CHAPTER44
In order to include this new song, they needed to head straight to the Knight Concert Hall. Work on it while the band were still there. Use it as an early sound check. Which meant Ian would miss the start of Kari’s interview, maybe all of it. Which he hated. But when he told her, she simply smiled and handed him the kitten and left the room.
Ian asked Danny, “Did I say something wrong?”
Danny grinned. “Ask my attorney how high I am on the sensitivity scale.”
“Sub-basement,” Megan replied. “And to be clear, I can’t be your attorney and your . . . you know.”
“Sweetie pie, love of my life, stuff like that.”
Megan smiled, “Okay, so maybe you can move one notch up from basement level.”
Kari returned, carrying her sketch pad and case of pencils. “Everything’s fine.”
“I wanted to be there,” Ian told her.
“Put a little more sorrow in that final note,” Arthur said. “Whine it up a notch.”
Kari opened the pencil case, told Arthur, “Hold still.”
“You’re talking to me?” The old man showed genuine horror. “Why on earth would you go wasting a perfectly good piece of paper?”
“Quiet now.”
Kari sketched swiftly and twelve minutes later declared herself satisfied. She refused to let anyone see her work.
Ian hated leaving. But Danny and Arthur and Maxine were already on their feet. He nudged Connor, rose, set the kitten on his empty chair, and said, “Back to the salt mines.”
* * *
The practice session went well. No fireworks, no great moment of delight for Ian or the band. Just the same, Connor did not overlay the sound check with his own shadows. Instead, he played the pro. Showed up, hit his lines, gave each note his best. Ian was fairly certain the others knew it was an act. But at least Connor was trying. At least the performer was there for them.
Still, everyone had their own nerves. It was actually Leo, the drummer, who pointed out, “We’re never going to get this as tight as the others.”
“We don’t need to,” Maxine replied. “Isn’t that right, boss?”
Ian pretended the words were directed at Connor. When Connor remained silent, Ian pressed, “Tell them why the lady is right,boss.”
Connor gave him a long look, then replied, “If they bring us back for a second encore, they won’t be after perfection.”
Arthur’s soundboard was positioned on the middle balcony, near where Kari had sat. He called down, “They’ll be wanting a reason to dance.”
“They want fire, and that’s exactly what the song delivers,” Maxine said.
“Like the lady says,” Arthur agreed.
Maxine gave him her full-wattage smile. “Come on down here, where I can hug you.”
“I’m quite happy where I am, thank you very much,” Arthur replied. “These old bones can’t take much in the hug department anymore.”
They broke up soon after. Ian shifted over to stand beside the piano, waited for the others to drift away, said, “You played really, really well.”
Connor gave the massive arena a sweeping glance. “Long as I don’t think about where we are, I’m able to keep my breakfast where it belongs.”
Ian pretended to inspect the stage. “Wait until the lights go down and the sold-out crowd is applauding. Our little ensemble is going to feel like a tiny little morsel stuck on this huge wooden plate. Ready for the crowd to reach out and devour.”
Connor looked pained. “You really want to watch me barf?”
