Music to Die For Read Online Free PDF Page B

meet the stars, the three of them had cased their instruments and left the room.
    Caught by surprise, Carrie leaped to her feet. Whispering to an astonished Beth that she needed to escort the Masons, she picked up her purse and jacket and hurried out of the banquet hall.
    The performers had halted at the opposite side of the darkened public dining room. Carrie saw Tracy say something to Chase and hand him her guitar case before she turned to walk down the hallway leading to the public restrooms. Carrie hesitated, watching Chase and his mother go out the front door of the building, then decided to follow Tracy. The ladies’ room would be a good place to talk.
    As soon as she reached the hall, Carrie discovered with dismay that Tracy wasn’t headed for the ladies’ room after all, but for a nearby public telephone. She had her back to Carrie and was punching in a number.
    Carrie slowed her steps, hoping to overhear what Tracy was saying, but when Tracy looked toward her, she pulled open the door marked “Women.” She could think of no other reason for being behind Tracy.
    Carrie had often wondered how soundproof restroom doors were, and now she found that this one was certainly soundproof. She couldn’t hear anything outside, even with her ear against the door.
    What should she do? She didn’t want to lose the opportunity to talk with at least one of the Masons.
    Gambling that Tracy would come in after finishing her conversation, Carrie went into one of the stalls, shut the door, sat down, and waited.
    Eventually it became obvious she had gambled and lost. Too much time had passed. She left the stall and opened the restroom door. The hall was empty. She looked at the pay phone and saw a guitar pick lying on the shelf. Well, it was a small thing, but it did give her a reason to follow, and that was exactly what she was going to do! She stuck the guitar pick in her pocket and headed out the door and across the driveway to the administration building. She assumed the Masons’ vehicle was parked in the employee parking lot on the far side of the auditorium.
    But, she discovered, the front door of the administration building was now locked.
    Since the Masons were on foot, there must be another opening to the craft area. Carrie walked around one side of the building and saw only a weathered board fence glowing silver in the moonlight. She shivered, wishing she had worn her heavier jacket, and circled back around the front of the building, continuing past the entry doors to the other side.
    There, a utility gate! Trying the latch, she found the gate was unlocked.
    She hesitated. Even someone as unmusical as she was would probably realize that returning a guitar pick wasn’t worth following Tracy all over the Ozark Folk Center complex. Many in the Masons’ audiences would probably treasure such a souvenir and take it home to show off. She could save it and give it to Henry. Besides, it was dark, it was cold, and this was getting ridiculous.
    But...
    She felt the thing in her pocket. Would a musical novice assume such a pick was specially made for Tracy? She doubted it, but then, she didn’t really know. And even if she found Tracy, would the woman talk to her, or would she just take the pick and rush off without so much as a thank you?
    Well, Carrie thought, I do know this really isn’t my business.
    Carrie heard a barred owl’s call and the return of the call from a distance. Back home she often sat on her deck or stood in the woods and held two-way, or even three-way, conversations with the owls. For some reason she didn’t understand, they responded to her mimicry of their “who-hoot hoo-hoo,” and usually came closer to continue the conversation. But she wouldn’t break the silence here tonight.
    She was just turning away to walk back to the dining room when a soft cry and then a moan came from beyond the gate.
    That was enough. Carrie lifted the latch.

Chapter IV
    The moon was now behind a cloud, but she still