Page 75 of Jon's Helter Skelter Cold Case

“Well, he’s not good,” Marc admitted frankly. “Which is why we’re trying to lay hands on him as quick as we can. We want to disturb the kids as little as possible. You said the party was in the backyard? Any way we can get there without going through the house?”

Please and thank you. That would make it easier for me to get Jon to the right place.

“Oh sure, sure. There’s a side gate. I’ll show you.” Serena stepped out, shutting the door behind her, and quickly went for the left side of the house.

We all followed her around through a side gate and into the rather spacious backyard. I saw plenty of indications a party had been back here, as there was a full table with desserts, punch, etcetera. A simple wooden stage had been set up for the show, and there was a collection of toys and such abandoned on the grass nearby.

Jon waved them on and focused on Serena, so I stood with him as well.

“Miss Serena, I’m Jonathan Bane, and I’m working with the FBI on this case. Can I ask you a few questions?”

“Oh, for sure.” She turned her attention to him, looking attentive.

“Thank you. I’m told Chad was hired to do a birthday show?”

“Something of a magic show, although he did wear a clown suit. Really, his price was the most reasonable and he was easy to hire for this slot, so when I first came across him I was relieved. I’d been trying to find a stage magician for almost two weeks when I came across his listing. My nephew loves stage magic, you see.”

“Can I see the listing?”

“I, um, don’t know if I can find it again? I got it off Craigslist.”

Oh. Shit. Well, the listing was probably long gone. “Don’t mind that, ma’am. How did he seem to you?”

There was a shout of victory from Marc, and he just about did a happy dance right then and there.

I turned to look at him, caught his eye, and asked, “Materialized?”

“Yuuuuup.”

“What’s that?” Serena asked, tone confused.

Jon did and didn’t answer her question. “This particular clown you hired is a unique breed of psychic. It’s what Marc was checking for. Tell me about the toys that are littering the stage.”

“Oh, well, that was part of the fee. He said for another hundred dollars, whatever toys he used as props for his show were something the kids could keep. I thought the toys were a great idea because, again, my nephew loves stage magic. It’d be something a ‘real’ magician used that he could play with. So I said yes.”

It was an easy hundred bucks for the Materializer, considering he didn’t have to purchase anything himself.

Serena seemed worried about this line of questioning because her agitation rose sharply. “Is that bad?”

“No, ma’am,” I assured her. “It might very well be our saving grace. You see that man with the dark curly hair taking a nap on the stage?”

“Oh, uh…yes, why is he doing that?”

“That’s Grant Walker.”

Her eyes crossed and she spluttered for a few seconds before she managed to get her jaw back in its socket. “Grant Walker’s in my backyard?!”

“Yes, ma’am.”

“Holy shit. And I just made the connection—Jonathan Bane. I see your name all the time in the papers!”

Jon grinned. “I bet.”

“Fucking shit on a cracker.” She put a hand to her forehead, rocking a little. “Phew. Lord Almighty, I’mma need a pint of icecream after this. This man must be very,verybad if he’s got you two chasing after him.”

“He’s certainly not good, ma’am. We suspect he’s kidnapped a woman and either murdered her or is holding her hostage.” Jon put a hand on her shoulder and said kindly, “No more hiring off Craigslist.”

She nodded vigorously. “No siree, I have learned my lesson.”

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