Leo pondered the question his sister had posed to him as soon as he got back, wondering if there was any chance his tune had bumped into another on the charts. Looking up at Mirabe, he inquired with a casual smirk, “You knew about the Twitter fiasco already, didn’t you?”


    Inevitably, the truth would surface, so there was no point in keeping secrets. Mirabe nodded. “Caught wind of it scrolling through Twitterst night.”


    “So, that’s what you and Collins were whispering about yesterday?” It all clicked for Leo in an Instant. No wonder they had skirted around him during their conversation.


    “Yeah.” Mirabe rubbed her chin thoughtfully, then offered her version of a pep talk with earnest conviction, “Leo, don’t let those online trolls get to you. Keep your chin up. The <b>truth </b>wille out sooner orter.” Consoling others really wasn’t exactly her strong suit.


    Leo watched his sister with a mix of amusement and exasperation. Setting his phone aside, he shrugged, “I’ve been down this road before, Mirabe. I’ve learned to take it in stride.”


    After a brief pause, he continued, “What really throws me for a loop, though, is how Jay’s leaked audio could be an exact match for the tune I just polished off today.” Sure, he had shared early drafts with the band, but even if Jay was out to nick his tune, an exact copy was beyond the pale.


    Was it some kind of irvoyance? Or had they just hit that one–in–a–million melody match?


    The more Leo mulled it over, the stranger it seemed. Standing up, he grabbed his phone and strode out.


    Mirabe was still processing Leo’s unexpectedposure when she saw him heading for the door. She quickly asked, “Leo, where are you off to?”


    “I’m going to get some answers from Jay,” he called back without turning around.


    After a moment’s hesitation, Mirabe got to her feet and dered, “Count me in.”


    Half an hourter, Leo pulled up to Jay’s upscale neighborhood. Standing at Jay’s front door, he felt a twinge of nostalgia. There was a time when the band would regrly huddle up in Jay’s living room, brainstorming tracks and plotting their future. Those days, it seemed, were long


    gone…


    A shadow of sadness flitted across his eyes, but he quickly pushed the doorbell. Mirabe stayed back, waiting in the car.


    Soon, the door swung open, revealing not Jay but his assistant.


    “Oh, Juztin? What brings you here?” The assistant propped herself against the door frame, clearly taken aback.


    10:28


    Lee locked cast her into the house. “I’m here for Jay.”


    The assistant’s eyes darted away. “Jay’s not here right now.”


    Leo’s brow furrowed. “Cut the crap. I know he’s in there. Just let hime out and talk <b>to </b>me.”


    Tim sorry, Juzon, but Jay really hasn’te back yet.” The assistant paused, then added, “But he did say if you came by about the Twitter thing, all you need to do is post a sincere apology online. After all, we’re all friends here, right?”


    At that Leo let cut a scoff. “I’m curious. How does he have the gall to lift my tune, y the victim on Twitter, and then expect me to apologize? Where does that confidencee from?”


    The assistant touched her nose awkwardly, her response muffled and unclear, “I’d like to give you the benefit of the doubt, but the evidence… Well, it’s a mess, and it’s got everyone all


    twisted up.”


    The insiruation was clear just own up to it, and let’s not make it worse for everyone.


    *Juztin, just head out, will you? Jay’s not here, and honestly, this whole Twitter debacle’s got him feeling pretty low. too.” Jay’s assistant sighed again.