Authors notes: A big thank you for the reviews and follows, they really mean a lot.
Jane enters the Presidential ballroom. It is full of people, dressed in their finest, sat at round tables eating, a delicious looking meal Jane notes. The room is decorated with balloons and streamers in black and purple and to the left of the stage, placed on an easel is a huge photograph of the guest of honour. Jane makes his way to the stage where, standing off to the side, is a woman, that Jane notes, is obviously in charge of the evening's events, by the way she nervously keeps scanning the room. Jane gives her his most disarming smile and shows his badge, pointing to the stage. He climbs the steps and moves to the microphone tapping it to gain everyone's attention. Everyone looks up from their meal, Jane points to his throat and mouths some words to explain his forthcoming silence and takes a pack of cards out of his pocket.
He begins by showing off his skills by expertly shuffling the cards at lightening speed, across from one hand to the other, then vertical, fanning them one way and then the other, it seems to the gaping crowd that the cards are attached by invisible wire, he finally finishes his dazzling display with cards almost floating in the air as they move from his right hand to his left. The guests burst in to rapturous applause as Jane takes a bow.
He scans the room, his eyes eventually rest on a lady sat at the front right table, an attractive woman in her 50's with twinkling eyes. He invites her on to the stage. Every one applauds as she makes her way up the steps, Jane takes her hand gallantly for the last two steps and guides her to the microphone. He lightly kisses her on the cheek in greeting and indicates for her to introduce herself and she informs him that her name is Joanna. He takes out a new deck of cards and hands them to Joanna to remove and shuffle. Under his instructions she chooses and card and shows it to the audience, and then tears it in to pieces. Jane takes them and puts them inside his inside jacket pocket. He presents Joanna for applause and then taking her by the hand leads her to her table, walking around the table as he does so. He pulls out her seat for her to sit. He makes his return retracing his steps. He suddenly stops at a man three chairs down from Joanna. He indicates for him to stand and then to look in his top jacket pocket. The man obeys and pulls out the Joanna's card. He holds it up astounded and the room erupts in to applause once more.
Jane moves to the next man at the table who also finds in his pocket Joanna's card, Jane chooses two more men on the surrounding tables who pull out the same card. A movement at the door of the ballroom catches Jane's eye and he makes his way to the guest of honour and invites him up on to the stage. The man at first shakes his head but is unable to resist the urging of the crowd who are putty in Jane's hands. Earlier while on stage Jane had spied an overhead projector in the wings, with the help of his 'assistant' he moves it to the center of the stage. After miming the act, a screen is lowered behind him. Jane the presents his new assistant Mr. Banks to the audience. Jane has him choose a card and write his name on the back. He then places it on the projector, the card in constant view of the audience on the screen. He takes out the envelope he has carried since leaving the CBI and covers the card on the projector so the audience can read that it is addressed to Mr. Banks, as he removes the envelope he switches the projector off. He hands it to Banks who opens it. He removes the card that Jane made earlier. Jane indicates for him to look inside and there is his playing card which includes his signature on the back. Thunderous applause errupts, Jane takes his bow and encourages Mr. Banks to do the same. Jane moves back a step and switches on the projector. There is an abrupt silence as the audience view the image on the screen, a young girl looking frightened and partially undressed, some recognise her as Mr. Banks daughter. The silence is broken by the voice of Theresa Lisbon:
"Mr. Banks, that photo explains how your presence here tonight, just hours after the murder of your daughter."
"I-I-I don't know anything about that photo, it has nothing to do with me."
Jane swaps it for one which includes Mr. Banks.
"How about that one Mr. Banks."
He turns around and looks at the screen. Before Lisbon can react he grabs Jane and from his pocket produces a knife which he holds against Jane's throat.
Hope you enjoyed the chapter, in case you are wondering Banks took the knife with him from the dinner table. Just one more chapter to go.