Page 7 of Inescapable Gravity

Marius flipped open the folder and was treated to the view of the violin.

"It's the Margolis Stradivarius. It survived World War II hidden away in an attic when it's owner was sent to the camps. Once the war was over and musicians began the search for Mary Margolis, they were only able to recover her violin hidden behind a loose plank of wood. The violin itself is a miracle. The cold and the damp had damaged the wood, but a young woodworker performed magic in saving the instrument.

"I bought the violin when the family had some hard financial times and I promised them that if I ever found a musician who I felt would give proper respect to the instrument, I would give them tickets to every performance and place a picture of Mary in the lobby and programs with information on her life and talent."

Marius saw the way the older man seemed to grow an inch or two as he explained the situation.

"Who have you found to play it?"

The older man's brows rose as he smiled. "An interesting story, is it not?"

Marius had no reason to lie. "It is."

"The artist is a woman who performs as Nix."

"Nix?" Marius found his mind fixated on the name. "The name means... nothing?"

Blackwood shrugged. "Yes. She keeps to herself. I only heard about her because my nephew has heard her play. When I invited her to play the instrument and see if it might be a good fit for her, she was only too happy to come and see me. It didn't take more than a few notes played on the instrument for me to know that they were a match."

"When will I get to meet her?"

"That's where you've had a bit of luck."

Luck?

Mister Blackwood opened a drawer at the top right of his desk and withdrew a card. He leaned against his desk and reached it out toward Marius.

It was just a second before Marius had the card in his hand. The card felt like silk under his skin.

"She's staying at a home on my property. Those are the directions and gate code to get you in. The time on there will let you know when she'll be rehearsing and when dinner will be served."

Marius balked a little. "I'm not expecting dinner, sir. If I'm there to guard Miss Nix and the violin, I'll be there as a guard."

Mister Blackwood shrugged. "To each their own, Ares."

Marius tensed a little at the use of his old Military name that his unit used to call him. Still, he had the feeling that Mister Blackwood didn't mean anything by it. He seemed to think it was fun.

Let him think that.

Marius would let it roll off his back since he wasn't in the military anymore.

Now it was more of a callback to a different time in his life when things were easier.

Mister Blackwood leaned against his desk and offered his hand. "I think you'll do nicely, sir."

"I get the job done, sir. The violin and Nix will be safe with me."

He grinned and moved back from his desk. "But will you be safe from Nix?"

CHAPTER TWO

Idyllwild, California

Blackwood Estate

She paused with her bow hovering over the strings of the violin. Heather drew in a breath through her nose and then gasped in air through her mouth.

But the bow stayed where it was.

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