Requiem Murder Part 14

Chapter 6.

Recordare.

Beth and I hurried to the door and left a sputtering Judith behind. When the oak door closed, the laughter I'd stifled burst free. "I can't believe you criticized her. Are you prepared for her reaction? She doesn't get mad, she gets even."

"Not really. The words were out before I thought." Beth's blue eyes looked troubled. "I was right. Roger told me why he's afraid of cats. He was savaged and he had to have the rabies series. You know how gruesome they used to be."

Rabies shots, at least years ago were nothing to be enjoyed, but the disease was worse. Though I wanted to warn her to be careful about her renewed friends.h.i.+p with Roger, she wouldn't listen. Until the next time he froze her out, she was his willing acolyte.

Rehearsal was an eye-opener for me. Roger drove the choir hard, but he didn't spare himself. I studied his directing style and marked my score with the changes he'd made since our lunch meeting. My directions should conform to his expectations.

Seeing the way he drove the choir and himself made me realize how he'd attained the spectacular results with the choir and the organ. He didn't have as much natural talent as Marcie, but he disciplined every ounce and pushed himself with fierce determination. At times his sharp comments troubled me.

A loud noise startled me. I looked up to see he'd slammed the keyboard cover. I cringed. That was no way to treat any instrument. Roger pointed his finger. A flush covered his face.

"Tenors, watch me," he roared. "Are you tripping in dreamland? You should have this section memorized. I find you ragged and unprepared. Do you want to be the joke of the community? The success of our performance depends on your squeezing out every ounce of music you possess. I will not tolerate this."

He prowled the area in front of the piano and reminded me of a caged panther I'd once seen at the zoo. His tantrum shocked me, but I noticed none of the choir members seemed affronted by what appeared to me to be an inappropriate reaction.

"Sopranos, you're slurring your esses. We've worked on that fault for weeks. Pay attention to your diction. Judith, were you asleep? You're the section leader and if I can't depend on you to keep your section together, I'll look for someone else."

Judith's expression frightened me. Her eyes narrowed and her mouth thinned. While the alto's entrance had been slow, they'd blended well.

He paused at the piano and struck four notes. "Try this section again, and this time, pay attention."

They did. The difference amazed me.

Since there was no need to mark my score during the repeat, I studied the expressions of the choir members. The anger had faded from Judith's face and she eyed Roger like a glutton contemplating a seven course meal. Beth also watched him with rapt attention. The fervor of her glance nearly embarra.s.sed me. Was she falling in love and was he worthy of her devotion?

When rehearsal ended and the choir dispersed, Roger caught up with me at the sanctuary door. "What do you think?"

"I'm astonished. It's nearly perfect."

"That's not acceptable." Though he smiled, his eyes and the tone of his voice were dead serious. "Come with us to the Pub and we'll go over our scores. You can point out the rough spots."

"Can't we do it tomorrow?" Though I hadn't been a partic.i.p.ant, the currents of a dozen conflicting energies had exhausted me.

"Best done while it's fresh. We could stay here, but we'd be keeping Beth, too. I'm depending on her for a ride. My car's in the shop."

Was that his reason for courting Beth? The idea lodged in my thoughts. What could I do if that was the case? Beth was so enthralled she'd never believe me.

"I'll go, but I won't stay late. I need my rest." And a break from the charged atmosphere Judith always generated.

He laughed. "You've more energy than most women half your age. If all older women were like you, I'd...change my dating habits."

Flattery works. My doubts slipped into a holding area. As we entered the choir room where Beth waited, he took my arm. "Oh, Beth, I forgot to tell the soloists I want to see them on Monday. Remind me to tell them."

"I will."

I tucked my score in my handbag. Roger held his in his hand. We walked downstairs and to Beth's car where Roger folded himself into the back seat.

