The following evening, Shaun, Jeffrey, Mrs Schwarz and Stuart attended the annual piano contest. Stuart, who normally couldn't bear keeping his comments to himself, was extraordinarily quiet that evening, even throughout Amelie Hooper's performance. Only at the end did he stand up and clap his hands, it was the first time that the detectives didn't perceive any look of contempt in his eyes, instead it was replaced by admiration.
At the end of the contest, it was eventually time to announce the winner. One could feel that the audience were holding their breath for the long-awaited moment. "It was indeed a very difficult choice and the points awarded are all very close, indeed, some with only one point difference. Nevertheless, we have came up with the winners. The awards for the 2017 Annual Piano Contest are as follows:" an old lady about the age of seventy began to announce the award-winners, "Third place: Samuel Dupont.......Second place: Xiao Li Wu........and the first place for the 2017 Piano contest goes to.........Amelie Hooper."
At that instant, the detectives perceived a translucent image of the piano player behind Amelie, who was holding the trophy. He had a faint smile on his face and he gradually faded away.
The following morning after the piano contest, the detectives elucidated the entire situation to Mrs Schwarz and Stuart, who did not show any look of disdain this time. The inquisitive Judy was, as usual, pretending to be clearing away the dishes, but actually eavesdropping on their conversation. The detectives explained everything that had happened during their stay in the villa, including meeting Amelie Hooper, but deliberately omitting the fact that she was Stuart's girlfriend.
".....the pianist was a very talented person, but was unable to showcase his talents as he was employed by the duke to secretly play his private concerts for him," elucidated Jeffrey, "The duke cleverly invented a mechanism that connected the two pianos together, but only the one in the basement can control the one at the top, so even if the duke accidentally pressed the wrong key, it won't be obvious."
"But how is this done?" inquired Mrs Schwarz.
"The chords of the piano in the attic were pulled under the floorboards and connected to a dummy bell that we had presumed were used to call the servants in the kitchen," explained Shaun, "But after pulling on it, we discovered that it was in fact a dummy; also, when I played the piano, it moved violently. The bell was then connected through the walls to the piano in the basement, so when the one in the basement is played, the one on top plays 'by itself' with the same tune. Hence, a sound amplification was created, making it extremely loud."
"And why did you ask us to attend the piano contest? What is that got to do with us?" Stuart pretended to ask, but, in reality, knew the answer better than anyone else.
"The contest was the only time the pianist had ever played in public, and that was his wish before he died. The girl who won- Amelie Hooper, was in fact unconsciously taught by the pianist throughout her practices here, so he could eventually fulfill his wish by having his apprentice play in public. So he is now a ghost no more." Jeffrey responded.
After Mrs Schwarz excused herself to go to the toilet, Stuart went up to the detectives and said. "Thank you so much for what you've done, especially for concealing my relationship with Amelie from grandma, as she would never allow that, she hated English girls, especially my mother," he paused for a second and continued, "Also, I would like to apologise sincerely for my conduct before. Now, I see I was such a fool for not realising how skillful you guys are at these supernatural things......I.....will you forgive me and be friends with me?"
Both Shaun and Jeffrey came forward to shake Stuart's hands, and all the previous grudges between them were forgiven and forgotten.
~The End~
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