PIANO 9

                                 PIANO 9 (Part 9 in a 10 Part Series)

    It was several days before Rip could establish a meeting date with Luigi and Marta. In the meantime, he met with the sheriff and filled him in on the developments. They now felt progress was being made in solving the case. The sheriff promised he and other agency people would be ready to help when needed. Luigi agreed to play for them at the upcoming meeting.

    When Rip and Honey arrived at Turner Music, Turner was in his office. Rip told Turner this meeting could provide some clues, and invited him to sit in. Turner agreed, and asked the group to join him in his office. Marta assured them she had recovered from her fall with no bad after effects. Rip then directed the conversation to the possibility Marta may have important information concerning the missing piano. Marta began, "I'm not sure this may mean much, and I didn't make any connection with the piano until I had more time to give it thought. I overheard the two men talking, and I was able to understand some of the talk. They were interested in the layout of the building and how difficult it must be to move sensitive and heavy objects like the piano." Rip commented that it could be a natural item of curiosity. "That's what I thought, too," Marta replied. "But I also heard them talk about making arrangements, although I couldn't put details with what kind of arrangements or for what purpose."

    "Then I thought about some of the things the woman said, and put that together with what I know about that country," Marta continued. "The country is controlled by a strict dictator. He fancies himself like a royal ruler. He is pretty well educated, and apparently picked up a liking to classical music where he was educated. He connects high brow music with grand pianos. When you couldn't solve the theft of the piano, I put some of these thoughts together. I was reluctant to say anything because I thought it seemed preposterous that such a plot could come about to steal a baby grand. Now, I think maybe the idea isn't so crazy."

    "Well, that's interesting information, Marta," Turner thoughtfully said. "It does sound off the wall, but it's not only the best we have, it's all we have. "There are a couple of things we can do now. I'll contact the State Department to see if our ambassador in that country can find out anything. This may be difficult because the feds don't like to get involved over 'little apples'. The other thing I can do is check out a man who visited here after that foreign group. He appeared legitimate when we checked on him before, but I'll repeat that process. He came to try and sell me a security system. It was too expensive, and I've never had a problem until the piano theft. I always check out salesmen with the company, and he checked out okay. Won't hurt to try again."

    Rip showed some enthusiasm as he said, "Now we have one lead and

another maybe! Finally some progress." Turner said he'd contact the sheriff and seek his help in getting cooperation from the State  Department. "Marta, you've done the right thing. Nobody is going to be hurt from our search of information, and perhaps you have supplied us with the key to solving the theft." Marta smiled, and said, "Give  Honey the credit. She explained the Christian duty I had, and I feel much relieved now. I didn't want to be a 'nut' about something, but the possibility worried me." Rip commented that truthful information is the only way to prove God's plan and work. "Sometimes it's a struggle to talk about something because you may be criticized or made fun of. It takes courage to make a stand based on truth."

    The meeting broke up, and it was agreed they would meet as soon as

Turner or the sheriff had made progress with the two leads. Turner went

right to work to continue checking out the salesman. The sheriff's job to deal with the State Department wasn't as easy. He was sent from one office to another, and one person to another. Finally, after a string of these referrals, he found himself talking to the same person for the  second time. His frustration got the better of him, and he burst out with

"Do I have to call the President to get some cooperation? I'm going to call my senators and representatives and the President until everyone gets so sick of me somebody will give me some satisfaction!" That threat finally brought some cooperation. The sheriff was directed to a specific person so he could explain the situation. The agent he talked to listened as the sheriff told him he was looking for a stolen baby grand piano. The agent, in a surprised and unbelieving voice asked, 'Are you pulling some kind of joke? Who the hell steals a grand piano? Do you know you're wasting time?"

    The sheriff quickly answered, "This involves possible foreign 

operatives. A grand piano is something special and can represent some

type of symbol. A small foreign delegation specifically wanted to tour

a piano factory a short time before the piano disappeared." The agent

had calmed down, and asked, "Do you realize my boss will think I'm

nuts to tell him about a request concerning a grand piano?" The sheriff

said, "It's the strange little things that frequently lead to something big".

The agent asked, "What country are we talking about?" When the sheriff

told him, the agent burst out with "Why didn't you say so? Now you may

have something!" The sheriff responded, "You asked me what the 

problem was, not the country." The agent said, with some enthusiasm,

"We'll contact our ambassador and see what he can find out."

    Turner had a much easier task. He was able to go over the history

of the security company and the salesman quite quickly. He called the

sheriff and others to tell them the salesman lead was a dead end. The

sheriff was surprised to hear from the State Department within the week.

The agent he had talked with called him and said the ambassador had

been able to find out enough information without drawing suspicion to

conclude it may be the missing piano. "You wouldn't believe the unusual

importance those people place in that baby grand," the agent said. "It's

perfectly normal for people there to talk about it. The country is small

and poor. They don't have a lot to look up to." The agent continued, 

"They keep a guard posted at the ceremonial room, and it's a big deal

when they have a program. They get really good musicians to visit and

play concerts. It's considered a great privilege to be invited." The sheriff

expressed his gratitude for the information, and so quickly.

    The agent warned him not to feel the case was so easily solved. "In

the first place we can't prove it is the missing piano. Secondly, we can't

just make an accusation. Thirdly, we can't touch the piano. To wrap

it up, the people are fomenting and there is definite unrest and some

activists. We can't touch the situation. I'm afraid the piano has a new

permanent home. Turner will have to cut his loss. The State Department

will not intervene." Although the sheriff was disgruntled, he expressed

his thanks for the prompt service. The sheriff called Turner with the

news and scheduled a meeting for the next day at Turner Music so

everyone could hear the story.

    Marta, Luigi, Rip, Honey, and the sheriff met with Turner in his office

the next day. The sheriff began, "I believe we've solved the case of the

missing piano. We know where it is, but we can't bring it back." Turner

interrupted, "What! Why can't be reclaim stolen property? Is the piano

damaged, or what?" The sheriff continued his explanation. "We're pretty

sure the missing piano is in that country. But it's considered a symbol

of some sort and untouchable. The State Department won't let anything

happen that might cause an international incident. It's a small country,

but there is unrest, and the feds don't want to get involved for a missing

piano." Honey chimed in with,"Politics stinks. There is no right or wrong.

It's often right to do wrong. Religion only gets involved to accomplish an

agenda." Rip said, "There's a lot of truth in that, but most leaders create

their own rules and interpretation."

 

    Turner was unhappy with the loss, but Luigi was moved the most by

the news. "When you work with these instruments, you have a feeling,

a sort of bonding," he explained. "I can only hope and pray they treat

her well." The sheriff's phone buzzed, and he answered. "What!" he

exclaimed. "Are you sure?" He was highly animated. The others could

see something unusual had occurred. The sheriff was in a state of 

unbelief as he told the group, "The case of the missing baby grand

piano just blew up!"

(To be continued)

Rev. Walbear