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“When was that?” Sylvia asked.

“I can’t recall specifically. Maybe six years ago

“Around the time of the murder,” Willie said.

“I suppose,” Eder said.

“Let me ask you another question,” Willie said.

“Yes?”

“If Musinski was so tough to get along with, how come you kept him around?”

“As I said, Detective, any college or university prides itself on the professional credentials of its faculty. Musinski was a giant in his field. His computer program, through which the compositional techniques of the masters from generations ago could be compared to newly discovered works, was groundbreaking. And it should go without saying that men of his stature invite considerable donations to an institution of higher learning

“Yeah, I imagine,” Willie said.

“We’d like to see Professor Grimes’ office,” Sylvia said. “Has anyone been in there since he left with us?”

“I don’t believe so

She said to Willie, “Let’s get some help over here and clean out his office

“Yes, ma’am,” Willie said.

A call to MPD resulted in two uniformed cops and an evidence tech arriving in a panel truck and removing files, papers, and Grimes’ computer. Sylvia and Willie helped, but another look at her watch told Sylvia she was running late.

“I have to go,” she whispered to Willie. “I’ll drop off the car. You can get a ride with them. Will you stay here until they’re done?”

“Where you going?”

“Not that it’s any of your business, but I have a date

“Oh, ho,” he said. “Cheatin’ on Willie, huh?”

She looked at the officers unloading things from the office to see whether they’d overheard the exchange. “See you in the morning,” she said.

“You have trouble with this dude, you call me,” Willie yelled after her, to her chagrin.

CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE

Mac Smith walked through the stage door to the Kennedy Center’s Opera House and signed in as “talent”—he had to admit he was getting a kick out of doing that—and was met by Genevieve Crier.

“Mac, darling,” she said, planting a kiss on his cheek—everyone in opera seemed to kiss one another on the cheek. “There’s been a change in the rehearsal schedule. Anthony is so pleased with the way the supers and chorus have been performing that he’s decided to use tonight for a Sitzprobe.”

“Is that like a sitz bath?” Mac asked, mirth in his voice.

“No, silly, it’s a special sort of rehearsal. La prova all’italiana in Italian. A sitting rehearsal. The singers will go through their music with the full orchestra, rather than with just piano accompaniment

“A dress rehearsal,” he said.

“Hardly,” she said. “No costumes, no props, no stage business. The singers simply sit in chairs, or stand, and sing with the orchestra. It’s my favorite type of rehearsal. It was supposed to be night after tomorrow, but Anthony pushed it up to tonight. You’ll love it!”

“I have some things I can be doing at home,” Mac said.

“Not on your life,” she said, grabbing his arm and propelling him down the corridor and into the theater. “We’ll sit here. Is Annabel coming?”

“Yes, but we can’t stay for the entire rehearsal. We’re meeting someone for dinner

“Ah, the life of a favored couple in a city of favored couples. Anyone I know?”

“I don’t think so. That reminds me. I have to call him. Back in a minute

He went to the lobby, called the Watergate Hotel, and asked for the guest room of Marc Josephson, who answered on the first ring.

“Mac Smith here

“I’ve been waiting for your call. Is dinner still on the agenda?”

“Oh, yes. I’m here at the rehearsal I mentioned to you. My wife will be joining me shortly. We can be free by eight-thirty

“That sounds fine. Where shall I meet you?”

“Enjoy fish?”

“Very much

“Good. I’ll make a reservation at Kinkead’s. It’s on Pennsylvania Avenue, a fairly good walk. Take a taxi. Every driver knows where it is. See you at eight thirty

When he returned to his seat after calling the restaurant and securing a table on the quieter second level, he saw that Ray Pawkins had joined Genevieve.

“We’re in luck,” the retired detective said as