Quinn nodded. I read in the paper that the family intended to sell his sax, along with his other instruments, and donate the money to a foundation helping veterans.
Arnie had a bunch of saxes. They planned to sell some of them, but not this one.
What do Arnies parents think? Would they tell you if they suspected hed made any enemies? Quinn asked.
Arnies parents think he was murdered, too. But theres nowhere they can go with that any more than I can. They know the police would think they were crazy, too, if they tried to convince them some random killer had hunted Arnie down and killed him with an overdose of heroin.
Quinn pushed his plate aside and leaned on the table, his attention focused entirely on Tyler.
Were you with him the night he died? Do you know who he was hanging around with, what might have been going on in his life? he asked.
Tyler shook his head. I wasnt with him the night he died. Wish I had been! he said fervently. I was working in the Quarter that night, too. Arnie had been sitting in with my band, getting back into the swing of playing. I was filling in with another group. A friend of mine was sick and needed someone to cover for him, and I figured Arnie was just getting used to my band, so Id head over to work with the other group. My band didnt mind. They all knew Arnie was way better than me, he added without rancor. Usually when we end a shift were all hungry, so we go out for pizza or something. But that night Arnie told them he had something to do, so hed see them the next night. And that was it. Sometime after he left the band, someone killed him.
They were playing at the same place where you saw me today, Danni, La Porte Rouge. What the police didnt investigate, I did. Who was he hanging around with? Me. Other musicians. His family. What was going on in his life? Nothing. So yeah, I promise you, the cops would laugh at me if I tried to tell them some random murderer who didnt steal a thing from him just decided to off him by pumping him full of heroin. Believe me, I know what I sound like. Like Im on crack myself. But I know what I saw and what I heard when I played that sax, and...
And? Danni asked.
He looked at her with eyes as gold as his skin and said, I knew Arnie. And like most of us who grew up around here, he was exposed to his share of drugs and alcohol. He saw what it did to peopleincluding me. Arnie wouldnt have touched the stuff. Hell, hed have swallowed his gun before he stuck a needle in his arm. I know it.
He stopped talking and looked at the two of them questioningly.
Danni turned to Quinn. He nodded slowly.
Well look into it, he promised.
Danni almost fell off her chair.
How? she wanted to scream at Quinn. How the hell were they going to look into it? No witnesses, the body already interred, and they werent likely to get any help from the ME or the cops.
Obviously, Tyler Anderson didnt want to accept the fact his friend had committed suicide, and maybe that was all this was: a man desperate to think the best of his friend. But then there was the vision hed claimed to have had while playing the dead mans sax...
It was all just too damned tragic.
She winced, lowering her head.
And yet, was it any less a tragedy if hed been murdered?
It was almost as if Tyler read her thoughts. When she looked up, he was staring at her.
He shook his head. The truth. The truth is what we all need. And if...if Im right, its not vengeance Im after. Its justice. Justice for Arnie.
Looking back at him, she understood. She didnt know why, but she understood. Wondering, not knowing, those were the emotional upheavals that tore people to pieces.
Well need a lot from you, Quinn told him. I need namesall the musicians he might have played with and anyone he might have been seeing. A one-night stand, a long-lost loveanyone. And, he said, Ill have to talk to his family.
Tyler winced at that. Yeah, he said. I know.
And, Danni added, if the sax...says anything else to you, we have to know.
Tyler stiffened and stared at her. The sax doesnt talk, he told her, irritated.
She smiled. I didnt say it talked. But if it gives you anything else, another vision, anything else at all, we need to know right away.
He nodded and said, Thank you.
Of course, she said softly.
He rose, picking up the sax case.
Oh, and... He paused, looking at his plate as if surprised. Somewhere along the way hed actually finished his food. Thanks for the lasagna.
My pleasure. I just hope we can help you, she said.
One more thing, Quinn said.
Whats that? Tyler asked.
The sax, Quinn said.
The sax? Tyler repeated, puzzled.
