Robert Steven Williams

The Sound of Money is a thriller in the Ludlum tradition, with its own unique style. The story is woven around musical landmarks, a la Nick Hornby’s High Fidelity, and studded with biographical gems like those found in Peter Guralnick’s Elvis bio, Last Train to Memphis.

The Sound of Money is a tale of ambition and addiction, but ultimately it’s about Bruce Buchanan’s need to be loved and his misguided belief that he can fulfill that desire through the success of his music.


Here's the first half of the prologue...

Flora Martinez was on her way to get a closer look at a pair of golden eagles in the chaparral when she stumbled upon the first of Leo Walker’s secrets. She’d spotted the birds through a classroom window after school let out. She was heading for the C-wing exit when she heard the singing.

The hills are alive with the sound of music…

The River Oak Elementary School music program had been cut from the curriculum years ago for lack of funding, and to the best of Flora’s recollection, the piano in Room M-1 had been gathering dust ever since. So when she peered through the door's square window, she was astonished to see five River Oak students around the piano, with Leo Walker, of all people, leading them.

Leo was the night janitor. Every now and then, Flora would exchange a greeting with him in the hallway, or in her office when he came to empty the trash. He’d been a member of the custodial crew for about six years, and Flora considered him a quiet and courteous young man.

Whatever else Flora knew about Leo Walker, she knew he was no choir director. Watching him through the window, she was caught in a rare moment of indecision. Should she call the police? Principal Vargez? Or perhaps just Leo’s boss, Mr. Glickson. Yet the covert glee club sounded so enthusiastic and joyful. She'd forgotten all about those eagles.

“That was great,” she heard Leo say as he brought the song to a halt with a graceful wave of his hand. “Now let’s try it again, but this time, let’s pick up the pace. Maria, would you start us off?”

The little girl seated at the piano nodded eagerly and began playing. Flora was surprised at how good the children sounded, and how engaged they seemed. Wasn't that Billy and Luis, and hadn't they been problems last year in her class? And poor Maria with that awful leg brace—other kids had always made fun of her.

Flora listened to the entire rehearsal, unconsciously tapping her foot to the music; but once the children left, Flora confronted Leo.


* * *

Eight years later, as the principal of River Oak, Flora Martinez secured Leo Walker a full-time paid position as the school’s music teacher. In the interim, she had convinced the administration to allow Leo to teach music a couple of days a week while still remaining a janitor. Leo was more than happy to put in the extra hours at no pay. During those eight years, he got an orchestra up and running, and established a well-regarded introductory music class.

The parents saw Leo as affable and quiet; a respectable tenant in the small cottage on the property of the Johnson Farm seven miles east of town. He'd lived there for sixteen years or so. One or two of the mothers took note of his good looks, and wondered why he lived alone and rarely socialized. Some just thought him shy; others were slightly wary of his reclusive nature and his lack of formal education. But none could deny his uncanny ability to teach the enjoyment of music, in some form, to even the most tone-deaf child.

Leo Walker often worked late in his tiny office that opened off the all-purpose room behind the gym's bleacher seats. He was there one evening in October, 1997, when a most unexpected visitor appeared.

Leo’s head was bent over the desk, as if the piece of sheet music there was singing to him. He was penciling notes furiously and didn't look up until Mark Jensen coughed pointedly.

Jensen’s son, Tony, a fifth grader, was in his first year at River Oak. The family had moved to California’s Central Valley from somewhere back east. Leo had met the parents for the first time a week ago at the winter parent/teacher conferences. Tony played the kettledrum and was quite enthusiastic despite his timing issues. Leo had spoken encouraging words to the parents that night.

Mark Jensen was an awkward man, with shifty shoulders and a narrow nose. He closed the office door behind him, clutching what appeared to be a record album.

“Hello, Mr. Jensen,” Leo said, with a cautious smile. “Everything all right with Tony?”

Taking a step closer, Jensen filled what little space there was in the office. His shadow fell across Leo’s face. He tossed the album on the desk and abruptly took a seat.

