The Vanished Man

by Jeffery Deaver

  Lansing continued, "We got the evidence you sent up here this morning. Our forensic boys're going through it. We had a couple of detectives go and talk to Swensen's wife--that minister you folks took down last night. She didn't say anything helpful and my boys didn't find anything in the trailer to connect him to Constable or anybody else in the Patriot Assembly."

  "Nothin'?" Bell sighed. "Too bad. I figured him to be poke-easy careless."

  "Maybe the Patriot boys got there first and scoured the place clean."

  "That's more'n half likely. Man, I'm feeling we're due a little luck here. Okay, keep at it, Harv. Thanks."

  "We'll let you know, we come up with anything else, Roland."

  They hung up.

  "This Constable case's full-up tough as this one." Nodding at the whiteboards.

  Another knock on the front door.

  Armed with a large coffee cup Kara walked into the room, looking more tired and haggard than the policewomen.

  Sellitto was delivering a monologue about new techniques for weight loss when his Jenny Craig lecture was interrupted by yet another phone call.

  "Lincoln?" the voice crackled through the speakerphone. "Bedding here. We think we've narrowed the key down to three hotels. Reason it took so long--"

  The voice of his partner, Saul, interrupted. "Turns out that a lot of monthly and long-term hotels use card keys too."

  "Not to mention hourly rate places. But that's a whole 'nother story."

  "We had to check them all out. Anyway, that's what we found. It's probably, I say, probably, either the Chelsea Lodge, the Beckman or the . . . what is it?"

  "Or the Lanham Arms," his partner supplied.

  "Right. They're the only ones using this color Model 42. We're at the Beckman now. Thirty-four and Fifth. We're about to start trying it out."

  "What do you mean trying it out?" Rhyme called.

  "How d'I put this?" Bedding or Saul wondered. "The keys work one way but not the other."

  "How's that?" Rhyme asked.

  "See, only the lock unit on the hotel room door can read a key. The machine at the front desk that burns the room codes onto a blank key can't read one that's already been burned and tell you what room it is."

  "Why not? That's crazy."

  "Nobody ever needs to know that."

  "Except us, of course, which is why we have to go from door to door and try them all."

  "Shit," Rhyme snapped.

  "Summarizes our feelings too," one of the detectives said.

  Sellitto asked, "Okay. You need more people?"

  "Nup. We can only do one door at a time. No other way to do it. And if there's a new guest in the room--"

  "--this card'll be invalid. Which won't improve our moods any."

  "Say, gentlemen?" Bell said into the phone.

  "Hey there, Roland."

  "We recognized the accent."

  "You said the Lanham Arms. Where is that?"

  "East Seventy-five. Near Lex."

  "Something familiar 'bout the name. Can't quite place it." Bell was frowning, shaking his head.

  "That's next on our list."

  "After the Beckman."

  "With its six hundred and eighty-two rooms. Better get to it."

  They left the Twins to their arduous task.

  Cooper's computer beeped and he read an incoming email. "FBI lab in Washington. . . . Finally got a report on the metal shavings in the Conjurer's gym bag. They say the markings suggest they're consistent with a clock mechanism."

  "Well, it's not a clock," Rhyme said. "Obviously."

  "How do you know?" Bell asked.

  "It's a detonator," Sachs said solemnly.

  "That's what I'd say," Rhyme confirmed.

  "A gas bomb?" Cooper asked, nodding toward the handkerchief "souvenir" Weir had left last night, which had been soaked in gasoline.

  "Likely."

  "He's got a supply of gas and he's obsessed with fire. He's going to burn the next victim."

  Just like what happened to him.

  Fire quote murdered him--his old persona--and by murdering someone else he feels better; it reduces the anxiety that the anger builds up in him. . . .

  Rhyme noticed the hour was approaching 12:00. Almost afternoon. . . . The next victim was going to die soon. But when, 12:01 or 4:00? A shudder of frustration and anger started at the base of his skull and vanished into his stony body. They had so little time.

  Maybe no time at all.

  But he could come to no conclusions based on the evidence they had. And the day dragged on, slow as an IV drip.

  A fax arrived. Cooper read it. "From the document examiner in Queens. They opened up the newspaper that was in the Mazda. No notations anywhere and nothing was circled. Those're the headlines."

