Chapter 9 8

Lincoln, this is Carla. Rhyme could tell that Sachs must have warned the girl in advance, but she still couldn't help blinking her eyes in surprise when she saw him for the first time, with that expression on her face.It was the look he was familiar with, and the smile that came with it.This is the famous don't look at his body-like gaze, followed by ah, I didn't notice you were a crippled smile just now. Lime also knew quite well that the countdown would start after she came in, and she just wanted to leave this place quickly. But the goblin girl strode into the laboratory in Rhyme's living room.Hi, Emilia wants me to come over and see if I can help you with your case.Nice to meet you.She spoke, looking intently into his eyes.At least, her body didn't make any unnatural movements, unlike ordinary people who wanted to reach out but stopped urgently, and then secretly regretted that she shouldn't have lost her composure in her heart.

It's okay, Carla, don't worry about it.You can hurry up and tell me what you know about this cripple, and then I can get out of this damn place right away. He smiled at her faintly, completely in line with her actions just now, and then said that he was also very happy to meet her. There is no irony in his words, at least, it is based on a professional standpoint.After all, Kara was the only magician willing to come to their rescue in their predicament, and no one else in the store was willing to help, and everyone had come up with an alibi for the time of the murder. Sachs continued to introduce Kara to Ron.Sellitto and Mel.Cooper knew.When Thomas was introduced, he gave a gracious nod and then, in one of his signature gestures (without ignoring Lymegow's displeasure), asked if she would like a drink.

Thomas, this is not a church meeting.Rhyme grumbled. Kara declined, but Thomas insisted she had something to drink. Well, coffee is ready.she says. right away. I just want black coffee with sugar, can I double it? This isn't Lyme, and I want to say something else. Now that everyone is here, Thomas said loudly: "I'll make a big pot, and get some bacon along the way." And bacon?Sellitto asked. Why don't you just use your free time to open a restaurant, Rhyme yelled at his nurse: so you can have a good time serving. What is free time?The spruced-up blond snickered at Rhyme before heading off to the kitchen.

Constable Sachs told us that Rhyme said to Kara: You know something that can help us. Maybe.She studied Rhyme's face carefully again.The look was there again, and this time it was more pronounced.Oh my God, please tell me something.Ask me how I got it, if it hurts, and how it feels to pee into the catheter. By the way, what shall we call him?Sellitto slapped the whiteboard with the list of evidence on it.Before knowing the suspect's name, many detectives always have a habit of picking up a nickname for the suspect.How about calling him a magician? No, that sounds too mundane.Rhyme said, looking at the photos of the victim at the same time.You might as well call him a sorcerer.This sudden name surprised him a little.

I feel good. Sellitto immediately picked up a whiteboard marker and wrote the name on the top of the evidence sheet in a handwriting that was far less graceful than Thomas's. magician Now, let's see if we can conjure him up.Lyme said. Sachs says: Kara, tell them about the Vanisher. As the young girl runs her hand through her boyish hair, she describes the tricks of the illusionist almost exactly as they would have been performed by the conjurer at the music school. However, she also revealed a frustrating fact. This technique is familiar to all illusionists.Rhyme asked: Tell us a little more about tricks, technically, so that if he wants to attack someone next time, we can grasp him.

You want me to vent? vent what? Let out the bottom.Carla said, and then explained: You also know that all illusions of the magician are composed of effects and methods.The effect is what the spectator sees, say, levitating a girl in the air, or letting a copper plate pass through a solid table; Pull another identical copper plate from under the table with a rope. The effect and the method, Rhyme can't help thinking, are a lot like what I'm doing: the effect is the arrest of an impossible suspect, and the method is the science and logic that get us there. Carla went on to say: To tell the bottom means to tell the way the trick is constructed.Like I just did, revealing how the Vanishing Man trick is accomplished.This is a very sensitive matter.Mr. Balzac, my teacher, what he hates the most are those who like to leak in public places and casually reveal the techniques of other magicians to everyone.

Thomas came in with a tray and poured out a cup for everyone who wanted coffee.Carla added quite a bit of sugar to her cup, and although Rhyme thought the coffee would look hot, she took several quick sips.Rhyme's eyes drifted across the living room to the eighteen year old single malt Macallan on the opposite bookshelf.Thomas noticed his eyes and said: It's only morning, don't touch that kind of thing. Sellitto looked greedily at the bacon on the tray.But he only let himself eat half of it, and without the cream cheese.He chewed carefully one bite at a time, but the expression on his face was quite painful.

