Read Online The London Deception by Franklin W. Dixon - Free Book Online

his shoulder. “Now pick up Emily crossing down stage center.”
    â€œDo you know a friend of Ms. Anderson named Ian?” Joe asked as he tilted the spotlight so that the beam stayed on Emily Anderson as she moved toward the edge of the stage.
    â€œIan Link,” Jennifer replied. “But I don’t think he would count as a friend. He’s her agent.”
    â€œShe was talking with him about someone named Schulander,” Joe said. Jennifer’s head cocked back, surprised. “You know him?”
    â€œJoe, you’re shining the spotlight on Corey Lista, in the third row,” Jennifer warned.
    â€œSorry,” Joe said, aiming the beam at Emily Anderson again.
    â€œI don’t know Schulander personally, but everyone knows of him,” Jennifer explained. “He’s a big producer in the West End.”
    â€œWest End?” Joe asked.
    â€œLondon’s version of Broadway,” Jennifer answered. “Schulander’s been holding auditions for his new show these past two weeks.
    â€œThat’s the motive!” Joe blurted out as a thought struck him.
    â€œWhat’s the motive?” Jennifer asked.
    Joe hesitated, not wanting to give her too much information. “In the play, I just figured out the killer’s motive.”
    â€œYour second day at rehearsal and it’s just come to you, has it?” Jennifer kidded.
    â€œJennifer, can I borrow Joe for a minute?” Frank asked, having returned and stepping out onto the balcony below them.
    Jennifer nodded for Joe to let her take over. “Go on then.”
    Frank led Joe through the red velvet curtains and into the lounge on the balcony level. He quickly filled him in about the bank and his encounter with David Young.
    â€œMr. Paul just cashed that check written out to Mr. Kije,” Frank told him.
    â€œCashed it?” Joe asked.
    â€œThe bank teller may be involved,” Frank explained.“She knew who he was and gave him the money anyway!”
    â€œYou think Mr. Paul is pulling a scam?” Joe wondered.
    â€œThat’s what it looks like,” Frank replied. “We need to find out if Chris told his father where we were going last night.”
    â€œAnd don’t forget Mr. Jeffries,” Joe said.
    â€œRight,” Frank agreed. “If David Young reported our whereabouts to him, he could have followed us, too. But why would Mr. Jeffries hire an investigator to solve a crime that he was involved in?”
    â€œThen again, what motive could Mr. Paul have?” Joe asked.
    Frank shrugged. “Motive is the key to solving this one, Joe.”
    â€œMaybe Mr. Paul and Mr. Kije have a joint account at the bank,” Joe suggested.
    â€œMaybe,” Frank said. “Let’s wait and see what Mr. Paul does with the money.”
    â€œSpeaking of motive,” Joe told Frank. “There is a reason the star might try to sabotage her own production—if she was offered a bigger, better show.” Joe then reminded Frank about the phone conversation he had overheard. “She would have a lawsuit on her hands if she walked away from this show a week before opening,” Joe theorized. “But if the show were canceled, she wouldn’t be breaking her contract.”
    â€œBut could any job offer be big enough to makesomeone with Ms. Anderson’s reputation resort to sabotage?” Frank challenged.
    â€œAll right, cast!” Mr. Paul’s voice rang through the theater. “Let’s run through the show from the top.”
    Joe and Frank stepped onto the balcony.
    â€œJoe, I need you back up here,” Jennifer called from the catwalk. “Frank, would you be a love and get me two number forty-seven orange gels from the light storage room?”
    â€œSure, Jennifer,” Frank replied, then trotted down the steps, through the theater, and into the stage left wing.
    Emily Anderson had already begun her opening soliloquy, lit only by