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Victoria Paderevsky would rather be assassinated on the podium than resign her post as music director of the Central Florida Symphony Orchestra. She had worked too hard and alienated too many people to leave voluntarily or to let anyone try to force her into collapsing under the strain of her position. Nothing short of murder or being fired would keep her off the podium on opening night.
    “Daniel Graham is a dangerous man,” Paddie said, not for the first time.
    “Maybe so, but I can think of lots of other people who would want to ruin you more than he would,” Whitney said bluntly—and truthfully.
    “Name five.”
    “I can name a hundred—and so can you.”
    “No one likes me.”
    “Which is no one’s doing but your own. You don’t like anyone, Victoria.”
     Paddie drained the last of her gin-and-tonic and pursed her fleshy lips. “This business is affecting my work.”
    “I know,” Whitney said softly.
    On the surface, Paddie seemed just as irascible and efficient as ever, but Harry’s inexplicable disappearance and the subtle, nasty incidents of harassment had to be taking their toll. But Whitney wouldn’t know for sure if Paddie was holding up until she saw her conduct: Only then could anyone count on seeing the real Victoria Paderevsky.
    “We must get to the bottom of this “ Paddie said.
    “Perhaps we should go to the police—”
    “Impossible. I have no evidence. Come, Whitney, what would they say? The pressures have finally gotten to the fat lady; she is cracking. No, I must have proof.”
    “You’re a brilliant conductor. They’d listen to you.”
    “Phooey. I’m the fat lady they do not understand.”
    Whitney knew Paddie wasn’t feeling sorry for herself. She was simply stating the facts as she knew them. What other people thought of her had never had any bearing whatsoever on her own opinions of her gifts. “They could ask Daniel Graham what he was doing at Harry-’s hotel.”
    “You don’t understand the Graham family’s position in this community. Even if the police did go so far as to ask him for an explanation—and this would be a miracle—they would believe anything he says. And if he has kidnapped Harry ...
    Whitney shook her head, thinking of the capable and direct man she had dealt with that afternoon. “I just can’t see it, Victoria. I know he isn’t the most charming man in the world, but kidnapping Harry to drive you crazy? It just doesn’t fit.”
    “Suppose Harry had found out Graham was harassing me?”
    “Then that’s a different story,” Whitney said heavily. “He’d have to shut him up and— Oh, Victoria, I can’t stand not knowing!”
    “Yes, but we must be cautious. If we go to the police precipitously, we could make things worse for Harry. And if I am wrong or right, the publicity will hurt the orchestra— and what would happen to you? Daniel Graham would squash you like a tiny little black ant.”
    “He still might.”
    “Yes.”
    “You don’t have to agree, you know.”
    “But I must speak my mind. Whitney, this Graham is a powerful man in central Florida. Graham Citrus owns thousands and thousands of acres throughout the state. No matter how justifiable and noble your motives, you did break into his office.”
    “At your bidding, Victoria.”
    Paddie sat back and folded her hands on her ample middle. “Where’s your proof?”
    “You’d deny me!” It was not a question, but an exclamation of an unpleasant but not unexpected fact. Whitney sighed. “All right, then, now what?”
    “We wait for Graham to make his next move.”
    “I could end up on a chain gang in some swamp.”
    “That’s possible.”
    “You’re a big help. Do you think he’ll come here looking for me?”
    “Undoubtedly. If you had not brought your horn—”
    “Let’s not start that again,” Whitney snapped.
    “Yes, what’s done is done,” Paddie said philosophically.
    “Graham suspects who you really are and suspects my involvement. We must convince