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JULIE AND I STARED at Mom. What did she just say?
“Margie Hillerman was a concert violinist?” My heart rate quadrupled.
“Yes. In her younger days.” Mom seemed to have no idea the importance of what she was telling me. And again, Chicago. Why was everyone suddenly from Chicago? “I guess she was even pretty well known.”
“Why doesn’t she play anymore?” I was eager to get answers, but also really wanted to get on my computer at the store.
“I really don’t know. She doesn’t talk about it much. I know what I know because Paige told me when I was getting a coffee.” Mom turned back to the sink to rinse her teacup.
“We should probably get to the store.” Julie suggested. Clearly, she was thinking the same thing that I was.
“Yes, we should.” I was telling myself to keep calm.
“Ok, girls, I will see you both tonight then!” Mom scooped up both dogs and walked us to the door.
Julie and I raced to the store. I was just parking when I got text messages from both Keith Klein, of the Rossi-Klein Trio, and Nelson Dahlke, of the Cantabile Trio, letting me know both ensembles would be arriving at the recital hall in about an hour. Keith said they wanted to get some rehearsal time in, in the recital hall. Garrett had texted about ninety minutes ago, letting me know he was at the store and that the piano tuner had arrived to touch up the recital hall piano. Things were happening fast! I had to keep up, keep everything going while trying to figure out what Margie Hillerman had to do with this puzzle. Maybe Paige or her husband had something to do with the murders. They were the new people in town, and they were from Chicago. Margie has lived in Fairview for a couple of years. Margie, who went on road trips to see Fiddler on the Roof with my mother.
I noticed the officer sitting in his unmarked car in the parking lot, just like Detective Winn had said. I pulled into my reserved spot, and Julie and I hurried inside. Garrett was with a customer and Hailey was going over the flower order with the florist, who was there delivering the flowers for both on the stage and bouquets for the performers. Julie and I disappeared into my office, and I pulled out my laptop. I googled Margie Hillerman.
Nothing. At least nothing having to do with violins. Margie Hillerman popped up in some St. Matthew’s stuff. Nothing of consequence relating to violinists, musicians, and murderers.
“Did she study with that Spokane violin teacher?” Julie asked.
“Good question!” I was just about the type in Dr. Evangeline Tate when Garrett stuck his head in the door.
“Knock, knock. Sorry to interrupt, but Keith Klein, Gianna Rossi and their accompanist are here. Should I have them go ahead on into the recital hall?” Garrett inquired.
“Yes, please! Thank you so much. You’ll get them whatever they need?” I really wanted to get back to my computer, when I knew I should get out there and play host.
“Of course! Don’t give it a second thought!” Garrett backed out of the door, shutting it behind him.
“Should we call Detective Winn?” Julie asked.
“And tell him what? There are other people from Chicago? He gets so hung up on having evidence!” I rolled my eyes and typed Professor Tate’s name into the search bar on my computer. There was nothing about any of her prominent students. It had to be somewhere! I knew enough about professional musicians to know that famous former students were something that they brag about. Keep looking.
I scrolled down. Evangeline Tate’s bio on her record company page was the same as the one on Northwest Music Conservatory Faculty page. I heard what was clearly Beethoven wafting in from the recital hall. I continued to scroll.
“This looks promising!” I pointed to the computer screen. EvangelineTate.com should tell us something!
“That looks good!” Julie pulled her chair closer to my desk.
“Okay....” I scanned the navigation bar at the top of the monitor. “Look! A tab specifically labeled Students!” I clicked away.
Julie leaned in as we scanned the list of names and their related accomplishments. No, Margie Hillerman. However, Gianna Rossi was clearly the jewel in Dr. Evangeline Tate’s crown!
“How old is Dr. Tate? Is she old enough to have taught someone in Margie’s age range right out of high school?” Julie pondered. I flipped back to Dr. Tate’s page and did some quick mental math. Dr. Tate was older than she appeared. When I looked at her college graduation dates, and such, she was clearly old enough to have taught someone Margie Hillerman’s age. Back to the student page.
