Overture to Murder by Erica Miner

Author:Erica Miner [Erica Miner]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Level Best Books
Published: 2024-10-16T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Thirty-One

Wotan

Hüte dich wohl, und halte dich stark;

all deiner Kühnheit entbiete im Kampf

Guard yourself carefully, and maintain your forcefulness;

present all your bravery and skill to the struggle

Brünnhilde

Hojotoho! hojotoho! heiaha! heiaha!

Hojotoho! hojotoho! heiaha! heiaha!

Wagner, Die Walküre, Act Two

Julia arrived the next morning before rehearsal and ran into Marin at the stage door. “Got a minute?”

“For you, Jul? Always.”

“Let’s hit the orchestra lounge before anyone else gets there so we can have some privacy.”

Julia led Marin through the hallway and down the stairs to the musicians’ hangout, where they huddled together in a remote corner near the vending machines.

“What’s up?” Marin asked.

“I’m investigating Chauvet’s murder.”

Marin’s eyebrows shot up. “Did you learn nothing from Santa Fe?”

Julia shrugged. “What can I say? I did save your life after all.”

“You’re a glutton for punishment. And what about Rebecca? Have you considered how your poking around might affect her?”

“Trust me, I have. But this is important, too. And believe it or not, she’s all for it.”

“Why am I not surprised? She’s your daughter.” Marin hesitated for a long moment. “Okay, what do you need to know?” she said finally, glancing up at the wall clock.

“Don’t worry, this won’t take long. I was wondering what you think of the new director.”

“Pierre-Henri? He’s a lamb. Total opposite of Chauvet. Much easier to work with.”

“In what way?”

“For one thing,” Marin said, “He’s not railing at us all the time. Plus, he doesn’t abuse the ‘God’ mike the way Chauvet did. That’s a biggie, as you know. For me and everyone else.”

“And the other singers?”

“What do you think? They’re delirious to be rid of that ogre Chauvet.”

“Did any of them have a volatile relationship with him?”

“They despised him equally.” Marin lowered her voice. “I wouldn’t be surprised if they conspired together to waste him, like in that Agatha Christie book.”

“‘Murder on the Orient Express?’”

“Right. But get this.” Marin leaned close to Julia. “There’s a rumor floating around that Chauvet was done in by some poisoned chocolates. And not just any chocolates. Specialty ones from France.”

Julia thought back to her conversation with the security guard, Al. Everything he had told her about the candy appearing out of nowhere made sense to her. “Where did you hear this?”

“A little bird told me.”

Julia giggled at the reference to Wagner’s third Ring opera, Siegfried, and the hero’s conversation with the Forest Bird. “No, really. Where?”

“Like I said, it’s just a rumor. Opera singers have a way of fabricating stories out of their imaginations. It comes from too much time spent onstage imitating real life,” Marin said. “That said, rumors are like clichés. Tiresome, but true.”

“I suppose it’s possible.”

“It’s opera; anything’s possible. Anyway, you didn’t hear it from me. Actually, you did. Right now, though, I gotta go. These TV folks are like raging vampires, out for blood. They’re not interested in aesthetics, or the craft involved in what goes down onstage. They’re after story, story, story.”

“Sounds like we’re heading into a maelstrom,” Julia said.

“At least.” Marin rose and rubbed her hands together. “Speaking of which, Walküre, Act 2.

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