The Maestro Murdered

  Chapter Fourteen

  Four days later, Loreen Stenke and her husband suffered a miscarriage.

  Her husband issued a brief statement asking that everyone respect the couple's privacy.

  Linda Eggert sat across the desk from Alan Winston, dabbing at her eyes with a handkerchief. "I think it's terrible," she said. "Poor Loreen. It was already a terrible time for her with Maestro Hauptmann’s death, and now this. This is the worst possible thing that could’ve happened.”

  Winston nodded sympathetically. “It's very sad, but she's still young enough. She and her husband have time to recover and try again.”

  “Some people find that very difficult, Alan. It was her first baby. Who knows how long they had been trying?”

  “Well, I just hope the damn police leave her alone now.”

  “Oh, I'm sure they will. She was interviewed at least twice after Maestro Hauptmann was killed. What more could they ask of her?”

  “I agree completely, but they may not see it from that point of view.”

  “And why not?”

  “Because she was the only person who in any way benefited from Hauptmann’s death.”

  “What a terrible thing to say! You know that s just plain ridiculous.”

  “I know it, but I'm not sure everyone knows it. I mean, look…who else would have wanted to see Hauptmann dead?”

  “What a ghastly thing to say!”

  “I doubt if the police think she had any personal involvement, but could she be protecting anyone?”

  “That’s just nonsense. There’s nobody to protect.”

  “Listen Linda, you know I think the world of Loreen, but somebody killed him. He didn’t shoot himself in the head.”

  “I know, I know. But it’s just outrageous to suggest that she had anything to do with it. It’s terribly unfair to her and you know it. Loreen didn’t want Hauptmann dead. She was grateful to him for…”

  “She was hardly grateful!” Winston snapped. “She was all but pushed out the door so he could come back and play the conquering hero. Look…I admire Maestro Hauptmann as much as you do. I worked with him longer than you did…but you’ve got to admit that his presence—hovering over the orchestra like that—put her at a serious disadvantage.”

  “Alan, he was not hovering. He was out of the country for much of the last two years. He was hardly campaigning for the job.”

  “I realize he was not actively out to replace her, but I sometimes think he could have shown more support.”

  “Maybe…I don’t know. All I know is that this is now a horrible situation. I don’t know what the orchestra is going to do—especially now…with poor Loreen’s miscarriage. Is she even going to conduct the memorial concert for Maestro Hauptmann now? My God, is it all just going to fall apart?”

  “I have no idea, but I know that Wilfrid Carter’s going to pay her a visit today.”

  “Is that wise?”

  “When was that ever a concern for our beloved chair of the Board of Directors? But I’ll bet we get some clarity about what’s going to happen anyway.”

  “Carter should stay away from her. I’m sure she’s in no frame of mind to discuss the orchestra. I shudder to think how that meeting is going to go.”