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A chill shot up Julie’s spine, and she sucked in her breath. “How did you get hurt, and what did the doctor say?” she forced herself to ask calmly.
“During practice. I tore my rotator cuff.”
“Okay. Okay. Let’s try to calm down. That’s going to set you back. But it’ll heal, Shannon. Even if it requires surgery, it will heal.”
“No, it won’t.” Shannon began sobbing anew, dropping into a chair and covering her face with her hands. “The X rays showed that the rotator cuff muscles and tendons are really weak and not likely to repair well. But it’s worse than that. They ran more tests and an MRI. They say that my heart muscles are enlarged. They say that whatever is wrong will weaken my heart function over time.”
“Cardiomyopathy,” Julie murmured, feeling her stomach turn over.
Shannon’s head came up. “Julie, I’ll never compete. Never. They told me so. It’s over. Just like that. It’s over forever.”
Julie’s breath was coming fast, and her mind was racing. She walked around and wrapped an arm around Shannon’s good shoulder, holding her while she wept. Her thoughts converged on the most likely cause of this sudden and severe situation. She hated sounding acc
usatory, but she had no choice.
“Shannon,” she asked quietly. “Have you been taking anything? Any performance-enhancing drugs?”
Shannon didn’t answer.
Julie squatted down so she could stare directly into her student’s eyes. “Tell me the truth. I’m not here to judge you. I want to help you.”
Shannon’s lips quivered. “There is no help for me. My life is over. I just want to die.”
“Did you take something, Shannon?” Julie repeated.
Shannon reached across Julie’s desk with her good arm, plucked a tissue from the box, and blew her nose. “He said they weren’t drugs. They were all-natural supplements. I Googled the name of them, at least the one he gave me, and it was exactly what he said. They were helping me so much—building up my stamina, building up me. I felt great. I was training great. Julie, I was ready. And now this…”
“He?” Julie repeated. “Who is he?”
Shannon was silent for a moment. Then she whispered, “Jim.”
Julie tried to hide her shock. Jim? Jim Robbins? Shannon’s Olympic trainer and trainer to so many other professional athletes? “Jim Robbins has been giving you supplements?” Supplements, my ass, she thought silently. They were PEDs. “For how long?”
“Ages. And they’ve been working great. I never thought…”
Julie rose and wiped her own tears away. She wanted to beat that man senseless. How in God’s name could he have given a young girl PEDs under the guise of supplements, knowing full well what they could do to her? How many other athletes had he done this to? And why the hell didn’t someone know about it?
“Shannon,” she said gently. “Who else knew about the supplements?”
Shannon shook her head from side to side. “No one. Jim told me to keep it between us, because other people might misunderstand and think I was taking steroids. So I did.” Her eyes narrowed on Julie’s face. “But they were PEDs, weren’t they? They had to be. Supplements don’t destroy a person’s body like that. Oh my God.” A fresh batch of tears. “I’m going to go right back there and confront him. I’m going to tell him that…”
“No, you’re not,” Julie interrupted. “Jim is a despicable man. I don’t think it’s safe to threaten him.” Julie took Shannon’s hands in hers. “I want you to trust me. I’m going to take care of this. I’ll find evidence to bring Jim down without endangering you. You’ve suffered enough. Just rest your shoulder. Follow the doctor’s orders. And call Phyllis Hawke.” She grabbed a Post-It and scribbled down her name and number.
“Who’s that?” Shannon sounded like a lost child.
“A therapist. She works with young women in situations just like yours.” Julie paused. “Wait a day or two until I speak with your parents and get their permission.” Julie knew damned well that she would be calling the Barkers the instant Shannon walked out her door.
“They’ll give it to you. They’re so worried about me. That’s why they let me come to you now. They knew you’d understand. This was my dream, my everything. I have nothing left.”
“Yes, you do. I know you don’t believe me now, but there’ll be a new dream one day. I promise you. In the meantime, please, just do as I say. Promise me you won’t go to Jim.”
“I promise,” Shannon said woodenly. Her eyes were filled with disbelief and devoid of hope. “I couldn’t face him, or anyone, right now anyway.” A pause. “My parents think I should take time off from my schoolwork and just rest.”
“I agree,” Julie said. Shannon was home-schooled and, in addition, had a personal tutor. It was the only way for her to get an education in between the rigorous hours of training.
“I don’t care about school. Honestly, Julie, I don’t care about anything.”
Julie was fighting with everything in her to stay calm. “That’s how you feel now. And it’s completely justified. It’ll change. I promise.” Julie turned her head and glanced out the window. “Is your driver here?”
