Page 170 of Play Dirty

“Controlling outcomes.”

Silence.

“Gambling?” Grayson asked.

“Among other things,” Trees said. “Guy’s got his hands in places they don’t show on spreadsheets.”

“Why us?” I demanded. “Why tank our games?”

Trees shrugged.

“Draft position. Leverage. Contracts. Maybe he just needed a losing streak to justify cleaning house.”

He raised his glass like he was toasting someone.

“Starting with me.”

He drank again. I had the feeling he was getting all too used to it.

“He used Sutherland,” I said.

“Yeah,” Trees nodded. “And when Sutherland got nervous?”

Another small smile.

“He tightened the leash.”

My lip curled. I felt bile working its way up my throat.

“You tried to expose it,” Grayson said, matter-of-factly.

“I tried to stop it,” Trees corrected. “Big difference.”

Grayson slid forward on his chair.

“Did you ever get proof?”

Trees shook his head. “Not enough to survive it.”

“Meaning?”

“Meaning if I’d gone public, they’d bury me,” the coach said. “Maybe you too. Maybe the whole team.”

My eyes flicked to Grayson. There was still guilt in his eyes.

But now, also some vindication.

“Any of this sound familiar?” Trees asked.

Grayson exhaled slowly, nodding his head.

“Yeah.”

“Captain tried to contain it,” Trees said solemnly. “Better than detonating it.”

I grunted. “Tell that to the games we lost.”

“Tell that to the careers that would’ve ended,” he shot back.