Deadly Magic (9 page)

Allen
laughed. “Whatever you say.”

Just as Grace start
ed to walk away, Allen reached out to stop her. “Hey, I want to ask you some questions.”

Grace smil
ed. “Why? Having trouble with your designs?”

“
No,” he sneered. “Of course not . . . I just wanted to know why you disappeared between the first and second intermissions during the magic show.”

♣ ♦ ♥ ♠

Ethan speared a pear with his fork. “That’s a rather strange question. What did you tell him?”

“
I told him that I was running late and had to go,” pushing the plate of fruit around on her plate with her fork.

“
Good. I wouldn’t talk to him about it.”

“
It’s no secret. I’ve told most of the office I was running around backstage.”

“
Still, if you’re right and Lily was killed, it’s best not to say too much. Do you think this Allen person, may be involved in her death?”

She scoff
ed. “Allen? No way.”

“
Why?”

“
I’ve worked with him for over five years now. Trust me, I’ve seen his designs, he couldn’t design a ball, much less pull off a murder committed in front of over a hundred people. Besides, he was sitting in the audience when she fell.”

“
I do some criminal defense work. Never underestimate the determination of a cold-blooded killer. If he wanted her dead, he would have found a way to make it happen.”

Grace had to admit he was right.
“Of course, that’s if she was killed.” She smiled. “I really don’t know for certain. The whole thing just seems odd. Lily didn’t seem depressed.”

He shrugg
ed. “Some people hide it well.”

“
Yeah, but strange things have been happening at work.” She shook her head and smiled. Here she was with a good looking, healthy, unattached man with a good job and all she can talk about is a murder that may or may not have happened. “I’m sorry, it’s probably nothing.”

He look
ed up curiously from his fruit salad. “What strange things?”

Grace
waved her hand around. “It’s nothing.” She looked around at the new facility with its floor to ceiling windows, expensive stair climbers, treadmills, and other torture equipment. Leaning over the railing, she looked through the glass to the floor below and its Olympic-sized swimming pool.

“
Oh, I miss swimming.”

He look
ed up from his fruit salad.

“
Why don’t you join? It has everything. A heated pool; the latest equipment; outdoor and indoor track; breakfast, lunch and dinner. I practically live here. I hate my apartment.”

“
What’s wrong with your apartment?”

“
Too small; too old. The only good thing is that it’s so close to here.” He leaned forward excitedly. “You know if you got a membership, we could meet every day before work and commute together.”

She shook her head.
“Too far away, besides it’s a little too much out of my price range.”

“
I can bring a guest.” He smiled. “How about Saturday? We’ll make the day of it.”

She lean
ed forward, thinking of all the possibilities the weekend may hold. She readily agreed.

“
Excellent.” He pushed his plate away and smiled affectionately at her. “Now, what strange things have been happening at work?”

She sigh
ed. “I didn’t get a chance to tell you last night; Belle Dragovich has come to work for us.”

His mouth fell open.
“The magician’s daughter?”

“
She’s Lily’s goddaughter.”

“
And she suddenly decided she wanted to become a toy designer?”

“
Yeah. It does seem a bit strange to me too. That’s not all. Straker has cut down our work force to almost nothing. I have a feeling it has something to do with Lily’s death.”

“
Do you think your boss had something to do with her death?”

She shook her head.
“You heard Louisa last night. This is the man’s fifth marriage, why would he kill this one? If he had wanted her gone, he would’ve just divorced her like the others.”

Smiling, he lean
ed in conspiratorially. “You want to hear my theory?”

She quickly nodd
ed.

“
It’s got to be Ilya Dragovich.”

“
Why?”

“
He had means, motive, and opportunity.” He lightly rapped his knuckles on the table. “You know, I think if we put our heads together we could figure out who killed your boss’ wife.”

S
he looked back out at the pool. “
If
she was murdered. There’s a very good chance that I’m wrong. An excellent chance actually. I mean her death was ruled a suicide. They must have some proof to make them believe that. I heard she left a letter.”

