“Correct.” Jason couldn’t help adding, “I think.”
Sam cocked an eyebrow but let that go. “You believe it will be impossible to recover the Khan art collection because—and this is where I get confused—you suspect a band of local magicians stole the collection in order to redistribute pieces to people within the magic community, who have arrived in Cheyenne for a magic convention. These would be people Michael Khan injured by ruining their acts, stealing from them, or just generally doing them wrong.”
Jason cleared his throat. “When you put it like that, it sounds a little…unlikely.”
“I wouldn’t say that,” Sam said. “I would say it sounds a lot unlikely.”
Jason scowled. “Maybe it does, but the thieves were definitely dressed like magicians. And it would explain how they got in through the front door without having to break anything.”
“Magical powers?” Sam suggested.
“No, wise guy. A lot of magicians carry picklocks.”
“I see. Okay.” Sam picked up his coffee mug and took a thoughtful swallow. “Lock-picking magicians aside, that’s a lot of supposition.”
“I know.”
“Your only evidence seems to be the security footage, and yet you said the unsubs on the video were unrecognizable.”
“That doesn’t mean no one will be able to recognize them. Just that I can’t. Plus, the security footage is unenhanced. It’s possible that the images could be cleaned up and enlarged.”
“True. Do you have a theory as to who these magical unsubs might be?”
“Yes.” Jason took a deep breath. “Again, this is liable to sound a little…fantastic.”
“It’s never stopped you before, West.”
Jason gave a reluctant laugh. “Well, first we have to start with the victim, Michael Khan. He seems to have been universally loathed within the Cheyenne magic community. I mean, we didn’t speak to anyone who seemed upset at the news he’d been murdered. Or even surprised. The common refrain was that he lied, cheated, and stole from his peers whether through ruining their acts by revealing the secrets of magic or out-and-out theft and fraud of art and memorabilia.”
“Not a nice guy. Got it.”
“His collection was a particular sore spot with a lot of people, and to understand why that’s significant, you have to understand the role that tradition and history play in the magic community. It’s a little different than the rest of the art world because magic itself is an art.”
“You’re starting to lose me.” Sam pointed to Jason’s mug. “You want a top-up?”
Jason shook his head.
“I’m still listening.” Sam rose and went into the kitchen. Jason followed, still talking.
“The main market for art and props and costumes like those in Khan’s collection is other magicians, who tend to think of themselves as custodians of…”
“Don’t say magical artifacts.” Sam refilled his coffee cup, dosed it with cream and sugar, and leaned against the kitchen counter, regarding Jason.
“Obviously not magical artifacts, but valuable heirlooms. Items of cultural and historical significance to a small and close-knit community. So when word got out that the Khans were divorcing and that Minerva Khan wanted her share of the collection, I think there was widespread concern for the fate of these items. Especially given that a lot of people still felt they had a claim to things that Khan had not paid for or had obtained through unfair or even illegal means.”
Sam said, “You’re making a convincing case for robbing Michael Khan. What have you got beyond that? I’m guessing you think you know who was behind the theft.”
“Yes. I think the raiding party was organized by a woman named Elle Diamond. One of her coconspirators subconsciously called her out when he mentioned the name Zatanna Zatara.”
Sam opened his mouth,
and Jason hurried on, “Never mind. In the back lot of her ranch, there’s a moving van that fits the description of the one parked outside the Khan house. She’s got several barns and sheds and storage units that would be ideal for hiding the more than one thousand bits and pieces that make up that collection, and she was the first and only suspect to bring up the topic of search warrants.”
Sam grunted.
“There was a memorial held for Mateo Santos on the night of the robbery. I believe that Santos’ peers took that opportunity to celebrate a master magician’s life and work by pulling the ultimate sleight-of-hand—and in doing so, settle a score and liberate that collection. It was the perfect time because a lot of Khan’s victims will be in town this weekend for the convention.”
Sam took a thoughtful swallow of coffee. “You’re going to need a lot more than that in order to get a search warrant.”