The Violin by Michele Makinson (the lemonade war series TXT) 📖

The Violin
A Sofia Anderson Mystery

The blue sky was getting dark and the rain was getting heavier outside. I decided to cash out the till and close up early, so I could have a nice evening at home.

The bell tinkled over the door, Sophia looked up and saw a drenched tall, skinny woman in a soaking wet raincoat with long wet black hair, dripping water all over her wood floors.

"What can I do for you?" I asked the stranger.

"I am looking for Sophia Anderson," stated the stranger.

"That is me, why are you looking for me?" I asked.

She walked over to me and placed a violin case on my counter.

"Here," she said, "I accomplished my mission."

Then she turned to walk out the door.

"Wait!" I stated. "Who are you, why bring me a violin case?"

She turned around and said, "there is a violin in the case, you will understand."

"Here, take my card, now what is your name?" I asked.

"My name is Racheal McFarland, I was instructed to get this to you."
"I don't know anything else, except this is very important you get this and no one else." "I need to go now and catch the ferry." "I have business on Whidbey Island tonight."

"Well, nice meeting you, if you have to run off, take my card incase you need anything. Do you have a phone number?" I asked.

Racheal handed me a card and left.

I ran over looked outside, just in time to see Racheal turning the corner. It was still down pouring and hard to see, but it looked as though someone was following her. I hesitated, deciding what to do, then decided to quickly lock up. I looked at the card in my hand, Racheal McFarland, violinist. No number listed!

"I am confused on what is going on." I said out loud to myself. I went over to the counter and opened up the violin case.

This was my Grandfathers' beloved old Stradivarius!

I looked at my watch, too early to catch John, my husband. I closed the case, secured the shop, looked out the back door, it was still pouring with rain and windy. I slipped out, locked the door and made a dash for my car. I sat there warming it up and my cell phone rang.

"Hello," I said.

"Hi Sophia, this is Susan, just wondering if you want company tonight for dinner with our guys back in Hawaii."

"Yes, please please come over and hurry. I am on my way home but, have I got a story for you!" I exclaimed.

"Ok, I am at the Co Op and will grab dinner for us." Susan said.

"Ok, see you soon." I said and hung up.

I had a really uneasy feeling in the pit of my stomach.

If it had not been raining so hard, Sophia would have noticed the men sitting in a car watching her.

Publication Date: 09-17-2009

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