The Bakers and Bulldogs Mysteries Collection: 20 Book Box Set

by Rosie Sams

  “No! Rockford, please!” His words jolted her. She stepped back from them and immediately stopped destroying the set. “I need this gig, and I need Vegas. Don’t do this to me!” Thelma’s tone changed quickly as she began to sob through her coughs and sniffles. She pleaded with him out of desperation.

  “You’re off the bill. That’s final. Now, get off my stage.”

  Thelma inhaled deeply as she attempted to calm herself down. The attempt launched her into a coughing fit. She wheezed, then coughed again. Everyone watched and waited for her to stop. Finally, she composed herself, stood perfectly upright, shoulders back and chin up, projecting the perfect assistant’s attitude. She turned on her heels and walked off the stage with grace and poise, which were only broken when she could no longer hold back another fit of body racking coughs.

  Clive followed her until Rockford barked at him. “Clive, stay! She knows the way out. Get this set back in order so that Claudia and I can continue to practice, and I want the entire stage and props disinfected.”

  “But, Rockford, that will delay the opening,” Clive said.

  “I am worth the wait. I’m sure the audience wouldn’t want me to catch a cold.”

  “Or Claudia.”

  “Yes. Fine. Her, too. Now hurry it up and bring the cookies. Thelma has driven me mad, and I need a cookie!” Clive sighed and disappeared off stage. A moment later, he was headed up the center aisle toward Alvin, Melody, and Smudge.

  “That poor woman is sick, and your idol is a real jerk,” Melody said to Alvin. “There’s nothing ‘resplendent’ about him. He’s more like The Rotten Rockford.” Clive approached them just in time to hear her words.

  “I’m so sorry you had to witness that scene. I hope you’ll still come back for the show later,” he said.

  “Don’t worry, Clive. We understand that this is a stressful time. We’ll be back after we take Smudge home.” She then lowered her voice as if she was revealing a secret. “While Alvin loves magic, Smudge finds it kind of boring.” As if on cue, Smudge yawned and shook her body from her cute nose to the little nub of her tail. “I hope that Rockford is just behaving this way from the stress of the event,” she said, frowning upon Rockford’s behavior toward his staff.

  Clive shrugged and escorted them up the aisle to the main doors.

  “Rockford is an artist and is well-respected in the magic community. When you two come back, have the usher let me know you’re here. I’ll have them escort you in right away. I think we’re going to be a bit late, and I don’t want you to have to wait outside again.”

  “That’s kind of you but focus on your marching orders. It will be a great event.”

  “Yes, well… I better get to work. The stage won’t clean itself.”

  Smudge instinctively nuzzled Clive’s leg affectionately. Melody smiled. She adored how Smudge had the sense to know the man was stressed. Clive kneeled down to pet the little dog’s head.

  “You’re a good girl, Smudge.”

  She kissed his nose just before Melody and Alvin led her away.

  Chapter One Hundred Ninety-Three

  “Here you go, Smudge.” Melody helped the little Frenchie snuggle into her bed, then tucked Smudge’s favorite toy, a stuffed purple elephant, in with her. Smudge mouthed the elephant’s ear contentedly, then rolled on her back for a last-minute belly rub. Of course, Melody obliged. “All right, but just a quick one. Alvin and I have to get ready for our big date night–it’s going to be magical.”

  Alvin fidgeted with his tie. “I see what you did there.”

  “Yes, now when my friends ask how the night went, I can honestly say it was magical–or even, enchanting.” She was on a roll.

  “Well, two of your friends will be there to witness it in all of its splendor. We should hurry up, or we’ll be late to meet Leslie and Wilbur,” he said, but then sighed glumly immediately after the words left his mouth. “Maybe we should just skip the show?” He suddenly seemed less enthusiastic about the event. He had changed into a pair of fitted black slacks, and a crisp blue button-down shirt that enhanced the color of his eyes. For a moment, Melody’s heart skipped a beat as she watched him wrestle with the tie. She gave Smudge’s belly one last pat, then headed over to help Alvin.

