The Vanished Man (Lincoln Rhyme 5)

for Kids Young and Old

Governor, Mayor Meet

on New West Side Plan

"One of those's significant," Rhyme said. But which one? Was the killer targeting the girls' school? The gala? Had he tested out a gimmick that disrupted the electricity at the police station? He felt all the more frustrated because they had some new evidence but its meaning remained elusive.

Sellitto's phone rang. As he took the call, everyone stared at him, anticipating another death.

The time was now 1:03.

Well into the afternoon, well into the killing time.

But apparently the news wasn't bad. The detective lifted an eyebrow in pleasant surprise and said into the receiver, "That's right. . . . Really? Well, that's not far away. Could you come over here?" He then gave Rhyme's address and hung up.

"Who?"

"Edward Kadesky. The manager of the circus in Ohio, the one where Weir was burned. He's in town. He got the message from his service in Chicago and he's coming over to talk to us."

THE CONJURER

Music School Crime Scene

* Perp's description: Brown hair, fake beard, no distinguishing, medium build, medium height, age: fifties. Ring and little fingers of left hand fused together. Changed costume quickly to resemble old, bald janitor.

* No apparent motive.

* Victim: Svetlana Rasnikov.

* Full-time music student.

* Checking family, friends, students, coworkers for possible leads.

* No boyfriends, no known enemies. Performed at children's birthday parties.

* Circuit board with speaker attached.

* Sent to FBI lab, NYC.

* Digital recorder, probably containing perp's voice. All data destroyed.

* Voice recorder is a "gimmick." Homemade.

* Used antique iron handcuffs to restrain victim.

* Handcuffs are Darby irons. Scotland Yard. Checking with Houdini Museum in New Orleans for leads.

* Sold to Erick Weir last month. Sent to Denver P.O. box. No other leads.

* Destroyed victim's watch at exactly 8:00 A.M.

* Cotton string holding chairs. Generic. Too many sources to trace.

* Squib for gunshot effect. Destroyed.

* Too many sources to trace.

* Fuse. Generic.