The Vanished Man

distinguishing, medium build, medium height, age: fifties. Ring and little fingers of left hand fused together. Changed costume quickly to resemble old, bald janitor.
    • No apparent motive.
    • Victim: Svetlana Rasnikov.
        • Full-time music student.
        • Checking family, friends, students, coworkers for possible leads.
            • No boyfriends, no known enemies. Performed at children’s birthday parties.
    • Circuit board with speaker attached.
        • Sent to FBI lab, NYC.
            • Digital recorder, probably containing perp’s voice. All data destroyed.
        • Voice recorder is a “gimmick.” Homemade.
    • Used antique iron handcuffs to restrain victim.
        • Handcuffs are Darby irons. Scotland Yard. Checking with Houdini Museum in New Orleans for leads.
            • Sold to Erick Weir last month. Sent to Denver P.O. box. No other leads.
    • Destroyed victim’s watch at exactly 8:00 A.M.
    • Cotton string holding chairs. Generic. Too many sources to trace.
    • Squib for gunshot effect. Destroyed.
        • Too many sources to trace.
    • Fuse. Generic.
        • Too many sources to trace.
    • Responding officers reported flash in air. No trace material recovered.
        • Was from flash cotton or flash paper.
            • Too many sources to trace.
    • Perp’s shoes: size 10 Ecco.
    • Silk fibers, dyed gray, processed to a matte finish.
        • From quick-change janitor’s outfit.
    • Unsub is possibly wearing brown wig.
    • Red pignut hickory and Parmelia conspersa lichen, both found primarily in Central Park.
    • Dirt impregnated with unusual mineral oil. Sent to FBI for analysis.
        • Tack-Pure oil for saddles and leather.
    • Black silk, 72 × 48”. Used as camouflage. Not traceable.
        • Illusionists use this frequently.
    • Wears caps to cover up prints.
        • Magician’s finger cups.
    • Traces of latex, castor oil, makeup.
        • Theatrical makeup.
    • Traces of alginate.
        • Used in molding latex “appliances.”
    • Murder weapon: white silk-knit rope with black silk core.
        • Rope is a magic trick. Color changing. Not traceable.
    • Unusual knot.
        • Sent to FBI and Maritime Museum—no information.
        • Knots are from Houdini routines, virtually impossible to untie.
    • Used disappearing ink on sign-in register.
    East Village Crime Scene
    • Victim Two: Tony Calvert.
        • Makeup artist, theater company.
        • No known enemies.
        • No apparent connection with first victim.
    • No apparent motive.
    • Cause of death:
        • Blunt-object trauma to head followed by postmortem dismemberment with crosscut saw.
    • Perp escaped portraying woman in her 70s. Checking vicinity for discarded costume and other evidence.
        • Nothing recovered.
    • Watch smashed at 12:00 exactly.
        • Pattern? Next victim presumably at 4:00 P.M.
    • Perp hid behind mirror. Not traceable. Fingerprints sent to FBI.
        • No matches.
    • Used cat toy (“feke”) to lure victim into alley. Toy is untraceable.
    • Additional mineral oil found, same as at first scene. Awaiting FBI report.
        • Tack-Pure oil for saddles and leather.
    • Additional latex and makeup from finger cups.
    • Additional alginate.
    • Ecco shoes left behind.
    • Dog hairs found in shoes, from three different breeds of dog. Manure too.
        • Manure from horses, not dogs.
    Hudson River and Related Crime Scenes
    • Victim: Cheryl Marston.
        • Attorney.
        • Divorced but husband not a suspect.
    • No motive.
    • Perp gave name as “John.” Had scars on neck and chest. Deformed hand confirmed.
    • Perp did quick change to unbearded businessman in chinos and dress shirt, then biker in denim Harley shirt.
    • Car is in Harlem River.
    • Duct tape gag. Can’t be traced.
    • Squibs, same as before. Can’t be traced.
    • Chains and snap fixtures, generic, not traceable.
    • Rope, generic, not traceable.
    • Additional makeup, latex and Tack-Pure.
    • Gym bag, made in China, not traceable. Containing:
        • Traces of date rape drug flunitrazepam.
        • Adhesive magician’s wax, not traceable.
        • Brass (?) shavings. Sent to FBI.
            • Consistent with clockwork