Thats the sax that Arnies mom gave you, right? Quinn asked.
Thats it.
Leave it here, Quinn said.
But...Im a saxophonist. I make a living playing music.
You have others, right?
None that I play like this, Tyler said.
Youll play it again, Quinn promised. For now, please, let us keep it. Let us try to figure out if there really is something about this sax thats special. But if anyone comes up to you threatening you for a sax, hand it right over. Any sax you happen to have on you.
Tyler looked puzzled. Youre talking about that holdup down near Frenchman Street, right? he asked, then something dawned in his eyes.
More than that, Tyler. Two musicians have been killed in their homes.
Two? Tyler looked shocked. I saw something on the news a few days ago about a guy, but
Another man was killed today. It will be on the eleven oclock news, if you dont believe me. I think someone wants the sax you have right there. They just dont know where it is, Quinn said. He frowned, puzzled. Didnt Arnie have his sax the night he was killed?
He must have, but I dont know if it was found with him or not, and I dont know what sax he had, Tyler said.
Danni looked at Quinn. Hed caught her by surprise with his mention of a musicians murder earlier that day. Clearly he knew much more, saw more connections, than she did.
Tyler looked as if he were loath to part with the instrument.
It could mean your life, Quinn said quietly. And while youre at it, when youre talking to people, make a point of saying you wish you had Arnies old sax. Dont tell anyone who doesnt already know that you had it or where it might be. As far as you know, it went up for auction.
Tyler still looked doubtful.
When you got here you told me you knew what Quinn and I did, Danni said quietly. So let us do our job, all right?
Tyler nodded and slowly handed over the sax. Thank you. He reached into his pocket and produced his card. This is me. If you need me at any time for anything, just call. Obviously, when Im playing, I dont hear my phone. But Ill check it every break in case...in case I can help.
Here are our numbers, Quinn said, and produced a card, as well. It had his cell, Dannis cell and the shop number.
Tyler took the card as if it were a lifeline. Thanks, he said.
Tyler nodded and slowly handed over the sax. Thank you. He reached into his pocket and produced his card. This is me. If you need me at any time for anything, just call. Obviously, when Im playing, I dont hear my phone. But Ill check it every break in case...in case I can help.
Here are our numbers, Quinn said, and produced a card, as well. It had his cell, Dannis cell and the shop number.
Tyler took the card as if it were a lifeline. Thanks, he said.
Be careful, okay? Quinn said. I expect the police will be putting out a parish-wide warning for musicians, but it doesnt hurt to be reminded. Dont open the door when youre alone, even to people you think are your friends. And make sure you warn your band and anyone else you play with that someone has it in for musicians.
Tyler nodded gravely. Ill do that, he promised.
Ill walk you out through the front, Quinn told him.
Danni picked up in the kitchen while Quinn led Tyler back through the shop. When he came back he slipped his arms around her where she stood at the sink.
She spun in his embrace, staring at him, a sudsy plate in her hands.
Hey! What the heck is going on? You know way more than I do. Do you really think this has something to do with the incidents with those other musicians? And what about this second murder? Are you sure it makes sense for us to investigate this? Arnies death must have been investigated, even if they just wanted to know where he got the heroin. He was a hero and a popular local figure, found dead on Rampart Street. They could be right, you know, and it really was an accidental OD.
He took the plate from her. Suds were flying, because she was waving it around as she talked, she realized.
Im sorry. I thought wed think alike on this, he said.
Im not saying I disagree.
What, then? He moved away from her, and she was almost sorry she had spoken.
There was a sudden distant look in his eyes, as if he was remembering something she hadnt been a part of. She loved him so much, but she knew hed had a life before hed met her, a very different life. Hed once been a shining star, and then hed crashed and burned, finally becoming the man he was today.
You know, he said quietly. I was messed up. So messed up that I almost died. I did die, actually. They brought me back.