“Would her name have been Hillerman when and if she was a student at Birchard?” Julie was just full of good questions.
“Probably not. What did Mom say that Paige’s last name was?” No sooner had the words left my mouth when I heard....
“Knock, knock again. The Cantabile Trio just got here. And Lydia from The Allegro String Quartet just called. They are about 40 minutes out.” Garrett updated me.
“Have the teaching studios been prepped to be dressing rooms?” I asked in a panic. I have been so distracted with the murders, that I have really been slacking on my preparation for this festival.
“Yes. All done! Complete with chocolates, flowers, and sparkling water!“ Garrett was clearly pleased with his answer. “Hailey has been working really hard!”
“I think you both have, and thank you so much!” I think gratefulness was oozing from my every pore.
“Of course, boss. I’ll get everyone settled in. I don’t know if everyone is staying until tonight. Some people were talking about going to hotels and such.”
“Sure, of course. Thanks again, Garrett!” I put my hands to my heart in thanksgiving. Garrett gave me a thumbs up and closed the door behind him. I looked at my watch. It was noon. Only seven hours to go.
“Anyway, what is Paige’s last name?” I was racking my brain.
“Uh, Thomas? No, that wasn’t it.” Julie rubbed her temples, trying to remember.
“Taylor! It was Taylor!” It came to me like in a flash. I clicked on the student list again. With mouse in hand, it scanned down the alphabetical list. There it was! Margaret Taylor! Margie was short for Margaret. That had to be it. Julie and I looked at each other. We read her biographical information. Wow! Margie had been hot stuff in her day.
“Well, now what do we do? We still have no reason to believe that Margie murdered anyone. Detective Winn will not do anything.” Julie reminded me.
“I guess we finish preparations, and we wait. I don’t know what else to do. There is a police officer in the parking lot.”
“Should you go welcome your guests?” Julie asked.
“Yes, I should.” I stood up, took a deep breath, and left my office to go welcome the performers.
The next five hours flew by. So much to get done! At 5:00, my mother arrived, and the performing groups were taking turns doing light and sound checks in the recital hall. I’m not sure exactly what was involved with either the light or sound check, but I was paying people who did. I just kept out of the way.
“There you are!” Mom found me in the store, pretending to restock piano method books, but it was just an outlet for my nervous energy. The store itself was closed at this point. The occasional customer had kept me distracted on and off during the day. Now I didn’t have that anymore and had two more hours to make it through.
“Hi Mom!” I was glad for her presence.
“What do you need me to do?” Mom looked pretty in her pink beaded gown. This recital tonight was the peak of Fairview culture, and everyone was dressing to the hilt.
“Actually, we are doing pretty well. Hailey and Garrett have really busted their tails around here the last couple of days. They have done such a great job getting everything ready.” I couldn’t believe what a lovely job Hailey had done changing the teaching studios to dressing rooms.
“Then I guess I just go wait in the lobby with Barb and Margie.” Mom headed back through the store.
“Margie’s here?” I shrieked much more than I had intended.
“Of course. We carpooled. Two fewer cars taking up valuable parking spots.” Mom sounded so rational. Something that I was not, at the moment.
I led the way out of the store.
“All the performers have returned from dinner. And are doing their before performance rituals.” Garrett informed me. I smiled as much as I could. There was something in the air. Something was wrong. I walked faster down the hall. I think Mom was puzzled as I was practically running.
My brain kept running over my list of people with names that started with G. Garrett was safe. I need to check on Gianna. I heard Keith’s voice coming from the recital hall. They must be practicing something. Gianna was safe. For now.
I opened the door of the recital hall. I gasped when I looked on the stage and only Keith and their pianist Melissa were there. Where was Gianna? Where is Margie?
“Hi everyone!” I announced. Where were they?
