She touched her lips, remembering the warmth of Barrett's mouth on hers and the way he cradled her face with his hand, gentle but certain.Her body tingled with the memory.She had wanted him to stay and had almost asked him inside.Yet she'd held back.It was her fear of moving too fast and losing him.
Anyway, there was no time to indulge in romantic daydreaming.Her aunt deserved answers, and the investigation was far from complete.The music community contacts in her aunt's planner were waiting, and Barrett was already out pursuing his own leads.She needed to focus.
She reached for her phone on the nightstand, but there were no messages.Barrett would be busy all day.He was doing further investigation, so she'd have to see him later.
That day, Cadie planned to meet with a few people who knew her aunt well.After she showered and dressed, she went to the office of Duggan Johnson, who was listed in her aunt's planner as the concert director.His office was on the third floor of a business building near the waterfront.She wasn't sure what she hoped to learn, only that she needed to understand her aunt's final months from every angle possible.
The door to his suite was open when she arrived.A man in his late sixties sat behind a desk covered with papers and concert programs.He had silver hair and a distinguished bearing, and was dressed in a navy blazer over a crisp white shirt.Posters from past performances lined the walls, and a piano was in one corner of the spacious room.
When she stood in the doorway, he looked up."Ms.Ladd?"
"Yes."Cadie stepped inside."Thank you for seeing me, Mr.Johnson."
He rose and extended his hand."Please, call me Duggan, and it's no trouble at all.Your aunt was a dear friend and colleague.The least I can do is spare some time for her niece."
Cadie shook his hand and took the seat he offered across from his desk.The office smelled of old paper and coffee, comfortable and lived in.Through the window, she could see Charleston Harbor glittering in the morning sun.
"I was sorry to hear about her passing," Duggan said, settling back into his chair."Celia Ann was one of a kind.The conservatory won't be the same without her."
"I hadn't seen her often in recent years."
Duggan waved a hand."She understood and was proud of what you accomplished in New Orleans."
He talked for a while about Celia Ann's contributions to Charleston's music scene, the concerts she'd organized, and the students she'd mentored.Duggan's affection for her was evident in each story he told.Celia Ann had been more than a colleague to him—she'd been a friend.
Then his expression grew more serious."Your aunt mentioned once that she worried about the building's future.She was quite adamant about it."
Cadie leaned forward."Did she say why she was worried?"
"She brought it up several times in our last conversations.It seemed to weigh on her."Duggan paused."I told her not to worry, that she had years left to ensure the building's future.But she seemed uncertain, almost anxious about it."
A movement in the hallway caught Duggan's attention.He looked past Cadie and smiled."Tom…come in here a moment."
A man appeared in the doorway, middle-aged, with an energetic presence.He wore a casual jacket over a button-down shirt, and his hair was slightly disheveled in a way that suggested creative distraction.
"Tom Graves, this is Cadie Ladd," Duggan said."Celia Ann's niece.She inherited Stratton House."
Tom's expression shifted to sympathy."I'm so sorry for your loss.Your aunt was a remarkable woman."
"Thank you."Cadie shook his hand."I understand you worked with her at the conservatory?"
"Yes, and she was the heart of that place."Tom glanced at Duggan, as if he wanted to say more.
Duggan motioned toward a chair."Tom, why don't you sit for a moment?Ms.Ladd is trying to understand her aunt's final months."
Tom took the chair beside Cadie."You know, Celia Ann mentioned something to me about six months ago."
"What did she say?"Cadie asked.
"She said she felt 'not herself' but couldn't explain it.She wondered if her medications were affecting her thinking."Tom shook his head slowly."I told her to talk to her doctor, but I don't know if she did."
"Did she say anything else or seem worried?"
"She seemed confused, kind of uncertain."Tom met Cadie's eyes."That wasn't like her.Celia Ann was usually sharp and decisive.But that day, she seemed lost.I should have pressed harder, followed up with her.I regret that I didn't."
Cadie absorbed the information.The timeline in her aunt's notes aligned with that.It seemed that she'd been reaching out to people, trying to understand what was happening to her.And no one had realized how serious it was.
"Thank you for telling me," Cadie said."It helps to know what she was experiencing."
