Drake Sisters 03 - Oceans of Fire

sing.”
    “Now we know why Nikitin gave his man money. He wanted to bribe the band to ask Joley to sing.”
    Aleksandr sat back in his chair. “What is interesting is that Nikitin knew it was the band he had to bribe, not management. He knew ahead of time that management wouldn’t take the money and sell her out.
    How did he know that?”
    The crowd had gone wild, stomping and clapping in an effort to get Joley to the stage. Abigail could see resignation on her sister’s face.
    “You can say no,” Prakenskii said.
    “How?” Joley asked, swallowing hard. She took a breath and moved past him, waving and smiling to the crowd.
    “Nikitin has to be using someone local for information, someone that would know a small detail like that.
    The person would have to know your family and the places you all like to frequent. Do you recognize anyone at all around his table, or someone standing near enough to talk to him?”
    The band swung into a blues number, and Joley’s voice poured into the room, rich and edgy and evocative. It carried magic and power and passion and flowed into those listening, carrying them away with her.
    Abigail kept her gaze fixed on Nikitin. He was staring at Joley with rapt attention, certainly not talking to anyone at his table. When one person started to say something, he held up his hand for silence. The cocktail waitress approached and he waved her off as well.
    “I think he’s obsessed with her,” Abigail said. “Look at him.”
    “No, look around him. You have to see beyond the obvious. Who do you see that seems familiar?”
    “Tim Robbins, a fisherman I see often at Noyo Harbor. He’s the older gentleman to Nikitin’s left outside the partition. Tim practically lives on his boat. He comes here or hangs out at the Salt Bar and Grill.”
    Abigail studied the crowd around Nikitin. “There’s Ned Fanner, the really distinguished man standing just to the other side of Tim. He’s an accountant, has a lot of money, and owns a lot of property. I think he has his hand in several of the smaller businesses in Fort Bragg and Sea Haven. He’s been around for years and everyone likes him. He’s married and has three kids. I went to school with them. All three have moved out of the area, but they visit often.”
    “Does he come here often?”
    “Everyone comes here, Aleksandr. I’ve seen him here often. Usually with his wife, but sometimes alone.”
    “Is she here?”
    Abigail looked around. “I don’t see her at the moment, but the crowd seems to be growing.”
    “Anyone else?”
    “Two others. The younger men staring at Joley.”

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    “Everyone’s staring at Joley.”
    “One’s in a blue shirt and one’s wearing green. The one in blue is Lance Parker and he does roofing.
    The other is Chad Kingman and he works for Frank Warner.”
    Joley finished the song and the place erupted into thunderous applause.
    “She didn’t hold anything back,” Aleksandr said.
    “Her small revenge on the band. They won’t be sounding so good now the crowd has heard her.”
    Joley made her way through the crowd, back to the table, but before she could sit down, Prakenskii was there. “Mr. Nikitin would like to meet you. He asks that you join him at his table.”
    Joley flashed a false smile. “Thank you for the invitation, but I don’t think so.”
    “Mr. Nikitin is not a man you say no to.”
    “Then tell him to go to hell,” Joley said. “I don’t appreciate him forcing me into the position of singing for a crowd when I’ve come here with my family to enjoy myself. Run along to your master and say thanks but no.”
    Aleksandr’s fingers tightened around Abigail’s wrist to prevent her from jumping up to shield her sister.
    Prakenskii didn’t change expression, but turned away to start back toward his boss.
    Joley waved her hand at his back, just a small shove of air that should have made Prakenskii stumble.
    Instead the air crackled and snapped, small sparks arced around her palm, and she yelped, holding it to her.
    The Drakes immediately stood, their expressions shocked as they shoved Joley behind them and faced Prakenskii.

Chapter 11
    ALEKSANDR inserted himself between the Drake sisters and Prakenskii, despite Abigail’s restraining hand. He had no idea what had just happened, but the tension had gone up significantly. Joley cradled her palm as if she’d been injured.
    “Move away from Hannah,”