Chapter 9: Live at Nine

On Monday morning, Maxine and I watched the television in her office with the sound up.

It was the nine o'clock hour of the biggest morning show in Los Angeles.

The set was bright yellow, with a couch, a cooking counter and a band stage in the corner.

Lexi Rotherhithe sat on the couch in a white dress, with Hank standing just off camera.

Devon sat next to her.

He wore a black jacket and looked like a man being held at gunpoint.

"The café video was everywhere this weekend," the host said, laughing. "Lexi, honestly, was that fair?"

"I think people love drama," Lexi said sweetly. "I'm just here for the music."

"And we're so glad. Because you're going to perform 'Gold Room' for us live, right?"

"I can't wait."

Maxine turned to me.

"The show's lawyers got my notice yesterday," she said. "The master recording is in dispute. They aren't cleared to play it."

"Will they listen?"

"We'll see."

The band stage lit up.

Lexi stood in the center in a pool of white light, and a little red light came on over the camera.

The producers' monitor showed the show's countdown clock.

Three, two, one.

The piano chord came out of the speakers, my chord, the one I had played in March.

Lexi lifted the microphone and began to sing.

She was fine for the first verse.

Then the track cut out.

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