They all heard a startled gasp from Tamsin. “Peyton? Is that you?”
“Bloody hell, Peyton,” Badger muttered.
Chapter Fifty-Nine
Ken
The oh shit look on Peyton’s face made Ken burst out laughing. “Yes, I’m alive and well,” Peyton said as he closed his eyes and pinched the bridge of his nose. “Dewi, would you please?—”
“Aw, shit,” she said. “On it. Stand by. Tamsin!” she yelled—fortunately not directly into her phone. They heard Dewi get up and move fast, one phone being disconnected and the other muffled as Dewi gave Tamsin a quick rundown of yes, Peyton was alive, no, she couldn’t tell anyone, and gave her a simple Prime command to keep the secret for now.
Ken grinned at Peyton while all this was going on. “Guess we’re even in the ‘can’t keep secrets’ fuck-up club, huh?”
Peyton snorted and gave him a fist bump. “Yeah, we are.”
“Eh, what’d we miss?” Badger asked while Duncan laughed.
“Not much,” Peyton said. “We’re all exhausted and on edge and not at our best.”
“Sorry,” Dewi said after a moment. “Tam’s sort of up to speed and not freaking out. Anymore. She’s here in the office with me on speaker. What’d we miss?”
“Nothing,” Peyton said as he opened his eyes and sat back in the chair. “Just me being reminded how fucking human I am.”
Tamsin sniffled. “I’m so glad you’re safe!” she said. “Dewi said she’ll help me keep the secret.”
“Thanks, sweetie,” Peyton said. “I’m sorry about the scare, but Dewi will tell you why. And yes, Gillian knows, and so do Duncan, Badger, and Trent, but no one else can. Not even Beck, or Asia.”
“And I know,” Ken said, grinning at Peyton. “Obviously. And Hamish. And Jake.”
“Who’s Jake?” Tamsin asked.
Peyton laughed, long and hard. “Dewi will fill you in on that, too.”
“I’ll tell you the longer version once we’re done here,” Dewi told Tamsin. “You might as well know everything now that you know the rat fink’s okay.”
“Um, I’m sorry,” Tamsin said, “but what exactly is going on? Why these questions about my brothers?”
They quickly filled her in on that part and she went quiet.
“Tam?” Trevor asked. “Are you all right, dear?”
“Uh, yes, I’m just…” They heard her take a shaky breath. “Stunned.”
“We all are,” Trevor gently said. “I’m sorry we’re breaking the news to you in this manner, but it’s urgent we quickly sort this.”
“So where the hell’s the real Hyacinth?” Dewi asked. “Did Faegan kill her? And did he kill Donnel because he knew the truth?”
Duncan spoke up. “Hold on a minute. Badger, do you happen to remember?—”
“Aye, I think I know where yer goin’ wi’ this. Trevor, do ye happen to remember when the Blitz was?”
Trevor snorted. “Do I? Not something I’m bloody likely to forget. 1940. Lasted into ’41.”
“Badger, do you have access to our membership ledgers from that time?” Duncan asked.
“Gimme a tick,” Badger said. He apparently left the room because they heard a door open and close.
“What’s going on?” Dewi asked.
