Page 54 of Scored

I nodded.

“Coaching might not be a bad way to go.”

“Whatever you decide, I know you’ll do amazing things. As for now, you still have two more years on your contract with the Coopers.”

“Thanks to your dad.”

“And Royce Beasley, but yeah, Dad too.”

“Thanks, Dad,” I whispered to myself as I left Fin in the living room watching film on his tablet and made my way to my office. Sitting behind my desk, I pulled my phone from my pocket and stared down at the screen. My one-sided conversation with Dad continued. “Why would anyone target you? What were you and Ed Clark discussing?”

Another thought came to me. When I asked Bre about the location of the files regarding Dad’s infrastructure initiative, she never mentioned Edward Clark or Coletti Companies. Then again, she didn’t mention any of the investors. She only told me where I could find the files.

Opening my contacts, I found Preston’s name and pushed the green icon.

CHAPTER 22

Vee

“Vee, are you all right?” Preston asked as our phones connected.

“I am. Thanks for taking my call.”

“I was surprised to see your name. Is this about the pillbox?”

My forehead furrowed. “What pillbox?”

“I figured Graham would have told you.”

“Are you talking about the pillbox they found in Dad’s car? How would you even know about that?”

There was silence.

“Preston, how do you know what they found in Dad’s car?”

“Grant told me.”

Shaking my head, I leaned back in the chair and exhaled. “I never realized how buddy-buddy you two were.”

“I couldn’t imagine what would happen. You have to believe me.”

“What are you talking about?”

“Months ago, before the start of the season, you and I were with your family at the house in the Smoky Mountains. Do you remember?”

It was an annual event. In the early summer, before training camp and the beginning of preseason, the Hubbards and Marshes spend a long weekend in Gatlinburg, Tennessee, at our family’s twelve-bedroom cabin. The cabin belonged to everyone. It was part of Grandpa Carroll’s estate that he left equally divided between Dad and Aunt Rachel.

“I remember. Is that when yours and Grant’s bromance started?”

“We’d spent a lot of the day hiking in the mountains. When we were back at the cabin, I was hanging out by the firepit. I think you were with Leigh in the hot tub.”

“Preston, what does this have to do with the pillbox?”

“I’m getting to it.” He continued, “We were sitting outside drinking whiskey, and Grant started sneezing. He blamed it on the budding trees. I forgot what I did until I heard about the pillbox.”

My skin felt tight as I leaned forward. “What did you do?”

“I went to our room. I knew you carried that pillbox with Benadryl for your allergies. I found it in your purse and took the box to Grant. I told him to hold on to it. I meant for the weekend. I can’t recall him returning it.”