Casebook 4: A Score Settled - 4.7[index]

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“Welcome to Hungary musicians.”

Then, still grinning, he wiped his sweating forehead with the back of his white-gloved hand. I stepped into the dark, cool, marbled interior and through into the garden. Inspector Taub was lounging on the patio, smoking. He caught my eye and leapt to his feet. I introduced myself and he shook my hand, beaming.

“No need. No need. I know you. These cases of the Sweetheart Club. Very interesting.” His eyes twinkled. It was my turn to smile uncomfortably under the sun. I was an international laughing stock. “We watched the room as you requested. But there was nothing. Until now. A suicide. But I remember to call you. But a suicide, I think.”

He turned to look at the patio and we stared at the white-taped outline where the body had fallen. There was a dark, sunburned bloodstain, like a discarded shadow.

“Room 14,” he said, and pointed to a high, open window. Then we sat on the verandah and he showed me some unpleasant Polaroids.

“Meklàr Hegedus. He was a musician. Vìoline. From the Ungarn Philharmoniker. Every year they are here in this hotel for our Beethoven festival.