I know that, she said softly. I thank God constantly that you came through. And youre right. I believe Tyler. And I dont believe Arnie Watson just left work one night and decided to stick a needle in his arm.
All these incidents are relatedthey have to be, Quinn said. Larue was mistaken earlier when he told me about Holton Morelli, the musician who was killed in his home last week. He wasnt the first to die. Arnie Watson was.
Chapter 3
QUINN HEARD A knock at the side door, off the courtyard entrance, to the house on Royal Street just as he was returning to the kitchen.
He knew it was Larue or another friend. Only those in their close circle ever used the courtyard entrance.
He looked at Danni and saw the resolve reflected in her eyes. He lowered his head, not wanting her to see the bittersweet smile on his lips. He couldnt help but remember when hed first gotten to know her. Hed worked with her late father many times. And when hed been thrown into an assignment with her the first timeseeking a mysterious Italian busthed believed hed been stuck seeking help from a spoiled debutante.
Danni was beautiful, filled with grace and charm and a smile that could melt a mans heartor ignite his libido. And Angus had never said a word to her about his special collection. Shed been pitched almost blindly into a world where people killed over possessions that were more than they seemed, and where the sins of the past could thunder down upon the present.
And now, when he looked at her, he saw the resolve in her eyes, an implicit promise to find justice for Tylers dead friend.
Ill get it, he said. Its probably Jake.
You have a very odd smile on your face, considering the circumstances, she told him.
I was thinking that Im a lucky man, he said softly.
Quinn, this is bad, isnt it? Very bad.
Yes, but I have a lusciousand brilliantpartner, he told her. One who comes with...benefits.
Hmm. I confess I appreciate my coworkerand eye candytoo, she said.
She was worried, though; he could tell. Her eyes had already fallen to the sax hed been so determined they should keep.
There was another knock, and Quinn went to let Larue in.
He greeted Danni warmly. Over the past few years theyd gotten to know one another well. Although Larue preferred to believe in what his five senses told him, Quinn knew he respected the connection he and Danni felt to something...more. And all of them believed deeply in right over wrong, which meant together they were a crime-solving force that worked.
Want some coffee? she asked Larue warmly.
Ill have something a lot strongerif that wont bother you? he asked, looking at Quinn.
Not at all. One mans demon can be another mans friend, he said. He looked over at Danni with a questioning glance.
Ill stick to coffee, she said.
Billie came into the kitchen from the shop just then. Detective Larue, good to see you, he said then caught the serious vibe in the room and quickly added, Or not.
Billie, good to see you, Larue replied.
Shop is locked up, he said. Im going to go catch up on some television, I guess.
Stay, Billie, Quinn said.
Yes, stay, Larue echoed.
Billie nodded. He had started working with Angus in Scotland, and after Anguss death he had cast himself in the role of Dannis guardian. They were lucky, Quinn knew, to have him in their fold.
Quinn poured Larue a good stiff scotch and set it in front of him. Larue told Danni that he would take a coffee chaser, too, and soon the four of them were seated around the table.
Larue spoke first, telling them about the holdup in the street and progressing to the two murders. Quinn, in turn, explained everything that had happened with Arnie Watson and how Tyler Anderson was convinced that Arnie had been murdered.
Larue frowned and said, The ME reported Arnies death as an accidental overdose. Based on the circumstances, we accepted that finding. And Im still not a hundred percent convinced his death is connected. These other murders... They were about as brutal and sadistic as you can get.
The connection makes sense, Quinn argued. They were all musicians. The holdup? Only their instruments were stolen. After that, things escalated. First you had Arnies death. Maybe it was a gentler murder because the killer and Arnie were actually friends. But Arnie didnt have the sax on him. Not the right sax, anyway.
I wonder why that was, Danni put in.
What? Quinn asked her.
Arnie had been playing with Tylers group that night. But he wasnt found with his sax, and his family had the...special sax after he died, when his mother gave it to Tyler, who left it here with us. So what happened to his sax that night? Danni asked.