"I don't remember off the top of my head. Somewhere in the Midwest-in Iowa, I think. Nell would have a copy of the schedule."
The police still hadn't arrived when it was time for P.J. to go to the amphitheater to have her hair and makeup done. But Rocket showed up. After looking to Jared for permission, Marvin let John onto the bus.
His brother-in-law looked as easy as ever as he climbed aboard. Stopping in front of P.J., he gave her a gentle smile. "How are you doing?"
"I'm freaked," she said. "And angry. But basically okay. What are you doing here?"
"Jared called me."
He nodded an acknowledgment when she glanced over at him. "I need to stay here to wait for the police to show up and I don't want you going anywhere alone."
"I put in a call to Detective Ellis," John said, naming a detective they'd both worked with in the past. "Of course, the problem here is jurisdiction, and this belongs to Morrison rather than Denver. Still, she said she'd reach out and see if she couldn't get someone out here ASAP. Meanwhile-" Turning to P.J., he offered his arm. "Whataya say, sweetheart? Can I escort you to the amphitheater?"
P.J.FRETTED ABOUT THE quality of her upcoming performance as she sat through makeup and hair. She was tense and upset and as much as she didn't want it to affect the concert, she didn't see how it could help but do precisely that.
But she'd forgotten to take into account the number-one factor of her existence. Music was, and always had been, her drug of choice. And when she strode out onto the stage and saw the navy sky framed by two soaring three-hundred-foot red sandstone monoliths that were floodlit from below, when she opened her mouth to belt out her first number and the shifting sea of humanity that spread up the slope before her roared to its feet in response, it was the remedy she needed for what ailed her.
Just as it had always been. Euphoria flooded her veins, washing out all the sick anger that had lodged in her stomach ever since she'd seen that snake, read that note. By the time they wrapped up the first song, she knew it was going to be a concert for the record books. "Hello, Red Rocks!"
The audience screamed greetings back.
"Is this the greatest natural amphitheater in the world, or what?"
The roar of nine thousand throats agreed that it was.
When the concert came to a thunderous conclusion an hour and a half later, she was perspiring freely. Clammy clothing and frizzing hair aside, however, she felt marvelous. Accepting a hand towel from Nell when she finally exited the stage, she grinned at her friend and danced in place. "Wow. Was that the best one ever, or what?"
"You rocked," Nell agreed. "I was ready to commiserate with you over that snake business, but you obviously found a way to get past it."
"I was really worried that my performance would reflect how much it shook me up, but I dunno-I got out there and the music just took me away. This has got to be the most beautiful venue I've ever played, and the acoustics are stunning."
"They're incredible," Hank agreed, joining them. "Dynamite concert."
"We were jammin'!" Eddie enthused, strolling up.
"God, weren't we?" She bumped her fist companionably against her band members' arms, then danced in place again, finding it difficult to stand still under the residual adrenaline still surging through her bloodstream. "I was just telling Nell that I thought it was our best one yet."
Jared came over. "Great concert."
She grinned. "That seems to be the general consensus." She looked around for the tall man who had stood watch over her before the show. "Where's John?"
"The cops finished with me just about the time the show began, so I sent him back to catch the rest of it with Tori, Esme and Mac. Let's get you out of here," he said, his gaze in constant motion as he monitored the postconcert activity gearing up in the backstage area. "This is a little too public for my liking." Sliding his hand beneath her elbow, he started to lead her away-and not in the direction of the dressing room.
"Wait, wait!" She pulled against his light grasp, but he didn't let go. "Where are we going? Your family is supposed to meet us back here."
"I told them to meet us at the hotel instead." He turned to Nell, Hank and Eddie. "You're welcome to come, as well."
"Did you get rid of the snake?" P.J. demanded, tapping her foot impatiently until he turned his attention back to her.
"Yes. The cops took it."
"Okay, good." She turned to Nell. "I checked into a room at the T-"
Jared clapped his hand over her mouth. "Keep your voice down."
She nodded and he removed his hand. "I took a room at the Teatro for the next three nights," she said very quietly, finding herself checking out everyone around her, as well. "If you don't want to stay on the bus tonight I'll get you rooms there, too."
"Not this kid," Eddie said. "I've got me a place to stay. In fact, I'd better go find my date. Fan-freakintastic show, Peej. Sorry 'bout the snake. There's sure as shit some sick sumbitches out there." Picking up his instrument case, he strolled away.
P.J. turned to Nell. "How about you? Would you like a room in an honest-to-God hotel for a change?"
"Oh. Well." Nell turned to Hank. "Are you staying on the bus?"
"Yes."
"Then thanks for the offer, Peej, but I'll be fine here," she said. "I'd be nervous on my own, but as long as Hank's going to be there I won't have a problem." She gave him an uncertain look. "That is, unless you have other plans?"
"Nope. Why don't we pop us up some popcorn and give that song you've been working on a whirl?"
Nell shot him a brilliant smile. "That sounds like an excellent plan."
A few short moments later P.J. found herself tucked into Jared's Jeep, headed back to Denver. She yawned as the last of her adrenaline drained away. Suddenly she was exhausted.
He glanced over at her. "You coming down off that Rocky Mountain high?"
"Yeah. Pretty obvious, huh? Between the snake and Red Rocks, I was all jacked up. It was one great concert, though. I'd play that venue again in a heartbeat." She shoved herself upright. "What did the cops say, J? Am I going to have to talk to them?"
"No. They dusted for prints and had Marvin work with a sketch artist. Between the first threat, the radio interview, which Nell says was in Iowa City, and today's gift, there are three states involved. So the Morrison police are going to send everything to the FBI."
"God, what a mess. Do you have a copy of the sketch? Maybe I'll recognize the man."
"I'll show it to you later. For now, though, why don't you concentrate on hanging on to that good feeling the show gave you. I know my sister is looking forward to seeing you again."
That brought up a worry of another kind. "What should I do about refreshments? We oughtta offer your family something, but I don't know if we should stop at a deli or order up room service or what." She gave him a tired smile. "You can take the girl out of the honky-tonk but you just can't take that honky-tonk outta the girl."
He looked over at her. "Do you feel like shopping?"
"Not really."
"Then we'll raid the minibar or order up a pot of coffee and some cake or something."
Jared's family and Gert were in the lobby when they arrived and P.J. got a sudden second wind. Laughing, she crossed to greet them.
Esme swooped over to meet her halfway. "Omigawd," she said. "That was the most awesome concert I've ever attended!"
"I felt like it was the best I'd ever given," she agreed. "Isn't that amphitheater something?"
She reached Gert, Victoria and John, but as she started to greet them Jared interrupted. "Let's take this upstairs."
So she snuck peeks at Tori as they walked over to the bank of elevators. "You haven't changed at all," she said as a car arrived and they all stepped in.