Page 81 of Murder By Misdirection

She moved to center to take a bow as the curtain closed, and the house lights came up to signify that it was intermission.

“She was really good,” Luther gushed.

Pro nodded her head. “I have to say she was. I am really surprised. Every time I talked to her, she seemed so scattered. I didn’t think she would be so good.” She looked over at Luther. “Wow, it’s been so long since I did this.”

“Did what?”

“Just go to a show. I mean, I’m on duty this time, but even so. I guess I’ve been focused on work too much.”

“Well, Detective Thompson, if you give this man a chance, I would like to change that.”

Pro looked at him wryly. “Be careful what you offer, Mister Ardoin. You might turn a girl’s head.”

“I’m not worried about girls. Only the woman I’m talking to.”

“Do you always say the perfect thing?”

“Working on it.”

Pro stood up. “I have to keep moving, studying the crowd. Someone set up that blood thing that happened with Brent.”

“Bit of a shock for Brent the Great,” said Luther.

“What did you call him?”

“Brent the Great. That’s how the emcee introduced him.”

Pro stared into space.

“You okay, Pro?” Luther puzzled.

“Brent the Great!” Pro said absently. “BTG! He’s [email protected]! I have to get backstage.”

“Need help?”

Pro looked at the guard and his strong body. “If you could go out front. If Brent makes a break for it, can you stop him?”

“I’m on it,” he said and headed up the aisle.

Pro headed the opposite direction toward the stage. She passed by the tall man with the beard and glanced up into his blue eyes as she pushed past him.

A performer, Tony was starting to do a card routine in the first row. “A little close-up magic, folks! Going on right here, the magic never stops…”

She ran past him, up the stairs and through the front curtain. For a moment, she stopped as the lights were low, and it took her a moment for her eyes to adjust.

“Tom!” she hollered as she moved backstage and into the dressing room.

“Yes, Pro,” Tom said, as he rose from the steps where he’d been sitting.

“Where’s Brent?”

“I don’t know. I was backstage during the show with Mister Shaut.”

“He’s [email protected]!”

“What, how do you know that?”

“He’s Brent the Great! Is Shaut here?”