  “What are you talking about?” Her fingers gently moved his out of the way, so she could untie the necktie. She did it slowly, letting the soft fabric slip between her fingers. While it may have appeared that she was there to rescue him from the battle of the tie, she fully intended on removing it. “You’ve been crazy about this show since we got back from Vegas. Are you worried about the germs? I’ll bring hand sanitizer,” she said it as if hand sanitizer solved all the world’s problems. He lowered his gaze and watched her fingers loosen the tie instead of secure it.

  “You know, you’re supposed to be helping me tie this thing, not untie it, right?”

  “Uh, huh.” She continued untying it slowly.

  He inhaled, trying to focus on his point. “After seeing the magician behind the curtain, I’m just not that impressed. He’s a mean guy which is strange because part of his allure is that he engages with his fans. It felt like he was threatening Thelma when he said that it was time for her to disappear.” Melody was standing so close to him that the scent of her hair distracted him. “Your hair smells so good.” He slipped his fingers through it, feeling its softness.

  “Well, Sheriff,” she said as she pulled the necktie from his neck slowly. “If Thelma goes missing, you’ll have your primary suspect, and you’ll be ahead of the game.”

  Smudge barked in agreement then went back to playing with her toy elephant.

  Melody lifted her hand in the air. The tie was pinched between her fingertips. “Watch, as I make it disappear.” In an instant, she snapped open her fingers, and it cascaded to the floor. Then, she unbuttoned the top button of his shirt. “There, that’s much better.” She placed a kiss on his neck, just before she draped her arms around his shoulders. “I will say, Sheriff, you make a pretty tempting argument for skipping the show.” She rolled up on her toes and pressed her soft lips to his.

  “Oh, I think you’re making a much better argument.”

  “Still, I think we should go,” she said, in between the kisses. “You love magic and the man is talented. You can still appreciate the art, if not the man, and who knows when you’ll get to see him, again.”

  Alvin hugged her body tight to his. “One of the reasons why I love you is because you always know what to say and how to make me feel better.”

  “One of the reasons? Are there many?” she teased.

  “Yes, the other reason is, you really know how to loosen a necktie.”

  “If you keep talking sweet to me, we’ll be late for the performance, really late.”

  “They’ve got a lot of sanitizing to do. I think we’ve got a few more minutes, at least.”

  Chapter One Hundred Ninety-Four

  “Pick a card, any card.” The Resplendent Rockford had selected a guest from the audience. He was running through a series of tried and true “parlor tricks.”

  Clive had done an excellent and speedy job of sanitizing the stage, so the show had started only a half-hour late, which was hardly noticeable. A master of distraction, Rockford took the time to greet some of the guests that had been waiting. It put their focus on meeting a celebrity magician, and not the fact that it was his idea to make them wait.

  Melody’s eyes scanned the stage area and the shadows around it. “There’s no sign of Thelma or that Wayne guy,” she whispered to Alvin, who was entranced by the show. Together, they sat with Leslie and Wilbur, at the front and center. Their seats were spectacular thanks to Clive.

  “Stop worrying. Watch the show,” Alvin said back to her just before a round of applause echoed through the theater.

  Of course, Rockford had guessed his impromptu assistant’s card. While she hadn’t found anything unique about his tricks, Melody noticed his on-stage persona was far warmer than that of
the man they had met on their tour. She suspected this side of his personality, more than his magic skills, was what appealed to his fans.

  “Claudia looks healthy and sparkly,” Melody noted as she turned her focus back to the performance.

  The pretty assistant dutifully collected the cards then helped Rockford segue to the next series of tricks such as levitating, bending spoons, and plucking objects from thin air. She was the perfect distraction as she looked stunning in Thelma’s costume, and not a cough or sneeze was heard from her.

  Seeing the performance in action helped Melody appreciate how Thelma’s illness may have ruined the show, so her attitude about Rockford softened a bit.