“I don’t think the school’s record player works anymore,” Leo said. “Everything’s gone CD.”

“You can cut the crap,” Jensen said, in a voice that sounded as if air were leaking from a hole in his throat.

“Excuse me?”

“I've had plastic surgery, so I know you don't recognize me.” He nodded toward the album on the desk. “But that should refresh your memory."

Leo examined the worn record cover: Spyder and the Widows. “There must be some mistake.”

“I told you to cut the crap."

“I’m afraid I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Leo said.

“I know it’s you, Buchanan. My son told me about the tattoo on your arm.”

Leo dropped the album as if it had suddenly caught fire. “Lots of people have tattoos.”

“Bruce—that's what I should call you, isn’t it? Or do you still prefer Spyder?"

“I think you should go.”

Jensen laughed. “We can settle this fast. You and I both know you’ve got another tattoo—the Springsteen one on your butt. Yes? If I have to, I’ll look for myself.” He opened the fold of his black leather jacket so Leo could see the checkered handle of his gun. “Don’t worry, I’m no homo. I just wanna be sure.”

“So who are you?”

Jensen pulled a pack of smokes from his shirt pocket and lit a cigarette. He let the match fall to the floor. "I figured you wouldn’t remember me. What’s it been? Twenty years? And you were so drugged out that whole time anyway.”

Leo’s eyes grew heavy.

“I worked for Stanley Kopsky," Jensen went on. "Surely you haven't forgotten that old fart who used to be your manager? You and I only met a couple of times.” He brushed his bristly blond hair away from his forehead and grinned. "They called me the Pirate."

“What do you want?” Leo said.

“Ain’t it funny, you and me here? Visalia, of all fucking places.”

“How did you find me?”

“Pure dumb luck. They moved my family here three years ago. I ran the duplication operations for the Silva Family -- CDs, videos, software. I made them a bundle till the Feds busted it up.”

“So what do you want?”

“It was jail or testify. That’s why I’m here as Mr. Mark fucking Jensen.”

“I left all of that behind,” Leo said. “Why are you telling me this?”

“You dumb fuck, Silva’s still got a bounty on you. A lot of folks thought you were dead, but Silva don’t take chances with double-crossers. He has to make examples out of people like you. Five-hundred G's, that’s what you're worth.”

“You can’t be serious?”

“He’s not gonna be happy to find out you blew his money.”

“What?”

“You did, didn’t you? I did some checking. No guy spends sixteen years in this fucking town living the way you do if he’s got a million bucks, right?”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

Jensen laughed loudly. “It don’t matter. All I care about is collecting those five hundred G's.”

“You’ve got it wrong.”

Jensen tossed the cigarette on the floor and stomped it out with his cowboy boot. “Buddy, you and me are going to New York.”

A line of panic-stricken sweat glistened on Leo’s brow. “But if you’re in some sort of witness protection program, you can’t go back.”

“Don’t worry, I’ve still got friends. And for the money, it’s worth the risk.” Jensen pulled the gun from its holster. “Let’s move it.”

- end of prologue part one -

- Read the Pulitzer Prize winning articles by Richard Weinbach

- Examine the FBI's documentation regarding Buchanan

- Visit fan tribute sites and Bruce Buchanan’s official site

- Check out the secret journal kept by Buchanan when he was the leader of The Widows

- See photographs of the band, and read their lyrics

- Listen to bootleg tapes

- Remix songs

- Download bonus tracks by answering Sound of Money trivia

- Access the actual contracts signed by Buchanan and learn which contractual clauses to avoid

Rock and Roll (rôk en-ról): Popular music combining elements of rhythm and blues with country and western music and having a heavily accented beat.

Novel (nôv´ĕl): A fictional prose narrative of considerable length, typically having a plot that unfolds through the actions, speech, and thoughts of the characters.

RockNovel (rôk´nôv´ĕl): A fictional prose narrative accompanied by an original rock soundtrack that enhances the reading experience. The music is accessed through the web.

RockNovelist (rôk´nôv´e-lìst): A writer of novels with an integrated original rock soundtrack.