and it had been fun to talk to another young woman from Moscow who shared a similar upbringing. She just said it was a long time ago, and she met lots of people there. And then she shooed me out of her salon."
"Let's move her to the top of the list. She's Russian. She's married to an attorney who might have political concerns about her past."
"Good point. But what does that mean—move her to the top of the list?"
He smiled, realizing he was starting to sound a little too much like an FBI agent. "I don't know. Just thinking she might be someone who had something to protect. But this is your story. What's your plan?"
"Interview everyone I can find, piece together Natasha's life, write a script, shoot some footage, and try to get some financial investment."
"What about the production company you work for now?"
"Sometimes it's more difficult to get respect from people you know. They see you one way, and it's impossible to change their perspective, but I would certainly approach them. I have other connections I can tap into as well. But all that is down the road. If I can't come up with more than what is already known, no one will be interested."
"Got it. There is a chance you won't be able to figure it out, Maya. I'm sure more than one person tried before you. Natasha was a public figure. I can't imagine the police didn't do their best to solve her crime."
"They didn't believe it was a crime. They were quick to point to overdose, suicide. One of my grandmother's friends, who is still a member of the Firebird Club told the police that Natasha was depressed and in a bad place just days before her death."
"Who was that?" he asked with interest.
"Lisa Hamilton. She's a big-time party planner now. I've been trying to get a hold of her, but I can't get past her assistant, either. I may have to make another trip to the club to try to catch her out in the world."
"She was there last night talking to Constantine."
"Really?" she frowned. "I wish I'd had more time there, but Sylvia gave me the boot."
"You need to be careful Maya. If you push too hard, you're going to get yourself banned from the place."
"I realize that the library is off-limits, but what's to prevent me from being in the restaurant or at the pool when Ms. Hamilton is around?"
"It's still a private club. If you make their members uncomfortable, you'll be gone."
"It's a risk I have to take."
And it was the one risk he didn't want her to take. "Is there anyone else outside the club you need to talk to?"
"Yes. In fact, I'm supposed to meet one of them today, Blake Cordero. He grew up next door to my dad in Beverly Hills. His father, Anthony Cordero, was one of Natasha's directors. She mentioned in one of her journals that he used to work with her in the evenings to help her get ready for the next day's scene."
"That sounds intriguing. Was there more going on between them than running lines?"
"I don't know. He was married. She was married. But I'm not under the illusion that my grandmother was a saint by any means. No one disagrees that she liked men and they liked her. Blake apparently moved back into the house after his father died, and his mother wanted a smaller place. He's agreed to see me today at one."
He glanced at his watch. It was eleven now and he didn't need to be at work until five. "Can I come with you?"
Her eyes widened in surprise. "You want to come with me?"
"I do. I'm caught up in your story. Would having me as your shadow be a bad thing?"
She hesitated. "You seem a little too interested in all this," she said slowly, her gaze turning speculative. "The fact that you were so eager to bring the envelope to me, your questions about where the journals are, and now your interest in talking to Blake, makes me question your motives."
He was both impressed and a little unnerved by her honesty. "What motives do you think I have?"
"I don't know. But most men don't want to hear me talk this much about anything."
He grinned. "You really have not met the right men, Maya."
"That might be true, and my gut is not always right, but I still try to listen to it."
He needed to tell her something to encourage her trust,