  “Ladies and gentlemen,” Rockford said with a bit of charm in his tone. “This is exhausting work. Does anyone mind if I smoke? It helps me relax.” He raised his hands; palms open to show the audience that they were empty. Then, he patted his body as if he forgot where he put his cigarettes. “I know it’s a terrible habit, but they’re herbal.” His silly joke made the audience chuckle. Next, he snapped his fingers as if he had remembered where he put them. He lifted his fingertips to Claudia’s lips. She stood very still, feigning a look of surprise until Rockford carefully withdrew his fingers, leaving a clove cigarette between her lips. “Ah, there we go! My last one!”

  The audience applauded his discovery. Then, he flicked his thumb against his finger, creating a spark of fire and lit the cigarette.

  The audience expressed their admiration by oohing and aahing in unison.

  Melody elbowed Alvin. “That’s the trick I saw Wayne Arlen do in the alley! Rockford totally stole it!”

  “We don’t know that Rockford stole it.” Alvin winced and rubbed his arm. “Maybe Wayne stole it from Rockford.”

  As part of the act, Claudia took the cigarette and dropped it to the floor. She stomped it out and shook a finger at Rockford. “Smoking is bad for your health! Don’t do it.”

  The audience whistled and cheered!

  “Ladies and gentlemen, this is the perfect time for me to formally introduce the special lady that has been assisting me this evening, Ms. Claudia Conway!”

  Claudia stepped forward and offered an elaborate bow of gratitude as the audience cheered again.

  “She stepped in at a moment’s notice, and like a true professional, she embraced the opportunity. She is a rising star, and she’s pretty easy on the eyes too, don’t you think?”

  Wow, it’s a good thing Thelma isn’t here to hear that little speech, Melody thought.

  Someone in the crowd agreed with Rockford. He wolf-whistled, enthusiastically. Melody turned toward the sound and saw Sam smiling proudly up at the stage. Claudia’s cheeks flushed a bit from all the fuss, but she was reveling in the moment!

  As the applause died down, Rockford moved across the stage with such grace that he appeared to float rather than walk. “Now, I ask you, my attentive audience. Do you think Claudia is ready to take my life into her own hands? Is she prepared for the responsibility? Do you, citizens of Port Warren, believe Ms. Claudia is ready to handle the Slaughtering Sarcophagus?” he said the words with flare, expecting to get a rise from the audience.

  On cue, they cheered and screamed, encouraging Claudia to take on the task at hand.

  Melody jumped in her seat, shocked by how loud they roared. Alvin was applauding like a madman. This is one blood-lusting crowd, she thought - even though she knew it was just a magic trick.

  The Resplendent Rockford held up both hands to quiet the audience. “We will need complete silence for this next event. Let us all concentrate on Claudia so she feels the supportive energy in the room. Her moves must be precise, for if she is even off by a hair, all may be lost!”

  He stood frozen until the audience was dead silent.

  Then, he and Claudia rolled the Slaughtering Sarcophagus to the center of the stage. Clive joined them momentarily to slide forward a rack of seven sharp swords. The overhead lights glinted off their polished silver blades.

  Rockford took his position behind the ornate casket that sat atop a metal cart. Pressing his fingertips to the lid, he swept them over the top of it, then knocked on the wood. He then continued to knock on all its sides to show the audience that the wood was solid.

  Claudia passed him a wand with a big mirror on the end of it, then flipped open the lid. “Full transparency, folks! No tricks here!” Rockford flashed a cheesy grin that had the audience chuckling at the irony. Rockford used this to show the audience the inside and underside of the box. The metal rack was uncovered, revealing that there was no trap door underneath the casket. In fact, Rockford’s legs could be seen behind it. Claudia pointed to his legs, distracting the audience, and Rockford danced a merry little jig to prove he controlled his legs; they weren’t part of some illusion.

  “Psst, Mel. Pay attention. This is his signature trick,” Alvin whispered.

  Once they had presented the box’s condition to the audience, Claudia rolled a short staircase in front of the box. Rockford used it to step inside and dramatically lay down. Every move was made with grace and flourish, and was designed to captivate the audience, guiding their eyes.

  Claudia locked him inside and then pulled the first sword. The formula was the same for every blade. She’d remove it from the weapons rack, show the audience that the sword was sharp and did not bend or disappear into its handle. Then she’d line each up with a hidden slot carved into a side panel of the wood and she’d push the sword through it. There were seven swords in total. The first set of swords pierced into Rockford’s chest area. Another two crisscrossed near his groin. This pair brought plenty of winces from the audience.

