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Filippo raised his eyebrows. “I said the same thing!”
Nico’s phone buzzed. Sergei calling. “Pronto,” he answered, grateful for the distraction.
“Sir, we’ve found him.”
Stillness came over him, settled in Nico’s veins, and his mind focused with razor-sharp clarity. Fucking finally. “How?”
“Neighborhood door cameras. You’re going to want to see this.”
“I will be there in twenty minutes.”
CHAPTER 25
Optional practice was light that morning. They won the night before and everyone was exhausted, Bennett included. His knee was screaming at him today, so he planned to see physio after he got off the ice. But he needed to deal with something first.
Alex Sewell was missing from practice.
Which wasn’t worrying by itself. But it was unusual for rookies to miss even optional skates. They weren’t veterans who were given leeway or more recovery time. The rookies were expected at optional practices because they needed the extra reps. And if they weren’t attending, they were supposed to let Bennett know.
Sewell hadn’t texted today.
Bennett had reached out right before he took the ice, asking Sewell for a status update. But when they were finished and he was taking off his skates, there still hadn’t been a reply. He sent another text, then peered up at McPherson. “Mac, where’s Welly today?”
“I don’t fucking know.” McPherson threw his practice jersey into the bin. “I’m not responsible for that asshole.”
Bennett frowned. The two rookies had a falling-out, clearly. And it happened right around Chicago. Right around the time Bennett talked to the six players in his hotel room about the drugging. Could the two things be related? Because in the back of his mind, an idea had been taking shape for days, one he hadn’t wanted to name.
Maybe if he hadn’t been so distracted by a certain Italian mob boss, he would’ve gotten to the bottom of it by now. But he had to deal with this—now. “Mac, a word?”
McPherson paused in taking off his pads. “Now, Cap?”
“Yep. Follow me.”
Still in his socks, Bennett led the way to the family room where they could have a private conversation. McPherson was in his base layers and wearing slides when he entered, and Bennett shut the door behind him.
“What’s up, Cap?”
“What’s the deal with you and Welly?”
“I already told you. Nothing.”
“You’re full of shit. You’re not sitting next to each other, not rooming or driving together. Not even talking, apparently. What’s going on?”
McPherson lowered himself down onto the arm of the couch. “Dude, honestly. It’s nothing.”
Bennett didn’t believe it for a second. “Okay, I’m going to ask you something and I need you to be honest with me.” McPherson swallowed, his fingers knotting together on his thigh, but Bennett plowed ahead. “Did you loan your G Wagon to Welly around the time that girl was drugged?”
Bennett expected an instant denial. Instead, McPherson stayed silent with his lips pressed together tightly. His chin lifted stubbornly.
Bennett exhaled and stared down the rookie. “Are you planning to answer me?”
“No.”
“Mac, you need to tell me. If Welly is drugging girls and—”
“Bennett.” Full first name, not Cap. Not Benny. Bennett. Then McPherson rubbed his face with both hands. “I’m a rookie. I don’t want to be labeled a snitch or a guy the other guys can’t trust.”
“This is me, not Coach. Not management. Me. I’m the one you’re always honest with. I’m on your side.”
