"Definitely the strangest date I've ever been on." He gave her a small smile.
She found herself smiling back. "Breakfast was a date. This—I don't know what this is."
He stopped at a light and turned his gaze on her. "You look beat, Maya."
"I feel tired. But I'm also wired." She paused. "What do you think about Julia being involved with Bragin?"
"I'm not surprised. They were part of the same social circle. But I don't think you should try to talk to him."
"Why not?"
"It will only turn the heat up, not down. You need to convince everyone you're dropping this story, even if you decide you don't want to do that. You don't have to be done; you just have to look like you are." As the light turned green, he sped down the road and got on the freeway.
"It is possible that I'll never make the movie or reveal my dad's secret. I just didn’t like the fact that my father thought I should instantly fall into line and promise to keep his secret from the family. My siblings and my mom have a right to know." She paused. "Or maybe they don't. Is he right? Is it his life, not ours?"
"I don't think I can answer that question."
"Even if I do nothing with the information, I still want to know who killed Natasha and Julia. I've come this far, and even though it could be dangerous, I don't see how I can stop."
"Which is why you need to minimize the danger."
"I went about this all wrong, didn't I? I came in like a bull in a china shop, ambushing people, asking bold questions, making everyone nervous. I should have been more subtle, but that's not really my specialty."
"I like that you're bold," he said, giving her another quick grin. "That you're spontaneous and impulsive."
"You do, huh?"
"It has definitely had its advantages for me."
"What about you, Jax? Do you lean toward reckless and spontaneous or methodical and practical?"
"What do you think?"
"I honestly don't know. Sometimes you seem carefree and chill and other times you're serious and intense."
"Well, I think we've been through some highs and some lows."
"That's true. I appreciate your support, Jax. I've been a little short on friends the past year."
"Where are your friends?" he asked curiously.
"Well, to be honest, two of my best friends got married this past year and the others I've lost touch with because of my work schedule. My hours often go late into the night. And since I became obsessed with Natasha's story, I spend my spare time, what little there is, researching her life. I haven't been the greatest of friends, that's for sure. I keep telling myself I'll catch up when this is over. I hope it's not too late."
"I'm sure it won't be."
"What about you? Do you have a lot of friends from acting and bartending?"
"I've met a lot of people the last few years, but Hollywood friendships aren't always that deep."
"I hear you on that. Do you have a couple of close friends?"
"I do. I have a group that's been tight for a while."
"Are they actors?"
"No. We met at school."
"Are they local?"
"Some of them are."
"It's nice that you've kept in touch."
"It's somewhat miraculous."
"So, there are people you love, even though you said you don't do love."
"Are we back to love?" he asked with a groan.
"It makes the world go round," she said lightly, not really sure why she kept bringing it up, except that she was still trying to figure out who Jax was.
"I care about my friends. That's all I'm going to say."
"Fair enough." She fell silent as he turned in to the parking lot at Belle's. "This is where we part ways."
He threw the car in park as he gave her a troubled look. "I know it was my idea, but I don't want to split up."
She didn't want to, either, but she knew she had to make an unselfish choice. "We have to. I am not the person you want to be seen with right now, remember?" She didn't want Jax to lose his job because of her.
"I do remember. I'm just worried about you."
"I thought you weren't a worrier."
"I wasn't…until I met you."
She was touched by the concern in his eyes. "I'll be all right. I can do this. I can play this out the way I need to. I don't really have a choice. It's the best move I can make."
"Maybe it's not," he said slowly, indecision in his eyes. "The best move for you might be to get out of LA, go to your sister's house, or go see a friend in another city, put some miles between you and here."
"Running away won't guarantee I'll be safe. But stating publicly that Julia killed my grandmother might."
"If they believe you."
"Well, I may not be an actor, but I can be convincing."
He frowned, looking like he had all kinds of regrets about her decision, but she felt confident in her choice.
"I'll see you at the club," she said. "From a safe distance."
"Maya, wait."
She paused, her hand on the door.
He slid his hand around the back of her neck and pulled her in close for a hard kiss. "Be safe."
"I will be," she promised. "Especially if there's going to be more of that."
"There will definitely be more of that."
She opened the car and stepped onto the pavement, closing the door before she changed her mind about going it alone. Jax had done enough for her. She had to do this next part on her own. She had to make them believe that Natasha's killer was Julia, and Julia's suicide had convinced her to abandon the movie and let the past die, too.
Chapter Sixteen
When Maya arrived at the Firebird Club a little before five, there was a line of cars waiting to get into the valet lot. She drove up the hill to the self-parking area and then walked back down to the entrance, which was flooded with more people than she'd ever seen at the venue.
Jax was right. The chess tournament was a big draw, and with any luck she could make her speech to more than one of her suspects. She would like to watch each and every one of their reactions as she told them what had happened, because she had a gut feeling that her grandmother's killer either had belonged or still belonged to this very exclusive club.
As she made her way inside, she first headed toward the executive offices, but they were closed. It was Sunday, after all. While she knew the library was off-limits to non-members, there had to be an exception for the tournament, so she joined a throng of people headed downstairs.
