by Paul Regnier
Vicki sighed and turned out of the line. “It was nice to see you again Luke, but this morning has been tough. I think I just need a break from all this.” She walked away, heading back to the table.
Sometimes my investigative instincts pushed a little too hard. It definitely wasn’t my smoothest interview, and I really hadn’t learned anything that seemed valuable for the case. So far, when I added this together with my awkward moment with Brooke, this morning was a lose-lose situation.
By the time I made it to the coffee percolators, my plate was overflowing. I needed to stock up so I could go out and fix my broken morning. As I neared Ellie’s table, I noticed Kenny was standing off to the side, in a one-on-one conversation with her. I couldn’t help smiling at his efforts.
Ellie looked up as I approached, and waved me over. She looked at my plate. “Wow, someone’s hungry.”
“Yeah. I’m a breakfast guy.” I had no idea what that meant but it sounded good in my head.
“Ellie just finished Chuck Sashman’s juice cleanse yesterday.” Kenny was all smiles. “Can you believe that? The exact program I’m doing. What are the odds?”
“Sounds like she had better timing,” I said. “Now that she’s done, she gets bacon.”
“Nope, I’m off bacon.” Ellie shook her head. “All pork, really. I’m rethinking my whole diet. I’m doing a Keto-Mediterranean-Raw food fusion thing. Vicki thinks I’m crazy. Kenny here is the only one I’ve met with the willpower for this kind of life change.”
Kenny stuck his chest out like she was about to pin a ribbon on it.
“I don’t know,” I said. “Forty-eight hours, maybe. I can’t imagine drinking that green juice every day.”
“No, silly, that’s just the jump start,” Ellie chuckled.
Kenny gave her a playful nudge. “He doesn’t get the program.”
She nodded back at him, smiling. As tempted as I was to bring up the mini fridge in Kenny’s room, filled with candy bars and energy drinks, I decided to be merciful and let him enjoy his moment of connection.
“Well,” I said. “If you can stomach the kale juice, I guess it’s a healthier way to go.”
“Oh, it is. You should’ve seen me before.” Ellie took out her phone and started swiping through photos. “Let me see here ... Ah, this was me three months ago.”
The photo showed Ellie lounging on a couch in baggy sweats. Even in the loose fitting clothes she had a figure I imagined most women would die for, so I didn’t really see the problem.
“I was like, fifteen pounds heavier in this picture. Gross, right?”
“Well,” I said. “Your clothes are pretty baggy there. Kind of hard to tell.”
“You still look great in that photo,” Kenny said.
She grinned. “You’re sweet. Okay, look at this one.”
Ellie swiped to a new photo that showed her once again looking the same, but in an oversized sweatshirt, standing next to a guy dressed up like a magician. He wore a flashy suit, and was holding a black top hat with a rabbit poking out of it. A large banner behind them read, “Jimmy the Mysterious.” Something looked oddly familiar about him.
“This was me four months ago. I was in a horrible relationship, and eating lots of fast food. That was rock bottom. I knew I had to make a change. I’ve got another one here somewhere...” She started swiping through the photos.
“Wait,” I said. “Go back.”
“To which one?”
“That guy. The magician.”
“Ugh. My ex-fiancé.” She swiped back to the photo. “You know him?”
I studied his face, and recognition hit. It was the clown from the auction. Even with all the makeup, my vivid recollection assured me it was the same face underneath it all.
“That’s him.” I looked up at Kenny. “That’s the clown from last night.”
“You sure?” Kenny studied the photo more closely.
“Clown?” Ellie said.
“Yes,” I said. “There was a clown at the auction last night that wasn’t supposed to be there. It was him.”
“No, that’s ridiculous.” Ellie turned off her phone and stuffed it back in her pocket. “Jimmy doesn’t do the clown bit. He’s a magician.”
“Was he at the auction last night?” I asked.
“No. He doesn’t come up here anymore. I told him to stay away. He’s a leech.”
“Do you think he would’ve tried to steal those gemstones?”
“What?” Ellie pulled back, her brows furrowed. “Are you crazy?”
