“Yeah,” he said, confirming her fears on the powder she’d found in Tucker’s bag. “Those ingredients are made to pour into a water bottle and be taken by mouth, like the vitamin pack. They’re natural, plant-based, with no manufactured derivatives, but it’s a stimulant, no way about it, and just as potent. They’ve been taking that stuff for several years in Europe now, and interestingly enough, it’s virtually undetectable unless looked for in the urine almost immediately after consumption. Going to be popular, that one is, once word gets out.”

Holly had a feeling that word was already out—at least on the Heat. And damn if she didn’t finally have her secret.

She just wasn’t sure she still wanted it.

She asked her contact to e-mail her the information so she’d have it in writing, and then, while she was doing things she shouldn’t be, early the next morning she used her press pass to get into the Heat facilities. There she sought out some of the support-team members and learned in casual conversation through two different trainers and an equipment manager that there were only two players Tucker was supplying with daily supplements on top of the vitamin enriched water everyone drank: Henry and Ty.

Which meant that the two players who’d had the DUI and disorderly conduct run-in, which had started this whole wave of bad press for the Heat, were the only two players being supplied by Tucker—a guy she’d just discovered carrying banned substances.

Coincidence? Maybe.

But Holly didn’t believe in coincidence. She called Pace. “How are you feeling?

“Like I was hit by a truck.”

“Can I come see you?”

“You’re asking? What happened to demanding and bossy?”

“I’m trying something new.”

“I’m in bed,” he said, his voice going silky. “You bringing TLC?”

“I am.” She sighed, knowing she had to break the mood and say something. “Pace?”

“Uh-oh. I know that tone. I’m not going to like this, am I?”

“Is Tucker still there?”

“Sleeping. Why?”

“I took a foil packet that was falling out of his bag in your foyer.”

“A vitamin pack?”

“No. Something else. The contents are basically the equivalent of a stimulant, which is the same stuff you tested positive for. The same stuff you didn’t knowingly ingest.”

“What?”

“Yeah, it’s an herbal, all-natural version, but still a stimulant.”

He was silent.

“Pace? Don’t you think it’s odd that Tucker has it in his bag? A known banned substance? When he deals vitamins and protein supplements to professional athletes?”

“How do you know what you found?”

“I went to a friend, a pharmaceutical expert.”

“Jesus, Holly.”

“It was off the record, Pace. He has no idea where I got it, or why. He says the stuff is undetectable after a few days in your system. Which means—”