Chapter 20 #2
“That’s above my pay grade.” The corners of her mouth lift. “But it sounds good from up here.”
“Good enough for me.” I step toward the door.
“Oh, I’m heading out.” She pulls the door wide. “Please go in. Go to the end of the hall and take the staircase down. Mind the cabling on the right.”
“Appreciated.” I cross the threshold.
“Mr. Crowne.” She catches the door before I’ve cleared it. “Whatever they’re working on down there, it’s raw and powerful. They don’t need to do much to the song to make it a hit. It’s really good.”
I pause inside the doorway. “I expect nothing but the best from them. They’re world-class.”
“You’re right about that.” She waves as she leaves.
At the end of the hall is the staircase. I take it down.
The music gets louder with every step. By the time I reach the bottom, the guitar has shifted into a loose improvisation running under a rolling bass line and a drum pattern that sounds like an award-winning hit.
I stop at the edge of the space and take it in. The room is set up as a full-blown stage. It’s small, but it works.
Cash is leaning against the far wall with his arms crossed. Cooper is playing the bass, and Hawke is behind the kit with his eyes closed. Brendan is working out a riff on his guitar.
I wait at the opening of the room until the groove breaks. The instruments go quiet. Cash straightens and his expression closes. He takes a step toward me.
“How’d you get in?” He tips his chin in my direction. “And why are you here?”
“Your content coordinator let me in. Why I’m here is for later.”
The muscles along his jaw twitch. “We’re in the middle of practice.”
“I see that.” I take a slow scan around the area, the panels, the equipment that isn’t going anywhere, and bring my gaze back to him. “You’ve built a good studio.”
“Yeah, we know.”
Brendan takes his guitar off and hangs it on a clip that’s secured to the wall. Cooper sets the bass against the amp. Hawke rests his sticks across the kit.
Cash keeps his suspicious glare on me. “Jaxon, this isn’t the time.”
I gesture around the room. “Then consider this as a drop-in visit by your investor, checking in on my investment firsthand.”
“We’ll give you space.” Brendan slaps Cash on the back. “Take your time.”
Cash lifts two fingers in acknowledgment.
“Good session, guys.” Cooper passes me on the way to the stairs.
Hawke follows without a word. Brendan is the last to go. He pauses at the bottom step and stares at me for a long moment before he takes the stairs without another word. The hum of the air conditioning fills the space they leave behind.
Cash drops into the chair nearest the amp, elbows on his knees, turning the pick between his fingers. “You want some water? There’s a cooler over there.”
“I’m all right.” I cross to the far side of the room and lean against the wall, arms loose at my sides. “Nice job on the renovations.”
“Thanks.” He flashes a brief smile. “You didn’t come here for a tour.”
“No.” I give it a beat. “You’re being followed.”
“You mentioned that before.”
“You still haven’t done anything about it.”
“I handle my own stuff, Jaxon.” He gazes at me, easy about it. “Always have.”
The last time we were alone in the same room, I told him things I’ve kept to myself for years. I didn’t give the details, but I made it perfectly clear what I went through and that I suspected he’s suffered as much as I have. I was hoping he would start trusting me.
“Understood, Cash.” I relax my stance. “But I’m asking you to hear me out.”
He gives me one nod and nothing else.
“They’re not tracking your schedule. They’re not reactive.” I let that sit for a breath. “Whoever is behind this is patient. And they’re not watching Livianna. That’s been confirmed.”
“Not at all?”
“Nothing that my team has found.” I kick off the wall and take a step closer to him. “They’ve been spotted at your Pacific Palisades residence, but only when you’re present.” We can’t be sure of what they want, but I have my suspicions.”
“Which are?” He sets the pick on the amp beside him.
“You know who this might be because this isn’t the press. It isn’t a fan with a long lens. Whoever this is, they’re professional. That’s how they’re getting into our very secure neighborhood.”
He stands and runs his palm over his neck. “If someone wanted to come at me, they would’ve come by now.”
“No, I think whoever it is wants something you have, and they’re trying to figure out where you’re keeping it.” I stand a foot before him, trying to burn the seriousness of this into his stubborn skull.
The room gets quiet as his wild eyes tell me he’s escalating internally.
“Cash, you came to me years ago needing a recording device. You were terrified of being caught. And it’s my belief that whatever you have on those files, that’s what they’re after.”
His shoulders grow tense. “Absolutely not! I’ll never let those be discovered.”
“And I think they know that.” I slip my hands into my pockets. “You’re in danger, Cash, and if you don’t take care of it, my fear is that Livianna will be caught in the crossfire.”
“Then what do you suggest I do?”