Next, they showed Kara all the evidence, and after she carefully studied each piece, she told a depressing news. The source of these evidences was too large to estimate.That rope is a color-changing rope trick, available at all Schwartz's toy stores and magic prop stores nationwide.That knot is the knot Houdini used when performing the escape technique. Basically, it is impossible for the performer to untie it, only by cutting the rope. Even without handcuffs, Carla said softly: That girl has no chance of breaking free from the ropes. Is this kind of knot very rare? She answered in the negative, anyone who has studied Houdini's juggling a little knows how to play this kind of knot.

Carla goes on to explain, regarding the castor oil in the makeup, that he uses pretty realistic and durable theater makeup; the lotion, as Rhyme guessed, may have come from fake finger cots, which are also common magician props .As for the alginate, Carla said the source was not related to the dentist, but was used to make cast latex models, possibly for finger cots or the bald gloves he used to disguise himself as coworkers.Invisible ink is nothing new, and some illusionists use it regularly in their performances. She explained that only a few of these exhibits were unusual, such as circuit boards (a secret device, a prop invisible to the audience, she said), but that the gangsters had made them themselves.As for the pair of derby-style handcuffs, they are quite rare.Rhyme immediately decided to send someone to the Escape Art Museum in New Orleans, and Sachs suggested that the two policemen who had gone to the scene to deal with it earlier, Diane.Frank and Nancy.Orson, because it's the kind of job best suited to a fresh-blooded rookie like them.Rhyme agreed, and Sellitto immediately contacted the Patrol to arrange the matter.

What about the part about the escape technique?Sellitto said: "How did the suspect manage to change clothes and pretend to be a co-worker in such a short period of time?" This is called cross-dressing, Kara said: quick transformation, I have also studied this trick for several years.I use it occasionally in performances, but it's a staple of some people's performances.Cross-dressing can be amazing, I saw Artulo.In Brachetti's performance, he can change clothes 30 to 40 times in a show, and some changes take less than three seconds. three seconds? That's right.Moreover, magicians who are really proficient in quick change don't just change clothes, they are also good actors.They will change the way they walk, behave completely differently, and even speak in a different tone.This kind of performance must be well prepared in advance, and the clothes are easy to tear off, using press buttons or Velcro.In fact, quick dressing can also be said to be quick undressing, and these clothes are made of silk or nylon, and the material is quite light and thin, so you can put on several layers at a time.I can sometimes wear five of these costumes under my coat.

