by Rick Blechta
I’d paid cash for the condo, bought a new car and still had enough money left to invest and to pay Shannon’s bill – which I felt sure had not reflected the actual amount.
When it was announced that a revival of The Lion King was being mounted in Toronto, I’d auditioned for the drum chair and had gotten it with no trouble. I was actually looking forward to doing something so different.
“And you?” I asked Shannon.
“After this, I’m thinking of packing it in. Actually, I discovered I’ve been thinking that way for awhile, but was too busy to notice.”
“What are you going to do?”
She shook her head.“I honestly don’t know. But first I have to sell the business if I can.”
“To whom?”
“Jackie’s been making noises about buying it. I don’t know if she’s ready, though. As good as she is, she’s pretty green. She’s also still beating herself up about what happened to Olivia, no matter what I tell her.”
“I still can’t believe she’s gone. It was such a tragic, useless ending.”
“Yes... it was. Olivia was a truly exceptional talent, and I’m incredibly sorry we couldn’t manage to save her. The way life treated her is just completely unfair.” She looked up at me. “I just want you to know, Andy, that you did the very best you could for her. It was everyone else who failed Olivia.”
Again trying to control my emotions, I could only nod. “By the way, there’s something I want to show you,” I finally said, getting to my feet. “It’s in a box out on the porch. Wait here.”
The chalk outline of Maggie was long gone, but you wouldn’t have been able to see it anyway because of all the boxes piled up for the movers in the morning. Opening one box, I removed a new frame with a beautiful mounting of Olivia’s drawing of Kate reading on my sofa. I took it back into the house.
“Kate and I have promised that this is going to be the first thing unpacked at our new place.”
Shannon looked at it for a long time, then said, “The other night when I got to his apartment, Michael was playing the CD you gave me of Olivia singing. I walked in just as ‘A Case of You’ came on.”
I looked away. “I don’t think I’ll ever be able to listen to that song again. It tears me up inside worse than ever.”
The detective was silent for a moment, then said, “She wrapped that song around your soul, didn’t she?”
A nod was all I could manage.
She leaned forward and gave me a clumsy hug. “I’m sorry you’re hurting so badly. If it’s any consolation, it will get better over time.” Shannon snuffled and dabbed her eyes with a tissue she’d dug out of her pocket. “Sorry I brought up that song.”
“You didn’t know.”
“Her performance is just so stunning. It’s a shame no recordings will ever be available to a wider audience.”
“Maybe it should be,” I said, voicing something I’d been thinking about for a few weeks.
“Michael said he’d be glad to help if you decided to do that.”
I looked out the front windows again. Sunset was beginning to colour the clouds in brilliant oranges and purples.
“Why don’t we just let it ride for the moment?” I answered as I switched on a lamp.
It was getting dark in the old house, dark in my old life, and I found I was yearning more and more for the light.
Acknowledgements
This novel, while wholly a work of fiction, owes a great deal to a number of very real, very generous people.
First, my wife, Vicki, is always the person I rely on most. Having known each other as long as we have, and especially since we’re both musicians, she can always be counted on for candid and cogent appraisals of what I’ve written. For that, I am grateful beyond measure.
Andre Leduc has again provided all the photographs used, and I think they’re some of his best so far. Visit his website if you’d care to see more of his work: www.andreleduc.com.
Preliminary editorial evaluation by the insightful Cheryl Freedman. Agental assistance by Patrica Moosbrugger. Promotional assistance by Jesson Artmont Communications. Vocal stylings at the book’s launch by Nina Richmond of the Advocats Big Band. Gracious hospitality by Pat and Gill Maloney of Vineyard Alpacas (www.vineyardalpacas.com). Their Beamsville home provided the refuge where I wrote a good portion of this novel.
The following kind people provided assistance for the book’s cover: Sasha Maslow, Paul Delong and Pat Morrison, Pam and Jeff Fong, Johnson Attong, my son Karel, and John at the Black Swan Pub. I’d be very remiss if I did not also mention Frank Basile, who gave me the shock of my life.
Travel companionship provided by Raymond J. MacDonald. Research help in Portola from Dee Dafa of Dee’s Station Café (when in Portola, CA, you must eat there!), Ida Larrieu and Linda Knudson. Many thanks for your information and personal insight.