“Hey, Lisa! Great to see you. Mel and I were just running over this one part, then we will be out of the way.” Keith smiled.
“No problem.” It was a problem, it was a real problem, but I didn’t want to freak anyone out. Julie glared at me. She knew it was a problem, too. “Where is Gianna? I, uh, haven’t said hello.” I felt my eyes darting all over the recital hall like some kind of nervous reptile. Where is Margie? This just couldn’t happen!
“Gianna is getting dressed. I think she went to the ladies’ room.” Keith said, picking up his cello bow from the music stand where he had set it. He clearly wants to get back to rehearsing.
“Ok. I’ll let you get back to work.” I turned to go to the ladies’ room when Margie walked into the hall from the lobby.
“One of the flower arrangements is leaking water. Are there some paper towels or something?” Margie asked. Okay, good. Margie was not in the ladies’ room killing Gianna. That is a good thing.
“There are some rolls in the break room. I’ll go get some!” I turned to go to the break room. Mom and Julie just stood there and watched me walk away.
As I got just outside the break room, I heard a loud crash from inside. Oh no, my skin stood on end. I tore open the door. Barb Jeffries had Gianna cornered. She had a long scarf and was trying to get it around Gianna’s neck.
“Stop!” I screamed. You never know what kind of clever things you will come up with to say in a moment of terror!
“Get out of here, Lisa! This is between me and Gianna!” Barb hooked the scarf about Gianna’s neck. I moved slowly toward Barb. Suddenly, Barb dropped the scarf and had a gun. She was backing up, pointing it at both me and Gianna.
“Barb, please don’t do this! What happened was an accident!” Gianna pleaded. What was she talking about?
“No! No, it wasn’t! You were always jealous of me, Gigi!” Barb snarled.
“What are you talking about?” If I was going to get shot, I was at least entitled to know why. I could hear the performers warming up. No one would be able to hear us or hear a gunshot.
“I should have had the career, Gigi! Not you!” Barb was shaking.
“Barb, please put the gun down!” I pleaded. “You don’t want to harm us!”
“No! I’ve been waiting for twenty years for this opportunity! To get back at her!” Barb looked at me and pointed the gun at Gianna. Suddenly, I had a thought.
“What about your new grand-baby?” I asked Barb.
“Luna? What about Luna?” I could see Barb’s demeanor change.
“That is a beautiful name. What is her middle name?” I asked.
“Luna Rose. Why? Why are you asking?” Barb was shaking. I made eye contact with Gianna. I could tell that she knew what I was trying to do.
“You have a new granddaughter, Barb?” Gianna asked. Suddenly, tears were streaming down Barb’s face. She was still holding the gun at us. Barb didn’t answer.
I could see the police officers looking through the glass in the door. They seemed to be waiting for the right moment when Gianna and I would be safe if they came entered. Barb’s back was to the door.
“Don’t bring up Luna! She’ll be ok! I need to avenge what she did to me! What Miss Gianna Rossi did to me! How she ruined my life!” Barb had gotten over her new grandmother's sentiment and had returned to her purpose at hand. Killing Gianna and, most likely, me.
I looked back at the window in the door. The officer held up three fingers and pointed to them. He was counting down and that Gianna and I needed to duck on three.
I made eye contact with Gianna again and knew that she had seen the officer’s signals. The policeman put up one finger. Then two. The three! Gianna and I both leapt and ducked in opposite directions. The gun went off, then a second gunshot. Barb screamed! I covered my head and froze.
It got silent. I looked up slowly. Barb was on the ground. She had been shot! Two officers were standing over her. I looked at Gianna, crouched in the opposite corner. There was a bullet hole just above her head.
“Are you ok, Gianna?” After what we had just been through, it was a thoroughly inadequate question.
“Yes, I’m fine. What happened?” Gianna looked at the officers, as we both stood up.
“Sixty minutes until show time!” Garrett stuck his head and announced. “Oh, my gosh! What happened?” It was then I heard the approaching sirens.