GTP-Chapter 4

Carrie could not believe what she had just heard. Someone had stolen a Steinway, one of the most expensive brands of grand piano ever made. Only the most elaborate, exquisite concert halls kept one. Not only were they an upscale purchase, but Carrie was fairly certain anyone who owned one cared enough about it to keep it in first-rate condition, making upkeep pricy as well. She had only seen a few Steinways in her lifetime and had never gotten the chance to actually play one.

Carrie tucked a loose strand of her light brown hair behind her ear. “Do you have any idea who might have taken it?” she asked.

“No clue,” Mr. Walker replied, his face stricken with panic.

“When did it come up missing?” Carrie asked.

“From what I’ve been told, one of the stagehands discovered it was gone around the time you and I were talking in my office,” Mr. Walker answered. “He reported the problem to John immediately. John alerted me as soon as he found out. I’ve already called Mr. Riley, and he’s on his way here now.”

Carrie was still recovering from the shock of hearing that one of the world’s most expensive pianos had been stolen from one of the top-tier concert halls in the country without anyone noticing any suspicious activity.

Mr. Walker’s expression was grim. “A group of investigators is working on locating the whereabouts of the piano. The FBI is looking into our other issue.”

“What other issue?” Carrie questioned trying not to sound as panicked as Mr. Walker looked.

“The one I had to go deal with when I had to leave you this morning,” Mr. Walker said motioning to the group of detectives and yellow caution tape behind him.

Carrie looked at Mr. Walker curiously.

“Drake has also gone missing,” Mr. Walker continued. “He checked into a hotel downtown and came to see the hall yesterday after he arrived.”

“What?” Carrie yelped.

“I tried calling his cell phone just after I called you,” Mr. Walker explained. “When he didn’t answer, I phoned his hotel. No one there has seen him.”

“And the stagehands don’t remember seeing him leave yesterday,” John said. “But he had to have left because everyone’s looked, and he’s not here now.”

Carrie jumped. She hadn’t known John was standing behind her. “This is just great,” she responded, her tone exasperated. “What are you going to do?”

“I don’t know. I’m very worried. I don’t know how I’m going to hold a show if the hall’s best piano has been stolen, one pianist is missing and the other is receiving death threats.”

After talking a little longer with Mr. Walker and John, Carrie left the hall. As she sat in the backseat of the cab she pondered who was trying to sabotage the show. “Should I listen to the notes and leave, or stay here?” she wondered.

Her stomach growled. “But first,” she thought. “I need some food.”