Silk?We had found silk fibers, Lime said: According to the description of the police officers at the scene, the worker was wearing a gray uniform, which looked worn out. So, this is the effect created by sanding the silk cloth. Carla nodded.This way the fabric doesn't reflect light and look like cotton or linen.In addition, we have collapsible hats, shoe covers, retractable umbrellas and shopping bags, all of which can be hidden close to the body.Of course, this also includes wigs. She went on to say: If you want to change a face, the most important part is the eyebrows.As long as the eyebrows are changed, the whole face will be 60 to 70% different.Then add some auxiliary items we call equipment, such as latex strips and latex sheets on the face with special glue.Drag performers study differences in the basic structure of the face across race and gender.A good crossdresser knows the differences between a woman's face and a man's face, so she can change genders in seconds.We will also study the different psychological responses of the face and body so that we can be beautiful, ugly, fearful, sympathetic or poor, whatever we want. As interesting as these magical mysteries are, Rhyme wanted concrete advice.Can you provide something more specific so that we can find the suspect. She shook her head.I couldn't find anything in particular to get you guys to narrow it down to a certain store or a certain place.However, I can offer a general opinion. Please say. I knew from the color-changing rope and finger cots the suspect was using that he was familiar with hand tricks.That means he'd also be good at pickpocketing wallets, hiding pistols, knives, or whatever, and getting hold of other people's keys and IDs.He also knows cross-dressing, which obviously poses a big problem for you guys.More important, though, is the Vanishing Man trick, made of fuzes and firecrackers, invisible ink, black silk cloth, and glitter cotton, in a sign of his typical illusion training. She explained the difference between hand tricks and illusions, explaining that illusionists' performances always involve humans or larger objects. Why do you say this is important to us? Kara nodded and said: Because illusion is not only based on the skills of the performer's body.The illusionist must study the psychological reactions of the audience and devise a trick to deceive them not only from their eyes but also from their minds.Their point isn't to make you laugh because a quarter has disappeared; the illusion is to make you believe what you see, even though it's all to the contrary.You must keep this in mind, and never forget it. What?Rhyme asked. Mr. Balzac was wrongly led to say that this is the soul of illusion.You must have heard the expression that hands are faster than eyes, right?But no, this is impossible, eyes are always faster than hands.So the mesmer can only trick the eyes into not paying attention to what his hands are doing. You mean, like a distraction?Sellitto asked. This is one of those strategies.Misdirection is directing the audience's attention where the performer wants their attention and away from where the performer does not want their attention.Mr. Balzac once instilled in me a bunch of rules, for example, the audience will not pay attention to their familiar objects, but will cast their eyes on rare objects; they will not pay attention to a series of familiar actions, but will focus on an unusual object. ; they ignore things that are always there, and instead focus on objects that move.Do you want to make something invisible?It's very simple, you just do the same movement four or five times in a row, and the audience will get bored very quickly, and their attention will be reduced at this time.They can't see what you're doing even though they're staring at your hands, and this is the time to do the trick. Well, now he will use two methods to mislead you: the first is physiological misleading.You watch.Carla walked to Sachs, squinted her eyes and looked at her right hand, then slowly raised her right hand and pointed to a wall in the room.Then she put her right hand down.See, you're all looking at my right hand, and where my hand is pointing, it's a natural reaction.However, you may not have noticed that I have already stolen Emilia's pistol with my left hand. Sachs trembled slightly, and immediately looked down.Sure enough, her holster was empty, and Kara was holding her Garak in her left hand.Be careful.Sachs said, grab the pistol and put it in the holster at once. Come on, look at that corner.She raised her right hand again.But this time, Rhyme and everyone in the room turned their attention to Carla's left hand. You all pay attention to my left hand?Right?She laughed.But you didn't notice that my foot has drawn a white thing from the bottom of the table. That's my potty.Rhyme said a little angrily.Although he felt a little unhappy because he was teased again, he just said the name of this vulgar artifact naturally, which made him feel that he had made great progress. Really?she asked, without the slightest timidity.Well, it's not just a potty; it's a false lead.Because I had this thing in my other hand just now while you were all looking at it.Look, you see.She said: Is this thing important?She returns the tear gas canister to Sacks. Sachs frowned, then hurriedly lowered his head to check his belt, to see if there was anything else missing after Carla handed over the tear gas canister. So, this is physiological misleading, and it's easy.Another way of misleading is on the psychological level, which is more difficult to do.The audience is not stupid, and they know you're trying to trick them.I mean, that's why they pay for tickets to go to the show, right?Therefore, we must reduce or eliminate the audience's wariness.One of the most important things in