Tightrope (Burning Cove #3)(14)

He led the way to a record player sitting on a small bench. There was a record on the turntable.

“Well, damn,” Matthias said. “That explains a few things.”

Chester turned on the machine and gently lowered the needle onto the record. Futuro’s scratchy voice boomed out of the speaker.

“. . . There will be fog in the morning but by noon the day will turn warm and sunny. No rain is expected.”

Chester lifted the needle arm. “I found this right after I got here this morning. There are also some answers to other questions that Pickwell never had a chance to ask.”

“Magic,” Oliver said.

Matthias and the others looked at him.

“Stage magic,” Oliver explained. “But this record player didn’t activate itself. Every magician has an assistant.”

Detective Brandon grunted. “Charlie Hubbard. We’re still looking for him.”

Matthias looked at Brandon. “I’d like to talk to the theater manager.”

“Help yourself,” Brandon said. “He’s in his office.”

The theater manager’s name was Tillings. He was a small, anxious man in his mid-forties. He could not offer much in the way of helpful information.

“Pickwell told me he didn’t need any help backstage,” Tillings said. “In fact, he made it clear he didn’t want anyone except his assistant back there. Between you and me, I got the feeling he was afraid someone might figure out how Futuro really functioned.”

“Inventors tend to be a little paranoid when it comes to protecting their work,” Matthias said. “With good reason. What can you tell me about Charlie Hubbard, the assistant?”

“Not much,” Tillings said. “He wasn’t here very long and while he was around, he kept to himself.”

“Did you see Hubbard backstage during the demonstration?” Matthias asked.

“No. I was out front watching from the last row. I told you, Pickwell didn’t want anyone to get too close to his precious robot.”

“When was the last time you noticed Charlie Hubbard?” Matthias asked.

Tillings pondered that briefly and then shook his head. “I’m not sure. To tell you the truth, what with everything that’s been going on, I forgot about him until now. I reckon the last time I laid eyes on him was right before the performance. I took a quick look backstage, just to make sure he didn’t need anything, y’know? I saw Hubbard putting a record on the record player. He got mad when he noticed me and told me to get lost.”

“I would appreciate it if you would give me a tour backstage,” Matthias said.

Tillings went blank. “You were just back there.”

“I’d like to take another look.”

“Okay.” Tillings got to his feet. “Any idea what you’re looking for?”

“Anything that looks different to you,” Matthias said.

Tillings went down a short hall and opened a door. Matthias followed him into the shadowy space behind the heavy red curtains.

“Take a good look around and tell me if there is anything here that looks different from the way it was when you checked on Hubbard just before the demonstration,” Matthias said.

Tillings shrugged. “Everything looks the same as it always does. Most of this stuff belongs to the theater. The shipping crate and the record player belong to Dr. Pickwell, of course, but I saw them just before the show. They haven’t been moved. Huh.”

“What?” Matthias asked.

Tillings took another look around. “The trunk is gone.”

“What trunk?” Matthias asked.

“I was here when Hubbard arrived with Pickwell’s stuff. I had to unlock the back door. In addition to the crate and the record player there was a large trunk. Looked like the kind theater people use for props and costumes. I assume it contained the things that the robot picked up and carried around onstage during the demonstration, like the flower vase.”

“You’re sure about the trunk?” Matthias asked.

“Yeah,” Tillings said. “I remember because I asked the assistant if he needed any help with it. He said no.”

Matthias looked at Luther. “And now it’s gone.”

“Think it’s important?” Luther asked.

“Maybe,” Matthias said. “Because it’s missing, and right now anything that’s missing is interesting.”

A short time later Detective Brandon left to see if there had been any progress locating Charlie Hubbard. Leaving Chester behind to deal with the logistics of moving Futuro to the workshop, Matthias, Luther, and Oliver walked out into the fog-shrouded morning.

“Let me know if there is anything else I can do to help,” Oliver said.

He got into his speedster and drove off in the direction of the Burning Cove Hotel.

Matthias watched the sleek vehicle disappear down the street.

“Nice car,” he said.

“They say it’s the fastest car in California,” Luther said. “It’s a replacement for the one that Oliver used to drive. Some days he would take the other one out to an empty stretch of highway and drive it very, very fast. He doesn’t do that anymore.”

“Why not?” Matthias asked.

“He got married,” Luther said. “His wife, Irene, won’t let him risk his neck these days. I hear they’re expecting a baby.”