Daniel described the music box. ‘I’m not sure how valuable it is.’
‘Are you the antique dealer?’
‘Yes.’
‘But you don’t know how much it was worth?’ he quizzed.
‘It only came into our possession yesterday. I hadn’t had time to value it yet.’
‘It sounds like someone knew its value. I’ll need a proper statement from both of you. Might take a little while.’
He sat down at the desk, and pulled out an iPad from his bag. ‘They make us use these things these days,’ he said. He put it aside. ‘I still prefer pad and pen. Let me take some details.’
After all personal details were taken, he asked, ‘This music box… any particular reason it’s important?’
Fern looked at Daniel, then took a breath. ‘Yes. There was something inside it. Something that changes everything.’
Smith raised his eyebrows. ‘Go on.’
Fern leaned her elbows on the counter. ‘We found a handwritten composition. Old, delicate, signed “Matilda Hartley”, and dated when she was still at university.’
‘And?’
‘It’s the exact melody of Nathaniel Loring’s “Echoes of the Past”,’ she said. ‘Down to the phrasing, key changes… everything.’
Smith looked perplexed. ‘I’m not quite sure what you’re trying to tell me here.’
‘Do you know who Nathaniel Loring is?’ asked Fern.
‘Who doesn’t know who he is?’
‘I think Nathaniel stole my great-aunt Matilda’s composition.’
‘How would he do that? Do you have proof?’
‘They went to college together and were in a relationship.’
Daniel stepped in. ‘We think he used Matilda’s melody as the foundation of the piece that made his career.’
Fern added. ‘We didn’t know they were in a relationship until recently, but something happened on their wedding day, and they called it off.’
Smith leaned back. ‘Do you think that was what the break-in was about? Someone looking for the manuscript?’
‘We do,’ Fern said. ‘That song is his most famous work. It built his reputation. His fortune. If he didn’t write it… he wouldn’t want that information getting out.’
‘What does Matilda Hartley say about this?’
‘She recently passed away.’
That got Smith’s attention. ‘I see. You’re talking copyright infringement. Fraud. Possibly even theft of intellectual property if you can prove intent.’
‘We can’t, not yet,’ Fern admitted. ‘But this manuscript is dated and in her handwriting. We found it hidden in a false back of the safe inside the music box. That has to mean something. We’ve read that Nathaniel Loring’s health is deteriorating and his agent, Alistair Montgomery, will inherit everything. I… we… think he’s behind the break-in.’ Fern knew how far-fetched it all sounded.
The detective scratched his chin. ‘It sounds like something off a TV show to me.’ He gave a chuckle. ‘It’s my job to find evidence, not to assume, but a famous musician and agent breaking into a curiosity shop would be quite a story.’
‘I know how it sounds,’ admitted Fern.
‘Let me be honest with you, cases like this are difficult. He’s a public figure. Ill health, high profile… and dead artists, no matter how crooked, are a hard sell for scandal.’
