Luthier's Apprentice, The Read Online Free

offering.
    “No, thank you, I’m fine,” Mom said.
    “They checked for fingerprints, but found only Marcel’s, mine, and various others from students. Normal, considering he conducted his lessons there.” Madame Dupriez took one more sip of the brandy.
    “Was anything missing?” Emma asked.
    “Only his violin, as you probably know from the papers. It was a fine instrument, bien sur. Your grandfather made it. But certainly not priceless, nothing worth kidnapping for.”
    Emma nodded. It was just like in the other three cases.
    “Your visit has been much helpful,” Madame Dupriez said, as if putting an end to their conversation. “I really appreciate your kindness, Elizabeth. And yours, too, Emma.”
    After a pause, her mom made a gesture for Emma to rise. “I think we’d better leave. You must be tired, Madame Dupriez, and should rest. I also need to pack. I’m leaving on a trip tomorrow. My sister is sick. I don’t know how long I’ll be gone.”
    “Oh, I’m sorry to hear that.” Madame Dupriez put the brandy on the table. “Is Emma going with you?”
    “No, I’ll stay with Grandpa,” Emma said.
    “I’m sure he’ll be very happy to have you with him. He’s a marvelous luthier. One of the best, according to Marcel.”
    “I’ll be sure to tell him that.” Mom smiled, but the smile didn’t reach her eyes.
    As they left the room, Emma glanced toward the study, across the foyer. The door was closed and yellow ‘crime scene’ ribbon blocked it.
    “No one is permitted to go in there for the moment. Only the police,” Madame Dupriez said, as if reading Emma’s mind.
    Disappointed, Emma gave a faint nod. They walked to the front door and put on their coats.
    “Please don’t hesitate to call Emma or my father if you need anything,” said Mom.
    “You’re most kind.” Madame Dupriez opened the door.
    Before stepping out into the cold, rainy evening, Emma turned to the old woman. “Madame Dupriez?”
    “ Oui, ma chérie ?”
    “Maybe there’s no logical explanation for what happened to Monsieur Dupriez because the explanation isn’t logical.”
    Both Madame Dupriez and her mom stared at her.
    “What if something supernatural is going on?” Emma said, surprising both herself and them.
    The expression on Madame Dupriez’s face was unfathomable. “Supernatural?”
    “Well, yeah—like magic or something. If there’s no logical explanation...” Emma couldn’t believe the words had popped out of her mouth. But she thought about her new strange abilities and she knew why she’d said it. Because she believed it.
    Madame Dupriez’s green eyes narrowed. “Magic? What nonsense is this!”
    Emma felt her mother’s cool hand touch hers as if in warning.
    “Don’t mind her, Madame Dupriez,” Mom said. “She’s a crazy fan of Charmed and Sherlock Holmes—you know, him being an amateur violinist and all. She has a wild imagination.”
    “No, I don’t.” A wave of heat rose to Emma’s cheeks. “It makes sense. How else can someone disappear just like that from a locked room?”
    “It’s healthy to have a wild imagination,” Madame Dupriez said, ignoring Emma’s question. “Though sometimes it can lead to trouble.”
    Mom cleared her throat. “Well, thank you for the tea, Madame Dupriez. Again, please call us if you need anything.”
    “Thank you, ma chérie . I will.”
    “Come on, Emma. We better get going before the rain gets worse.” She pulled Emma by the hand.
    Once outside, Emma jerked back her hand. “Why did you say I have a wild imagination? You embarrassed me and made me look like an idiot.”
    “Hey, watch that tone.”
    They hastened across the street.
    “What’s gotten into you—talking to her about magic?” her mom said as they jumped inside their car. “She has enough to worry about as it is, don’t you think?”
    Emma sighed. “I was just trying to help.”
    “By suggesting her husband disappeared due to supernatural reasons? What on earth did you