Page 118 of Unseen Danger
Branson nodded. “We’re clear.”
“Tried to reach you on your phone. We’ve got a situation.” Travis darted a glance at D-Chop before returning his focus to Branson. “Nevaeh found another note.”
This night just kept getting better.
Nevaeh mentally reviewed the threatening words of the note she’d found as she watched Branson read it.
I haven’t forgotten you. I’m watching. You’ll be next.
Something about the threat seemed more ominous this time. More—
“This one is different.” Branson lifted his gaze from the note.
Had he been reading her thoughts? But he could mean anything by that. “Different from what?”
The chandelier above them in the entryway of D-Chop’s mansion cast shadows across the planes of Branson’s face. Darker coloring hovered beneath his eyes. He looked tired. Stressed.
Her chest pinched with a strange desire to help him somehow. To make him smile.
“The one on D-Chop’s pillow.”
“What?” Jazz looked at him with widened green eyes.
Nevaeh and Jazz listened in silence as he told them about a knife and message in D-Chop’s bedroom. On the rapper’s pillow while he slept. No wonder Branson looked stressed.
He handed Nevaeh the crumpled note to read.
I can get to you anywhere. You’re not safe until you give me what you owe. You’ll get instructions for the drop in 24 hours. No cops.
“A payoff?” Nevaeh handed the note to Jazz as she glanced up at Branson.
“Looks that way.”
“Whoever this is, they’re getting bolder by the minute.” And more dangerous. Nevaeh pressed her lips together. “Do you know who could’ve gotten into D-Chop’s bedroom?”
“The security system wasn’t breached.”
“So we’re looking at another inside job.” Jazz returned the paper to Branson, the set of her mouth grim.
He nodded.
Nevaeh thought back to their first night on duty and Branson’s tour of the house. “You said there are no cameras in the hallway there, right?”
“Correct.” Because D-Chop wanted his privacy, Branson had said.
“So anyone could’ve entered the bedroom?”
Branson slid his large hand down his face, pinching his thumb and fingers along his stubbled chin. “Unfortunately. I’ve cautioned D-Chop to lock his door overnight as an added precaution, but he never does.” Frustration tightened Branson’s deep voice. “And he had another woman in there tonight. He doesn’t really know them and doesn’t give me time to run security checks on them.”
“You think she could’ve been in on what happened tonight?” Jazz watched Branson intently.
“It’s possible. She could’ve put the knife there herself and then screamed.”
“But what’s the motive for her?”
Alvarez shifted at Nevaeh’s side when she asked the question. She stroked his head. Poor guy wanted to be out on patrol, not standing still indoors.
“Could’ve been hired to do it.” Jazz glanced down at Flash as the Belgian Malinois kept a close eye on the front door. “But I don’t get why they’d leave two notes in one night.”