Claire saw Robin looking at her. Her brow furrowed for a moment. Then she smiled and headed toward Robin with the two men in tow. “You’re Robin Lockwood.”
“I am,” Robin said, surprised that Claire Madison knew her.
Claire laughed when she saw the puzzled look on Robin’s face. “I bet you’re wondering how I recognized you. I’m a big UFC fan, and you received a lot of publicity because you were fighting while you were in law school.”
“That was always a little embarrassing.”
“I bet it made it hard to get dates.” Claire gave Jeff the once-over. “But I see you’re doing okay in that department now.”
“I am,” she said proudly. “This is Jeff Hodges. He doubles as my boyfriend and ace investigator.”
“Pleased to meet you. This is Lou Holt,” Claire said, introducing the younger man. “He owns the casino where Bobby will beperforming his magic act. And this is Horace Dobson, Bobby’s agent.”
Robin and Jeff nodded at the men.
“I was at your fight with Kerrigan,” Claire said.
“Ouch,” Robin responded at the mention of the fight that had ended her career.
Claire smiled again. “I also saw you KO Holly Reagan.”
“I liked that result way better than the one from the Kerrigan fight.”
“I saw the Kerrigan fight too,” Holt said. “I thought she got you with a lucky punch.”
Now Robin smiled. “I’d like to believe that. The truth is, I was not in her class and never would have been. That fight was a wake-up call. Fortunately, I had law school to fall back on. Thanks for the invitation, by the way. I’m a huge fan of magic, and I can’t wait to see Mr. Chesterfield’s latest illusion.”
“I didn’t make up the guest list. Bobby did. I’m curious. How do you know Bobby?”
“He hired my firm to research a legal problem. It turned out that we couldn’t help him.”
Just as Claire started to say something, the front door flew open and a short, chubby man with gray hair and a salt-and-pepper mustache stormed in. Unlike the other guests, he was dressed in jeans, a plaid shirt, and a tan, zip-up jacket. The intruder paused in the doorway and scanned the room. When he spotted Claire Madison, he charged toward her. Miriam Ross tried to stop him, but he brushed her aside.
“Where is he, Claire?” the man demanded.
“He’s getting ready for the show.”
“Where? I need to see him.”
“You can see him after the show.”
“When I get through with him, there’s not going to be a show.”
“Calm down, Joe,” Dobson said.
“I’ll be calm when I get my money. Now, where is he?”
“I’m not going to let you see him in the state you’re in,” Claire said.
“Hey, Joe, what’s the problem?” Dobson asked.
“The problem is that I’ve invested a lot of money in Bobby’s latest adventure, and some of it seems to have disappeared.”
“You don’t have to worry about your money,” Chesterfield’s agent said. “His show is going to be a huge success. You’ll be swimming in dough soon.”
“That’s what Bobby says every time he deigns to take my calls, which isn’t very often.”
“He’s a busy man. You know that.”