Rock 'n' Roll is Undead (Veronica Mason by Rose Pressey Read Free Book Online Page A

it until at least after Johnny’s memorial. But Frank insisted because I have a record producer coming to my show on Saturday night, that’s not exactly something you can cancel. I mean you can, but I’ve worked for a break like that for a long time. Most of my life as a matter of fact.” I took a deep breath. Okay, I was rambling. But I tended to do that when I got nervous, and I was definitely nervous.
    “So Frank just happened to know someone to take the bass player’s place at a moment’s notice?”
    “Right. That’s correct.” I fidgeted in the chair. “He said he knew these guys and made some calls around looking for a replacement. They’re not great players, neither of them, but like I said, I kind of need to do this, you know. Frank says Johnny would want me to move forward and he’s right. Johnny would be pissed at me if I missed out on this chance. He really was a nice guy.”
    “So do you always listen to everything Frank tells you to do?”
    “What? No way. But he was just talking some sense into me, you know.”
    “Do you know of anyone who would want to kill Johnny?”
    I shook my head. “No. I can’t think of anyone.”
    “Think hard. Did he have enemies?”
    Every vampire I knew had enemies. I shook my head again.
    “Fight with anybody? Maybe get into an argument with someone in the crowd?”
    I paused. Then it clicked into my memory. “Now that you mention it, there was this guy about a month ago. He wanted us to let him play the bass just for one song. He wanted to impress his girlfriend. We told him we couldn’t do that. We’d practiced too long to let just anyone play. He wouldn’t stop, just kept asking and asking. Finally, Johnny told him to take a hike. He told him to start his own band if he wanted to impress his girl. Of course, the guy didn’t like that none. They exchanged a few words, but he finally left.”
    “Was that it?”
    “Well, no, he was waiting outside for us when the show was over. He wanted to fight, but the bouncers stopped him. They made him leave. Johnny didn’t call the police, though. I was glad they didn’t fight. He wasn’t a vampire and I was really afraid of what might happen to the guy.”
    “Not all vampires are as violent as you think, Ms. Mason.”
    “It’s been my experience that all vampires are extremely dangerous when placed in certain situations,” I said.
    “I think that goes for anyone, don’t you think?”
    I shrugged. “I guess.”
    “So was that it?” he asked.
    “That was it, never saw the guy again.” I looked at my red-polished fingernails.
    “Were there any other altercations?”
    “I can’t think of anything.”
    “What kind of practice schedule do you all normally have?”
    He looked up from his notepad. His dark brown eyes blended in with his dark lashes. The room was dim in our corner of the bar, although, the sun shone brightly outside. A few dark tinted windows dotted the front wall. I guess the owner didn’t want anyone to see how sparse the crowd was in there on some nights. The inside of the bar was covered with red velvet and intricate black ironwork—very gothic.
    “Our schedule?” I asked.
    “Yes, how often you have gigs and that sort of thing?”
    Not sure why he needed to know. “Oh, well, we play every weekend. And a couple of nights a week. The other days we practice.”
    “That’s a busy schedule. So you want to make it big time, huh?”
    Odd question. What did that have to do with a murder investigation?
    “Who doesn’t want to make it big?”
    He didn’t answer.
    “Anything else?” I was growing tired of him and his questions.
    “Did Johnny have a girlfriend?”
    “Girlfriend?” I studied my fingernails.
    “Yes, a girlfriend.” He sounded irritated. “As in someone he dated.”
    “Look, Detective Walker, this business is tough for guys sometimes.”
    “And not for women?” he asked.
    “Oh, it’s tougher for women, but in a different way. Women are better at handling it. Most