“Well, you did just say he was a leech. If he needed money and knew you had the gems in a vulnerable location, maybe he was desperate enough to try it.”
“Luke.” She said my name with a touch of annoyance. “I know you like to ask questions, but that’s insane. And kind of insulting. Kenny, tell him.”
“Alright, Luke.” Kenny put out his hand like he was calming a wild dog. “Let’s just take it down a notch.”
I flashed narrowed eyes at him. “No offense meant. I don’t know your ex. I’m just trying to help your family recover those gems.”
“Look.” Ellie took on a serious tone. “Jimmy might be a lot of things, but he wouldn’t resort to something like this. It’s just not something he would do.”
Jacob Hammond, the security guard we’d met last night, walked over from the nearby table and put a hand on Ellie’s shoulder. “Everything okay, Ellie?”
“I’m fine. This whole thing is just...” She let out a frustrated grunt. “I’m fine.”
Jacob glanced at me. “Is someone upsetting you?”
“Oh, not really,” Ellie said. “Luke was asking about the gemstones and brought up Jimmy, and I got a little worked up.”
“Jimmy?” He frowned. “I don’t understand.”
“I’m just following up on last night.” I spoke calmly, trying to defuse the situation. “I’m a reporter for the Chronicle. I noticed a clown last night who wasn’t part of the entertainment staff. He looked an awful lot like Jimmy, so I’m just asking questions. Part of my job. No offense meant.”
“Well,” Jacob said, “we appreciate the thought, but our family’s going through loss right now. We’re just trying to have a nice breakfast with friends.”
“My apologies.” I tried for a humble nod. “My timing could have been better. I only want to help recover what was stolen.”
“The police are handling that. Maybe we should just leave it to them, alright?” He gave me a stern look, then steered Ellie back to the table.
Kenny frowned at me. “Now look what you did. I was totally connecting with her.”
“Oh, I’m sorry. Did my major break in the case interrupt your flirting?”
“Major break? A magician-clown-gem-thief? That’s what you’re pinning your hopes on?”
“Yes. It’s the missing piece of the puzzle that could nail the crook and recover the gemstones. I thought you wanted to help Ellie?”
“I do, but couldn’t you have waited like two minutes? We were totally vibing. She was smiling at me with her perfect smile. She even gave me a playful nudge. That’s a sign, right?”
“I don’t know. She’s pretty flirty.”
“Trust me, we were having a moment. Then you had to barge in and start accusing her ex of stealing, and make her all upset.”
“Ah, but that’s probably because there’s some lingering feelings. Imagine if he’s guilty and we catch him. That would sever all romantic feelings for him, and you’d be the hero that recovered her gems. Can you imagine how grateful she’d be?”
Kenny was silent for a moment, as if lost in thought. Then he smirked, his eyes meeting mine. “Good point. Okay, let’s go catch us a clown.”
Chapter 5
To avoid further tensions, Kenny and I found a small table off to the side. I scarfed down my questionably healthy, but unquestionably delicious comfort food, and Kenny did his best to fill up on a bowl of cantaloupe.
Since cubed fruit was a one handed eating
experience, Kenny was able to multitask with his cell phone and track down Ellie’s ex-fiancé, Jimmy the magician.
“Found Jimmy the Mysterious’ website.” Kenny studied his phone.
“Oh yeah?” I spoke through a mouthful of pancakes.
“You know, he really missed an opportunity for a better stage name. Like Bewitching Jimmy, or James and the Giant Box o’ Magic. Or he could’ve gone old school, with Shimmering Jimmy Slims.”
“His last name is Slims?”
“No, it’s Bosko. But it makes for a good stage name, don’t you think?”
I shrugged.
“Kind of makes you wonder.” Kenny looked out the window for a moment. “What if a better stage name would’ve brought him more success? Then he wouldn’t have been desperate enough to enter a life of crime.”
“Yes, very philosophical. Now can you please focus? Anything on there look interesting? Any clown photos?”
He shook his head. “No. But he’s booked for a corporate retreat this weekend.”
“Where?”
