Bass Case

Chapter 30: Departure

    It's been nearly a month since the end of the bass case murders. There hasn't been one incident since. The investigation was long and tiring, but we managed to make it through. The five of us stand at the entrance to the orchestra room, awaiting our teachers arrival. We watch as the clean cut Professor walks down the crimson hallways. He pushes up his glasses, nodding his head towards us in greeting. "Mr. Forte, I'm sorry. I assumed wrong, and I shouldn't have."

    "We all did." Brenda adds. Her body is draped in a long dark blue dress, something that we rarely get to see her in.

    I continue, "We all messed up. We're sorry that things turned out this way."

    The Professor looks us over with a gentle smile. "Well I can't really blame you. I was a rather strict teacher, and Vibrato is a cunning one. Dana even more so. I've known her for year. I never suspected that she'd resort to such lengths, but neither did I think so for Vibrato. I too have made mistakes. Vibrato use to be my friend," he confessed, "and when I saw that he was started to lose his way, I did nothing for him. Not until it was too late. I became suspicious of his actions, and I tried to stop him on my own, but perhaps if I had done things differently more people could have been saved... I regret not being able to save my students. If anything, I thank you for putting Vibrato and Dana in their place." Then he nods his head to Josh, "And at least Josh got to get out sooner."

    "Still sad that you got framed, too." Josh replies.

    "Yeah, well, what happened, happened." He says with a sigh. "It's been a rough year. Well at least I get to go back to doing what I love. I guess I should start setting up the room."

    "We'll help you." Sarah states, following closely behind Forte as he opens the door. The man thanks her with a smile. We all pull the many chairs off the racks, positioning them into their semicircle shape on the floor. The chairs face the podium as their guide.

    "What do you all think we should play? Still the old piece or a new one?" Mr. Forte asks, scrolling through a cabinet lined with dozens of rows of sheet music.

    "You're the teacher." I retort.

    "And you're the students who will be playing it." He smirks.

    "Actually, Professor," Brenda says, "we've all been thinking, and we think that it's best to leave Dragon West."

    The Professor goes silent, shuffling through the files of sheet music in thought. A soft bittersweet smile falls onto his face. "I see. I don't blame you all one bit. How long until you all leave?"

    "I will be staying for the rest of the semester, but the others will be departing tomorrow." Brenda replies.

    "Then in that case," Mr. Forte says, pulling out a single file, "I know just what to play today." He brings the score into his office to examine.

    Angelica nudges the side of me, looking up at me pleadingly. Nervously I walk up to his office; I still can't help but always have that fear of asking him things, even now. "Professor, since it is our last day, would it be alright if Sarah's sister joined our class. She had wanted to go to the school before this all happened, but seeing as how we're all leaving she may never get the chance."

    Mr. Forte looks past my shoulder towards the girl who looks a lot like Sarah. Her dark brown hair is tied up for once, and her brown eyes catch the light of his office. She wears a dark green shirt and black shorts. He nods, walking up to her, outstretching his hand, "Angelica right? I remember your audition was outstanding. For sure you're admitted if you ever so wish."

    A bright smile lights up her face as she shakes his hand, "Yes. Thank you Mr. Forte. I'll think about that, though I do plan to go back home for now."