Don't Say a Word - Barbara Freethy [137]
"Probably as soon as my father called him and told him where we were. Brady said there's a good deal of money in the account. And who knows what's in that safe-deposit box?"
"I can't believe it's right here in DC. We're finally at the end of the trail," Julia said.
"And at your parents' intended destination. This is where they were coming. It would make sense that whatever they'd stashed away was here. And I believe your mother also performed here."
"At the Kennedy Center, probably." Julia smiled. "And Elena danced there twenty-something years later. That's nice, isn't it?"
"It is nice. Your mother wanted you both to have the life she couldn't have."
"Hopefully, somewhere in the universe she's smiling down on us because we're finally back together."
"Apparently the bank account is in both your names, with your Russian surname. Brady says he can get past the red tape. He has paperwork to prove that you and Elena are the heirs to Natalia and Sergei Markov. That will allow the bank to release the money as well as the contents of the safe-deposit box to you. I wonder what's in the box," she mused. "It must be valuable enough to still be of interest to the Russian government. Why else would they have people following us?"
"Only one way to find out."
She stood up. "I'll tell Elena to get dressed."
***
Julia felt nervous and edgy as they drove into the three-story parking garage next to the downtown bank where Brady had told them to meet. She couldn't believe they were finally nearing the end of their search. Soon she would know exactly why someone was after her. She glanced over her shoulder as they entered the garage, wondering if anyone had followed them here to the nation's capital. But there was no one behind them.
Alex parked the car, and they took a moment to glance around. The parking garage was shadowy and half-full, probably because it was Saturday. A car pulled in next to them. Julia stiffened, then relaxed when she saw Brady get out of the car.
"You must be Elena," he said as they gathered together.
"Yes," she said tentatively. "And you're?"
"Daniel Brady." He turned to Julia. "Did you bring the key?"
"I have it," Julia said.
"Good. The bank account was set up in your names," Brady added as they walked toward the bank. "Yulia and Elena Markov. I've already spoken to the bank manager and circumvented some red tape to get into the account."
"How did you do that?" Alex asked sharply.
"Let's just say I have friends in high places. At any rate, there is five hundred and twenty-seven thousand dollars in cash in the account."
Julia's jaw dropped. "How did my parents get that much money?"
Brady shrugged. "I'm sure they had their ways. The bank account has been paying off the rent on the safe-deposit box, which is why it wasn't closed in the past twenty-five years."
"What's in the box?" Elena asked.
"I'm hoping there might be something in there to tell us who killed your parents," Brady replied.
His answer surprised Julia. She hadn't considered that possibility. "Do you think my parents knew who set that bomb in their house?"
Brady's eyes narrowed. "I see Charles gave you the whole story."
"He thought I deserved to know." Julia lifted her chin, looking Brady straight in the eye. "And he was right. So I'll ask you again: Do you think my parents knew who killed them?"
"Your father certainly knew he had enemies in his own party. They were watching him. Love can make a man stupid. They suspected he was softening because of his love for your mother. He had to leave Russia, and we wanted to get him out. But they got there first. With any luck, your father may have left us a clue as to who set that bomb." Brady opened the door to the bank. "After you."
Julia stepped into the cool quiet of the bank. There were only a few people working, two tellers, a loan officer, and the manager, who came out of her office when she saw them.
After preliminary introductions, she said, "I've arranged for a cashier's check as you directed, Mr. Brady. It will be ready momentarily."
"Good. Now we'd like