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“We haven’t ruled out anything yet. Why?”
    Fred swallowed, his age-creased face tinted a sickly shade of green. “Because if there’s a chance foul play could be involved, I think there’s something you need to know.”
    The constable’s attention sharpened. “What’s that?”
    Fred swallowed again and seemed to brace himself to speak his next words. “A few minutes ago I went to fetch my tools to fix a loose screw in the backstage area and I noticed . . .” He cleared his throat and tried again. “I noticed that there was blood on my hammer.”

 
    Chapter Four
    “ B LOOD?” I ECHOED, my voice faint.
    Constable Ryan took charge before I had a chance to say anything further. “I’d like you to show me those tools, if you would, Mr. Marsh.”
    Fred nodded. “Of course. This way.”
    He started to head back the way he’d come. I moved to follow him, but Constable Ryan put out a hand to stop me.
    “Thank you, Ms. Bishop. You can head home now, if you’d like.”
    The message behind his words was clear. I was to mind my own business.
    “Also, if you’d please keep this development to yourself, I’d appreciate it. There’s no need to start a panic when we don’t yet know the facts.”
    I nodded numbly. I’d heard his words but I was still focused on Fred’s discovery. If the blood was Pavlina’s, then that could only mean one thing—she’d been murdered. But I knew the constable was right—all the facts weren’t known yet and there was no point in jumping to conclusions. Perhaps the blood had been on the hammer for some time, a result of some minor accident, like a cut finger. It could have nothing to do with Pavlina. I certainly hoped that was the case. As tragic as Pavlina’s death was, an unfortunate accident was far less alarming than a violent death at the hands of a killer. A killer who might still be in the theater.
    Suppressing a shudder, I vowed to do as Constable Ryan had requested and keep Fred’s discovery to myself for the time being. As the two men disappeared from sight, I turned around and saw that Janine had already finished giving her statement and was returning to the lounge. Mikayla too had finished speaking with the other police officer, and she joined me as I left the corridor for the musicians’ lounge.
    “Everything all right?” she asked.
    “Yes,” I replied, trying to rein in my thoughts. I didn’t want to let on that I’d heard some potentially unsettling information.
    “At least we can head home now.”
    I hesitated by my locker, my eyes going to JT where he still sat on the couch, chatting with one of the orchestra’s bass players. “I think I’ll wait for JT.”
    “Okay,” Mikayla said as she headed for her own locker. “I’ll see you on Tuesday.”
    “See you,” I echoed.
    I was about to join JT on the couch when one of the police officers gestured to him to go and provide his statement. So instead of sitting down I changed my route and approached Dongmei where she stood across the room, on her own, her eyes red-rimmed.
    She tried to smile when she saw me approaching, but she was only partly successful. “Hey, Midori.”
    “Hi. How are you doing?” I asked.
    She shrugged and blinked back tears. “Okay. It’s just upsetting, you know?”
    “It is,” I agreed. “Is your family here tonight?”
    “No, I’m on my own. But my parents and sister will be here for the next concert.” She drew in a deep breath. “How are you doing? Didn’t you find Pavlina in the washroom?”
    “Yes, my stand partner and I did.” The first seconds after finding Pavlina’s body replayed in my memory. “It was disconcerting, but I’m all right.” I once again noted Dongmei’s red-rimmed eyes. “Did you know Pavlina well?”
    “Not really,” she replied. “But we’ve been acquaintances for a few years. We were at a music and composition retreat together in Banff three years ago. That’s when I first met her. Even then it was obvious she’d be a