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Authors: Alexie Aaron
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three note range in some obscure
key is the best I can do,” I admitted. “You said your uncle was lost during
the war, so how does his summer at Bathgate fit in?”
“My uncle’s schooling was interrupted by the war. He
enlisted in the Army Air corps, and, although he did correspond with Professor
Bathgate, he primarily put his vocation on the back burner until after the
war. He was on his way home as the war was waning when he decided to stop over
in England and visit the friends he had made while he was there. He never came
home. The last news of him that the family had was that he had arrived in
London.
“Professor Bathgate was running an ambulance in London at that
time, and he did meet with Donald. They had a pleasant time together, and then
Donald left to visit some of the other students who were residing in England
before ending up at Bathgate. Professor Bathgate’s wife, Anna, was away
visiting her daughter Angie who had been taken ill and was hospitalized.
According to Anna, who returned some time later, Donald never arrived.”
“So, he went missing in England,” I thought aloud. “Okay,
now here’s the puzzler for me: how did you know about my trip?”
“Actually, it was a coincidence. Father Bernard from the
Chapel of the Palms heard about Bobby Bathgate’s accident. He and I were in
the seminary together, and I had just shared with him the story of my missing
uncle. Well, Bathgate is an unusual name, so he thought he should give me a
call. I then drove down from Savannah and called on Bobby. Bobby remembered
my uncle because of his red hair; he reminded him of a young Copland.” Father
Michael smiled slightly.
“Did Donald visit Bobby?”
“No, Bobby wasn’t in the country when Donald came through.
He asked me if Donald ever published the hymns he was working on, which I knew
nothing about. Bobby wasn’t aware Donald had disappeared. After the war he
and his father went their separate ways: Bobby went professional and his father
returned to teaching. You know, Bobby played me some of my uncle’s work from
memory. The guy’s amazing.”
“Bobby has a great memory for music, if he hears it once, he
can play it.”
“I asked Bobby if some of my uncle’s work might still be at
the farm. He didn’t know but mentioned you had been given the task of
organizing the school’s contents, and if he received any information on
Donald’s work from you he would pass it on.” He rubbed his hands together.
“Patience isn’t a virtue I enjoy. Bobby told me your flight number, the rest
isn’t coincidental. I thought while I was following Donald’s trail through
England I might as well keep tabs on you.”
“Keep tabs on me. Hmm, I never considered myself the type
of person who had or needed a tab.”
“Cindy, I don’t think the Bathgates were completely honest
with you. Bobby didn’t fall down the escalator; he was pushed.”
“So I hear.”
“And the fire at the farm was arson. And Angie was
attacked. If it wasn’t for her neighbor arriving, it could have been much
worse.”
“So, do you think the recent attacks on Bobby and Angie have
any connection with your uncle?”
“I don’t know. Any thoughts?”
I considered this for a minute before speaking. “Bobby
fell, or was pushed rather, the third week of April. His sister?”
“It was two days before when Angie found one of the music
school’s buildings on fire. She quickly found evidence of arson, and in
following the burn trail to its source, instead of finding answers, found
herself being knocked unconscious.”
“So why attack the Bathgates now? Does anyone know about
your investigation?”
“Just you and Aunt Diane. She’s financing my little
enterprise.”
“Why keep Bobby from Cornwall? What’s at this music
school?”
“I think we won’t know until you find it.”
“But what am I looking for?” I sat back and closed my
eyes.
key is the best I can do,” I admitted. “You said your uncle was lost during
the war, so how does his summer at Bathgate fit in?”
“My uncle’s schooling was interrupted by the war. He
enlisted in the Army Air corps, and, although he did correspond with Professor
Bathgate, he primarily put his vocation on the back burner until after the
war. He was on his way home as the war was waning when he decided to stop over
in England and visit the friends he had made while he was there. He never came
home. The last news of him that the family had was that he had arrived in
London.
“Professor Bathgate was running an ambulance in London at that
time, and he did meet with Donald. They had a pleasant time together, and then
Donald left to visit some of the other students who were residing in England
before ending up at Bathgate. Professor Bathgate’s wife, Anna, was away
visiting her daughter Angie who had been taken ill and was hospitalized.
According to Anna, who returned some time later, Donald never arrived.”
“So, he went missing in England,” I thought aloud. “Okay,
now here’s the puzzler for me: how did you know about my trip?”
“Actually, it was a coincidence. Father Bernard from the
Chapel of the Palms heard about Bobby Bathgate’s accident. He and I were in
the seminary together, and I had just shared with him the story of my missing
uncle. Well, Bathgate is an unusual name, so he thought he should give me a
call. I then drove down from Savannah and called on Bobby. Bobby remembered
my uncle because of his red hair; he reminded him of a young Copland.” Father
Michael smiled slightly.
“Did Donald visit Bobby?”
“No, Bobby wasn’t in the country when Donald came through.
He asked me if Donald ever published the hymns he was working on, which I knew
nothing about. Bobby wasn’t aware Donald had disappeared. After the war he
and his father went their separate ways: Bobby went professional and his father
returned to teaching. You know, Bobby played me some of my uncle’s work from
memory. The guy’s amazing.”
“Bobby has a great memory for music, if he hears it once, he
can play it.”
“I asked Bobby if some of my uncle’s work might still be at
the farm. He didn’t know but mentioned you had been given the task of
organizing the school’s contents, and if he received any information on
Donald’s work from you he would pass it on.” He rubbed his hands together.
“Patience isn’t a virtue I enjoy. Bobby told me your flight number, the rest
isn’t coincidental. I thought while I was following Donald’s trail through
England I might as well keep tabs on you.”
“Keep tabs on me. Hmm, I never considered myself the type
of person who had or needed a tab.”
“Cindy, I don’t think the Bathgates were completely honest
with you. Bobby didn’t fall down the escalator; he was pushed.”
“So I hear.”
“And the fire at the farm was arson. And Angie was
attacked. If it wasn’t for her neighbor arriving, it could have been much
worse.”
“So, do you think the recent attacks on Bobby and Angie have
any connection with your uncle?”
“I don’t know. Any thoughts?”
I considered this for a minute before speaking. “Bobby
fell, or was pushed rather, the third week of April. His sister?”
“It was two days before when Angie found one of the music
school’s buildings on fire. She quickly found evidence of arson, and in
following the burn trail to its source, instead of finding answers, found
herself being knocked unconscious.”
“So why attack the Bathgates now? Does anyone know about
your investigation?”
“Just you and Aunt Diane. She’s financing my little
enterprise.”
“Why keep Bobby from Cornwall? What’s at this music
school?”
“I think we won’t know until you find it.”
“But what am I looking for?” I sat back and closed my
eyes.
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