Cordero. He's an entertainment lawyer and the son of Anthony Cordero, one of Natasha's favorite directors. Blake grew up next door to Natasha's first husband, Phillip Ashton, and his son, Rex. Rex is Maya's father. Blake said he saw Natasha a few months before her death. He was a college kid when he had a disturbing conversation with Natasha. She was angry and depressed and apparently tried to hit on him, but he said he turned her down. He seemed forthcoming, but I didn't believe most of what he said."
"All right, I'll start with him," Flynn said.
"Thanks. I owe you."
"Too many to count," Flynn joked.
"I'll help after I get done with this paint job," Beck added. "Have fun with your pretty complication."
He rolled his eyes. "That's not in the plan."
"It never is," Flynn said with a laugh.
After going home and grabbing a quick shower, Jax put on black jeans and a black T-shirt, which was his bartending uniform, and headed to the club. He arrived about thirty minutes before his shift was set to start at five. After seeing David Graham taking a smoke break around the side of the building, he decided to do the same. He reached into the glove compartment for cigarettes and a light, then headed across the parking lot.
David was sitting on a low wall in the shade, the large building protecting him from the hot sun. He had long, shaggy brown hair and a perpetual sunburn across his pale skin. He also had several tattoos that ran down his arms from underneath his black T-shirt.
"Hey, David."
"Jax. How's it going?"
"Hot." He took a seat on the wall and pulled out a cigarette. "Sucks they make you guys wear black, too. There should be a summer uniform."
"Tell me about it. At least you're inside in the air-conditioning."
"Maybe you should think about getting a transfer."
"Oh, no, Mama needs me out here," David said, a bitter edge to his voice. "Whatever Mama needs, Mama gets."
"Your mother does seem like someone who gets what she wants," he agreed. "She doesn't like me much. She looks at me like she's expecting to catch me skimming cash out of the register and stealing expensive vodka from the bar."
"She's suspicious of everyone."
"Any way I can get her to trust me?"
"When you figure that out, let me know," David said cynically.
"What's with you and your mom?"
"It's always been her way or no way, and I'm sick of it."
"Why don't you quit, work somewhere else?"
David took a drag on his cigarette. "Can't do that. She's got me tied up here for probably forever."
"What did you do before the club opened?"
"Worked at a car dealership. It was a lot better than this."
David's words surprised him. Had David been working at Falcon? He hadn't seen his name on any list of employees. He decided to take a wild guess. "Wait! Were you working with Yuri?"
David stiffened, his gaze darting around as if he was worried someone might have overheard the question. "How do you know Yuri?"
"I was in an acting class with him—at Sundowners on Hollywood Blvd. He used to work at a dealership, and he said he parked cars here at night. He told me what a cool club this was, so I decided to check it out. I haven't seen him around in a while, though. Has he been sick?"
David shrugged. "I don't know. I haven't seen him."
"Too bad. I was hoping we could play some poker, and I could win back what I lost to him the last time. Do you play?"
"Sometimes."
"Maybe we can put a game together. Must be some other players around this place."
"There are definitely some players," David said, giving him a speculative look. "You any good?"
"Well, if I was really good, I wouldn't be serving drinks," he joked. "But I can hold my own. Do you know of any games coming up?"
"Might be one this week. I play with some surf dudes in Manhattan Beach."
He'd been hoping that David played a higher-level game with Firebird members. "You're a surfer?"
"It's the one place I feel free."
"I hear you. I usually surf in Santa Monica."
"The pier at Manhattan is the best, early morning, before the crowd gets there."
"Maybe I'll try it tomorrow. Will you be out there?"
"I should be." David stood up as a silver Porsche turned in to the drive, heading toward the valet station. "I gotta get that one. I'll see you around."
Jax watched as David jogged toward the vehicle, nearly knocking the other valet out of the way,