Rain Music Read Online Free PDF Page B

had told her Ned had recently appeared. It looked an unprepossessing place in the daylight, but she went in and asked for the manager. As Bella’s eyes adjusted to the gloomy surrounds of an empty music club, a woman around her own age came to meet her.
    â€˜I’m Sarah. I book the artists here and plan events. Can I ask you why you’re looking for Ned Chisholm?’
    â€˜Ned’s my brother. He’s been on the road and the family’s trying to find him – he’s a bit slack at keeping in touch.’ She gave Sarah her most charming smile.
    â€˜Yeah, musos are an itinerant lot,’ Sarah said, shaking her head. ‘Ned was here a while back . . . He was very popular.’ She pulled out a chair at an empty table and signalled Bella to join her.
    Bella sat down. ‘That’s nice to hear. When you grow up with someone who is always singing and playing music you tend to take it a bit for granted. So how come he played here?’
    Sarah smiled. ‘He walked in the door and asked for a gig. I knew who he was. He is seriously good-looking.’ She fanned herself with mock passion as Bella laughed and rolled her eyes. ‘You look quite like him. Are you musical, too?’
    â€˜Not really, not like Ned. So do you know where he is now?’ said Bella. ‘Have you any clue where he might have headed?’
    â€˜I have no idea. A local band backed him; they might know. I can give you their number, if you like. I’ve also got an address for them, somewhere up in the Atherton Tablelands. I know they liked working with him. Your brother is very professional, but easy to get on with. He’d have a sound check and then run through a couple of numbers with them, and that was all. But he was really good. He connects with an audience, y’know?’
    Bella nodded and felt a warm glow hearing her brother praised. ‘Yes, I know he’s good. A phone number and address would be great.’
    After Sarah gave them to her, Bella nodded. ‘Here’s my number in case you hear anything about him from someone else. I appreciate your help. Brothers can be such a pain at times.’ She gave Sarah a grateful smile. ‘Thanks for seeing me.’
    â€˜No worries.’
    As Bella turned and headed towards the exit of the dark club, Sarah called after her, ‘You might stop by the community radio station. Miz Irene interviewed him for her programme, I Got the Blues . I didn’t hear it but he might have told her something about his plans.’
    â€˜Great. I’ll do that. Thanks again, Sarah.’
    Bella mulled Sarah’s suggestion over for a moment, googling Miz Irene and the radio station’s address. The station was only ten minutes away, so she decided to check it out first before she contacted the backing group.
    A petite blonde in her fifties, her age disguised by her boyishly slim body, youthful clothes and beautifully cared for skin, greeted Bella in the lobby with a warm smile.
    â€˜I’m Irene. How can I help you?’ she said.
    â€˜I wanted to ask you about an interview you did with Ned Chisholm. I’m his sister.’ Bella glanced at the walls covered in framed photos of Irene with some very famous musicians. ‘These photos are amazing. Have you been doing this long?’
    Irene chuckled. ‘I’ve always been a country and western and blues fan, so I kind of fell into this. Mind you, I’ve spent a lot of time in the US. I go to the jazz and blues festivals there, Nashville of course, and I’ve had the privilege of interviewing a lot of big names for my little ole show back here.’
    â€˜There’s a big audience here in the north for the blues?’ asked Bella curiously.
    â€˜Yes, but my show also streams on the net. I have fans all over the world, especially in the US. You’d be surprised how many people in the States know about Cairns. Of course, I think they knew about this place right