Page 5 of Trouble Walked In

“Well, singers on an award and booze high sometimes do that during parties too, especially the younger ones. I remember one particular night when the ladies and I just kicked it until the sun came up. That was a great night. No audience. No crap. Just music.”

The image her words invoked of drunk people happily singing to the dawn didn’t fit with Della’s statement or her abrupt disappearance.

“Did she sing? Along with the rest, I mean?” Renic asked.

Morgan tapped her pen on the soul of her shoe and tilted her head as if sifting through a mental filing cabinet. “I think so. At least, nobody said she didn’t. I can nail that down, if you want.”

He nodded. “Please do. And ask them about her mood. Try to pinpoint when it shifted from happy award winner to whatever she was at the end. Something happened to her last night, and we need to know what.”

Morgan nodded and walked to the door. “I’m on it. By the way, Nate Edwards is waiting to see you.”

Renic suppressed a groan. “Right. Send him in. And, Morgan…”

She paused with her hand on the door handle.

“Let me know the instant you find her. No matter what’s going on.”

“Yep,” Morgan said. She opened the door and strolled out as if she didn’t have the weight of a missing person search on her shoulders. “Next.”

A tall, gray-haired man wearing cowboy boots and a belly walked through the door after Morgan left. He watched her go with a rueful expression. “That girl never did have any airs, and still don’t. I like that about her.”

“Nate. Good to see you.” Renic came out from behind his desk to shake hands with one of the most influential men in the music business, the head of Dream Works Records. “Have a seat. Can I get you a drink?”

“No, no. I have a dinner to get to with my wife. She’ll kill me if I’m already liquored up.” Nate lowered himself into the recently vacated client chair and stretched his long legs out in front of him with a grunt. “Damn knee. Always acting up just when I have places to get to.”

Renic sat down in the chair next to Nate. “What can I do for you, Nate?”

“Well, son, that offer is still on the table and the uppity-ups are gettin’ anxious. Have you given it any more thought?”

Renic pressed his lips together to keep the wrong words from spilling out before he could stop them. He wanted to tell Omega Music Group where they could stick their offer, but it wasn’t good business to offend someone who could make or break careers over breakfast, and besides, he liked the older man.

Nate gave him his start in the music business when he was fresh out of college, and mentored him every step of the way,even when he wanted to strike out on his own and make his own label. Nate was a class act, a mentor, and a friend.

“Silence ain’t an answer.” Nate gave him a pointed look.

“I thought I already made my position on this pretty clear,” Renic said finally.

“I know you think we’re the big, bad bully come to push you around. I know because I’ve been in your shoes. Twice.” Nate’s grin was rueful. “But nobody ever offered me a shot like this. You keep control over your stable. You get a cash infusion. Access to Omega resources. What’s the holdup? Be honest with me.”

“That’s a loaded word,” Renic said. “Most people don’t want honest. They want it coated in a layer of bullshit.”

“I don’t need or want bullshit, son. I need an answer.” Nate’s smile took the sting off the words.

“Honestly, Nate, I’m just not ready to lose control of this thing. Self Evident Records is more than just a company to me.”

Nate leaned forward. “We get that. That’s why we aren’t asking for a full merger. You keep control of your current list, including Della, Tyrone, and Keith. All we want is access to the new talent you scout. Not full access, mind you. Shared. Did you even look at the papers I left with you?”

Renic tried hard not to cringe at the mention of Della’s name. Tyrone and Keith both had promising futures, but Della was his ace. If he couldn’t find her and get her back on track, he’d be forced to take this deal whether he wanted it or not. Otherwise he couldn't afford to get the other two off the ground. “I have lawyers looking over them.”

“Lawyers,” Nate scoffed. “I’m not worried about the legalese. I’m worried about your future. You’re like a son to me. You always have been. I been in the business long enough to know when the ground is starting to shake under someone’s feet. You need the safety net. Your wagon is hitched to a pretty bright star, but what happens to your business if that star falls? You think about that?”

It wasallRenic had been thinking about for the past few hours, but there was no way he would tell his mentor and potential business partner that bit of information. Instead, he put on a smile that hopefully conveyed the confidence he should be feeling. “That’s the thing, Nate. The sky’s full of stars.”

“But not everyone has the talent for finding the one star that shines brightest. You have a real gift, Renic. Think of how many more you could find with a little help from a friend.”

A knock at the door saved Renic from having to answer.

He and Nate both turned as the door opened, and Morgan poked her head in. “Hey, boss, I have an update for you, when you’re ready.”

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