as we could get. We can’t be without phones, even at thirty thousand feet.”
“Good. That’s good.”
“We need to—” Blaze started.
He was interrupted by the ringing of Rocket’s phone.
“I’d better take this,” Rocket told them, looking at the screen. “It’s Tom Hernandez.”
Peyton watched him answer the call. Every muscle in his face tightened and anger flashed in his eyes.
“Fucking shit.” He gripped the cell so hard Peyton was afraid he’d break it. “Are you fucking kidding me? Yeah. Yeah. Okay. But I want to know every nugget you dig up the minute you find it. Okay. Thanks.”
Everyone watched as he practically slammed the phone down on the table.
“What is it? I know it had to be bad to make you lose it like this.”
“What’s up?” Eagle asked at last.
“That was Tom Hernandez. Apparently, someone’s been asking questions about us. Well, originally about Peyton and who she hired to look into the murder, because that’s what it is.”
“Me?” Peyton thought for a moment her heart would stop. “What are they looking for?
“What?” Eagle blinked. “What the fuck? How did anyone even connect us?”
Rocket shrugged. “Actually, they’ve been asking about Peyton. They—”
He stopped when Blaze’s phone rang.
Blaze looked at the readout, eyebrows pinched together.
“What’s up?” he answered. “What? What do you mean? What did she say? Did she have a name? Uh-huh. Uh-huh. Uh-huh. Okay. No, you did exactly right. An even better reason for you to hang out there. Yeah, I’ll be by to pick it up in a while. Don’t let it out of your sight.”
“What?” Rocket asked.
“That was Chuck Wagner at the hospital. One of the nurses he’s gotten to know stopped to see if he needed anything and they got into kind of a Chatty Cathy thing. She said she was on her way to Brianne Hollister’s room and commented that the sister’s fans must follow her everywhere. Chuck asked why, and she said one of them came to the hospital with a present for Brianne. To show Miss West how much she cared. She was on her way to give it to her.”
A chill raced over Peyton as she listened. “God. That’s too scary. I hope Chuck stopped her from giving it to Brianne.”
“Next best thing. He watched to make sure all she did was set the package on the bed table. Then as soon as she left, he hopped into the room and grabbed it. Stuck it in the bathroom sink to drench it with water, just in case. Then he placed it in a messenger bag he’s got with him. I don’t think these people would send an explosive device to the hospital. That would garner too much attention. He’s sending it to a company Galaxy has used whenever necessary. He’ll call me when he has some answers.”
“Fuck.” Rocket slammed his fist on the table. “Did the nurse happen to get a name? Anything at all?”
Blaze raked his fingers through his hair. “No. She said she asked twice, but the woman seemed too nervous to give it to her. She wasn’t too nervous, however, to tell the nurse she hoped Peyton West was turning over every stone to find out who did this, and that she was getting some really good help. Because what happened to her was awful. Just awful. And there hadn’t hardly been anything in the news about it. Such a damn shame. Poor Peyton must be heartbroken. I don’t like it.”
“Neither do I,” Eagle added.
Peyton looked from one to the other, nausea welling up in her throat yet again.
“What does this mean?” She hated that her voice sounded so pitiful. She cleared her throat and spoke again. “Tell me exactly what this all means? Why is someone asking about me? About Brianne.”
Blaze cleared his throat. “My guess? Whoever made sure the police wouldn’t tell you anything and bribed or threatened everyone else involved got feedback you’d hired someone and they’re digging to find out who.” He glanced sideways at Peyton. “One of the main reasons our office and everything related to this business is right here in this plane.”
“And by the way, I have a lot of fans and none of them have ever done anything like that. I’m successful but not a superstar.”
“There’s always a first time,” Rocket pointed out.
“That’s true, but this is just so strange.” A thought popped into her mind and the fear surged back yet again. “What if whoever this is tries to kill her again?”
“I’m going to take care of that right now.” Blaze punched a