Walking past the photographs on the wall that included her grandmother reminded her that this club had been central to Natasha's life. Her secrets were known somewhere within these walls. Maya just hoped she could one day figure out exactly what those secrets were.
When she entered the library, she saw clusters of people standing by the bar and seated on couches adjacent to the main play area, where a dozen small tables were set up with chess sets. A few people seemed to be playing matches already, but she didn't know if they were official or not.
Scanning the scene, her heart skipped a beat when she saw the people gathered in one of the alcoves that ran around the room. Constantine was sitting with his wife, Louisa. Victoria and Alexander were there, as well as Ryland Jagger and his father Wallace. Sylvia and a tall gray-haired man completed the group. She recognized the man as Sylvia's father, Edward Coleman. While she hadn't yet met the former attorney general or Daniel Bragin or Dustin Paul, for that matter, she'd familiarized herself with their faces and their backgrounds. She only wished Bragin and Paul were present tonight. Everyone who had been an original member of the club was at the top of the suspect list. But hopefully her words would be spread throughout the club membership.
When she reached their alcove, the conversation between them instantly hushed, and she saw irritation and anger in more than a few gazes.
"What are you doing here, Maya?" Sylvia asked.
"I have some news. I'm glad you're all
here."
"This isn't the time—" Sylvia began.
Constantine waved his hand at Sylvia, cutting her off. "Let her speak. Please go ahead, Maya."
"Thank you. I went to speak to Julia Poplova earlier today."
"What did she tell you?" Constantine asked.
"She didn't tell me anything. She was dead."
Wallace gasped. "What did you say?"
"Julia was dead when I got to her house," she said, fixing her gaze on Wallace, who appeared to have the most emotional reaction to her news. "She killed herself in the same way that Natasha did."
"Oh, my God," Victoria said. "This is awful. I only met her one time, but she was a sweet woman. Why would she kill herself?"
"She left a note in which she confessed to killing Natasha in a jealous rage. She apologized and said the guilt had weighed heavily on her all these years. When she heard I was asking questions, she was afraid it would all come out. I only got a quick look at the note before the police took it into evidence, but that was basically what it said."
"I—don't—understand," Wallace said, coughing with each word.
"Dad," Ryland said with alarm, patting his father on the back. "Are you all right?"
"Water," Wallace got out.
"I'll get it for you," Sylvia said with concern, as she jumped up and walked toward the bar.
The gray-haired man gave her a speculative look. "We haven't met."
"No, we haven't," she said.
"I'm Edward Coleman."
"I know who you are."
"I knew Julia a very long time ago. She and Natasha were friends. You're telling me that Julia killed Natasha?" Edward asked. "That doesn't make sense."
Before she could reply, a man said, "What? What did you say?"
She turned around to see Daniel Bragin standing behind her. He was accompanied by a young woman she thought was his daughter.
"Julia Poplova committed suicide," she told him. "She said she could no longer live with the guilt of killing her friend Natasha."
Daniel paled. "I can't believe this. No. That's wrong."
"Dad, don't get upset," the younger woman said, putting a hand on his arm.
"How can I not be upset, Lindsay? Julia is dead."
"I know you cared about her," Lindsay said.
"Julia was heartbroken when Natasha died," Daniel said. "Was that all an act? Was I a fool?"
"You're not a fool, Dad. But you had a blind spot when it came to Julia. I always thought she was hiding something."
Maya's gaze slid around the group as Lindsay comforted her father. Alexander looked the most disinterested in what was going on. Victoria was shooting Constantine suspicious looks, but Constantine seemed lost in thought. Louisa met her sharp gaze with one of her own, as if daring Maya to suspect she knew anything. Edward seemed less interested in Daniel's reaction and more concerned with Wallace, who was still coughing. Sylvia returned a moment later, handing Wallace a glass of water.
Wallace took several long gulps and then sat back in his chair. The news of Julia's death seemed to have aged him another five years.
"So, what now?" Ryland asked, shooting her an angry look. "What are you going to do with the information?"
She drew in a breath, wanting to appear hesitant and conflicted but also resolute. "I've decided not to make the movie. I really just wanted the truth for my family, and now I have it. I thought you should all know the truth, too. If there's someone else who needs to know who isn't here, I hope you'll fill them in." She paused. "I just wish someone could tell me why Julia was so angry with my grandmother. Do any of you know?"
"Natasha turned her back on her roots," Constantine said. "I told you that last night."
"It seems like there had to be more to it."
"We'll never know," Louisa put in. "But it was probably jealousy. Julia's career was going down while Natasha was riding high."
"This is very sad," Edward said.
"It is," Wallace agreed. "I need to get some air."
"I'll go with you," Ryland said, helping his father to his feet. "And I think you should also consider taking a pass on the chess tournament. You've had a shock."
"I'll be all right," Wallace said. "Chess relaxes me. I'd rather think about the game than all this."