Howard Heller provided no help whatsoever, but wanted his name mentioned, so I made him a criminal lawyer. He’s actually a musician.
If I’ve missed anyone, please forgive me!
And last but definitely not least, at RendezVous Crime, my publisher, Sylvia McConnell, and my editor, Allister Thompson, need to be especially singled out for their insight, advice, dedication and support in making this book a reality.
Any errors in the novel are entirely the author’s own – and have been made despite the very best intentions.
Photo by Andre Leduc
The fact that Rick Blechta has been a musician all his life is clearly apparent in his writing. His five previous novels, Knock on Wood (1992), The Lark Ascending (1993), Shooting Straight in the Dark (2002), Cemetery of the Nameless (2005) and When Hell Freezes Over (2006) have all been critically praised for their insider’s knowledge of the music world. Cemetery of the Nameless was a finalist for the Arthur Ellis “Best Crime Novel” in 2006.
Rick, who began his professional music career at the age of fourteen, is accomplished on several instruments. After receiving a B. Mus. from McGill University, he formed a progressive rock band, Devotion. He taught instrumental music for twenty-three years, and for sixteen years he was a member of the faculty at the Royal Conservatory of Music. He currently plays with the Advocats Big Band.
For the past sixteen years, Rick has been a member of Crime Writers of Canada and was recognized with their Derrick Murdoch Award in 2000 in recognition of his contributions to the organization.
He lives with his wife, prominent flutist and educator Vicki Blechta, in Toronto, and they have two sons.
For more information on Rick’s writing and music, visit his website: www.rickblechta.com.
More Musical Mysteries by Rick Blechta
ISBN 978-1894917-41-4 $16.95 CDN, $15.95 U.S.
Michael Quinn, former rock star, turned his back on a band on the verge of superstardom twenty four years ago. He’s spent his life since hiding from everything he’d been. When a woman chased by thugs jumps into his car, he tries to help. But this sets in motion a chain of events which turns his life upside down.
Now he must confront what he was, what he is now and what he might have been.
ISBN 978-1894917-17-9 $16.95 CDN, $14.95 U.S
“If this is the future of crime writing in Canada, it's a bright one indeed.” —Calgary Herald
Victoria Morgan, violin virtuoso, is on yet another European tour, currently stopping in Vienna. While playing to a full house, she leaves the stage and disappears in the middle of the concert, leaving behind a puzzled audience. Why would a seasoned professional do something so damaging?
Rumours of her disappearance involve the accusation that she has committed a brutal murder.
While the press hounds everyone who knows her, it appears she is running from them, the police and her long-suffering husband. Or is she?
"This new novel by Rick Blechta is excellent. Whether it's the terrific plot or the spectacular location, or just plain good writing, the book is hard to put down." —The Globe and Mail
Copyri
ght © 2008 by Rick Blechta
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted, in any form or by any means, digital, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior consent of the publisher.
Cover, title page and author photos by Andre Leduc
We acknowledge the support of the Canada Council for the Arts for our publishing program.
We acknowledge the financial support of the Government of Canada through the Book Publishing Industry Development Program (BPIDP) for our publishing activities.
RendezVous Crime
an imprint of Napoleon & Company
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
www.napoleonandcompany.com
National Library of Canada Cataloguing in Publication Data
Blechta, Rick
A case of you / Rick Blechta.
ISBN 978-1-894917-68-1
I. Title.
PS8553.L3969C38 2008 C813'.54 C2008-900031-5
12 11 10 09 08 5 4 3 2 1
Library and Archives Canada Cataloguing in Publication
We acknowledge the support of the Canada Council for the Arts and the Ontario Arts Council for our publishing program. We also acknowledge the financial support of the Government of Canada through the Book Publishing Industry Development Program and The Association for the Export of Canadian Books, and the Government of Ontario through the Ontario Book Publishers Tax Credit program.
Care has been taken to trace the ownership of copyright material used in this book. The author and the publisher welcome any information enabling them to rectify any references or credit in subsequent editions.
J. Kirk Howard, President
www.dundurn.com