“
Something must have made you suspicious. Maybe you saw something and didn’t realize what you saw.”

She shook her head.

“Did you see anything strange when you were backstage?”

“
Well, Louisa’s husband was running around backstage.”

“
He was?”

“
Apparently, with one of the magician’s assistants.”

“
That’s interesting.” He leaned forward. “Anything else?”

“
Belle Dragovich seemed annoyed with Lily. I don’t know. Being annoying is not enough to kill someone. If it was most of the people in rush hour would be murdered on a daily basis.”

He smil
ed. “True. What about that magician? She used to work with him, correct?”

“
That’s what I heard. Things seemed kind of intense between them.”

“
How so?”

She shrugg
ed. “I wasn’t there long enough to really get a good idea, but I heard her tell him that they needed to talk.”

“
That sounds serious. Do you think they may have been having an affair?”

Grace debat
ed telling him about finding the underwear and Lily’s pendant in his dressing room after Lily claimed she had never been in the room before, but decided against it. In her opinion, Lily did seem genuinely confused about the whole thing. She glanced at the clock on the wall and quietly swore. She was late. Apologizing, she slid out of her seat and dashed to the door.

♣ ♦ ♥ ♠

“What did you do?” Valerie asked, as Grace walked past her door.

Grace turn
ed back around and stepped into Val’s office. “Nothing. Why?”

Straker has been yelling for you for over the last hour. He wants to see you right now.”

A sick feelin
g of dread came over her. “Why?”

“
I don’t know, but you better get in there. Don’t forget your holy water and crucifix. It’s going to be that kind of day. Oh, and cancel any plans you have for the weekend?”

“
Why?”

“
I don’t know, but I overheard him tell Belle that you would be happy to help her Saturday. Oh, and before I forget, your new assistant blew the breaker to your office and almost burnt down the building. It looks like Santa exploded over there. An electrician should be here soon. Good luck,” Valerie said, opening Straker’s door for her and pushing her forward.

CHAPTER EIGHT

“
So, I heard
you tell Valerie that you think my wife was murdered.”

Grace froze. Stammering, she apologiz
ed profusely. “I shouldn’t have said anything. I understand she left a letter. I don’t know why—”

“
Well, you’re right. She was murdered. She didn’t commit suicide.”

“
But there was a letter?”

Straker pull
ed out a piece of paper from his desk and handed it to her. “I received this by text, right before she . . .” He looked to the side, blinking rapidly.

Averting her eyes, Grace focus
ed on the piece of paper in front of her.

I hate you. I despise everything about you. You’ve humiliat
ed me once too often. Well, no more. You’ve charmed everyone around you.

Grace look
ed up at the man scowling at her. She quickly looked down and continued reading.

But, tonight, everyone will see the pain your cruelty can cause. Happy Birthday, darling! Hopefully, you’ll be joining me soon.

“When did you receive this?” Grace asked.

“
A few seconds before she fell. I know my wife. She would never have killed herself. If she hated me, she would have gone after
me
. She wouldn’t have hurt herself. Never. Someone murdered her.”

“
But the police are convinced it was a suicide?”

“
They found her phone up on the scaffolding after she died.”

“
How well do you know the other magician’s assistant? Tabitha Something or other.”

“
I’ve heard Lily talk about her. Why do you ask?”

Grace shrugg
ed. “When I was backstage Lily complained of losing her phone. Belle thought Tabitha might have picked it up.”

Straker shook his head.
“Belle already mentioned that to me. Tabitha said she handed it back to my wife right before she went up to the scaffolding.”

“
Did Belle see her hand it back?”

“
No, but I don’t think she killed Lily. She may have assisted in some way—perhaps, unknowingly—but I don’t think she killed her.”

“
Why?”

“I think it’s someone from this office. Last May my wife fell down an escalator. She said someone bumped into her. She wasn’t hurt, so she picked herself up and came home. Didn’t think much about it when she told me. A few weeks after that someone pushed her in front of a truck. Luckily, I was able to pull her back.”

