"Mr. Coleman?"

Coleman turned to face the two teens. "Yes?"

"My name is Frank Hardy. I’m a private detective. I was wondering if I could ask you a few question?"

"Why of course. Anything that I can do to help figure what has happened is no trouble at all."

Frank hid his shock well. He had expected the man to ignore them, at best. "Is it true that you and Mr. Barrett didn’t get along?"

Coleman’s face fell. "Yes, it is true. And such a shame too. He was brilliant on the piano. Simply brilliant. I don’t know what it was that set us at each others throats."

"When did his behavior really begin to change?" Frank asked.

"About a week into rehearsals, I believe. Kurt kept commenting on little things. And I noticed some things too."

Frank nodded. So far, everyone was agreeing that Clancy’s behavior had started changing at the same time. Yet another reason to suspect poisoning, Frank thought. "What changes did you notice?" he prompted.

"Well, he would forget where he’d put his keys, misplace his music. The last week or so he was a completely different person. Worse than usual."

Frank nodded. "You do realize that with your history with Mr. Barrett, you are a top suspect?"

"Yes, I do realize that." Coleman sighed heavily. "I did not try to kill him. He has far too much talent. Under kinder circumstances, I’m sure we would have worked well together."

"How many times have you worked together?" Becka asked.

Frank smiled to himself. Becka was a quick learner.

"This was our first actually. I had hoped our working relationship would be better than our social one."

"Could you elaborate?" Frank glanced around quickly and noticed Evan Williams seemed to be paying very close attention to them. Frank made a mental note to check him out further as soon as they were finished with Mr. Coleman.

"We tend to argue at social functions. Rather forcefully at times. Until rehearsals started here, we did our best to stay away from each other."

Frank stole another glance at Williams. He had moved in closed. Frank decided this interview was over. Williams behavior was throwing up red flags. "Thanks for your time, Mr. Coleman."

"Anytime, young man." Coleman nodded briefly, then hurried off.

Frank took Becka’s hand and walked away in the opposite direction. "Why the sudden stop?" Becka looked up at Frank, a questioning look on her face.

"We had an eavesdropper. I want to check him out."

"That Williams guy?"

Frank nodded. "And for that, we need Vanessa."

The two went back to the place they’d agreed to meet up and waited for Joe and Vanessa to appear. Then a large commotion started up towards the stage. They heard an anguished cry and rushed up to the crowd. Frank pushed his way through and gasped. Kurt was on his knees.

Kurt looked up and saw Frank. "Clancy’s dead."