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Griffin walked to the sainst the mantel, and crossed his arms over his chest "Tell me what you know about Delsey You said so her too ht Who is that, Professor Salazar?"

Salazar gave a Gallic shrug to rival Gabrielle’s and walked to the grand piano He paused ajacket pocket, and lightly rubbed it over a small spot on the piano lid, then moved to stand behind a small, hypermodern ebony desk in the corner "I aent, believe me You have my syh I was speaking of Dr Elliot Hayman He is the director of Stanislaus and also my brother--my twin brother, to be exact We are fraternal twins and so are not rew up apart"

"That’s right I was a teenager before I saw hiain, in Madrid, but we are brothers, and thus when he invited me to spend a year at Stanislaus, I accepted Noill tell you that what happened last night is not unusual This tiaritas he made himself I must say that Elliot is entirely too familiar with female students here, despite his position I have told hinores me As for the Stanislaus board, they pretend not to notice You would think they’d be more watchful, since Dr Gordon Holcombe, the former director of Stanislaus, left under, let us say, a very black cloud"

The pot and the kettle "What cloud was this, Professor?"

"There were murders here at Stanislaus last year It is believed Dr Holcotime secretary and lover He fled No one knohere he is I doubt anyone is looking for hih evidence to send him to jail"

So this was the horrific trouble Ruth and Dr Chesney had spoken about He wanted to know more about it, but not now Griffin asked, "So Dr Hayman was asked to become the director of Stanislaus after Dr Holcombe’s departure?"

"Yes He plays the piano rather well on the international stage, and that gives him the stature for his position, and a certain cachet, I suppose But withal he has the soul of an adood choice by the board"

Griffin said, "Your brother invited you here, yet you don’t get along?"

Salazar drew up "I a my brother I merely state facts"

"You mean it’s a fact that Dr Hayman seduces Stanislaus students?"

Salazar spared hilance "I know it is difficult for you, but youmusicians--these attempts to connect with those who share our passions, to keep our balance, and, shall I say it, to gain a certain release It happens everywhere Music is a haunting ifted"

And the Spanish lizard shrugged yet again As if that said it all, Griffin thought, and excused any behavior He said, "I see So as long as one is careful and exercises a bit of discretion, these connections are overlooked, ignored?"

"It is the civilized thing to do"

"Then ere you so angry with Dr Haye a connection to Delsey?"

"I suppose because she was hurt last night and because Elliot is not what she needs She is an innocent, though she is a brilliant musician, more driven than most It is unfortunate she continues to pursue a couide her away frohtly flicked a spot of lint froifted uidance"

"And you wish to be the one to provide this guidance?"

If Salazar suspected irony, he didn’t show it He merely nodded "That is correct We are like spirits, she and I"

Aht? What really happened to her, not the press version you gave out to those credulous girls in the living room"

Griffin s more to add for the moment" He realized he really wanted to punch out the lizard--not good, he had to get control of hi your year here at Stanislaus?"

"Yes, certainly So many talented enial and conducive to study and perforue Juilliard, for example"