“You’ve got a good memory.”
“You’re Chesterfield’s attorney!”
“I was, but I terminated our relationship, and now he’s dead. I reminded Ms. Madison that I used to represent her husband, but she wanted me to see you anyway. If you feel uncomfortable with me, you can hire someone else.”
“I’ve never been in a situation like this, and I need good advice now—so let’s talk, and I can make a decision later.”
“Do you know why you were arrested?” Robin asked.
“Probably because I got scared and lied.”
“About what?”
“If you were at the rehearsal at the coast, you know why I hated Chesterfield.”
“He revealed the secret of your finale on his TV show.”
“The effect was devastating. Attendance dropped, and the casino was going to fire me. I saved myself by working a new illusion into the act, but Chesterfield almost killed my career. And that’s why I was at the theater. I wanted to figure out the Chamber of Death and re-create it on the internet for revenge.
“The week before, I tried to get in the stage door to see a rehearsal. When that didn’t work, I snuck in through the loading dock, but the security guard caught me before I saw the trick. So I left my seat during the illusion and hid onstage behind some curtains when Chesterfield started the illusion.
“When I was questioned by the police, I denied leaving my seat. I didn’t know that the person sitting behind me had told the police that he saw me leave. To make matters worse, I also told the police that I’d never been in the Imperial Theater during rehearsals, but the security guard told the police he saw me in the theater.”
“That’s motive and opportunity, but what about means? How could you kill Chesterfield onstage in full view of the audience?”
“I couldn’t, but the DA told me it was no use denying I killed Chesterfield, because he knew exactly how I did it.”
“Did he explain how he thought you killed Chesterfield?”
Turner reddened with anger. “I asked him, but he just smiled and said, ‘A magician never reveals how a trick is done.’”
“I’ve had a few cases with Peter Ragland, and he’s not one of my favorites.”
“What happens now?”
“There’s no automatic bail in a murder case, so you might have to stay in jail for a while. If I represent you, I’ll request a bail hearing, but I won’t win it if the State can convince the judge that they have a strong case. I won’t know if they do until I find out why Ragland thinks he can nail you. I’ll tell you what I find out as fast asI can, but that may not be until Monday. Can you hold it together until then?”
“Yes. I’m really scared, but I was in combat in the army, so I’ve been under pressure before.”
Robin smiled. “Not to mention appearing every night before huge audiences in Las Vegas.”
Turner smiled for the first time. “Yeah, there is that.”
“What did you do in the military?” Robin asked.
Suddenly Turner looked sick. “This will definitely not help my cause.”
“Yes?”
“The skills I’d developed as a magician made me perfect for my specialty—silent killing. I would go into the middle of an enemy encampment, kill key personnel, and disappear.”
CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE
Peter Ragland reserved a conference room for his meeting with Robin.
“Good morning,” Ragland said when the receptionist showed Robin into the room.
“Hi, Peter. How are you?”