When Lina walked back into the apartment after visiting her grandfather, she looked drained of energy. Her mood remained somber over the next several days. We met with Maxx almost daily in the following weeks. I wasn’t able to attend all of her sessions, but I knew they took their toll on her. I saw it on her face. She talked to her sister daily, for which I was glad. I don’t know if Sofia or Raphael suspected we were together as a couple, but neither asked the question. We’d deal with that later, once this part was over.

With two weeks left to the trial, Club Carmen had been closed and the property was off-limits. When Lina got the call to clear out her locker one afternoon, she and I headed over to meet Maxx there.

“I didn’t keep much here. Mostly sheets of music I want back,” she said as we climbed out of the taxi. “I miss playing.”

I took her hand and led her toward the front door where an agent stood. I could spot them now, even though they weren’t unformed. There was a stiffness about them.

“I’m Damon Amado, and this is Lina Guardia. We’re here to see Agent Carson.”

The agent nodded, spoke into a microphone, then opened the door. “He’ll meet you in the main room.”

“Thanks.”

Lina entered first. I followed close, my hand at her back.

“It looks so different now,” she said, looking around. “I’d seen it before opening, but it always had a mood to it, a vibe, a promise almost. Like something big could happen at any moment. I think that was one of the reasons this place was so popular.”

“It just looks a little rundown now,” I said, agreeing. The lush velvet that draped the walls and ceilings looked ratty now with the lights turned way up, the furniture rearranged, numbered markers scattered throughout.

She walked directly to the piano and traced a finger over the polished wood before lifting the fall. The soft tinkling of keys immediately altered the mood, the sound something old, the feeling that of the past.

Maxx turned the corner, his phone to his ear, his expression even more serious than usual. He studied Lina as he spoke, then disconnected the call and tucked it into his pocket.

Lina stopped playing and stepped closer to me, sliding her hand into mine.

“Ms. Guardia. Mr. Amado,” Maxx said in greeting, but then stood there as if he wasn’t exactly sure why we were here.

“Your office called to say Lina could empty her locker,” I said.

“Yes. I know.”

He looked distracted, and when he spotted an agent nearby, he called out to him.

“Coffee?” he asked us.

Something was up.

“No, thanks,” Lina said, her fingers growing clammy in mine.

“No coffee,” I said. “What’s going on?”

“Never mind,” he told the agent.

Maxx pulled out a chair but didn’t sit on it. It was the same table I’d sat at the first time I’d come here. That first night I’d seen her.

“Did something happen?” Lina asked. “Is it my grandfather?”

“Your grandfather isn’t hurt.”

“What is it, then?”

Maxx’s phone vibrated, and he looked at it, reading the message that had just come through. He then returned his attention to us.

“Alexi Markov was found dead in his cell this morning.”

“What?”

“Sit down,” Maxx said again, taking the seat he’d pulled out a moment ago.

I pulled out a chair for Lina. She slid into it, her eyes locked on Maxx. I sat beside her.

“Preliminary report is asphyxiation.”

“I don’t understand,” Lina started, trailing off.

“This is a maximum security prison. Wasn’t he in an isolated cell?” I asked.

“He was.”

“So then how did this happen? I mean, it’s not a bad thing, but—” I started.

“No, it’s not a bad thing, in the big picture. But it’s not how the law works,” Maxx said.

I leaned back in my chair. Quite frankly, this was the best possible thing that could happen as far as Lina’s safety was concerned.

“Who did it? Sergei?” Lina asked.

“Sergei Markov is still in the infirmary,” Maxx said.

“Sergei could give an order from anywhere. He doesn’t have to be present to do the actual killing.”

“What exactly did you discuss with your grandfather during your visit, Ms. Guardia?”

“What the hell kind of question is that?” I asked before Lina could swallow his meaning.

“It’s a valid one. His life was threatened, as was his granddaughter’s.”

“His life was threatened because you put him in that prison with the Markovs,” Lina said. “So you could bully me into testifying.”

“Which put Lina’s life in danger, and you just admitted it.”

Maxx turned his gaze from Lina to me but had no response for me. If he thought to intimidate me with a look, he was mistaken. I leaned forward. “Lay your cards on the table, Agent. Don’t you think after everything she’s been through—everything you stood by and allowed—she deserves your honesty?”

He turned to Lina. “I’ll ask again, what were the specifics of your conversation with your grandfather?”

“You don’t have to answer him, Lina. I’m calling Lewis,” I said, standing, fishing my phone out of my pocket. “Let’s go.”

“No, Damon, it’s okay,” she said, touching my hand. “I didn’t do anything wrong. I don’t have anything to hide.” She turned to Maxx. “My conversation with my grandfather wasn’t what I’d expected. I’d thought he’d be humbled, sorry maybe for what he’d done, but he wasn’t. He accused me of sleeping with both Markov men, and I told him this would be the last time he’d see me.”

“Did you at any point mention your testimony?”

She answered too quickly. “No.”

I studied her as she kept her gaze level on his. He did the same with her, as if it were some sort of contest. He was trying to read if she was telling the truth. She wasn’t. I knew it. I knew Lina. She was once again lying to protect her grandfather.

“Lina, I think we should wait to talk until Mr. Lewis is present. Let’s go.”

“My grandfather’s an old man, Maxx. How would he physically overpower Alexi Markov?”

“Like you suggested, an order could be given. Everyone has enemies, and if there’s enough money to grease the palm, well, a lot of things are possible, especially when you’re desperate.”

“He has no money, remember? Everything was seized.” She kept her eyes locked on his.

“Did he perhaps need to reestablish his loyalty to Sergei?”

I saw from the level, too calm look on her face this thought had already crossed her mind.

“What?” she asked too late. “This is insane.”

“Is it?” Maxx countered.

“He didn’t do it. He couldn’t have,” she said, rising.

“I hope for his sake, that’s true,” Maxx said, standing as well.

“What about my testimony?”

“Stick around. Don’t go anywhere. I’ll be in touch.”

“Can I get my things out of my locker,” she asked, as if she just remembered.

Maxx called the agent standing nearby and told him to take Lina to her locker. I followed and watched as she collected her things—one well-worn notebook and some sheet music. We didn’t speak as we left, choosing to walk back to the apartment.

Once we were a few blocks away, I turned to Lina. I wanted to call her out on lying to a federal agent. Tell her I knew. But I couldn’t. Not yet. I needed time to think this through.

“Grandfather told me to be careful. That although Alexi may be behind bars, he’s in no way less dangerous.”

“Your grandfather isn’t strong enough to kill Alexi Markov. And I don’t believe he has the funds to pay for it to be done.”

“Sergei does. He and my grandfather were in business together once. Why not again?”

I turned her to face me. “Lina, do you believe your grandfather could have arranged for Alexi’s murder?”

She didn’t answer that. “He said something else too, just before I walked out. He said he wished things had turned out differently.”

I studied her, didn’t miss the faraway look in her eyes as if she were thinking, turning something over again and again in her mind, trying to make sense of it.

“I’m hungry,” she said a few moments later, blinking. “Ravenous, in fact. I could eat a horse.”

Lina could keep secrets well, that had been proven more than once, and it worried me. She worried me. But for now, I couldn’t deny that Alexi’s death was a good thing. For her, for us. Because her grandfather was right. He would not forgive her betrayal, and he’d have far-reaching resources. But Marcus Guardia committing murder? Was it truly so far-fetched?

“Let’s go get you that horse,” I said, leaning down to kiss her, suddenly ravenous myself.