21. Chapter 21

Chapter 21

Dylan

A ll around us, birds tweeted and squawked, which was a good thing because Clive was completely silent. The three of us were crowded onto a metal bench that faced the flamingos. While the birds strutted and posed on one leg, Clive switched between petting Bessey and popping his knuckles.

“It’s the algae they eat that gives them their pink color,” he finally said before falling back into silence.

A peacock with its long feathers brushing against the ground came stalking past us, and Elise hooked a finger around her dog’s collar.

“Don’t even think about it,” she warned.

We had to lie and tell them Bessey was a service dog to be able to get her in here so we wouldn’t have to leave her sitting in the hot car. Bessey gave a low growl, and her paws danced on the asphalt.

“Dogs and birds don’t always get along,” Clive said, and we both nodded. He blew out a deep breath. “How much has your dad told you about our team's success in college?”

“I know you took nationals your senior year. I also heard Coach Carter was pretty demanding.”

“That’s all?”

“What else is there?” Elise gripped the edge of the bench with white knuckles.

Clive rubbed Bessey so energetically that she flinched away. “Well…we were…we used…we were doping.”

Whoa, no way.

“Doping how?” Elise’s voice shook.

“With erythropoietin. It’s a drug that enhances the body’s ability to produce red blood cells. Coach Carter pushed us all to use it.”

“Did my dad use it?”

“Yes. All of us boys, and probably most of the girls did.”

Elise blew out a low breath and gave a small nod. We’d talked about the possibility of finding out things she would rather not know on the car ride over. Maybe this was her way of making peace with it.

“Does the doping have anything to do with my Aunt Kelly’s death?” Even though the answer wouldn’t make Elise feel any better, I had to know.

Tears were rolling down Clive’s face. “I think it had everything to do with it. She was doping like the rest of us. Some of the possible side effects of too much EPO in your system can be blood clots and heart attacks.”

So Dad was right. Sort of.

“So that’s what my dad was blackmailed with then?” Elise’s voice was hollow.

“What about Tara?” I asked. “Was she doping too?”

Clive turned to look at the enclosure behind us where a pair of vultures perched in a tree.

“I’m not sure,” he eventually answered.

“Even if she weren’t doing it, she still would have known about it happening, right?”

“I don’t know. Coach Carter was very secretive and careful. We all knew that if anyone found out, we’d be out of the program.”

“Man, that guy sounds like a total loser,” I said.

All of Clive’s attention focused on the pair of black birds now preening each other. “He is.”

I opened my mouth to ask my next question, then stopped. Elise’s cheeks were wet with tears. She was actually crying.

“Do you know anything else about my dad’s or Dylan’s aunt’s death?” she asked in a weak voice.

“I don’t.”

Elise stood, and Bessey followed, nudging her with a small whimper.

“Are you going to tell the police?” Clive met our eyes for the first time.

“Honestly, I don’t know. Most likely, if it looks like it’s related to my dad’s death, which it probably is. I want to be sure first though. This will ruin a lot of people’s reputations, including my dad’s.”

His focus returning to the vultures, Clive nodded. “That’s what Jean keeps telling me. She says the store could go under if people find out and decide to stop shopping there.”

Interesting.

“Would Jean be mad if she found out you told us about this?” I asked.

Another nod.

Goosebumps prickled my skin.

“Could you not tell her we had this talk?”

Elise shot me a warning look, but I ignored her.

“I think that would be a good idea.” Clive moved to pet Bessey, then stopped when he realized she wasn’t there. Slowly, he let his arm slide back to his side, returning his gaze to the birds.

“Thank you for letting me know about this,” Elise said. “I know how much it cost you to share.” With that, we quietly retreated.

“Why did you ask him to lie to his wife? That’s not cool,” Elise hissed at me once we were far enough away. She wiped her eyes with the backs of her hands.

“I’m not worried about being cool. I’m worried about angering a possible murderer.”

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