psychological misdirection is to make the movements natural.On the surface, your actions and words are in line with the expectations of the audience, but in private, you secretly did something shameful and got away with it Her voice suddenly became quieter, realizing that what she just said inadvertently The words, unexpectedly aptly described the result of the murder of the female student this morning. But Carla only paused, and then continued: When you do something unnatural, the audience will all focus on it.For example, I say I can read your mind, and I do this.Carla raised her hands, pressed on Sachs' left and right temples, and closed her eyes. After a moment, she took a step back, then returned something to Sachs.It was the earring she had secretly removed from her left ear just now. I don't feel it at all. But the audience can immediately see how I do it, because touching a person and pretending to read his mind, which most audiences would never believe, is not a natural movement.But if I say, part of the trick is whispering a word so no one can hear it.She leaned closer to Sachs again, covering her mouth with her right hand.See, this is a very unnatural movement. You don't want to steal my other earring.Sachs said with a smile, putting his hands over his ears. But I made your necklace disappear. Even Rhyme couldn't help being amazed, and at the same time finding it amused, Sachs managed to keep smiling, but groped awkwardly at his neck and chest, unable to prevent the constant loss of jewelry on his body.Sellitto laughed like a child, and Mel.Cobb also suspended the work of researching evidence and watched Kara's performance intently.Sachs looked around, but couldn't find his necklace, so he turned his attention to Carla.Carla held out her right hand to show her.The necklace is gone. Wait, Rhyme questioned, I noticed that your left hand has been clenched and hidden behind your thigh.According to you, this is an unnatural movement, so I guess the necklace should be on your left hand. Oops, you are amazing.Carla said, but couldn't help laughing immediately.But I'm afraid it's still a bit short of trying to catch me.She immediately spread out her left hand, and there was nothing in her palm. Rhyme frowned. Why do I hide my left fist behind my back?Quite simply, because this is the most important part of psychological misleading.I did this because I knew you would notice and focus on my left hand.In technical terms, this is an act of coercion.I force you to think that you have caught my action, and as soon as you think so, your mind automatically shuts down and automatically stops thinking about other possibilities.That way, while you and everyone else are staring at my left hand, it's giving me a good chance to slip the necklace into Emilia's pocket. Sachs reached into his pocket, and sure enough, he pulled out the necklace. Cobb immediately applauded.Rhyme was reluctant, but still let out an admiration. Carla nodded toward the evidence sheet.So, this is what the murder suspect intends to do to mislead.You'd think you'd figured out his next move, but it's part of his calculation.As I just did, he will use your doubts, use your intelligence, against you.In fact, he'll have to use your skepticism and wisdom if he's going to pull off the trick successfully.Mr. Balzac said that the most powerful illusionist will directly point out what he is about to do, and tell everyone the trick he will perform next.If you don't believe it, you'll look to the exact opposite, and when you do, you've fallen into his trap.Then you will be completely defeated, and the victory will be completely controlled by him.The mention of the teacher's name suddenly made her feel a little uncomfortable.She glanced at the clock with a slightly bitter look on her face.I've been out for too long, it's really time to go now. Sachs thanked her, and Sellitto said, I'll get a car to drive you back to the store. Ah, just send me around there, I don't want him to see that I am right with the police, there is something you can do.There is a circus performance tonight, which is the famous fantasy circus.I heard that there is a quick costume show in the show, you should go and watch it if you have time. Sachs nodded and said: The place where they performed is across the street from Central Park. During the spring and summer seasons, there are often people putting on big outdoor concerts and the like in Central Park.Not long ago, Rhyme and Sachs had participated in Paul.They opened the bedroom window for Simon's concert and enjoyed a free performance by the window. Lime complained: It turned out that they were the unit that played loud music all night. You don't like circuses?Sellitto said. Of course I don't like it, he snapped: Who would?Terrible food, nasty clowns, jugglers who risk dying in front of your kids but he turned to Kara and said: That's a good suggestion, thank you though one of us should have thought of it sooner.He looked at everyone in the room and said sarcastically. Rhyme watched her pick up that ugly black and white striped leather bag, ready to run away from him, slip back to a world where there were no cripples, get that look and that smile back. Don't worry, you can return to your original appearance and get out of this ghost place as soon as possible. She paused for a moment, looked at the evidence list again, frowned, and then turned and walked towards the door. etc.Lyme said. She turned around. I want you to stay. What? Please stay and assist us in this case, at least, please stay today.You can go to the circus with Ron or Emilia and talk to the people there.Perhaps there are some evidences of magic yet to be unearthed. Ah, no, I really can't help it.It is very difficult for me to come here now, and I really can't delay too much time.Rhyme said: We need