Excerpt: The Salt Lake Concert (Opus II) The Grand Organ Mysteries

Prologue

It wasn't that a friend had written, asking for help. It was the friend that wrote; most especially the help he had requested. Dr. Blair had been agonizing his response to the letter from one of his dear friends for two days now. He was no closer to a reply than before the letter had been delivered.

The ramifications of the request were stunning, the danger obvious--nearly palpable. To help a friend in time of need was a given for the musical impresario, as time had well proven. To help this friend in this difficulty would require his very best efforts. It wasn't the "what" of the situation which befuddled the amateur sleuth, but rather the "how". He had to think this knot through carefully-and quickly.

It was at that very moment that his decision came walking into his office for him, in the person of his Executive Assistant, Cameron Michaels.

"Doc, you have a phone call from Utah. It's the State Police. They say it's an emergency."

His eyebrows involuntarily curling into the form of a question mark, Dr. Melvin Blair looked into Cameron's eyes willing the young man to remain calm. Yet he noticed his own blood pressure slowly rising toward the century mark.

"Thank you, Cameron. I'll take it here in the office. Find Betty for me, would you?"

"Yes, sir. I'm on it."

Walking to his desk with great deliberation, Blair quietly said a prayer. He sat himself into his leather chair and pushed a button on the underside of the right arm. From the corner of the desk, a por¬tion of the desktop slid open. Rising slowly into place, Blair saw one button blinking demandingly on his master telephone console. Invoking his "three breath" rule, Dr. Blair mentally willed himself calm. It was important to him that he be, look and sound--calm.

Looking up as he reached for the handset, Dr. Blair's eyes acknowledged the presence of his dear friend, the General Manager of Grand Organ Productions. Betty Jensen entered his offices, steno book in hand. She was not looking happy. She took her usual seat, and began staring at him with the fullest intent of drilling either holes, or at least a modicum of common sense into her employer.

"Dr. Blair here. With whom am I speaking, please?"

Remaining silent, and stock still for well over two minutes, Blair intently listened to the words coming to him through the communications device.

"Yes, I have it. I will return your call in the morning, if that is alright Captain. That will be fine. Thank you for the call. Good day."

Disengaging the call, Blair dropped the handset back into its cradle. Looking nowhere, speak¬ing to nobody in particular, Dr. Melvin Blair uttered the worst single combination of vowels and/or consonants he knew.

"Damn!"