take her and drop her off, he didn't have a lot of details." She paused. "The most interesting thing I've learned so far is that no one seems to have talked to her or seen her in the forty-eight hours before her death. No one. For two days, she was invisible—one of the most famous women in the world at the time, and no one saw her or spoke to her? I don't believe it."
"That does seem unusual. It seems like your quest could take some time, Maya. Do you have that kind of time? It sounds like you have to work, too."
"I'm thinking about quitting my job. This is my story to tell, Jax. I'm convinced of that, one thousand percent. I've toyed around with other scripts, other movie ideas. I have a box full of projects that have the word someday written on them, but none of them are like this story. This is what I'm meant to do. I know it is. I have this feeling in my gut, and I can't shake it."
"You could get hurt. I think that's pretty clear after tonight."
"What happened tonight…" Her voice drifted away as she finally put it all together. "It proves that my grandmother's death wasn't suicide or an accident."
"I don't know if it proves that."
"What else could it mean?" she challenged.
"Your grandmother was involved with a lot of powerful men and maybe women, too. She could have had a secret that someone doesn't want to get out but that doesn't necessarily mean that secret led to her death."
"But it could have. That's what I need to find out."
"Which could mean risking your life. The guy got away. He might not be caught. Even if he is caught, he was probably working for someone else. They're not necessarily going to give up."
"You're right. It's a risk. But I've played it safe my whole life. And this is my grandmother we're talking about. I owe it to her, to my grandfather, and to my father, even if he doesn't think he wants to know. I'm not quitting."
"What's next then?"
"I'm not sure. I still want to talk to Wallace Jagger."
"I wouldn't go back to the club. You should try to catch him at home. His son is often with him at the Firebird. And he seemed disturbed by your conversation with his father. He may try to get in the way if you attempt another discussion."
"That's a good point, but there's still Constantine."
"He's very tough to get to, Maya. He's always surrounded by people at the club. I don't see you getting to him the way you did with Wallace." He paused. "I'd start making a list of everyone you've talked to about those journals and then see if you can rule anyone out. Actually, what I'd do first is get those journals and make sure no one else can get their hands on them. Where are they, Maya?"
His question made her wary again. "You said I didn't have to tell you."
"You don't. I was just wondering how you're going to get them without anyone following you or trying to come after you again. Someone could watch this house, wait for you to leave."
"You think someone is watching the house?" Another shiver ran down her spine. "Why would they watch and not just come in? There's no lock on the door."
"Maybe because I'm here with you."
Was Jax the reason she was momentarily safe? Or was he part of the danger? There was something about his actions that didn't quite add up. Was he truly just a nice guy who wanted to help her? He'd promised her that she could trust him, that he wouldn't hurt her. She wanted to believe that. Was she being a fool? Was she being too trusting? She'd certainly been before, and she'd gotten hurt because of that. But this was different. Wasn't it?
"I'm going to go to bed," she said, getting to her feet. "I'll get you a pillow and a blanket."
"That would be nice," he said, as he stood up.
As she moved toward the door, and he headed toward the sink with his cup, they collided. He grabbed her arm with his free hand as she stumbled against his hard chest. She looked into his stunning blue eyes, and her heart skipped a beat as an unexpected and shocking attraction ran through her.
The same awareness passed through his gaze and for a long second, neither one of them seemed able to break the connection.