Page 48 of No Easy Catch
“Yes. It was last year. He wore a leather jacket and a fancy-ass watch that reflected the lights. I remember because I was getting ripped into from one of our support coaches when he walked in. Mark was pissed at the interruption and barked at him to get the hell out.” He closed his eyes in thought and I cringed at the array of scars scattered on his face. “This dude with the watch said something about the offer expiring and Mark looked furious. He dismissed me and I got the hell out of there. I played like shit that game and was so caught up in my own drama I didn’t really think about how weird that was until now.”
“And you haven’t seen him since then?”
“Mark? I see him every day.”
“No, Martin Rhett.”
“Correct. I haven’t seen him since then and I wouldn’t dare ask Mark about it.” His face relaxed and he leaned closer to me over the table. “Is this Martin dude the one involved in whatever this thing is?”
“It’s looking more and more like it.” This was definitely something to add to our ongoing list of shady behaviors. “Is there anything else you can think of that relates to this?”
“Don’t think so, Henderson. But hey, whatever it is you’re uncovering, be careful. I’ve never seen Mark that angry that fast and I play hockey. We’re a bunch of angry assholes.”
I smiled at his attempt to make me feel better. “I’ll be careful.”
“Is there anything you want me to ask some of the guys? They might remember more than I can. I’ve taken quite a few hits to the skull.”
“Right now, it’d be best to keep quiet.” I tapped my pen against the notepad. “Does Connor still go here?”
Teets opened his mouth a couple of times before saying, “You know, I think he does. I saw that bastard’s face at a bar a while ago. Didn’t give him a second thought, though, until last weekend. He’s one of those special kinds of assholes I’m happy to forget.”
“That gives me enough information. Thank you.”
He finished his drink and gave me a look that saidWell?“Want to stick around for another one or you need to head out?”
“I should head out but we need to catch up more often.” I left a ten on the table and moved to his side of the booth for a hug. “Thank you, really.”
“Of course, Henderson. I told you. I got you if you need help.” He wrapped his arms tight around me. “Let me know how it ends up.”
“Will do.”
I waved and quickly grabbed my phone with my heart racing in my neck.Is this about the new information or about seeing Jeff?
Amber:Hey, you free?
Jeff:I can be. What’s up?
Amber:Got some information about the hockey team. Wanna meet up?
Jeff:My place or yours?
Amber:Yours.
Jeff:You wearing those stockings as we discussed?
My stomach swoopedat his insinuation and I typed out a couple of responses before settling on one I felt was flirty and teasing.
Amber:Double or nothing.
Jeff:Get your ass over here.
19
JEFF
“You aren’t heading out with us tonight, man?” Tanner asked as he opened his second beer. “Our weekends are limited until the season starts and we all just passed our mandatory drug tests. I think we deserve a beer after having that dude watch me pee in a cup.”
I snorted. “Yeah, not a fan of having someone watch me take a piss. But get used to it, man—you’ll do that in the majors, too.”
