Tamiko stared through her, into space. “She was at Grunfeld’s, and Mr. Grunfeld died.”
Ellen nodded nervously. “Yes, it happened suddenly. So sad.”
“Romantic…”
“Tamiko?”
The girl rubbed her arms, and more blood soaked through the sleeves.
“Shizuka Satomi has a new student. And she’s already killed for her.”
That was eleven hours ago.
Ellen Seidel was on her sixth cup of coffee and three millionth recollection of the lesson. Somehow she had gotten through another lesson without breaking character. She had reassured Tamiko, promised Tamiko, that there was no way that girl at Grunfeld’s could have been her new student—if Shizuka Satomi had chosen a new student, that it wouldn’t be whispered in music rooms, it would be front-page news.
Her phone buzzed. She read the text.
“Landon! Would I really be asleep? Come over now,” she replied.
Fifteen minutes later, Landon Fung was at her door.
“So, did you talk to Tiffany?” she said.
“Yes, finally. She’s been busy until now with exams, so she hasn’t been able to write back. It’s her first year of college—at Stanford, by the way—and you know how much of a transition that—”
“Landon!”
“I’m sorry. Um … I know you don’t want to hear this. But yes. Tiffany was at a noodle restaurant and saw Shizuka Satomi. She was discussing her new student.”
So it was true.
“Who is it? Someone from Kilbourne?”
Ellen steeled herself for his answer. Perhaps Ellen had failed her student. Or maybe the Queen of Hell wanted someone more seasoned? More mature?
But Landon Fung shook his head.
“No. Not at all. Because here’s where it gets peculiar. From what Tiffany heard, this student has never had proper training.”
“What?”
“Tiffany was positive that she’d heard correctly. Shizuka Satomi said her student has no classical training. She’s having issues with double stops. And she plays gaming music.”
Ellen’s jaw dropped.
“Is this some sort of joke?”
“It must have gotten boring in Hell,” Landon surmised.
Ellen Seidel poured her seventh coffee. That explained the lack of publicity. But regardless of Shizuka Satomi’s inexplicable choice, official news of this student would not be secret for long, and once Tamiko found out, she wouldn’t be cutting her forearms—she’d be slitting her wrists.
But maybe that inexplicable choice was exactly what Tamiko needed to see.
“Landon, it’s Kiana Choi that Tamiko is after. Not Shizuka Satomi. If Tamiko can see that Shizuka’s lost the desire or ability to teach at the top level, then she becomes irrelevant. And then Tamiko can move on without her.”
Shizuka Satomi was not Tamiko’s only option. There was Kilbourne, Juilliard, or the Curtis Institute. And there was Plisetskaya.
Landon Fung nodded. “Yes, I think that might work.”
“So I can count on your help?”
“Of course!”
“So, shall we?”
“Shall we what?”
“Why, Landon Fung, aren’t you part of the Temple City Chamber of Commerce?”
* * *
“Astrid, have you heard of the Camellia Music Culture Society?”
Astrid shook her head.
Shizuka looked up from the letter she was reading. “It would seem this year they are hosting the ‘Classically Camellia Music Showcase—A Sharing Of The Wonderful Young Classical Musicians In Our Neighborhood.’ And, they are inviting the legendary Shizuka Satomi’s newest student to participate in the event.”
Shizuka continued reading. It would be held at Temple City Park, in the Performing Arts Pavilion as part of Temple City’s Camellia Festival—Temple City’s answer to Sierra Madre’s Wistaria Festival and Monrovia’s Family Street Fair.
“What do you think this is all about?” asked Astrid.
“Camellias. I am sure it is all about camellias.”
How did they know about her student? Grunfeld’s? No, she had taken care of that. Tremon? No, this was not Tremon’s style—if this had been Tremon Philippe’s doing, it would have been a glamorous event at a concert hall, not a “Camellia Festival” in a city park.
Shizuka sighed.
Those musician kids at Kim Ky noodle house. Lan being Lan. Of course that afternoon would come back to haunt her.
Well, what was done was done.
Still … Camellia Festival? You want me to introduce my student there? You are attempting to summon the Queen of Hell—at least show a little effort.