Read Online Luthier's Apprentice, The by Mayra Calvani - Free Book Online

tall, gaunt, pale, long dark hair, black robes. This added to his mystique.
    Questions:
    What happened to his body until he was given a Christian burial? Rumors that it disappeared, that it was stolen. Rumors that he didn’t really die, but that he found the secret to immortality. The elixir of life? Another pact with the devil? How? At what price?
    Rumors that the body they eventually buried was not Paganini’s.
     
    Corey stopped reading, thoughtful. He knew many things about Paganini, of course; knew all about Paganini’s incredible skill and bizarre fingerings and even all about his supposed pact with the devil. But Corey hadn’t known about Paganini’s gambling debts—he had pawned his Guarneri!—the Casino Paganini, and certainly not about his missing body and the rumors about his burial.
    Reading about Paganini’s double-jointed fingers made him think of Emma.
    He massaged his eyebrows for a moment and continued reading, this time notes about the famous Russian violinist Sonia Ivanov:
     
    Sonia Ivanov (born in Russia) Died ? Vanished? Where is she?
    Began playing at the age three. Won numerous prestigious prizes, played with the best directors and musicians.
    Extraordinary skill and technique. Rumors of gambling. Wealthy. Rumors of involvement with witchcraft in later years. Rumors not proven.
    Stunningly beautiful. Her signature? Purple gowns.
    Married to famous violinist Augustus Tornelli. Had a daughter. What’s her name? Daughter not involved in the music world. Where is she now?
    Sonia’s husband and American son-in-law died in violent accidents—how?
    Involvement with feminist movement during later years. Talked derogatorily of male violinists in a magazine interview.
    Continued playing until humiliating performance ten years ago (her age is a well-guarded secret, but everyone assumes she was in her 70s), when she suddenly messed up while playing the Sibelius concerto.
     
    Corey turned to the old newspaper clipping attached to the page:
     
    Sonia Ivanov Fails to Deliver!
    The audience was stunned last night at the Bozar Royal Theatre when world-renowned virtuoso Sonia Ivanov abruptly stopped in the middle of the performance with a blank expression on her face. Apparently the famous Russian violinist failed to remember the notes of the Sibelius violin concerto and wasn’t able to finish the concert.
    Sonia, presumed to be in her seventies, has been highly acclaimed throughout most of the 21st century. A child prodigy, she began playing at the age of three, with her first public performance at the age of nine. She has played with the best conductors and musicians throughout the decades, and has been the recipient of several prestigious prizes and awards.
     
    Under the clipping, Monsieur Dupriez had written in bold, underlined letters:
     
    Retired since that terrible day. Where is she? No one seems to know.
     
    Attached to the next page was another, more recent newspaper clipping:
     
    WHERE IS SONIA IVANOV?
    Renowned Russian violin virtuoso Sonia Ivanov’s whereabouts have remained a mystery since her atrocious performance ten years ago at the Bozar Royal Theatre, where her mind failed her and she was unable to perform. Sources who wish to remain anonymous claim that the violinist has been involved with sorcery for years. Whether this is the truth or simply rumored is not proven.
     
    Corey leaned back against the chair and exhaled. He nodded slowly, his lips a firm line. Little things were starting to fall into place, things he’d rather not think about but knew he had to face. He leaned forward over his desk and immersed into Monsieur Dupriez’s notes once again:
     
    Violinists who have disappeared throughout the ages (there may be more):
    Werber, 1805
    Hans, 1817
    Royany, 1836
    Mouravieff, 1855
    Berilli, 1867
    Van Der Straeten, 1901
    Jean Pierre, 1938
    No pattern visible, except--all were male. What happened to them?
    This year:
    Dutcher, February
    Guodelesky, May
    Harrison, August
    All men.