  Each time, Rockford strategically cracked a joke, so that people knew he was still alive and kicking. “Not dead yet, but now my voice is a little higher!”

  Claudia then wielded two swords and plunged them simultaneously through the box where Rockford’s shoulders would be.

  “It’s ok, folks. I didn’t need those arms!”

  Then finally, it was time for the last blade. This one would, in theory, cut Rockford’s throat. This sword was incredibly ornate. The handle was carved with an elaborate design, and with this sword, Rockford had taught Claudia to be very dramatic in her movements.

  “You should treat this sword like it’s the Excalibur itself! Be sure to let the stage lights glint off it. You want the audience to ooh and aah when they see it,” he had told her.

  Finally, she was ready to plunge the sword into the slot that lined up with Rockford’s neck. She played into the scene as well by twisting her face into a more maniacal grin rather than a pretty pageant style smile. She even looked at the audience to encourage them to egg her on. Should she plunge it into the box, yes or no? The audience, of course, roared with encouragement.

  Swiftly, she plunged the sword into the sarcophagus! The audience went crazy, cheering! But, Rockford remained silent, as he had instructed Claudia he would.

  “He’s not saying anything.” Melody felt a tingle of fear.

  “That’s part of the act,” Alvin said, assuring her.

  “That he’s quiet?”

  “Yep, he conditioned everyone to hear him after every sword. Now, he’s building tension.”

  Alvin was correct that this was part of Rockford’s plan. The audience fell silent as Claudia moved around the box to show them that all parts were still intact except where the swords penetrated the box. As she began flipping the locks of the box up, her facial expression changed to one of confusion. Something about the audience was now distracting her. From her perspective, it looked like they were jumping up from their seats, then pointing at her, and shouting urgently.

  “Alvin, what is that red stuff dripping from the box? Is that part of the act, too?” Melody jumped up from her seat and pointed just as the other audience members started to shout–and scream!

  Chapter One Hundred Ninety-Five

  “I don’t think that’s part of the act,” Alvin said. His voice was
full of dread.

  The audience was screaming words that were inaudible to Claudia. She looked confused on the stage even though she tried to smile and maintain her composure just as Rockford had instructed her to do. He said that she, as the assistant, should always keep her face toward the audience. It was her job to keep them engaged while the illusionist worked his magic. She merely needed to unlock the hinges, then dramatically remove the blades one by one. After the last one was removed, Rockford would pop the lid open and leap out of the box, revealing that he was entirely unscathed.

  “Get him out of there!” someone yelled from the crowd.

  “You killed him!” another voice shouted.

  “Wilbur, call the station. Have them send backup and EMS now. Melody, let’s go.” They all struggled to get out of the center aisle which was blocked with other guests scrambling to exit the building. They were trapped on both sides until Alvin spotted another way. He hurdled over the seats in front of him until he reached the stage. The others followed his path.

  Meanwhile, Claudia’s smile finally melted from her face as she made out more of the audience’s words. Her adrenaline seemed to have kicked in, and she reacted much differently than they had rehearsed. She skipped the step of removing the blades and dropped the flare. Her fingers fumbled frantically with the hinges. If he was alive and well, surely, he’d fire her for screwing up the act, but something was clearly amiss. From the corner of her eye, she saw Sam hurrying toward the stage, just as she freed the final hinge. He looked horrified. She stepped back, still expecting Rockford to pop the lid open and leap from the prop. Milliseconds had passed. They seemed more like minutes as everyone struggled to get to the stage, but Rockford never popped up from the Slaughtering Sarcophagus.

  “That’s blood! Help him!” a fan screamed from the balcony.

  There’s no telling what made Claudia look down, but she did. That’s when she spotted red splatter on her nude shoes. She finally saw what the audience had been trying to tell her. A pool of blood had spread underneath the metal cart. Panic quickly set in, and she flipped open the top of the box. That’s when a horrified Claudia let out a blood-curdling scream confirming The Resplendent Rockford was no more!