Read Online Now You See It by Jane Tesh - Free Book Online

it?”
    â€œThat’s show biz.”
    â€œI mean, I’d hate for the club to get a bad rep. We’re on our way up, know what I mean?”
    â€œRahnee said you had a little competition from the Bombay Club.”
    WizBoy looked scornful. “Amateurs. We’re the best. You have to be really good to get in here.”
    â€œWhat can you tell me about the auditions Saturday?”
    â€œMan, they were all pitiful. People think if they know a few card tricks they can be magicians. This one guy, I swear, he won’t take no for an answer. I’ll bet he’s in here every other day. He can go play the Bombay Club.”
    â€œWhat about the Vanishing Ruby trick?”
    â€œI don’t know anything about that. The Finches kept pretty quiet about their trick.”
    â€œWould you say the brothers were close, or were they rivals?”
    â€œClose. And they were majorly excited about that box.”
    â€œWhat can you tell me about this bet they had about opening the box?”
    â€œLucas said whoever found the box and got it open could have something from his collection.”
    â€œAny idea where he might have hidden it?”
    WizBoy shook his head.
    â€œI’d like to talk to Jilly,” I said.
    â€œI’ll introduce you.”
    Jilly Porter was the bartender, a slim, mournful-looking young woman, mournful because Taft didn’t stop by Saturday night after his act for his usual drink. She had on a floor-length black dress with long sleeves. Her long straight black hair made a curtain for her small face. She looked like Cher’s kid sister.
    â€œI kept waiting for him,” she said. “I had his drink all ready and everything. He always had the same thing, a Screwdriver, and he liked the little fish crackers.”
    â€œWere you close friends?” I couldn’t help notice how WizBoy stiffened at this question and then relaxed at Jilly’s answer.
    â€œWe were really good friends, and he said I could assist with the new act. I was really looking forward to that. I told Rahnee I could be a magician’s assistant easy. I’ve watched these guys for months. But she keeps interviewing other people.”
    â€œI told you I’d put you in my act,” WizBoy said.
    â€œTaft was going to teach me some card tricks.”
    â€œI can teach you card tricks. Nothing to it. You’re already real good with coins.”
    She showed no interest in WizBoy’s offer. She showed no interest in WizBoy at all. I wondered if she and Taft had been really close friends. “Do you have any idea why Taft would hurry out after his act Saturday night? Did he have another show somewhere else?”
    WizBoy immediately brought up the enemy camp. “He could’ve been heading over to the Bombay Club.”
    â€œOh, no,” Jilly said. “He was faithful to this club. He wouldn’t play anywhere else. He said Rahnee had given him his big break, and he wasn’t going to forget it.”
    â€œWere you here on Sunday?” I asked her.
    â€œNo.”
    Well, somebody had to let him in, unless Taft used his magic to unlock the door. “Did you give anyone your key?”
    Her face was hidden behind that curtain of hair. “I had to go down to the police station and answer all sorts of questions like this.”
    WizBoy tried to pat her hand, but she withdrew. “Jilly, he’s only trying to find out what happened.”
    She hugged her arms in tight. “I’m sorry. This is really upsetting.”
    â€œI can come back later,” I said.
    She hesitated. “No, that’s okay. Give me a minute.” I could tell WizBoy wanted to leap over the bar and comfort her. After a while, she pushed back her hair. For the first time, I could see she was wearing a silver chain necklace. She pulled the necklace up to reveal two dangling keys. “Here’s where I keep my key, and no, I didn’t give it to