“
Did you see who pushed her?”

“
No. There were a lot of people standing around, but no one saw anything. I wrote it off as a freak accident. A couple of days after that, Lily became violently ill after having lunch with me. I figured it was just a mild case of food poisoning, but then she started getting sick whenever she ate with me. Then there was an incident with the horse.”

“The horse?”

“A good friend of hers owns a stable. Lily always enjoyed riding. She said it calmed her. The last time she went riding, her favorite horse threw her. There was a tack underneath his saddle.”

“
And she had no idea who—”

“
Oh yes! She had an idea,” he said angrily. “Me. She blamed me. She thought I was trying to kill her, so I could run off with my mistress.”

Grace wasn’t sure how to respond. She was simply surpris
ed that he could not only find five women to marry him but a mistress, as well.

“
I told her she was crazy. I didn’t have a mistress, but she was convinced I was cheating on her. I told her that even if I were cheating, I certainly wouldn’t need to kill her. I have a team of lawyers at my beck and call.”

“
Ah. And somehow that didn’t reassure her?”

“
This wasn’t my first time at the rodeo, to use language you're familiar with.”

“
Thank you. That helps.”

“
We had a prenup. If I wanted her gone, I would simply have divorced her.”

“
Did you tell her that?”

“
Of course! She didn’t believe me. She ran off to Europe. To think, she said. That’s when the letters started coming in.”

“
What letters?”

Straker reach
ed into his desk drawer and pulled out a folder. Dumping the contents on the desk, he pushed them toward her. There were five letters in all. Two on stationary and three email printouts. Grace picked the letters up and began reading.

“
I’ll save you some time. They all say the same thing. My wife was cheating on me with Ilya Dragovich. According to my ‘concerned friend’, she and Ilya have been having an affair for decades.”

Grace threw the letters back on the desk.
“Do you think she was?”

He shrugg
ed. “It wouldn’t necessarily come as a shock, but I wasn’t going to do anything without speaking to her first. I ended up flying over there. Do you know how much a flight from New York to Germany costs this time of year?”

Grace shook her head.

“Anyway, I confronted her and she denied it. I didn’t really expect her to admit to the affair. That’s when she accused me of sleeping with you.”

“
What? Me? What? How is that even possible . . .” she sputtered outraged.

“
Yes, I thought it was ridiculous, too. That’s when she brought out her own letters. Also from a ‘concerned friend’.” He reached into the drawer again, pulled out another letter, and handed it to Grace.

The letter was similar in tone as to the other five. Direct and to the point. Grace felt her face flush at the mention of her name.

“That’s when we realized that someone was trying to tear us apart.”

“
When did this happen?”

“
Three months ago.”

“
Do you know who was sending these letters? Any idea?”

“
She thought it may have been Dragovich. She admitted to me that he was in love with her, but I don’t think he would do something like this. It’s just not his style.”

“
Why didn’t she come home with you three months ago?”

“
She was afraid that whoever was sending these letters was going to try to kill her again. I told her she was being ridiculous.” To Grace’s surprise, he looked ashamed.

“
Go to the police. Show them these letters.”

“
And hand them a motive for my killing her? They’ll say I killed her in a jealous rage or so that I could run off with my ‘mistress.’ Do you know how long they questioned me? The only thing that saved me was the fact that I didn’t even know she was going to be on stage that night and this note.” He pointed to the suicide note. “Right now they’re confident that she committed suicide. I show them these letters and they may start to suspect me.”

“
But what about those accidents with the horse and on the escalator? Surely, the police thought—”

Straker shook his head.
“She didn’t report them when they happened. I tried to tell them, but they just said that sometimes accidents happen.”

“
And you have no idea who wanted to hurt her?”

“
No, but I believe that it’s someone from this office.”

