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Mark cleared his throat for attention. “Mister Martin owns the rights to the effect, and it is protected as a theater piece by the copyright laws of the United States.”
“Seems like a pretty important trick to sell out of a rinky-dink magic shop, isn’t it?” Chu pressed.
“He didn’t have the equipment. He was trying to sell my methodology. I believe he had access to a full set of plans to recreate my illusion.”
“You flew all the way to New York from Las Vegas because some guy figured out one of your tricks?” Chu questioned.
“No, a man who I thought was an old friend was stealing my creation. He was offering the plans to different people throughout the country. I wanted to talk to him, to tell him to stop. I was even willing to offer him money.”
“So you got there, and what, got angry?”
Max sat up straighter in the chair. “Nothing of the kind. As I explained to my lawyer, when I arrived Mister Floss was already dead.”
“Really?”
“Quite! I found his door unlocked and went into the shop. I called for him and wandered around, thus discovering his body. I also saw the fake rope on his chest. I reached down and picked it up at the same moment the police arrived.”
Mark took over. “My client just happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time.”
Chu’s mouth grew tight. “Why couldn’t he tell us this there and then!”
Mark and Max exchanged a quick glance, and Mark cleared his throat a second time. “My client had sent Mister Floss some, uh, rather unsavory emails.”
Chu considered this. “Unsavory in what way?”
“Perhaps ‘threatening’ might be a better choice of words,” Mark confided.
Chu shook his head. “I see. Does Mister Martin wish to add anything to his testimony?”
Mark looked to Max who exhaled heavily. “I would like to know what he did with the plans to my illusion.”
“Mister Martin, we are investigating a murder, not chasing down your trick,” Chu told Max, then turned to Mark. “I will want your client to write up his account, and we are holding him until I get the report from forensics. If the timeline and the evidence agrees with Mister Martin’s account, I will speak to the DA about having him released.”
“That could take hours!” Max whined.
“Up to forty-eight hours, Mister Martin. But that is what happens when you are found at a crime scene with a possible murder weapon in your hand. End interview.”
Pro dutifully hit the button to end the recording of the session.
“See,” Elisha said to her daughter. “Your father had nothing to do with that man’s murder.”
“Mom, Max’s job is deceiving people. He could be lying right now,” Pro said, as she pressed the button, which set off the buzzer as Chu and Mark Jeffries left the room.
“I can’t believe you’re saying that about your father.”
“Albert Floss stole his big illusion? I have known people to kill for a lot less,” Pro said, and headed to her desk. “Now you should leave, and I’ll call you when Max is released—if he’s released.”
Elisha looked troubled. “I didn’t know you still had so many resentments towards your father.”
“Toward the man who abandoned me?” Pro said and turned to her computer, ignoring her mother. “Yeah, quite a few.”
Chu was talking to Mark. “We have to keep him in holding until we get the forensic report and see what the DA says.”
“I understand,” Mark replied. “I’ll contact the DA as well.”
As they spoke, a uniformed officer opened the door from the outside and brought Max out, cuffing his hands behind him.
Chu turned to face Max. “Mister Martin, we are putting you in a holding cell by yourself. Please do not attempt any more escapes, or I’ll lock you in your cell naked like Houdini.”
