Chapter two: The Ace of Diamonds
Word Count: 500
Danny moved the cards back and forth between his hands while keeping his eyes firmly locked on Alma Dray. He knew they would be taken into custody and questioned but he didn't expect it to happen twice. Danny tilted his head to the side and gave her a tiny smile that he knew would aggravate her like nothing else. She crossed her arms in front of her chest.
"Tell me about Merritt McKinney."
Danny shrugged. "Mentalist, reads people for a living, horrible hat, makes terrible jokes and is probably terrorizing someone in your staff this very moment by revealing very private things."
Alma frowned. "You don't believe there's any magic in what he does?"
"I know there's not." Danny replied.
"So, what is it that he does?"
"He reads people." Danny replied with another shrug. "He's very good at it too. I'll give him that much."
Alma hummed and leaned back into her chair. She frowned when looked at Danny who continued his monotonous movement of shuffling the cards between his hands without once coming close to failing.
"Would you say that you care about Merritt?"
"In what way?"
"As in you don't want him to end up in prison kind of way." Alma leaned forward again. "Because if you don't tell me the truth he will. My partner failed to tell you last time but we found Merritt's prints on the scene of the crime. We don't have to understand how he did it to nail him for the crime. How would you feel about Merritt going to prison for you?"
Danny's smile grew and he laughed. "Has this method ever worked for you? Or is this the first time you've tried it because if this is the first time then you don't have to try it again."
"So that means that you would let him take the fall for you?"
Danny stopped shuffling the cards just to shake his finger at her. "That question stems from the assumption that I have done something criminal that he could take the fall for. I have committed no such crime Miss. Dray."
"Fine." Alma hissed. "Tell me about Merritt? What is his role in the group?"
"He brings dynamic to our shows, he's expressive, outgoing, ambitious and hardworking."
"What about when you commit crimes?" the wrinkles on Alma's forehead grew deeper as Danny's laugh echoed in the room.
"I wouldn't even answer that question if it was a hypothetical one. Because neither Merritt or I have committed any crime." Danny laughed again and leaned forward. The deck of cards carefully put on the table next to him. "I'm no mentalist Miss. Dray but I'm going to give it a try and say that you're experiencing some anger. Am I right?"
Alma didn't respond. She pushed out her chair and stomped out the room before slamming the door closed behind her. Danny laughed as he leaned back and bounced his chair back and forth. Something told him that he had guessed right.