“
Why? None of the attempts on her life happened here. The first one was on the escalator, the second on the street, another at a horse farm. Surely, if it was someone at the office, she would have recognized them—”

“
Not necessarily. There were always a lot of people around, but that day she got sick . . . It was during Daniel’s birthday party in June. The only people here were office staff.”

“
Did she go to the hospital that night?”

“
No.”

“
Then you’re assuming that she was poisoned. You don’t know for certain.”

“
No one else got sick.”

“
Flu?”

“
That wasn’t the only time she got sick and it was always when she had something to eat here.”

“
You still need to speak to the police.”

He shook his head.
“I’m not handing them a noose.”

“
Did it occur to you that you may have been threatened? ‘Hopefully, you’ll be joining me soon,’” she repeated, “That sounds like a threat to me.”

He scoff
ed. “Who would want to kill me? Everyone loves me.”

Grace resist
ed pointing out the multiple death threats from disgruntled employees shouted at him as they packed up their desk and left the building. “Still, even the most lovable people can pick up an enemy or two—or twenty.”

“
I’m not afraid. Besides, no one’s tried to kill me. They’ve been after her, not me.”

“
So, why are you telling me all of this?”

“
I want you to figure out who killed her.”

Grace’s mouth dropp
ed open. “You’ve got to be kidding?”

“
No, I’m not kidding. Go out there. Ask questions. I want a daily report of your activities. I want to know who you talked to and what they said.”

“
Why me?”

“
You’ve got some experience with this sort of thing.”

The confusion must have register
ed on her face, because he quickly added, “Didn’t they teach you how to investigate crimes in your criminal justice classes?”

“
It was one class and no they did not.”

Straker look
ed at her in disgust. “I’m not asking for a lot. I’m just asking you to talk to your coworkers. It’s not like that isn’t something out of the ordinary for you. You’re always gabbing with everyone in the office when you ought to be working. Now you can add in a few extra questions.”

“
Such as?”

“
How did you feel about Lily would be a good start.”

“
And then you want me to report back?”

“
That’s what I’m paying you for.”

“
You’re paying me to create toys for your business. My job description doesn’t say anything about playing detective or spying on my coworkers.”

“
Really? Well, I’ll make sure to add it in for the next person.”

“
But, I’m flexible,” she quickly added. “I’ll nose around for you, but I don’t know what you expect me to find. Why don’t you hire an actual detective? There must be thousands in this city.”

Straker opened his desk drawer. Pulling out a handful of folders, he slammed them on the desk in front of her.
“Here are ten of those so called detectives’ reports.”

Grace pick
ed up the first one and began leafing through the file. She stopped when she came to her name. “What is this? I don’t remember speaking to a detective.”

“
Remember that new intern that we hired three weeks ago and then fired a week later. He was one of them.”

Well
, that explained the larger than normal turnover in staff they had been experiencing lately. That and the very large men that had been wandering in and out of the office delivering mail. “And?”

“
Ten completely different reports, which say absolutely nothing. They don’t have any idea. They don’t know who sent the letters. They don’t know who tried to kill her six months ago. And they don’t know who killed her last month.”

“
They have no suspects?”

“Oh, they have suspects.
All different.”

“
Was one of them Ilya Dragovich?”

“
Yeah.”

Grace point
ed to the letters. “How do you know that those letters aren’t legitimate?”

“
That’s what the others asked. I don’t know for certain. I believed Lily when she said that she and Dragovich haven’t been together in years. Maybe I’m a fool, but I’m not so foolish to believe he would kill his lover in front of hundreds of people using one of his own tricks. Dragovich can be rather ruthless, but he’s not stupid. No, it has to be someone else. Someone from this office.”

“
Then you’re looking at Harcourt or Michael.”

“
Why them?”

“
They’re the only ones who work here and would have even the slightest bit of knowledge of how these illusions work.”

“
Not necessarily. Lily’s killer might have had help. They may have paid one of Dragovich’s people off. Like Tabitha, for instance. She was there that night and could have helped.”