The more the two of them talked, the more Jett became sure he was dealing with one of the most boring people on the planet. His initial reaction to the detective entering the room had been one of interest. The man was broad, impressively so, his arms corded with thick muscle. The light brown hair and dark green eyes had been attention getters, and Jett had almost immediately been impressed by the strong shape of Hernandez’s jaw.

Within the span of only a few minutes however, Jett realized the deep color of Hernandez’s eyes belayed little of what was behind them. The detective was as stiff as he was good-looking, and Jett felt his initial spark of interest die a quick death. Hernandez was becoming as interesting to Jett as unbuttered toast, though he was having a good time poking at the man. Jett thought he had seen a look of true annoyance in the detective’s eyes when he had seen his bifold tucked in Jett’s pocket, but it wasn’t quite the reaction Jett was hoping for.

Hernandez checked the contents of the bifold before sliding it back into his jacket. “Do you feel better now?”

Jett chuckled. “I’m only trying to help you relax, Detective.”

“You can help by telling me your alibi for last night. In case you couldn’t hear over the sound of applause, someone was murdered, and it’s looking more and more like the murderer was a magician. So, if you’d like to start talking seriously, now would be an excellent time to start,” Hernandez said, his voice low.

Jett felt another smart comment bubble up in his mind and quietly shoved it away. As much as he wanted to get a true reaction out of Hernandez, Jett was aware of the murky waters he was swimming through. It hadn’t taken long after being dragged backstage to speak to the uniformed officers for Jett to realize the kind of trouble he might be in. As fun as it was to poke the bear, he didn’t think it was wise to purposely irritate the detective who might be all that was standing between Jett and a jail cell.

“My alibi is easy, if you’re talking last night. I had a show at ten PM. Rehearsal for the show started at six, so from six until about two AM, I was in the theater, preparing, practicing, performing, and then cleaning up. I returned to my own room by three after a drink at the bar. There are several people who can attest to my whereabouts during that time, and I’m sure Stephanie has the place loaded to the gills with the newest and greatest security cameras, which could show you where I was. I’ve not left the property in days.”.

Hernandez scribbled away at his notepad. “The security recordings have been forwarded to our technical department and they’ll be looking things over. We’ll need a list of people who saw you during the times you weren’t on stage, to verify your story.”

“I’ll be sure to have my assistant draw one up for you,” Jett said amiably.

“Were you familiar with the victim?” Hernandez asked, eyes now riveted on the pad of paper clenched in his hand.

Jett watched the detective for a moment, unable to help analyzing the man’s behavior. When Hernandez had first entered the room, he had looked as if he were staring directly into the sun, or like Jett had been waiting for him naked, spread out and on full display. As the interview had continued, Hernandez seemed to be doing his absolute best to keep his attention on anything but Jett. He wasn’t sure if he made the detective uncomfortable, or if Hernandez simply didn’t like him, as the man’s face was nearly impossible to read.

One thing he was sure of was that his name was on the suspect list. “Oliver? Who in the magic world doesn’t know of him? His most recent endeavor was to broadcast as many of our secrets as he possibly could.”

“And this angered you?” Hernandez asked.

Jett simpered at him. “Any magician worth his or her salt would be angry at this annoying little man deciding our trade secrets were meant for public consumption. The entire point of the magician is for them to leave you guessing.”

“Wouldn’t you say people want to know the secrets?” Hernandez asked, looking up.

Jett snorted. “People don’t know what they want. They think they want the answers, but after the answers are handed out, the people are left feeling disappointed. When people want answers, they watch thrillers and read mystery novels, where everything is summed up neatly by the end. When people come to see magic shows, they come for the awe and the wonder. Having the answers ruins the mystique.”

“And you think something like that would be worth killing over?” Hernandez asked mildly.

Jett fought not to roll his eyes. “I’m sure someone would be willing to do it. You can cast your suspicious gaze elsewhere, Detective, because I’m not the someone you’re looking for.”

Rico cocked his head. “You would certainly gain a lot from the man’s death.”

“And stand to lose even more if I killed him and was found out. A ruined trick can always be replaced by another. A life sentence in prison is not so easily fixed.”.

Hernandez paused, seeming to give Jett’s words some thought. Jett didn’t miss the man’s gaze as it slid down his body to where he sat in the chair. He wasn’t going to flatter himself and believe the detective was checking him out. If asked, he would admit he didn’t believe the detective would know a good time, or a fine sight, if it reared up and bit him in the face.

No, the brief flash of consternation which flashed over Hernandez’s face was one Jett had seen before. If he were a gambling man, Jett would bet Hernandez was attempting to figure out how Jett had pulled the little switcheroo trick with the bifold. For all to see, Jett was sat innocently in a chair, arms behind his back and wrists manacled together with the handcuffs. For a moment, he wondered if the detective would ask him how he had done it, and Jett would relish the moment of taunting him with the oldest and most well-known magician’s line.

Hernandez seemed to remember what good magicians never do and grunted. “Would you have any idea who might have done it?”

Jett shrugged, the cuffs jingling softly behind him. “I tried to avoid Oliver as much as I could. The man enjoyed sticking his nose in other people’s business. The farther he was from me and my act, the better I felt. You honestly believe it was a magician who did it?”

Hernandez frowned, giving a jerk of his head in a nod. “Considering the evidence, a magician would be the prime suspect.”

Namely Jett from the sound of it, but Jett smiled at the thought. “Then perhaps you could use a little bit of assistance? I would be more than happy to help by being your private dick in this case.”

“And why would I need your help?”

Jett almost laughed but kept it to a dull snort. “Because if you honestly think a magician did this, then you’ll need a magician’s help, won’t you? Unless you think you can somehow figure it out on your own. Have you ever aspired to be a magician, Detective? This might just be your big break.”

Hernandez snorted, pocketing his notepad. “I think I’ll manage well enough on my own, thank you.”

Jett wasn’t surprised. “Well, do keep my offer in mind, would you? I believe it would be a great deal of fun, and I’m sure I could be of great use.”

Hernandez’s neutral expression never shifted. “This is a murder investigation, Mr. Richards, not playtime. If you want to have a go at being a detective, find a computer game. And I’ll remind you to not interfere in the investigation. We don’t need an untrained civilian running around mucking it up.”

Jett grinned. “Military man, that explains it.”

Hernandez looked surprised, before the expression was stifled. “You recognized it on sight? Most civilians don’t.”

“Most civilians aren’t military brats either. I was raised around your type, Detective. I can smell you a mile away,” Jett boasted, widening his grin.

“Am I to assume you won’t be leaving the hotel anytime soon?” Hernandez asked, ignoring the bait.

Jett nodded. “Of course, I still have shows to perform. I’m sure it will be quite easy for you to find me should you ever need my services. Say, do you happen to have the time?”

Hernandez pulled his left arm up to check the time, freezing at the sight of bare flesh rather than the sparkling band of silver of his watch. For a moment, Jett saw something else beneath the surprise, not quite anger, but almost nervous fear. The detective’s gaze pulled up to Jett, wide eyed, his surprise replaced with annoyance.

Jett, arms still bound behind his back, only smiled.