20. The Art of Sleights and Deception

Complete story — includes the ending

Magician Claude Rysher dies performing a bullet catch with a poisoned bullet. They question rival magician Angela Newsome, and banker Keating, who paid his poker debt with information regarding the 1963 book The Art of Sleights and Deception. A possible motive is a two-million dollar prize to whoever identifies the real name of its author, who published under the pseudonym Walker Elmsley. But Farraday Books division head Ballard Clifton readily reveals it's Albert Lange, his grandfather. Rysher also bought a rare Nazi anatomy book by a concentration camp doctor, beating Mr. Frye at auction. Sherlock examines Frye's replacement copy, solving the case; Lange illustrated both books, and Clifton killed Rysher to conceal that Sleights and Deception was written by a war criminal, which would have ruined Clifton's company. Meanwhile, an irate motorist, Gorham, raises accusations of inappropriate behavior, jeopardizing Bell's career. After discovering Chantal's ex-husband Roy Booker arranged the bogus complaint, both Booker and Gorham are charged. Later, Bell finds his girlfriend Chantal's bloody body.