  He taped it to the board.

  Electrical Breakdown

  Closes Police Station

  for Almost 4 Hours

  New York in Running

  for GOP Convention

  Parents Protest

  Poor Security at

  Girls' School

  Militia Murder Plot

  Trial Opens Monday

  Weekend Gala at Met

  to Benefit Charities

  Spring Entertainment

  for Kids Young and Old

  Governor, Mayor Meet

  on New West Side Plan

  "One of those's significant," Rhyme said. But which one? Was the killer targeting the girls' school? The gala? Had he tested out a gimmick that disrupted the electricity at the police station? He felt all the more frustrated because they had some new evidence but its meaning remained elusive.

  Sellitto's phone rang. As he took the call, everyone stared at him, anticipating another death.

  The time was now 1:03.

  Well into the afternoon, well into the killing time.

  But apparently the news wasn't bad. The detective lifted an eyebrow in pleasant surprise and said into the receiver, "That's right. . . . Really? Well, that's not far away. Could you come over here?" He then gave Rhyme's address and hung up.

  "Who?"

  "Edward Kadesky. The manager of the circus in Ohio, the one where Weir was burned. He's in town. He got the message from his service in Chicago and he's coming over to talk to us."

  THE CONJURER

  Music School Crime Scene

  * Perp's description: Brown hair, fake beard, no distinguishing, medium build, medium height, age: fifties. Ring and little fingers of left hand fused together. Changed costume quickly to resemble old, bald janitor.

  * No apparent motive.

  * Victim: Svetlana Rasnikov.

  * Full-time music student.

  * Checking family, friends, students, coworkers for possible leads.

  * No boyfriends, no known enemies. Performed at children's birthday parties.

  * Circuit board with speaker attached.

  * Sent to FBI lab, NYC.

  * Digital recorder, probably containing perp's voice. All data destroyed.

  * Voice recorder is a "gimmick." Homemade.

  * Used antique iron handcuffs to restrain victim.

  * Handcuffs are Darby irons. Scotland Yard. Checking with Houdini Museum in New Orleans for leads.

  * Sold to Erick Weir last month. Sent to Denver P.O. box. No other leads.

  * Destroyed victim's watch at exactly 8:00 A.M.

  * Cotton string holding chairs. Generic. Too many sources to trace.

  * Squib for gunshot effect. Destroyed.

  * Too many sources to trace.

  * Fuse. Generic.

  * Too many sources to trace.

  * Responding officers reported flash in air. No trace material recovered.

  * Was from flash cotton or flash paper.

  * Too many sources to trace.

  * Perp's shoes: size 10 Ecco.

  * Silk fibers, dyed gray, processed to a matte finish.

  * From quick-change janitor's outfit.

  * Unsub is possibly wearing b
rown wig.

  * Red pignut hickory and Parmelia conspersa lichen, both found primarily in Central Park.

  * Dirt impregnated with unusual mineral oil. Sent to FBI for analysis.

  * Tack-Pure oil for saddles and leather.

  * Black silk, 72 x 48". Used as camouflage. Not traceable.

  * Illusionists use this frequently.

  * Wears caps to cover up prints.

  * Magician's finger cups.

  * Traces of latex, castor oil, makeup.

  * Theatrical makeup.

  * Traces of alginate.

  * Used in molding latex "appliances."

  * Murder weapon: white silk-knit rope with black silk core.

  * Rope is a magic trick. Color changing. Not traceable.

  * Unusual knot.

  * Sent to FBI and Maritime Museum--no information.

  * Knots are from Houdini routines, virtually impossible to untie.

  * Used disappearing ink on sign-in register.

  East Village Crime Scene

  * Victim Two: Tony Calvert.

  * Makeup artist, theater company.

  * No known enemies.

  * No apparent connection with first victim.

  * No apparent motive.

  * Cause of death:

  * Blunt-object trauma to head followed by postmortem dismemberment with crosscut saw.

  * Perp escaped portraying woman in her 70s. Checking vicinity for discarded costume and other evidence.

  * Nothing recovered.

  * Watch smashed at 12:00 exactly.

  * Pattern? Next victim presumably at 4:00 P.M.

  * Perp hid behind mirror. Not traceable. Fingerprints sent to FBI.

