Chapter 2: Hailey Follows a Lead
1065 Words
Gossip Reporter Hailey Johnson answered her phone as she was stuck behind a garbage truck on a tiny back road. She was on that road because the main route had been full of rush hour traffic. She'd hoped to get around it, but then she'd happened upon this big green truck collecting the neighborhood refuse.
A squeal came through the phone, forcing Hailey to hold it away from her ear. She knew who it was by that sound. “Jana?"
“Yes. I have a tip."
Jana had given her some of the best celebrity tips in her career so Hailey perked up. “What do you have for me?"
“Noah Magellan."
No way. She knew the singer-turned-actor was coming to town to film a movie, but she hadn't been able to get a line on where he was staying. How he was going to get along with his ex was the hottest story going. If Hailey could get an interview with him, this would cement her next raise at the gossip magazine she worked at. Her job wasn't in jeopardy, but it could easily be. A scoop on Noah Magellan would be a prize she couldn't resist.
“What about Noah Magellan?" Hailey asked.
She didn't want to get too excited. It could be nothing or a dead end. She doubted it given Jana's track record, but nothing seemed like it used to be.
“He's landing at Suburban Airport."
She was only fifteen minutes from there. She'd been on her way to a possible interview, but that could wait. Her editor would understand. “When?"
“Soon."
The truck in front of her stopped to empty another trash can, and Hailey peeked down the road to see if it was safe to pass. It wasn't. Maybe next stop. “Tell me more. Will he be with Cassandra?"
“Not that I've heard. Their breakup was pretty public," Jana said.
Jana loved celebrities. Hailey had met her in a bar when they were both stalking a country singer for different reasons. They'd bonded, and Hailey often wondered where Jana collected her information from.
“I remember. I still cringe at the video," Hailey said.
The truck moved and then stopped short again. Hailey groaned.
“You okay?"
“Stuck behind a truck," Hailey said. “I can get to Suburban Airport. Will you be there?"
“I'm trying. I have a friend who is texting me that the cops are herding them away from the hangar."
“Yikes. Any ideas on how to get closer to him without being arrested?"
“Maybe. Text me when you get there. Right now I'm trying to avoid getting arrested."
Jana would come through. What Jana didn't know was that one of Hailey's ex-boyfriends had been a pilot and he kept his plane at that airport.
The garbage truck made a right turn and Hailey was clear to speed toward the airport. Instead of taking the main entrance, she drove to a gate only known by pilots. It had a code, and Hailey kept all of that information in her phone.
She smiled when the gate slid open for her and she would be able to get to the hangar a different way. The road wound around the terminal a different way and Hailey spotted the cops rounding up the fans and paparazzi. She waited until the cops had left. No need to get caught up in that.
A side door of the hanger flew open and Jana walked out looking like she worked there. She had a jumpsuit in her hands as she looked around. Hailey parked her car and climbed out. “Jana."
Jana hurried over to her. “Here. Put this on."
It was an olive green jumpsuit that had the name of some aviation company on it. “What?"
“If the cops think you work here, they'll leave you alone."
Hailey eyed the jumpsuit. It wouldn't fit and she'd stand out because of that. “Are you sure this is a good idea?"
“Yes. It's the only one I have. The cop didn't look twice at me as I strolled through the hanger."
“Where did you get them?"
Jana shrugged. “Someone's locker."
She'd stolen them. Hailey would be sure that they were returned. She didn't want to get arrested for theft while she was on the job. Her editor might bail her out for many things, but not stealing. Hailey sighed. “If you think it will help."
“Yes. Look."
Jana pointed to a plane sitting on a taxiway. “Is that it?"
“Yes. That's the plane with Noah Magellan in it."
Jana said it with such reverence, that Hailey hid her smile. This was business to her, but to Jana, it was more. Another selfie on her i********: page and she'd been even more popular.
“Okay. Then let's stand by the side of the building so no one sees us. I'll go first so I can see who is on the plane with him."
Jana nodded. Hailey had always taken care of Jana and provided her with chances to meet celebrities that she hadn't ever dreamed of. Hailey wouldn't let her down.
The plane stayed stationary while Hailey readied her phone's camera. There was some noise inside the hangar, but Hailey ignored it. Her attention was on the plane.
It finally began to move and someone burst out of the front of the hangar. Hailey recognized a reporter from a rival magazine. There was no way Hailey would let anyone get the scoop.
Before she could say anything, Jana said, “On it."
She sprinted towards the person running and with surprising agility, tackled the reporter. A cop raced out of the hangar and while that was going on, Hailey strolled toward where she thought the aircraft would park.
She was close to being right. There were shouts behind her, but she wasn't leaving the tarmac until she had something from Noah Magellan. She needed his story and she was the reporter to get it.
The plane came to a stop as Hailey glanced over her shoulder. No one paid her any attention, but some more people with cameras had arrived.
It seemed to take the pilots forever to open the door, but finally, the door opened and the steps appeared.
Here was Hailey's chance.
- Writer
