The Mystery of the 'E' String

By Pen Avram

A mysterious death leads Kroupa and Hendrych to the hallowed halls of a music academy. Could a love of music hide a darker passion for murder? As they delve deeper in the lives of the students and the teachers, our intrepid duo uncover a web of deceit and jealousy.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Pen Avram
• Release date: Jul 4, 2011
• ISBN: 9781465816603

Pen Avram

This one-time piano mechanic turned Master of Applied Science (Critical Enquiry/Social Ecology) fled to the West from the former Soviet bloc, finally finding his home in Australia. Growing up in a family touched by the horrors of the holocaust and communism, Pen Avram has spent his life studying what drives people of different faiths around the world to act the way they do. His insights now inform the mysteries investigated by the intrepid team of Kroupa and Hendrych. And Sara is a real dog, blood an bones.

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THE MYSTERY OF THE ‘E’ STRING

A book by Pen Avram

SMASHWORDS EDITION

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Pen Avram on Smashwords

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Copyright 2011 Text - Pen Avram

Copyright 2011 ArtWork Design - Pen Avram

The author and the artwork designer assert the moral rights to

be identified as the author and designer of this work,

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CHAPTER 1

THE FUNERAL MARCH

It was late afternoon, a light drizzle was falling on the cold autumn ground and the gusty wind rendered umbrellas useless. The student orchestra finished playing the farewell march. As the musicians quickly packed their instruments, they wondered how they would salvage their soaked best suits. Meanwhile the undertakers finished filling the grave, swearing at the weather.

The mourners had already left the cemetery in groups, many of them now congregating in nearby taverns to celebrate the life of a still fairly young albeit acclaimed musician. He had achieved a lot in his short life, his efforts culminating as Professor of Horn and Music History at the Prague Conservatory of Music. There were many mourners at the funeral; the majority them his students past and present.

A tall man in a dark navy, double-breasted suit approached a young musician who was slowly leaving the cemetery with his head bowed down. The tall man wore a trench coat, a black hat pushed slightly to the back of his head despite the rain, and dark-rimmed glasses covering most of his face.

Can I have a word with you?

Here, in the rain? Who are you? asked the young man in a sad and detached voice.

Johan Hendrych, from the ‘Voice of Town’. I wanted to ask you about the Funeral March. Can I offer you a drink?

The young musician’s eyes brightened. The funeral march, did you say? There is a quiet barrelhouse around the corner, we can sit there, he said, becoming more friendly.

When they took off their overcoats and sat down, Hendrych continued. It was excellent and the orchestra played it well.

What would you like to know? the young man’s voice was not encouraging. Karel Stoupa, by the way, he said and offered his hand to Hendrych.

I know. Pleased to meet you; I'm always pleased to meet exceptional people. I’d like to know what inspired you to compose it. He, I mean Professor Horák, the deceased, was not the most popular lecturer among the students, so I’ve been told. Is that right?

Certainly not. Quite the contrary. The young man sounded offended. He was the most admired and loved by anyone who knew him. Some girls might have had a few reservations, but nothing significant. He had a great influence on us. It is true that he could be biased, towards students as well as composers and musicians.

And after a short pause he continued with more life in his voice.

His reverence for Mozart changed our perceptions of the great composer, at least most of us. You see, some students and previously preferred Beethoven, and some even Stravinsky or Stockhausen. But Professor Horák’s enthusiasm for Mozart changed everything. And strangely enough, he was a great fan of music for brass. He himself was an excellent horn player; he became the head of Horn and Music History. I almost wished I played a horn, so I could have been his student. I would have played all five Mozart’s Horn Concertos, just to please him. Unfortunately, or perhaps fortunately, I only studied History with him. I study violin, you know?

Yes, I know. I’ve enquired about you, the future young star composer. But if he was liked so much, why did his students so often run away from his classes? It was after all on one of these occasions that you found him, wasn’t it?

Karel didn’t appreciate the unctuous flattery and pushy manner in which he was being interrogated. But he felt obliged, for selfish reasons, to give the reporter the best information. Perhaps he saw an opportunity for self promotion as a composer. A good story in the newspaper could prove helpful. The professor was, after all, well known in music circles. And there were too many better violin players around, as well as composers.

As is so often the case with artists, Karel's ambition was to become well known, regardless in which area. Hendrych was experienced enough to know this and he knew just when and how to strike the right chord in an budding artist. What rubbish!, he thought. They always argue that they had humbly striven to pursue their passion and they'd never sought fame. Why can't they just be honest and admit that it is the fame and money that make them to sweat it out through those sleepless nights?

He could see that Karel was one of these.

Karel began to respond, Do you mean, why we kept running away to the river? That has got nothing to do with liking or disliking the professor. It’s a tradition. If a lecturer doesn’t show up within five minutes, we’re free to go rowing on the river, or whatever else we might want to do. We availed ourselves of this right whenever the opportunity arose and we loved rowing on the river. The boathouse is just a stone's throw from the school building, and there was always a boat available for hire.

"Tell me more about the professor, what was he like, and how did he die. I heard that he