“The Deer Bend Lodge in McCall. Looks like he’s performing in their lounge all weekend. Shows scheduled all throughout the day.”
I grabbed the phone from my pocket and did a quick map check. “We can be there in thirty two minutes.”
“You want to catch his act?”
“I want to snoop around. Maybe question him. Question people that know him. Anything.”
Kenny looked down at his dwindling bowl of cantaloupe. “Well, I’m done here.”
I wrapped several pieces of bacon in a napkin for a lunchtime BLT, as well as extras for Bandit, and stuffed it in my pocket. “Okay, let’s go.”
On our way out of the restaurant, we waved goodbye to Ellie’s breakfast table. The reception was noticeably chillier than when we’d arrived, thanks to my excessive questioning. A minute later we were back in my car, headed for McCall.
“Sorry about back there.” I jerked a thumb toward the rear view window. “Sometimes I get carried away with my interviews.”
Kenny nodded. “Ellie didn’t even get up when we left. No wave, no smile, and definitely no hug.”
“Yeah. Somehow, I managed to upset the whole Greyson family. Not to mention Brooke.”
“Brooke was there?”
“Briefly. I think she got the feeling I was there to see Ellie. I tried to explain that I wasn’t, but she kept saying I didn’t need to explain anything.”
“But you did, right?”
“Yes. I think. Actually, I’m not really sure.”
Kenny shook his head. “Well, you lost me. Maybe just buy her flowers?”
“Isn’t that too much for this stage in our relationship?”
“I don’t know.” He snapped his fingers. “Oh, I got it. Show up at the police station with coffee and donuts. Who wouldn’t like that?”
“But then I’d have to buy enough for everyone. Way too expensive.”
“It’s a relationship investment. You’ll look good, not only to her but to all her co-workers. They’ll be talking you up all morning. Plus, it never hurts to get in good with cops. It could mean the difference between a warning and a speeding ticket.”
“Hm. I guess it’s worth a shot.”
“Yep. And now that I’ve solved your relationship problem, it’s your turn. Help me get a date with Ellie.”
“Hey, I’m not a miracle worker.”
“Very funny. Come on, put in a good word for me or something.”
“I don’t think I’m the best person to ask. After pretty much accusing her ex-fiancé of being some kind of undercover clown thief, she’s not too thrilled with me right now.”
“There, see, you’ve already helped. Just in case she liked you, you’ve eliminated yourself from the competition.”
I grinned. “In that case, happy to help.”
A thirty minute drive brought us to Deer Bend Lodge. The woodsy, A-Frame building was surrounded with pine trees, and mere steps from Payette Lake.
We got out of the car and headed for the lodge.
“Um,” Kenny looked up at the polished wooden entrance doors, wide enough to admit a giant. “We probably should have discussed some type of plan. What are we doing exactly?”
“I don’t know, I’m making this up as I go,” I said.
The interior of the lodge was an idyllic scene of lakeside cabin luxury. Thick wood beams ran along the vaulted ceilings, and floor to ceiling windows captured a breathtaking view of the lake and distant mountains. The furniture and decor were a mix of earth tones, with deep maroon accents.
Kenny let out a low whistle. “What a view. I should bring Ellie up here on a date. We can take kayaks out on the lake.”
“Sure, if she speaks to you again.”
He hit my shoulder. “Yeah, thanks to you.”
A display stand near the entrance welcomed the Belltan-Jameson Insurance Company.
“How much do you know about insurance?”
“You mean, can I fake being a part of this corporate retreat?” Kenny asked.
“Yes.”
“No.”
“Too late. Here comes the concierge. Think insurance.”
Kenny stiffened. “Oh, man.”
“Gentleman. Welcome.” A wisp of a guy with a trim goatee met us at the entrance. “Checking in?”
“No,” I said. “I’m a reporter with the Crystal Chronicle. I’m considering an article on the best places to stay in Valley County. I’ve heard good things about Deer Bend Lodge, and I wanted to take a look around.”
“Oh.” He smiled and made a sweeping motion through the lodge. “By all means. Let me know if you have any questions.”