  * No matches.

  * Used cat toy ("feke") to lure victim into alley. Toy is untraceable.

  * Additional mineral oil found, same as at first scene. Awaiting FBI report.

  * Tack-Pure oil for saddles and leather.

  * Additional latex and makeup from finger cups.

  * Additional alginate.

  * Ecco shoes left behind.

  * Dog hairs found in shoes, from three different breeds of dog. Manure too.

  * Manure from horses, not dogs.

  Hudson River and Related Crime Scenes

  * Victim: Cheryl Marston.

  * Attorney.

  * Divorced but husband not a suspect.

  * No motive.

  * Perp gave name as "John." Had scars on neck and chest. Deformed hand confirmed.

  * Perp did quick change to unbearded businessman in chinos and dress shirt, then biker in denim Harley shirt.

  * Car is in Harlem River.

  * Duct tape gag. Can't be traced.

  * Squibs, same as before. Can't be traced.

  * Chains and snap fixtures, generic, not traceable.

  * Rope, generic, not traceable.

  * Additional makeup, latex and Tack-Pure.

  * Gym bag, made in China, not traceable. Containing:

  * Traces of date rape drug flunitrazepam.

  * Adhesive magician's wax, not traceable.

  * Brass (?) shavings. Sent to FBI.

  * Consistent with clockwork mechanism, possible bomb timer.

  * Permanent ink, black.

  * Navy-blue windbreaker found, no initials or laundry marks. Containing: * Press pass for CTN cable network, issued to Stanley Saferstein. (He's not suspect--NCIC, VICAP search negative.) * Plastic hotel key card, American Plastic Cards, Akron, Ohio. Model APC-42, negative on prints.

  * CEO is searching for sales records.

  * Dets. Bedding and Saul canvassing hotels.

  * Narrowed down to Chelsea Lodge, Beckman and Lanham Arms. Still checking.

  * Press pass for CTN cable network, issued to Stanley Saferstein. (He's not suspect--NCIC, VICAP search negative.) * Alley where Conjurer was arrested:

  * Picked the cuff locks.

  * Saliva (picks hidden in mouth).

  * No blood type determined.

  * Small razor saw for getting out of restraints (also hidden in mouth).

  * No indication of Officer Burke's whereabouts.

  * Report body somewhere on Upper West Side.

  * Harlem River scene:

  * No evidence on riverbank, except skid marks in mud.

  * Newspaper recovered from the car. Headlines:

  Electrical Breakdown Closes Police Station for Almost 4 Hours New York in Running for GOP Convention

  Parents Protest Poor Security at Girls' School

  Militia Murder Plot Trial Opens Monday

  Weekend Gala at Met to Benefit Charities

  Spring Entertainment for Kids Young and Old Governor, Mayor Meet on New West Side Plan

  Lincoln Rhyme Crime Scene

  * Victim: Lincoln Rhyme.

  * Perp's identity: Erick A. Weir.

  * LKA Las Vegas.

  * Burned in fire in Ohio, three years ago. Hasbro and Keller Brothers Circus. Disappeared after. Third-degree burns. Producer was Edward Kadesky.

  * Conviction in New Jersey for reckless endangerment.

  * Obsessed with fire.

  * Manic. Referred to "Revered Audience."

  * Performed dangerous tricks.

  * Married to Marie Cosgrove, killed in fire.

  * He hasn't contacted her family since.

  * Weir's parents dead, no next of kin.

  * No VICAP or NCIC on Weir.

  * Referred to himself as "Wizard of the North."

  * Attacked Rhyme because he had to stop him before Sunday afternoon. (Next victim?) * Eye color--brown.

  * Psychological profile (per Terry Dobyns, NYPD): Revenge motivates him though he may not realize it. He wants to get even. Angry all the time. By killing he takes away some of the pain because of death of his wife, loss of ability to perform.

  * Weir contacted assistants recently: John Keating and Arthur Loesser, in Nevada. Asking about the fire and people involved with it. Described Weir as crazed, overbearing, manic, dangerous, but brilliant.

  * Contacting former manager at time of fire, Edward Kadesky.

  * Killed victims because of what they represented--possibly happy or traumatic moments before the fire.

  * Gasoline-soaked handkerchief, not traceable.

