On the other end, I could hear the concert hall's background music. It was a symphony, strings, applause.
Instantly, my stomach dropped.
"Are you at the concert? Did you take the brooch?"
Nicole’s voice was as indifferent as ever as she answered, "Charles has never attended performances like these. He’s always dreamed of music, but his family couldn’t afford it. You come from a family of musicians. These kinds of events are second nature to you.
She spoke slowly and deliberately. "Charles’s birthday is coming up, so think of this as your gift to him."
"Nicole!!" My voice echoed through the room.
But all that came back through the receiver was the dull beep-beep of a disconnected line. I dialed again, but no one picked up.
Panic set in.
Within minutes, I was in the car, rushing to the venue as quickly as I could.
The moment I stepped out of the car, the music inside froze me in my tracks.
"No! This song cannot be played at this kind of event!"
On the concert stage, a familiar figure, masked and elegant, sat at the piano.
On his chest was none other than my father’s brooch!
The McDermott's heirloom.
The audience eagerly awaited, hanging on every moment as Charles raised his hand and pressed down on the first note.
"No!" I shouted, desperate to stop him.
But the venue was enormous, and my voice didn’t carry far enough.
By the time I reached the VIP seats, the crowd had already broken out.
“What are you playing?” someone shouted.
"Don’t you know the composer of that piece insulted Mr. McDermott?"
Someone in the crowd even added, "Patrick McDermott was a groundbreaking musician! How could you play the enemy’s music at his memorial concert?"
"Yeah! This is supposed to be a tribute to Mr. McDermott, and as his son, you choose not to play his classics but instead play the enemy’s tune? What the hell are you thinking?"
Anger swelled within the audience, transforming their murmurs into loud shouts.
Had security not intervened, they would likely have stormed the stage by now.
Charles leapt up from the piano bench, visibly trembling. I could almost see the fear in his eyes, even behind his mask.