The Song Never Dies by Neil Richards

roll her eyes.
    “How about that,” she said, not smiling.
    “So you don’t live under a stone,” said Nick. “Well done.”
    “But it’s your song, right?” said Jack, ignoring the comments. “How could he say it was his?”
    “Yeah. Exactly the point!” said Nick. “Guy was talking total bollocks. He’d already had too much bloody vino. And way too much toot. He just wanted control. Hated anyone else doing well.”
    “Like you for instance,” said Jack.
    “Dead right,” said Nick. “Me and Sarinda — we’ve built something special this last year. Something rare, man.”
    “And earned a lot of money, I guess.”
    “Too right. That song has earned plenty. And I’m not giving a damn penny of it to that bastard.”
    “Sounds like you won’t have to,” said Jack. “Now he’s dead.”
    “Exactly,” said Nick.
    Again — fast.
    Jack made another note.
    “After you had your … disagreement … did you see Alex again that night?”
    “Me and Sarinda went back into the party. Had a couple more drinks.”
    “You didn’t go down to the pool?”
    “What? Cops already asked me that. No.”
    Jack turned to Sarinda.
    “You neither?”
    “No. I stuck with Nick.”
    Jack took a breath. “And you didn’t see Alex again that night?” said Jack, keeping his eyes on the girl’s face.
    “Umm … No. Not at all.”
    Jack looked down at his notepad, buying some time.
    Thinking: something’s not right here.
    Then he looked back at her.
    She was biting her bottom lip.
    Jack smiled at her.
    She smiled back for the first time.
    You’re lying, kid, he thought. You’d never smile at me.
    “But you’ll still do the tour?” said Jack, turning to Nick.
    “Without Alex? Sure. Why the hell not? Might get Sarinda here to take lead vocals.”
    “Two different fan bases, yes?”
    “I’ve seen it work,” said Nick.
    “You playing at the Ploughman’s on Saturday, yes?”
    “Right after the memorial. Bit of a tribute to Alex — not that he deserves it!” said Nick.
    “You’ll sing?” he asked Sarinda.
    Jack saw Nick shrug.
    “Yes,” said Sarinda. “Definitely.”
    She fired a look at Nick.
    Who quickly added: “What she says.”
    Jack put away his notebook and stood up.
    “Thanks. This … may have been helpful,” he said.
    Nick looked surprised that the conversation was over.
    “Yeah? That it?”
    “All I need for now, I think. Know how the evening went down, where you two were.” Jack smiled. “What else could I need?”
    Let them think on that one.
    “Appreciate it.”
    “Sure,” said Nick, still looking surprised.
    It seemed to Jack as if he was expecting more.
    “I’ll see myself out,” said Jack, and he offered his hand for Nick to shake.
    Nick shook it.
    Bit of a squeeze.
    Then to his ingénue. “And nice to meet you Sarinda,” said Jack.
    “Right, whatever,” she said, as if not at all sure what just happened.
    Jack walked to the door. Then he stopped and turned back.
    “One last question.”
    He saw them both freeze.
    Works every time , Jack thought, repressing a grin.
    “Just want to get this straight,” he said, smiling at them both. “So, Alex King believed that your hit single was actually written by him — and he claimed to have proof it was his, not yours?”
    “Well, something like—” said Nick. ”All bollocks, mind.”
    “But … hmm … if not, that would be a major problem for you Nick. No? For both of you? What would that be now? Fraud? Theft? Heck, you’ll have to excuse me. I’m not in the music business, so what do I know about the correct terminology?”
    He watched them both, silent, facing him.
    “But, at the very least, it would be the end of the music biz for both of you? And probably end of the road for Sarinda B and her YouTube channels and her millions of fans around the world. No?”
    Jack looked at them — his grim words making both of their faces fall.
    Not something they’d like to happen … that was for sure.
    And with that, he