Page 54 of The Vanished Man (Lincoln Rhyme 5)
* 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.
* 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.
Profile as Illusionist
* Perp will use misdirection against victims and in eluding police.
* Physical misdirection (for distraction).
* Psychological (to eliminate suspicion).
* Escape at music school was similar to Vanished Man illusion routine. Too common to trace.
* Perp is primarily an illusionist.
* Talented at sleight of hand.
* Also knows protean (quick change) magic. Will use breakaway clothes, nylon and silk, bald cap, finger cups and other latex appliances. Could be any age, gender or race.
