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Chapter 24
Red and blue lights flashed outside the windows of Coach’s office as Sheriff Terrance arrived, followed closely behind by the paramedics in the aid car.
Cade had been horrified and frantic when he realized Hope had been injured. As soon as he realized she was unconscious he’d nearly lost it. Fortunately, Sheriff Terrance had arrived when he did, otherwise Cade didn’t know what might have happened. The urge to hurt Coach for what he’d done to Hope had been close to overwhelming him. His biggest concern, however, was for her. Somehow, Spencer had been able to call 911 for help during the confrontation, as the medical team arrived shortly after with law enforcement.
With his hands behind his back, Coach Simmons didn’t go silently. He struggled against the restraints, all the while shouting obscenities.
“I’m going to sue your department for every penny it’s worth. You won’t get away with this,” he snarled at the officer as he was led down the hall and outside, where a large crowd of students and parents had gathered in anticipation of the football game. “I have done nothing!” Simmons shouted to anyone who would listen. “This is an outrage.”
Unconcerned about anything else, Cade focused his attention on Hope. She was sitting up as the paramedics worked on her. When he tried to get close, they shooed Cade away.
“Is she going to be all right?” he demanded.
“Cade, I’m fine,” she insisted. “It’s only a cut.”
“You’re not fine.”
She laughed at his insistence that she was unwell.
“You lost consciousness.”
“It was only for a few seconds.”
“We’re going to transport her to the hospital,” the paramedic said, “as a precautionary measure.”
“See,” Cade said, grateful Hope would receive the medical attention she needed.
Although Hope protested, a gurney was brought in and she was placed on it. She held out her hand to Cade, and he walked alongside her.
“Thank you,” she said. “I’m so grateful you came inside with me. Your fast thinking saved us.”
He was quick to dismiss her appreciation and set out to follow her to the hospital, only to be held up by Sheriff Terrance, who asked that he and the three teenagers stay behind to answer a few questions.
Now that the deputy had taken Coach Simmons into custody and Hope had been transported to the hospital, the crowd had started to break up. The air was humming with speculation as to what had happened.
While they waited for the sheriff, Cade turned to the three teens. “How did the sheriff know where we were?” he asked. It seemed like a miracle.
Looking completely drained emotionally, Spencer explained. “When I ran into the hallway, I called nine-one-one and they connected me with Sheriff Terrance, who was headed to the game. Thankfully, he was close enough to respond quickly. I told him Ms. Goodwin might have been hurt.”
Ben added, “I’d called my parents and told them everything. They urged me to go directly to Sheriff Terrance, but I wanted to talk to the rest of the team first. I felt we needed to stand united. Dad urged me not to risk it, but I wasn’t sure anyone would believe me if I came forward alone.”
“You should have listened to Dad,” Callie said.
Ben’s face fell as he nodded. “I thought I could trust Scott, but he was the one who tricked me and then handed me over to Coach Simmons.”
Callie stood next to her twin, her face tight with suppressed anger. “Scott cared more about keeping his scholarship and reputation than worrying what might happen to Ben.”
—
Cade couldn’t help wondering what Coach had intended to do to Ben after the game. Once the truth was out, everything would fall apart. Simmons couldn’t allow that to happen. Too much was at stake. He’d lose the right to compete at the state championship, and possibly lose the title Oceanside had won the previous year. And that was only the beginning of the fallout that was sure to follow. Once word got out, the accolades and possible career advancements would all come tumbling down.
One thing was certain: Simmons couldn’t let Ben go free. Coach was backed into a corner, and there was no telling what the man was capable of. Cade didn’t like to think what might have happened if they hadn’t arrived when they did.
Cade couldn’t stop thinking about what Hope had said as the paramedics wheeled her toward the aid car. She’d claimed he’d saved them. The words echoed in his mind with the memories of those he hadn’t been able to save. This was vindication, a release. A heavy weight had been lifted from his shoulders and from his heart. It was as if Jeremy and Luke were standing next to him and giving him high fives. Then he recalled how badly he’d blown it with his mother earlier that day. Time was on his side. As Hope had reminded him, the door was open. The next move was up to him. As soon as he learned Hope wasn’t badly hurt, he intended to connect with his family.
“How’d you know something was wrong?” Ben directed the question to his sister.
“Eagle Rock,” Callie told him. “When we couldn’t reach you, Spencer and I went to the creek. You went there, didn’t you?”
