The Seventh Time novel · Chapter 9 of 24

Chapter 9: Mother's Piano

Killian called me on Wednesday and said his father had sold his mother's piano.

"It's a 1928 Steinway," he said. "Dad's got movers coming Thursday morning."

"I'd like you to look at it once before it goes," he said. "You don't have to. I'll understand."

"Why me?"

"Because you're the only person who ever listened to it properly."

I told him I would come, and I did not tell him why.

The Ashworth house stood on a bluff in Bratenahl, a grey stone mansion above the lake.

There was not one family photograph in the front hall.

Broderick was in Columbus until Thursday.

The housekeeper let me in without a word and pointed down a long corridor.

The music room was at the back, a high white room with tall windows and a baby grand under a dust sheet.

Killian stood by the window in his shirtsleeves.

He turned when I came in and I saw he hadn't slept again.

"Thank you for coming," he said.

"I'm not here for you." I took the phone out of my coat. "I'm here to show you something."

I held it out.

He took it and read the screen.

I watched his face change, one slow line at a time.

After a while he sat down on the piano bench.

"March thirteenth." His thumb moved on the glass, and stopped.

"That's the week after the third time," he said. "He took me to lunch and said he was proud of me."

"He told Pete the number too."

"He told Pete."

"He told us both, Killian. He told you what would keep you going, and he told my brother what would keep me quiet."

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