“Thank you.” I nodded and headed forward.
“Okay, that was awesome,” Kenny said. “And way better than pretending like we’re insurance salesmen.”
“Oh, I know. I was always gonna go with the reporter angle. I was just messing with you about the insurance thing.”
Kenny frowned and smacked me on the shoulder.
We wandered through the foyer, and into a sunny cafe by the wall of windows facing the lake. I spied a stairway toward the back leading down to a lounge.
We headed down the stairs, and with each step I had the feeling someone was turning down a dimmer switch. The lower level was only faintly lit, and I had to keep blinking so my eyes could adjust.
The lounge was smaller and more suffocating than I had expected. Deep red carpet ushered us into a room about the size of a coffee shop. A polished wood bar ran along the side wall, with a few patrons getting started a bit too early. The lingering aroma of hard liquor and old cigarettes hung in the air.
A muffled smattering of applause came from a doorway that led to an even darker room beyond. The placard above the doorway read “Lounge Stage.” A sign next to it had a promotional poster announcing the magic of Jimmy the Mysterious. There was a picture of Jimmy smiling with a deck of cards swirling around his head in a magic whirlwind.
“Bingo.” I motioned to the poster.
“Cool,” Kenny said. “I love magic.”
“We’re not watching the show. We’re investigating.”
“Why can’t we do both?”
I shook my head and walked toward the door. “Come on.”
The Lounge Stage featured the same overall sparse lighting. The low wattage in the overhead bulbs clung to their last filaments. A dozen small cocktail tables with candle-sized lamps filled the area leading up to a semi-circular wooden stage.
Out of the near darkness, a row of stage lights were shining brightly on Jimmy the Mysterious. A thousand sparkles of light danced off the sequins of his midnight blue suit.
His performance was already in full swing. His long, curly black hair was done up like some magical unicorn mane. He spoke in melodramatic tones as he fanned out a deck of cards for all seven people in the audience to see. There was a hammy flourish to his every movement, as if he were straining to maintain the audience’s attention.
Kenny leaned toward me and whispered. “Forget what I said before. The best stage name in the world couldn’t save this act.”
“Yeah,” I said. “And who does a magic show at nine in the morning?”
There was a black door in the far corner of the room marked “Backstage.”
I nudged Kenny. “Over here.” I led him slowly to the door and tested the handle. A thrill went through me when it turned.
“What are you doing?” Kenny whispered.
“Investigating.”
“You can’t go back there.”
“Sure we can. We’ll just say we were looking for the bathroom.” I opened the door just enough to slip into the darkened hallway beyond. After a moment's hesitation, Kenny followed.
The narrow hallway continued for about ten yards, and dead-ended in a door marked “Office.” Doors on either side of the hallway were labeled “Talent.” The door on the right had a flyer of Jimmy the Mysterious taped to it. I pointed to it and Kenny nodded.
The door creaked open. Inside was a cramped dressing room. A desk littered with brushes, makeup and hair products stood flush against the opposite wall. A three way mirror reflected our entry. Clothes were strewn over a loveseat and an armchair. Several black boxes of various sizes, painted with stars, swirls, and question marks, littered the floor. A tall wardrobe off to the side was marked with a banner that read “Wardrobe of Mystery.”
“What a slob,” Kenny said.
“Yeah,” I entered the room and shut the door behind us. “Shouldn’t magical broomsticks and mice be cleaning this place right now?”
Kenny chuckled. “So, what are we looking for?”
“Hard to say.” I went straight for the desk and opened the drawer. “Receipts that put him at the auction yesterday. Clown makeup. Anything related to gemstones.”
“Okay. Let’s hurry though. I don’t want to get caught in here.”
The drawer was filled with old show flyers, lodge stationary, pens, and a few rolls of breath mints. Nothing incriminating.
“This is so cool.” Kenny had opened the door to the large wardrobe. It was a dark empty space inside, no doubt with a false back for disappearing assistants. “I think this is one of those sword tricks. You know, where they drive a bunch of swords through the wardrobe and you have to be standing in just the right spot inside or you’ll get stabbed.”