As the Jagger men headed toward the door, Maya saw Jax slip into the room. Their eyes connected, and she let herself linger in his warm gaze for just a moment before turning back to the group.
"The tournament will be starting shortly," Sylvia said. "Is there anything else you wanted to say, Maya?"
"No, that was it."
"I need to take care of a few things," Alexander said, getting to his feet, along with his wife. He looked at Constantine. "Do you need anything, Uncle?"
"I think I'll also get some air," Constantine said, reaching for his cane.
"I'll walk out with you," Edward told him.
"Dad, do you want to go home?" Lindsay asked Daniel.
"No, I'm playing chess."
"After what you just heard? You don't want to go home?"
"Like Wallace said, I'd rather think about chess than poor Julia. The last thing I want to do is go home and be alone with my thoughts."
"All right. Let me just go tell my friends I'm going to skip drinks. I'll stay here with you."
"No, you go with your friends. I'll be fine here."
Maya was a little surprised that some of the men were just going to continue on with the chess tournament, but then, it had been a long time since most of them had seen Julia. Or maybe they just didn't want to appear as if they were too bothered by her death.
As Daniel and his daughter left, Sylvia moved to her side. "Have you told your father, Maya?"
"Yes," she said.
"He must have been shocked."
"He was. He always thought his mother killed herself."
"I'm not sure which is better to believe," Sylvia murmured, shadows in her eyes. "I'm a little surprised you've decided against making your film, though. You have the ending now."
"I do, but it doesn't feel right. I don't really know what was between Julia and Natasha. You don't know, do you?"
"No. They were much older than me. I knew who they were, but we didn't talk to each other. Did your dad have any thoughts about their relationship?" Sylvia asked.
"No. He said that Natasha considered Julia to be a little sister. And he couldn't imagine what his mother could have done to enrage Julia to such a point that she would kill her. I guess we'll never know. That's why I won't make the movie. I can't make it make sense. There's still a big piece missing."
"Well, I'm sure your father would prefer that there not be a movie."
"He would definitely prefer that, and I think he's had enough heartache when it comes to his mother."
"I would agree with that, having seen some of his early heartache. Tell him…I hope he's well," Sylvia said. "He was a good kid with a bad mother. I hope he's happy now. He always deserved that."
"I think he's happy," she told her, feeling like Sylvia seemed the most kind when she was talking about her dad. She wondered again what kind of relationship they'd had. The spray-painting incident still lingered in her mind. Had there been more between them that night than just a conversation?
"I'm glad he found someone to love," Sylvia said. "And he built the kind of family he wanted, not the one he was born into. At any rate, I need to get to work. You're welcome to stay and watch the chess matches if you like. We waive the membership rules for the final round of the tournament."
"I'll probably just head out. It has been a long day."
"I'm sure it has."
As Sylvia left, Maya looked around the room, wondering if she could get a few words with Jax, but he wasn't at the bar yet. Instead, he was sitting down at a chess table across from Daniel Bragin. Surprise ran through her.
Why did it look like Jax was going to play chess with Bragin?
Maybe she would stay for a while.
"I'm starting
my shift in less than a half hour," Jax told Daniel. He'd been surprised when the older man had called him over, especially since Daniel had just left Maya's little gathering at the other end of the room, looking fairly shell-shocked. "I'm not sure I have time to warm you up," he added.
"You can leave whenever you need to," Daniel told him. "But I hope you'll take pity on an old man and help me get my game sharp before my first match."
He didn't know why Bragin wanted to play with him, but all his instincts were screaming caution. And then things got worse... Sylvia came over, giving him a sharp look.
"What's going on here?" she asked.
"Your bartender is going to warm me up," Bragin told her.
"That's not what he should be doing. He has a job."
"His shift hasn't started yet," Bragin said. "He'll be on duty when he needs to be. Now, go on so we can concentrate."
Sylvia didn't appear happy to be dismissed. She gave Jax a steely glare. "Make sure you're not late for your shift."
"I won't be," he promised.
Daniel smiled when Sylvia left. "Did I get you in hot water?"
"Yes. Sylvia is not my biggest fan."
"She takes her job here far too seriously." Daniel tipped his head toward the board. "Why don't you begin?"
He looked down at the board, and lessons from a very long time ago came into his head. His father's voice echoed in his mind. A surprise start will set the other player immediately back on his heels. It will damage his preconceived plan of attack, and he'll get nervous. Nerves always bring mistakes.
He moved his pawn to E4. Daniel played his pawn to E5. Jax then moved his next pawn to F4 as a sacrificial lamb.
Daniel's eyes widened in surprise. "The Markov gambit."
He stiffened. "What?"
"That move was made famous by a young man a very long time ago." A gleam entered his eyes. "That's it. That's who you remind me of—Andrei Markov."
He had to work hard not to show a reaction to Bragin's words. "Never heard of him," he muttered.
"He was a brilliant chess player, one of the best who has ever lived."
"I'm not up on famous chess players. It's your move."
Fearless Pursuit (Off The Grid: FBI Series Book 8) Page 18
