shoulders, she saw Straker sneak through the emergency room doors. Pulling back she asked, “How did you know I was here?”

“
I saw the ambulances out in front of your building and rushed out. Ellen, from your office, told me what had happened.”

Valerie stood next to him.
“Good thing you came, too.” She pointed to the center of the room. “We almost had another murder.”

“
What did you tell Dragovich?” Grace asked.

Valerie shook her head.
“Nothing. I never spoke to him. He just suddenly appeared out of nowhere. The moment he saw Michael, he attacked.”

Grace sigh
ed. Things were getting more complicated by the moment. When she thought she had one thing figured out, the killer suddenly threw a wrench in her carefully ordered mind. She glanced at her watch. Five-thirty. “Valerie, can you stay with Belle. I’m going by that Italian restaurant. Maybe Tabitha is still there.”

Valerie shook her head.
“Don’t bother. She’s not. I called the restaurant and asked the bartender if there was anyone there that fit her description. He was supposed to call if she showed up.” She held up her phone. “So far, nothing.”

Ethan looked at them curiously. “What about Tabitha?”

Grace fill
ed him in on the message Belle received before she was attacked. “She may be late. I’m going to run by there anyway.”

“
I wouldn’t count on it,” Ethan said.

Grace and Valerie look
ed at him in surprise.

“
That’s what I wanted to tell you tonight. Tabitha’s dead. Has been for several days.”

“
How do you know that?” Valerie asked.

“
One of my friends at the police station told me that a body of an unidentified woman washed up on the shore. They couldn’t make an identification, but from the description, it sounded a lot like Tabitha. At least that’s what my friend in the police station thinks.”

Valerie shook her head.
“But didn’t Belle say that Tabitha left her a voice message wanting to meet tonight?”

“
Yeah, but she could have been lying.” Ethan picked up a chair off the floor. He slowly sat down. “We’re obviously looking for a magician. It had to be Ilya, Belle, Tabitha, Michael, or Harcourt.”

“
Or a combination of them.” Valerie sat down next to him. “But who knew she was going to be up there. I mean, I knew she was going to show up at some point, but I had no idea when or how. If we just restrict our list of suspects to the ones who knew—”

Grace shook her head.
“It seems everyone knew she was there, but me. Allen admitted he knew she had been staying at Dragovich’s for a week before her performance. He didn’t say how he knew. Harcourt and Louisa knew. Michael overheard them talking, which means Michael knew beforehand too. Harcourt swears he didn’t know when or in what act she would reappear in.”

Valerie blew out a breath.
“I knew it.”

“
What?”

“Louisa,”
Valerie grimaced. “She kept hinting around that she knew. Asking about when ‘step-mummy’ was going to come back home. Saying it wouldn’t be much longer. Then the night of the magic show, she sat there drinking up a storm. I asked her if she was going to go in there and watch the show and she said something about how she had no desire to see the big reveal. I knew she knew. I didn’t know how, but I knew she did.”

Ethan
agreed. “Yeah and if she knew then she probably told her husband who—”

“
Or her husband told her,” Grace pointed out. “He could have found out from Tabitha.”

“
My point is that other people knew,” Allen said in a rush. “If Harcourt or Michael found out she was going to appear, I’m sure they could have figured which trick she would appear in.”

“
True,” she admitted. “They designed the box and knew how the trick was set up. They could have figured it out and been waiting for her.”

“
But,” Valerie said, raising her finger, “you all are forgetting that Harcourt and Michael were sitting in the audience when Lily jumped or was pushed or whatever.”

Ethan shook his head.
“They’re magicians. They could have set it up somehow.”

“How?” Grace asked.

Ethan smiled and shrugged. “I have no idea.”

Valerie shook her head.
“So, we’re back to five suspects. If we’re just looking at the magicians.”

“
Six,” Grace corrected her. She smiled at their obvious confusion. Before they could start listing the suspects and counting on their fingers, she said, “There’s also Aleksis Dragovich.”

“
Who?” they asked in unison.

“
Belle’s brother. I think he may be in New York, somewhere.”

“
What makes you think that?” Ethan asked.

“
Just something Harcourt said. Belle, too.”

Valerie sigh
ed. “Then he could be helping her. They could have set up this little performance this afternoon to draw suspicion away from her.”

Ethan’s smiled broadened. “That’s it. That explains it,” he said happily. “Her brother must have been the one who actually committed the murder.”

“His father would have seen him,” Grace said.

“So? Maybe they were in on it together. All three of them. They all conspired to kill Lily.”

Grace paced in front of them “What’s their motive? That’s what I don’t get. Why would they kill Lily? And Daniel? The one person with the really good motive for doing them both in is Louisa, but I doubt she would have known how to set up these illusions.”

“
Which brings us back to the killer being a magician or someone affiliated with them.” Ethan shook his head. “We know Dragovich and Lily were having an affair. What if something went wrong? They fought and Dragovich decided to kill her. He sets it up so she does this grand entrance—”

“On his own stage and in front of over hundred people?” Grace asked. “Not exactly a shrewd marketing plan.”