Los Angeles

After the first night and a good night's sleep that both had, they were ready to work a little bit. Link had a plan to make the work as short as possible. It wasn't a very clean way but he knew it will work and when a murderer is caught nobody really asks how.  

The murder was committed in a shopping hall, it was a smaller shop that sold everything you need for the kitchen, knives plates, etc. The victim's name was Tim Baker, he was a 30-year-old man that was tall and muscular. They were only a few suspects and they knew it had to be one of them. It was 6 people 1 was around 25 the rest around the age of 50. 

Link ordered them all to come to the crime scene because the weapon was never found. 

The group of people was gathered close to the crime scene. That's when Zelda and Link came, before they arrived Link told her to let him work because he read the files and thinks he knows who the killer is. 

For a small moment, he looked at the people and saw the two managers of the store he stared at them and then said "These are innocent they can go."

Zelda was confused she knew Link was a genius and can read people but they didn't even talk to him yet.

Link walked over to the next person, a tall man probably the age of 55, he looked nervous so he asks him.

"What was the biggest mistake of your life?"

"My first marriage."

"Why so nervous?"

"I'm no-" 

The man was cut off by Link already walking away, to the next person. 

A girl, she was probably 21 years old and held a big bag in her arm.

"What's your name?"

"Candice."

"Nice name."

Link looked around and saw an apple laying on the table next to them, he grabbed it and held it towards the girl to grab it, at the same time he held his hand out like she was supposed to give him something as well.

It worked the girl took the apple and handed Link her bag. He took a quick look inside and moved on to the next person.

He was stopped by a woman who was also a suspect she was around 47 years old and looked very arrogant. 

"This has to be a joke."

"A joke? A man was murdered here, you think this is funny?" 

Zelda was caught off guard by Links cold voice, the woman was as well.

"Eh- No bu-"

"Then sit back down."

Link pointed to the chair she sat on a couple of seconds ago and the woman sat back down.

"Okay now to you"

Link looked at the guy in front of him, who he wanted to talk to before he was interrupted.

"What's your name."

"Rodriguez."

He was probably 35 years old.

"King Kong versus Godzilla who wins?"

"Godzilla"

"Why did you kill Tim Baker?"

"I didn't"

Link moved on to the last suspect the arrogant woman.

"Now to you miss arrogant."

"My name is Karen, and I will let you know that my husband-"

"Is, let me guess, a super important man?"

"Yes he is in the city council of Las Vegas and he will definitely talk to your boss about this childish behavior."

"Oh Karen, Karen, Karen. Let me tell you something. We are currently in Los Angeles which is a completely different state than where Las Vegas is, so nobody cares what your husband will do here."

"That's enough."

One of the police officers that was actually from Los Angeles intervened.

"Give him a little more time."

Zelda stood up for Link knowing his methods are questionable but he would catch the murderer.

"I'm almost done, Karen will lead us to the murder weapon."

They all looked in confusion but Link was sure of himself.

"Give me your hands I need body contact so I can see in your mind."

"You are crazy."

"Try me, if I can't find the weapon I look like an idiot and I think you'd enjoy that."

The woman knew there was no way he could read minds so she went along with it to embarrass him.

He took her hands and started walking backward, he looked at the other people following him and when he got closer into one direction one of the suspects started to get nervous and followed slower and was further away now.

Link looked at a box and realized one of the suspects was really sweating now. He opened the box and saw a bloody knife inside. He showed it to everyone and Karen started to defend herself.

"I didn't know it was there I swear."

Everyone looked at her and one person started to relieve himself.

"It's true she didn't kill him."

"What?"

Zelda was now confused as well. 

"The real murder is the one who regrets his first marriage, named Neil right?"

All the attention turns to the 55-year-old man named Neil.

"No this is nonsense I didn't even know this guy."

"Did you? I'm sure your wife cheated on you with him and he embarrassed you and made fun of you to make you feel very, very small."

Neil was super nervous and started to run away, he knew he was caught.

The murderer was arrested and Link and Zelda went back to Links home in LA. 

When they arrived and sat on the couch outside it was still early, the longest part about this case was the drive to the crime scene which is a pleasant difference from what happens usually.

"This was incredible Link. I mean I knew you are a mentalist but this. Wow, has to be some sort of record right?"

Link chuckled.

"Maybe so."

"Do you know any other tricks?"

"Yeah I do, but I wouldn't call them tricks, most of what mentalists do are just smart guesses and influencing the person next to you."

"I'm sure you can't influence me this easy, I am too strong-headed."

Both laughed but Zelda was serious.

"I'm sure I will trick you too, I have no doubt in my mind."

"Okay let's go then."

Link gets up and brings 3 cards back to the couch. 

"Okay so you can't look at the cards and what is written on them, but  I want you to pick one of the cards. Most of the people pick the middle card, and when I tell females that what I told you most of them pick the left card. But I don't want to influence you."

Zelda laughed.

"Yeah sure."

Zelda takes the left card.

"Before you put that card away, do you want to change cards? Maybe this one?" Link shows her the middle card. "Most people do change their card when I tell them this." 

She doesn't change the card and puts it away into her pocket.

"Now I want you to look me in my eyes and shuffle the remaining cards as long as you like."

She looks him in the eyes and starts shuffling the cards, both turn slightly red for having to look each other deep into their eyes for so long.

"Okay, I'm done."

"Good so now I will give you one last chance to change your cards, to shuffle one more time."

"No, I'm good."

"Now there is no way anyone could know what card is in your left and which one in your right. Am I correct?"

"Correct."

"Before you look at the cards let's make a deal. If this "trick" catches you off guard you owe me something."

"Deal."

"Well, then it's now time to turn the cards around."

Zelda turns the card in her left card around first and sees that the words "left hand" are written onto it. 

She looks at Link who is happy with himself.

She now turns the card in her right hand and it says "right hand" on it.

She was completely blown away. 

"Now you do have one card left."

She takes the card out of her pocket and looks at it and it says "pocket".

Zelda couldn't believe it, no way he knew which card will end up where how did this even happen, even if she wanted to do this herself she didn't know what was written on the cards.

"Oh my goodness Link how did you do that."

"A magician never tells his secrets m'lady"

"Come on Link tell me."

"Oh I don't owe you anything but you do owe me something."

"Oh no."

Link had to laugh at Zelda's fear in her eyes.

"I'll wait with it a little bit but I will make sure not to forget it."

"I hate you." 

"No, no you don't"

"You're right, I don't. You are also damn lucky I don't."

Both smiled at each other and laid down on the couch enjoying the view. It wasn't long until they fell asleep in each other's arms.

Author's Note:

So I'm a huge fan of psychology and all the things done in this chapter are 10000% possible with long training and of course a bit of luck, I myself did the Trick in the end already and it's always great to see the reactions to it.

Have a good day

Joshi :]