The Uneven Score by Carla Neggers

Author:Carla Neggers [Neggers, Carla]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Contemporary Romantic Suspense
Publisher: Belgrave House
Published: 1985-11-17T20:00:00+00:00

Chapter Seven

An hour later Whitney still felt like eating. Daniel had given Paddie a ride back to the auditorium to pick up her car and said he had to make an appearance at his office while he was in town. Whitney was to make herself at home. She was not, however, to talk to strangers, answer the phone, wander around in the grove, or try to take “matters” in her own hands. So she decided to cook. What she wanted was a true Stagliatti spaghetti sauce. “Cures what ails you,” Harry had always said.

She was browning a pound of frozen hamburger and discovering the glories of a food processor in Daniel’s kitchen when Bradley Fredericks and Yoshifumi Kamii came to the back door. Should she let them in, she wondered, or were they the Big Bad Wolf who was going to gobble her up? She shrugged and opened the door. All the fairy tales she had read had happy endings.

“Well, if it isn’t Paddie’s one true friends” Yoshifumi said, grinning. “How are you, kid? Ready to fill Stagliatti’s shoes?”

“Just planning to do my best,” she replied.

Yoshifumi introduced Bradley, who greeted her formally but without animosity. Explaining Daniel wasn’t around, she led them into the kitchen. They sat at the table, and she attacked the frozen meat with a spatula. Her head hurt. She had taken some of the enzyme, but eschewed the painkiller, opting instead for aspirin. Yoshifumi said she looked beat. She agreed.

“Miss McCallie,” Bradley said, “when do you expect Mr. Graham to return?”

“I don’t know. Soon, I guess. He didn’t say.” The hamburger was sticking to the pan. It was the extra-lean variety, which Stagliatti scrupulously avoided. She added a little olive oil. “Why, what’s up?”

Yoshifumi scratched his chin thoughtfully. He had the blunt nails and callused fingertips of a professional violinist. “You must have heard,” he said, his Japanese accent almost unnoticeable. “Paddie’s canceled her four o’clock rehearsals.”

Whitney turned down the heat. “Mmm, I heard.” She grinned over at the two men. “I’ve been waiting for the sky to fall down.”

“Any idea of her motives?”

“I was under the impression she thought the orchestra was beginning to react to all the strain it’s been under.”

Yoshifumi laughed. Bradley looked dour. “We are not the ones reacting to the pressures,” he said. “You’ve seen Dr. Paderevsky, haven’t you? What do you think?”

“I saw her briefly. Seems like the same old Paddie to me.”

“Did you tell her about our little meeting this morning?” Yoshifumi asked.

“No, why would I do that?”

“Did you listen in?”

“Certainly not!”

Yoshifumi grinned. He really was a striking man, she thought. “Then you’re not the same old Whitney I know. How come you sneaked off with Graham’s car?”

“I did not sneak off. I merely borrowed it.”

“That’s what he said, but he was pissed, believe you me.”

“It was just a misunderstanding.”

“I’m sure it’s none of our business,” Bradley said impatiently. “We won’t impose on you any longer, Miss McCallie, but if you would be so kind as to tell Mr. Graham of our visit?”

“Sure.

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