Page 5

“Oh, right. You two played for the East at the All-Star Game this year.”

“Yeah. He’s a good dude,” Bennett said.

“You think everyone is a good dude,” Patrick said. “I want to hear you shit talk someone, Benny.”

Bennett never would. He didn’t want anyone shit-talking or gossiping about him, so he only talked positively about other guys.

Noah frowned across the table at Patrick. “Why you gotta be such a dick all the time? You could stand to take a lesson from Benny.”

Patrick made a dismissive noise. “Sure. Kind hockey players. Just what this league needs more of.” He stood and grabbed his plate and cup. “I’m going to roll out before practice.”

“See you on the ice,” Bennett said and took another bite. Noah’s eyes were on him, watching, waiting. Bennett swallowed a mouthful of yogurt. “Don’t start.”

“Something going on? You look rough, man. And you’re not watching hockey news?”

“Just didn’t sleep.” He glanced around. Most of the other players had wandered off, leaving their two goalies, who had their heads bent together, discussing things only goalies would ever understand. “Hey, I have a question.”

Noah reached for his protein shake. “What’s up?”

“Have you heard anything about some guys going to the clubs a few nights back?”

“Where?”

“A place over on King Street. The Loop.”

“I didn’t go, but they were talking about it in the team chat. Didn’t you see it?”

“No,” Bennett answered, because he hadn’t. Must have been in one of the group chats without their captain. “Who went?”

“Bunch of guys, but I don’t know for sure. I’ve been out of that scene since Becca and I got pregnant.” Noah finished his smoothie in two swallows, then asked, “Why? Because if they were getting rowdy, I’m betting it was Welly or Mac.”

Bennett didn’t know much about Sewell or McPherson, except that they partied all the time and Sewell always bragged about the women he pulled. Loudly. To the entire locker room. Bennett tried to ignore it as best he could.

“Though Mac is apparently chatting up Sienna Ray these days,” Noah added.

“The singer Sienna Ray?”

“The pop star Sienna Ray,” Noah corrected. “Dude, if he starts dating her, we are never going to hear the fucking end of it.”

Jesus, the kid would be insufferable. No, more insufferable. McPherson already had an ego the size of Saturn. A D1 college standout, he’d been a first-round draft pick. He was a good player, but good players were everywhere in Canada and almost everyone was replaceable.

He glanced over at Noah. “Well, I need to look into something that happened at the Loop that night.”

“What happened? A fight?”

“No. A girl was roofied.”

“Okay, and . . . ?”

“The girl’s relative is positive one of our guys did it.”

“Wait, what?” Noah’s eyebrows shot up. “No way. One of our boys? Drugged a girl? I don’t believe it.”

“I didn’t either, but the guy seemed certain. At this point, until proven otherwise, I need to take it seriously.”

“Well, shit.” They both sat in silence for a minute, until Noah asked, “Have the police been notified?”

“No, the girl’s relative is planning on handling it. The guy’s pretty fucking intimidating, too.”