But Dance didn’t think comments about acoustic tonal quality, however harsh, rose to the level of threat under California Penal Code section 646.9.

Zeigler said to Kayleigh, “Bobby was the greatest guy in the world. I can’t believe somebody’d hurt him on purpose. And to die that way. You must be …” Then he grew silent, apparently deciding he shouldn’t be further revisiting the horror.

“Aaron and Steve said if there’s anything anybody at the label can do, you let us know. You’ve got the whole company behind you.”

“Barry, I think he’s going to keep doing this. He picks verses of my songs and plays them and then kills somebody or tries to.”

“That’s what Bishop was telling me.” The producer turned to Dance. “Can’t you arrest him?”

She demurred but Kayleigh said, “He’s too smart. They haven’t been able to find anything he’s done that quite breaks the law. Oh, this is just terrible.” The anger was gone and her eyes welled with tears. Then she tamed the emotion and the same stillness came over her as it did onstage.

Control …

Zeigler’s voice dimmed as he said to Kayleigh, “I want to say hi to Bishop and Sheri. But could I talk to you for a minute? Alone?”

“Sure.” To Dance she said, “Be right back.”

The two rose and walked into the living room, the producer ducking automatically as they approached the doorway arch. He had to be six feet, seven inches tall, Dance estimated.

She gave it a minute, then rose quietly and moved to the swing Kayleigh had just occupied, which was next to a half-opened window. From there she could hear their conversation. Whatever Zeigler was going to tell Kayleigh might have something to do with the case, even if neither of them realized it, provided she could make out the conversation.

As it turned out, their words were plenty loud enough to hear. Dance remembered that her children, when younger, believed that if they couldn’t see their parents, they were invisible and produced no sound whatsoever.

“Look, this is a terrible time to bring this up. But I … I’m sorry, I have to ask.”

“What, Barry? Tell me. Come on. I’ll worm it out of you. You know I can.”

“Are you talking to JBT Global?”

“What?”

“JBT Global Entertainment. The three-sixty outfit.”

“I know who they are. And no, I’m not talking to them. Why are you asking?”

Zeigler was explaining how a friend of a friend of a friend in the complicated world that’s entertainment had told him that Global really wanted to sign her.

“You were in discussions, I’d heard.”

“Barry, we get calls all the time. Live Nation, Global … I don’t pay attention to them. You know I’d never leave you guys. You’re the ones who made me. Hey, what’s this all about?”

It was odd to hear someone half the age of the producer talking to him as if he were a child with troubles at school.