Everywhere You Go: Nightfall Rhapsody Series

By Angela Johnson

After a brush with death in New Orleans, Cameron De La Valle is getting back to work and traveling to California for a one-night-only concert. The potential dangers presented by too many choices and a wild circle of new friends is nothing compared to the danger presented by the stalker watching him from the shadows... 

• Language: English
• Publisher: Angela Johnson
• Release date: Mar 13, 2023
• ISBN: 9798224857036

Angela Johnson

Dr.Angela Johnson is the author of multiple novels and short stories. She uses her background as a librarian and liberal arts professor to help craft suspense stories. This title is a continuation of her Nightfall Rhapsody series.

Book preview

Cameron’s Intermezzo

By

Angela Johnson

Cameron sat at the back of the auditorium waiting for Gerard to finish talking to the music director of the Los Angeles Orchestra. He twirled his finger around his loosely fitting medical alert bracelet as he tried to listen to their conversation. The gold chain made a soft thump when it hit the floor and when he reached down to pick it up, he saw that the clasp had come open. He had wanted this bracelet when he saw it online because he thought it looked more like a piece of jewelry than a medical advisory bracelet.

The shiny gold links and diamond were closer to his style. The price was high, but Gerard volunteered to pay for it if it was something he would wear. He often made excuses not to wear the standard one he had worn since his early teens. When he had taken this one out of the box, he had known it would need to be resized smaller to fit his wrist. Now, the flimsy clasp made him think that the bracelet might not work for him at all.   

He knew it was his fault that there was conflict about the order of the concert. He had not bothered to look at the listing when it was sent to him weeks ago and had cringed when he looked at it in the car on the way to the first rehearsal that morning. The most complicated piece for him to play did not start until the last half of the show. Cameron De La Valle was 20 years old and one of the most successful crossover classical pianists in the world.

Cameron remembered the conversation he’d had with Gerard that morning. Dr. Gerard Wright was Cameron’s life-long mentor. Gerard was an award-winning orchestra conductor and classical music producer. Cameron had become Gerard’s ward when he was six years old when his mother had gone to jail for killing his abusive father.

Magdalene, Cameron’s mother, had been Gerard’s housekeeper and friend at the time. Gerard, a widower, had promised to take care of the child temporarily but had grown to love him and had petitioned the court for guardianship.  The familial bond they had formed did not dissolve when Cameron had reached adulthood and they remained close. Cameron’s emotional scars from the abuse he had survived before meeting Gerard had not healed yet and it was still apparent that he was dependent on Gerard.

As Gerard had maneuvered his black rental Jaguar XJS in and out of traffic on the way to the Albert Music Hall venue, he had asked Cameron what was wrong. 

Gerry, have you looked at the running order for this show? Cameron’s emerald green eyes were framed by exquisite dark eyebrows and looked even more vivid in the California sunshine streaming through the car window. Gerard glanced at him and then turned back to the road. 

No, you know this is all about you. I’m not your manager anymore remember? He smiled. 

You could still be, if you wanted to. Cameron looked back at his cell phone screen.

Cameron, we talked about this. 

You talked, I listened, Cameron said. 

I thought you had agreed. Gerard’s voice softened. You are so popular right now. You need a professional who can specialize in... 

I know, but Richard doesn’t understand about classical music. 

I know, but he understands the music business. He is going to handle the business side. I can just be on the personal side of your life like I was before all this happened. At the moment he spoke they passed by a rotating billboard that featured Cameron’s picture on one of the advertisements for the concert in two weeks.

Cameron’s manager, Richard, rarely let an opportunity get by without showing off his young artist. His long wavy hair, green eyes, and high cheekbones made him a natural for any kind of print promotion necessary for his music. He had even parlayed Cameron’s good looks into a fashion advertising campaign for H&M who in turn were one of his concert sponsors.

The ads and commercial for the clothing store featured him playing a snippet of Beethoven’s piano concerto while wearing a black and grey striped sweater and skinny jeans. The pieces sold out the same weekend they were put out for sale in the stores in New York and Los Angeles.  

But Gerry, the Chopin is in the last half. Cameron frowned. 

They didn’t tell you this before? Gerard asked.

Cameron looked up and to the right and then began to twirl his finger around his long wavy hair. He held his cell phone with the email open in his other hand. This is the first I knew about it. 

Oh Cameron. Gerard said softly as Cameron watched him turn on his blinker and exit the highway.  He turned into the parking garage of the concert venue and security waved him through without another word. One of the reasons I am never afraid to trust you is because you are such a dreadful liar.  

What do you mean? 

You give all the signs when you are lying, the hair twirl, the look away, everything. He stopped the car in a parking space and turned to look at Cameron as he pushed the button and turned off the car’s engine. You didn’t read the proposed concert information, did you? 

You used to take care of all that. Cameron touched Gerard’s arm. Gerry, please talk to them. I...can’t play... 

Of course, you can. He said firmly. You can play anything, anytime, anywhere. You are the finest pianist I have ever heard. He paused. But I will talk to them if Richard isn’t here. He should have caught that. He nodded and got out of the car.

Cameron was a gifted artist, but his weakness was endurance. Throughout Cameron’s career, the most difficult pieces of piano music which required the most stamina were always at the beginning of his performance because he got tired near the end of recitals. He had never had the multiple hour practice sessions that many musicians had because when he started playing at age six, he was not physically capable of doing that.

His later health issues had always required shorter practices and more rest. The two of them did not expect Cameron’s career to last forever, but his immediate success in childhood had been like a dream come true. They had made it work so far. Richard’s decision to capitalize on Cameron’s physical appearance had only brought him more fame. Whatever had gotten him here, was enough for Cameron and he did not want to start having bad concert performances now.

——-

As soon as they completed the first rehearsal with the orchestra, Cameron went to take a seat in the auditorium and heard Gerard talking to Mia Davenport, the music director of the Los Angeles orchestra. He could not make out what they were saying from their seats in the front of the theater, but it did not seem to be going well. He heard her say something about last minute and Gerard say something about unacceptable and standing up. The music director rose as well, but neither of them moved, preferring to continue to debate Gerard’s request to change the order of the selections being played in the concert while standing.

Is the fight about you?  

Cameron jumped when he heard the voice beside him. He turned to see a young man about six feet tall with long slightly wavy blonde hair and sky-blue eyes. Where Cameron was willowy and thin, the person who sat down beside him had an athletic build. Cameron thought of the stereotype surfer when he saw him, but he recognized him from the photo in the concert information email he had just opened that afternoon.  

Uh, well... 

I’m Peter Brown by the way. He extended his hand