Free Death in a Major by Sarah Fox

don’t know what I could tell her that would do any good.”
    â€œJust make sure she investigates my uncle.”
    I tugged on my left ear as I thought over his request. There really wasn’t any reason to say no. Salnikova might not listen to me, but I could at least talk to her to appease Jordan. There was no harm in that.
    â€œAll right,” I said. “I can’t promise that it will make any difference, but I’ll talk to her.”
    Jordan’s shoulders relaxed. “Thanks, Midori.” He stood up. “I’d better go find my mom.”
    â€œSee you tomorrow,” I said as he headed for the sidewalk.
    Once he’d disappeared from sight, I returned to my studio and checked my phone. Aaron had texted me, wanting to know when he could see me next. A big lump of dread lodged itself in my stomach. What was I supposed to say?
    With relief I realized I wouldn’t have a chance to see him for two days. I had another concert that night, and the next night we’d both be busy—­Aaron with band practice and me with a rehearsal at the theater. That meant Wednesday was the earliest option. Guilt adding to the weight of the dread in my stomach, I sent him a quick reply to tell him that.
    As I slipped my phone into my purse, JT tapped on the open door of my studio.
    â€œHey, do you have a few minutes?”
    â€œSure. Why?”
    â€œI’ve got a pot of chili cooking. I thought you might want a bite to eat before your concert.”
    My stomach rumbled, reminding me of the fact that I hadn’t eaten for hours. “Yum. Sounds good.”
    I followed JT down the hall to the kitchen, giving Finnegan a scratch on the head as the happy canine trotted along beside me. While JT ladled the chili into bowls, I perched on one of the stools at the granite breakfast bar.
    â€œThanks,” I said when he set a bowl in front of me.
    JT sat down next to me and Finnegan settled at our feet, watching with hopeful eyes for any tidbits of food that might tumble down to his level.
    â€œI was thinking I should come to one of your concerts later this month.”
    I brightened. “Really? That would be nice. It’s been a while since you last came to one.”
    â€œAlmost a year, I think. Too long. My mom and stepdad would probably like to come too.”
    â€œCool.”
    â€œHas Aaron been to one of your concerts yet?”
    Despite the delicious smell of the chili, my appetite slipped away. “No, not yet.”
    â€œI bet he’d like to.”
    â€œYou think so?”
    â€œOf course. Like I said before, he’s really into you.”
    I was so busy fighting my unpleasant feelings that I wasn’t sure if I’d detected something odd in JT’s voice.
    â€œSomething wrong?” he asked as I slid off my stool.
    I shook my head and made my way around the breakfast bar. “Just getting a glass of water. Want one?”
    â€œSure.”
    I could sense his eyes on me as I filled two glasses with cold water. Sure enough, when I turned back to the counter, his brown eyes were focused on my face.
    â€œSomething is wrong.”
    Hiding things from him was next to impossible, but I really didn’t want to discuss Aaron. I set down our drinks and slid back onto my stool, buying myself some time.
    â€œYou know my student Jordan?” Yes, I was deflecting his attention away from the subject of Aaron, but that was something I really needed to do at the moment.
    JT thought for a second. “Blond hair? Teenager?”
    â€œThat’s him. He was just here to ask about rearranging his lesson schedule. His grandfather was the guy who died at the reception on Friday night.”
    â€œReally? That’s rough.”
    I chewed on a mouthful of chili and nodded. Once I’d swallowed, I said, “And it turns out he was definitely murdered. Poisoned.”
    Although I hadn’t seen Jordan’s uncle set foot inside the reception room