This wasn’t the regular PI gig. Sitting in this dingy comedy club beneath the smog filled streets of Pittsburgh I ordered a drink and sat near the back as I often do to stay out of my targets view. His jokes were desperate and clearly he was clinging to that high school mentality where one can be the center of attention if they have the juiciest gossip. Laughing at his own stories of housewives cheating on their husbands and tweens thinking the world is ending over minor problems. It was just as clear this wasn’t his first time on stage as it was that he was doing this for free and for his own clout.

Then he started setting the scene for his next punchline. A CTO at prestigious tech firm. And although he didn’t use the actual name of the man or the company I knew it was Cameron Alvin of Jong Enterprises and I knew this next joke was no laughing matter.

He continued on before the few audience members still listening as I finished my drink and walked toward the door. Alarms started blaring as I slyly pulled the alarm on my way out. The small crowd headed for the exits most looking relieved the set was over. I waited across the street making a call to my contact.

“Cameron told him.” I said.

“Understood.” Click.

I knew what that meant for Cameron and unfortunately I knew what that meant for Dr. Ray Alpers who was the wanna be comedian on stage. See Cameron knew some sensitive ongoings about Jong Industries and based on the joke up until I pulled the alarm it was something to do with “smart pipes” for the towns water system. The other person who knew, his therapist Dr. Ray, had just started telling a room full of innocent citizens.

That was Rays last performance, in fact that was Rays last night alive. Cameron knew Jong Enterprises took their secrets seriously, but he didn’t know that his therapist did not. Maybe he was coping by airing the baggage of others on stage, maybe he has always done this for the attention. I don’t know, I didn’t ask him before I killed him. But the payment from Jong cleared so hopefully the next case isn’t so funny.