  * Ecco shoes, no trace.

  Profile as Illusionist

  * Perp will use misdirection against victims and in eluding police.

  * Physical misdirection (for distraction).

  * Psychological (to eliminate suspicion).

  * Escape at music school was similar to Vanished Man illusion routine. Too common to trace.

  * Perp is primarily an illusionist.

  * Talented at sleight of hand.

  * Also knows protean (quick change) magic. Will use breakaway clothes, nylon and silk, bald cap, finger cups and other latex appliances. Could be any age, gender or race.

  * Also knows protean (quick change) magic. Will use breakaway clothes, nylon and silk, bald cap, finger cups and other latex appliances. Could be any age, gender or race.

  * Calvert's death = Selbit's Cutting a Woman in Half Routine.

  * Proficient at lock picking (possibly lock "scrubbing").

  * Knows escapism techniques.

  * Experience with animal illusions.

  * Used mentalism to get information on victim.

  * Used sleight of hand to drug her.

  * Tried to kill third victim with Houdini escape. Water Torture Cell.

  * Ventriloquism.

  * Razor blades.

  * Familiar with Burning Mirror routine. Very dangerous, rarely performed now.

  *

  The man was stocky, of medium height. A silver beard and wavy hair to match.

  Rhyme, now suspicious after Weir's visit last night, greeted Edward Kadesky then asked for identification.

  "You don't mind," Sellitto continued, explaining that they'd recently had trouble with a perp masquerading as someone else.

  Kadesky--a man not used to being unre
cognized, let alone carded--was put out but he complied and offered Sellitto his Illinois driver's license. Mel Cooper took a subtle look at both the picture and the producer and then gave a nod to Rhyme. The tech had already gone online with Illinois DMV and gotten the license particulars and a picture of the man. All of which checked out.

  "Your message said this was about Erick Weir?" Kadesky asked. His gaze was hawklike and imperious.

  "Right."

  "So he's still alive?"

  That the man would ask the question was a disappointment to Rhyme; it meant that Kadesky probably knew even less than they did.

  Rhyme said, "Very much alive. He's a suspect in a series of homicides in town."

  "No! Who did he kill?"

  "Some local residents. A police officer too," Sellitto explained. "We were hoping you could give us some information that'd help find him."

  "I haven't heard about him since just after the fire. Do you know about that?"

  "A little," Sachs said. "Fill us in."

  "He blamed me for it, you know. . . . It was three years ago. Weir and his assistants were doing the illusion and quick-change acts in our show. Oh, they were good. I mean, astonishing. But we'd been having complaints for months. From the staff and from the audience. Weir scared people. He was like a little dictator. And those assistants of his--we called them the Moonies. He had them indoctrinated. Illusion to him was like a religion. Sometimes people got hurt in rehearsal or during the show--even audience volunteers. And Weir couldn't've cared less. He thought magic worked best when there was some risk. He said magic should be a hot iron; it should brand your soul." The producer laughed grimly. "But we can't have that in the entertainment business, now, can we? So I talked to Sidney Keller--he was the owner--and we decided we had to fire him. One Sunday morning before the matinee I told the stage manager to let him go."

  "That was the day of the fire?" Rhyme asked.

  Kadesky nodded. "The manager found Weir rigging the stage with propane lines for an illusion of his. The Burning Mirror. He told him what we'd decided. But Weir lost it--he shoved the manager down the stairs and kept right on rigging the trick. I went down to the stage. He grabbed me. We weren't really fighting, just scuffling, but a propane line was loose. We fell into some metal chairs and, I guess, a spark ignited the gas. He was burned and his wife was killed. The whole tent was destroyed. We talked about suing him but he snuck out of the hospital and disappeared."

  "We found a case in New Jersey. Reckless endangerment. Do you know if he was arrested anywhere else?" Rhyme asked.

  "No idea." Kadesky shook his head. "I shouldn't've hired him. But if you'd ever seen his show, you'd understand. He was the best. The audiences may have been terrified, they may have been, well, abused, but they bought tickets to see him. And you should've heard the ovations." The producer looked at his watch. The time was 1:45. "You know, my show starts in fifteen minutes. . . . I think it'd be a good idea to get a few more police cars over there. With Weir around and everything that happened between us."