The Bullet Trick Read Online Free PDF Page A

silence. 'A pair of very beautiful young…’ he hesitated as if searching for the right word. 'Dancers.' More laughter. 'But before we meet them we have a very special guest. It’s well known that Inspector Montgomery is a worker of wonders. Indeed, he’s got so many illusive convictions he’s been christened the Magician. So, in tribute to Inspector Montgomery’s well-earned retirement I’d like to ask you to put your hands together for William Wilson, mentalist and magician.'
     
    Half-hearted clapping scattered across the room and suddenly I thought that maybe I should start doing kids’ parties. At least some of them might believe in magic. There was a fraction of hesitation, then the barman put on the CD I’d given him and mysterioso music drifted across the room. I walked up onto the stage and stood there silently for a moment with my head bowed, hands folded in front of me, letting the soundtrack do the work, then slowly raised my eyes, keeping my stare level, my mouth serious, wishing I had a lovely assistant to flash her legs and take some of the heat off me. The music died and I cast my gaze across the room, grave as Vincent Price’s Van Helsing revealing the presence of vampires.
     
    'Welcome.' I paused, making eye contact with as many of the audience as I could. 'Gentlemen, there are mysteries beyond our control, wonders that even the greatest scientists are powerless to explain. Tonight I am going to look into the unknown and explore some of these strange and perplexing phenomena.' The crowd stayed silent, I stepped off the dais and approached a thin man sitting towards the front of the gathering. 'Sir, would you mind standing up for me please?' The man got to his feet. He was tall and lank, with receding hair and a good-natured drink-fuddled face.
     
    'What’s your name, sir?'
     
    'Andy.'
     
    'Nice to meet you Andy.' I shook his hand, staring him in the eyes and slyly unfastening his watch. 'Let me ask you Andy, do you believe that there are powers we don’t understand?'
     
    'I believe in the DPP.'
     
    The crowd laughed and I smiled indulgently.
     
    'I see that you’re a married man, Andy.'
     
    He nodded unimpressed.
     
    'How did I know that?'
     
    He held up his left hand with its gold marriage band.
     
    'Quite right, the powers of observation.' I smiled round the room, giving him his moment of reassurance, then raised my voice. 'But this evening I am going to reveal to you things that the powers of observation would be powerless to divulge.' I made my tone more conversational. 'Andy, I would imagine that in your profession well-developed powers of observation are essential?'
     
    Andy nodded.
     
    'That’s true.'
     
    'A good memory for a face?'
     
    He nodded again.
     
    'I believe so.'
     
    'Have we ever met before?'
     
    He shook his head slowly, cautious as a man on a witness stand.
     
    'Not to my knowledge, no.'
     
    'You’ve never arrested me?'
     
    'Not to my recollection.'
     
    'So you would be surprised if I could guess your rank?'
     
    He shrugged.
     
    'Possibly.'
     
    'Come a little closer would you please, Andy?' The man looked around at the audience smiling. I said, 'Don’t worry, the force is with you.' And he stepped forward an inch. 'May I place my hand on your shoulder?' He hesitated and I stage-whispered, 'No need to be coy.' The audience laughed, the volunteered man gave a brief nod and I reached up, resting my hand gently on his right shoulder. 'I would say, Andy,' — ‘that you are’ — I paused again — ‘a sergeant.' I removed my hand and he nodded to the crowd, who gave me a brief scatter of applause. I bowed, keeping my expression restrained. 'I suppose that’s vaguely impressive. But maybe I could guess that from your age and the fact that you look fairly intelligent. So let me go a little further.' There was an ooooh from the audience. The man stepped back, clowning a slight mince. The men at his table laughed and I shook my head in mock