your help badly, we've only just scratched the surface of this mystery. Mr. Balzac, you have seen it.she said to Sachs. in unpleasant circumstances However, Lincoln Sellitto stammered: It is best not to involve too many citizens in the investigation, this is the rule. Didn't you get a psychic once?Rhyme said coldly. I didn't fucking look for her, it was someone from the General Administration who looked for her. Well, last time you got that dog expert, and You keep saying you, no, I haven't asked the citizens for help, except you.You alone give me enough shit. Hehe, Ron, since you are a policeman, you will definitely have endless shit.He turned to look at Kara.Please, this is really important. She hesitated.Do you really think he's going to kill another guy? Yes, Rhyme replied, we did. She nodded slightly.If I get fired for this, at least I'm doing a good deed.After speaking, she laughed again.do you know?Rob.Woody did the same. who is he? He is a famous French illusion expert and magician. He has helped the police a lot and also assisted the French army.It seems to be something in the nineteenth century, I don't know, I only know that there seemed to be some Algerian extremists Marabout (Annotation: Marabout, derived from French, meaning the holy man who practiced in Islam.), They tried to incite the local tribes to rise up against the French, and claimed to have magical powers.So, the French government sent Woody to Algeria, asking him to use magic to fight those Malabuts, so that the people of those tribes believed that the magic of the French was better and more powerful.The ploy was a success.Rob.Woody beat those malabuts.Having said that, she couldn't help frowning.They almost killed him, though. Don't worry, Sachs reassures her, I can guarantee that this kind of thing will never happen to you. Kara looked at the evidence list again.Do you do this all the time?Write all the clues you know on the whiteboard? That's right.Sachs said. I have an idea that most magicians have their own characteristics.As far as this sorcerer is concerned, isn't he able to perform both quick disguise and large-scale illusion at the same time?This is unusual.So I should also write down the skills he knows, so that maybe the scope of suspicious characters can be narrowed down a bit. That's right, Sellitto said: profile him, very good. But Kara's face scrunched up again.I'll have to find someone to go to the store and replace me.Mr. Balzac is going out with his friends today, my God, he will be unhappy.She looked around the room.Is there a phone I can borrow?Uh, I want to borrow that special phone. special?asked Thomas. Well, in private so no one can hear me lying to my boss. Ah, that's the kind of phone, said Thomas, putting his hand on her shoulder and showing her the direction of where it was.I always make calls like this in the hallway. □□□ magician Music school crime scene ．Description of the suspect's appearance: brown hair, fake beard, no obvious features.Age: about fifty years old.Medium build, medium height.The ring finger and little finger of the left hand are glued together.Can quickly change clothes to look like an elderly, balding co-worker. ．The motive for the killing is unknown. ．Victim: Svetlana.Lasnikhov.Full-time student at a music school.We are checking family, friends, classmates and colleagues, looking for possible clues. (No boyfriends, no apparent enemies. Worked as a performer at a kids birthday party.) ．Circuit board with speaker: Sent to FBI New York office laboratory for inspection. (It is a digital recorder, which may have recorded the voice of the suspect, and all materials have been destroyed.) The recorder is a secret device, a self-made item. ．Use old-fashioned handcuffs to handcuff the victim.These are Derby style handcuffs, antique handcuffs from England.A visit has been sent to the Houdini Museum in New Orleans. ．The victim's watch was broken, and the hands stopped at exactly eight o'clock in the morning. ．Cotton thread, used to tie the folding chair. (The style is general and the sources are too wide.) ．Firecrackers, used to create sound effects.Destroyed by explosion. (The sources are too broad.) ．Fuse, general style.Sources are too broad. ．The homicide police reported a strong flash.No substance was found at the scene.Could be glitter cotton or glitter paper. (The sources are too broad.) ．Suspect shoes: ECCO brand, size ten. ．Silk fibers, dyed grey, satin-brushed.Dropped from the quick change worker outfit. ．The suspect may have been wearing a brown wig. ．Red hickory trees and slum lichens, both of which grow primarily in Central Park. ．The soil contains unusual amounts of mineral oil.Sent to the FBI for testing. ．Black silk cloth, 72 x 48 inches, used for shelter.Unable to trace source.Mesmers often use this black cloth. ．Wear something on your hand to cover your fingerprints.finger cots. ．Traces of latex, castor oil, cosmetics. ．Traces of alginate.Used to cast latex gear. ．Murderer's Weapon: White silk cord with a black silk core.The rope is used for magic show.Change color.Unable to trace source. ．Special knot.It has been sent to the FBI and the Maritime Museum has no news yet.Use knots for Houdini performances that are virtually impossible to untie. ．Use invisible ink on school registers. illusionist profile ．Suspects use misdirection to confront their victims and evade police: physical misdirection (for distraction); psychological misdirection (to remove suspicion). ．The way to escape from the music school is similar to the Vanishing Man trick. (Too common to trace.) ．The suspects are mainly illusionists. ．Skilled hand tricks. ．Also know how to transform (quick change of clothes).Use easy-to-remove clothing, nylon and silk cloths, bald covers, finger cots, and other latex gear.May be of any age, gender and race. □□□