When I entered the Pub the aroma of cigarette smoke brought on a coughing fit. A television at the end of the bar blared. Numbers flashed on a board. The crowd gathered at the bar and in the booths along the walls talked and laughed in loud voices. Most of them didn't look old enough to drink. Roger steered me into a second room, a bit brighter, a tad less smoky and found seats at a large center table. Judith waved and headed to the bar.

Roger held my chair and sat beside me. Beth took our drink orders. I handed her money. He didn't.

More than half the choir had come, a change from the days of Judith's exclusive invitations.

He spread his score on the table. "Did you bring yours?"

I extracted my copy from my capacious handbag. "I'm not sure I can concentrate here."

"If you mean the noise, I tune it out."

"You've greater powers of concentration than I do. Probably my large curiosity is the cause. I like to listen to what others say and hear their secrets."

He laughed and pulled a bowl of popcorn closer. "But you seldom give anyone's secrets away."

"Because they're not mine."

Beth returned with our drinks. "Don't forget to mention the soloists' rehearsal. You'll have to call Ralph."

He waved her away. "Remind me later." He pointed to one of the pa.s.sages I'd heard tonight. "This needs

work."

"A bit. Though there was a vast improvement after your lecture." I pointed to a second section. "The ba.s.ses overpowered the other sections here. You may have to ask several of the men not to sing."

He nodded. "Or have the other sections a bit more fortissimo. Let me think about this."

Judith sauntered across the room with a gla.s.s of amber liquid in her hand. "I don't believe you're

discussing business here." She stood behind him and pressed her body against his chair. "Aren't you going to relax?" She ran her fingers along his neck.

He grasped her hand. "Let me be."

"Roger, we're here to socialize and have fun. I need to talk to you. Let's take a walk."

"Judith." Martin rose. "Let me get you some chili or a crock of onion soup."

She stroked Roger's neck. "Later we'll have our little talk, all right?"

Maybe the other choir members were used to her behavior because no one looked up. Roger's eyes held a trace of disgust. Martin's body language shouted anger. Tension gathered and my unease peaked.

"Let's do this tomorrow. My head's pounding. I can't handle the noise, the smoke, the confusion." I pushed my chair back and tucked my score away. "I'll bring a tape recorder next week. Then we can play it back."

"Good idea." He patted my hand. "The atmosphere is a bit heavy tonight."

A bit, I thought. More like a storm approached and I wasn't sure there was a way to stop trouble from visiting the choir.

"I'll take you home." Beth turned to Roger. "Do you want --"

He lightly caressed her hand. "Come back for me."

"Don't bother," Judith called. "I'll drive him home. I have some things to discuss with him."

"We walked, remember." Martin said.

Judith sank on a chair. "And whose idea was that?"

The answer was lost when Beth and I exited the second room and entered the noisy bar. I rubbed my

temples.

"Are you okay?" Beth asked.

"An overdose of Judith."

"What did you think of the rehearsal?"

"The Mozart is shaping up nicely...Does he often have temper tantrums?"

She frowned. "The tenors and altos weren't paying attention. He's so dedicated and hard working that

these things really upset him."

"He has to remember they're volunteers."

"I know, but he puts himself under pressure. He needs someone to take care of him."

I stared at the moon. Not full yet, but her idea was crazy. She was a good nurse and a natural nurturer

and those qualities put her in danger of being trod on. "Don't fall into a trap. He might be the kind of man who delights in having a harem."

"Mrs. Miller, what do you mean?"

"I've noticed how many women, not just the choir members, fuss over him. Even I feel flattered by his attention. What does he give you?"

"Companions.h.i.+p. Affection -- at least I think he does. Music appreciation." She sighed. "I'm ready to move on. In the past year I've dated two men. They didn't want what I want and that I have a son bothered them. Roger's at the house a lot. He's lonely and so am I. Life can be a drag when you're not part of a couple."

"What about --" I cut off my question, but I wondered why she'd forgotten her hurt and anger of several weeks ago.