Chet? Chet?
Alissa told me under no uncertain terms that Chet was not to be trusted. He gave them the riddle that led to them finding May’s head, but then he turned around and betrayed them when they were ransacking Rouge’s office. He’s the reason they starved for a month at the Caterpillar Hotel.
Still… he’s not the only unusually tall person in the city of Chicago.
Anyone could have planted the music box. It might not even be the valet driver at all.
Mr. Night seems to be on our side. He recognized me when I was masquerading as the Ace of Clubs and didn’t reveal me.
“It might not have been Chet, though,” I say. “It could be another Aces employee. Someone who’s trying to get even with Rouge. Mr. Night, perhaps. Maybe one of Rouge’s Kings, too. They’re all big and tall.”
She scoffs. “I’d trust Chet before I trust one of the Kings. They’re all devoted to Rouge. I’ve heard there’s a rigorous process through which she tests their loyalty.” She scratches her chin. “Mr. Night could be a clue, though. But he’s not tall.”
“Like I said, it might not have been the valet at all. He could just be a red herring.”
She sighs. “The music box itself could be a red herring. A dead end. It might just have been a gift to you.”
I shake my head. “I don’t think so. Like I said, the tune is a little funky. There’s some kind of message, but I have no idea how to figure it out. Besides, the fact that it’s a teapot has some meaning as well.”
“It does?”
“Yeah. A teapot… It’s a symbol of my friendship with Maddox. The very first thing we ever bonded over was our mutual love of tea. We came from different backgrounds, but we found some common ground there.”
“Interesting. And does anyone besides the two of you know about that?”
I frown. “I don’t think so. Maddox might have mentioned it to some other people. It’s not like it was this dark secret.”
“Not like keeping human hearts in a cooler behind a toilet,” she murmurs.
I exhale sharply. “Exactly.”
She bites her lip. “I guess you’re right. It might not necessarily be Chet. It could be someone we don’t even know, someone lurking in the shadows, clearing a path for us to figure out how to bring my sister to justice.”
“Or it’s a trap,” I add weakly.
“Yes, but if this music box is our only lead, we need to follow it. If there’s any chance it will save lives, it’s our moral duty to see this through.”
I swallow. “Agreed. But again, I have no idea where to start. The tune sounds like some of the notes are wrong, and there’s a weird pause toward the beginning that’s out of time. A long note in the middle, too. And four notes at the beginning that are completely separate from the rest of it.”
“Can you play it for me?” she asks.
I wind up the teapot again, let the macabre waltz play again.
She listens. “It does sound disjointed. But I don’t know the actual song. I don’t know which notes are wrong and which ones belong.” Her eyes light up. “But you know who might recognize the tune?”
“Who?”
“Didn’t Dinah mention that Alissa has two degrees in music?”
I slap my palm across my forehead. “Shit. You’re right.”
Bianca smiles. “She might know. Do you think she’ll be feeling well enough to give this a listen?”
I nod. “I think so. Even if she’s tired, she’ll want to help. But not tonight.”
“Why?”
“I was just at the hospital. That’s how I was able to get a ride home after I left Aces. Dinah called me an Uber.”
