Chapter 3
Vee
“You’re making your father proud,” Royce said.
I stood. “Thank you.”
Each person who walked past me offered words of encouragement as well as contentment with my decision. Of course, neither Uncle Darin nor Grant moved from their seats; neither did Daphne and Mr. Eads. I hadn’t asked the latter two to stay.
My gaze met my stepmother’s. “Daphne.”
“Vee, I was there yesterday. If this is an update about Bre Stanton, I want to hear it.” She reached out to Joe Eads. “Joe should hear it too.”
Inhaling, I turned to Cammy.
“They’re both interested parties,” she said.
Relenting, I nodded. Daphne’s posture relaxed.
Leigh was the one to speak. “Mr. Eads, I spoke to you yesterday about the charges against Bre Stanton.”
“Yes.” He pressed his lips together. “Shocking. Abhorrent.”
“Charges are all we know,” Leigh went on.
“I learned this morning that Ms. Stanton has accepted the aid of the public defender’s office.
An attorney, Marc Shiveley, has been assigned to her case.
” Leigh looked down at her watch. “They’re most likely meeting now.
Ms. Stanton was held overnight at the Fayette County Detention Center. ”
A cold chill covered my arms with goose bumps at the thought of spending the night in police custody.
“Judge Chad Gregory from the District Court,” Leigh went on, “will preside. The arraignment is scheduled for two this afternoon at the Robert F. Stephens District Courthouse. At that time, the charges will be read, a plea entered, and rights advised. Since Bre has agreed on representation, the only other matters left for Judge Gregory to determine are the question of bond and the setting of dates for pretrial conferences or hearings.”
“Will they say why they think she did it?” Daphne asked. “I mean, what evidence they have.”
Leigh shook her head. “The charges will be read, but we won’t learn about any evidence until discovery, which will begin after the arraignment.”
“Any idea about bond?” Mr. Eads asked.
“One of the arresting officers told Vee that Ms. Stanton had a one-way airline ticket to California for last night.” She shook her head. “That could be seen as a flight risk.”
“Could bond be denied?” Daphne asked. “She’s dangerous. How do we know she won’t come after one of us? We should tell the judge.”
Joe Eads laid his hand on Daphne’s. “Judge Gregory won’t allow witnesses at this juncture. Since we have a few more hours before the arraignment, I could make a call to the prosecutor.”
I looked from Leigh to Trish.
“Vee,” Trish said, “if you’re also concerned, I can reach out to the prosecutor’s office on your behalf.”
Is Bre dangerous?
“Daphne,” I said, “we have security.” I looked at Grant. “You hired someone for Daphne’s house, didn’t you?”
“I hired Stephen’s Security. They have a team watching over the property and Daphne.”
“I don’t know what I think,” I admitted.
Cammy spoke, “While we’ll work to keep this new development away from the Coopers, it will be difficult to separate the two.” She laid her hands on the table and exhaled. “I would imagine that investigators for both sides will be contacting everyone in this room for statements.”
The idea made my stomach twist. “Do we have to talk to them?”
“If you don’t,” Trish said, “they’ll present you with a warrant. As this progresses, each of you will need to decide if you want to go on record as compliant or not.”
Mr. Eads spoke up. “There’s nothing wrong with waiting for a warrant. I suggest that everyone comes up with anything you know or knew about Bre Stanton and Reid.”
My jaw clenched as I stared across the table at my father’s attorney. According to Bre, he knew Dad wanted to file for divorce. If he knew, did Daphne? My gaze went to my stepmother. Did she know about Dad and Bre?
“Will that include you, Mr. Eads?” I asked.
A crimson blush bloomed from beneath his shirt collar, coloring his neck and cheeks. “As Reid’s private attorney, I’m bound by confidentiality.”
“But you don’t represent Bre, so you could be asked to make a statement about her?”
Leigh interjected. “None of this will occur quickly. Serious felony cases in the Commonwealth of Kentucky rarely go to trial in less than a year.”
“What about here at the football complex?” my stepmother asked. “If Bre is released on bond, you’re not going to allow her to work here, right?” Her pitch grew higher with each word.
“Aunt Rachel,” I asked, “you were the one who said you needed Bre’s help for the CEO position. What do you think now?”
“I find it impossible to believe that Bre could or would harm Reid.”
“They arrested her,” Daphne shouted.
My temples were back to throbbing. I turned to Leigh. “Will you please notify all of us as soon as the arraignment is complete?”
“Ms. Stanton’s employment is a subject that should be decided,” Cammy said. “Under the circumstances, if she is released on bond, I would recommend paid suspension.”
The heads around the table nodded.
“Paid suspension, no access to Maker’s Mark, and an option to work remotely with Mom,” Grant volunteered.
My aunt nodded. “That would work.”
Once we’d exhausted all the options, our meeting finally adjourned. One by one, people left until it was only Aunt Rachel and me remaining.
“Vee,” Aunt Rachel said as I collected my things.
Sighing, I feigned a smile. “Thank you, Aunt Rachel. I hope naming you as CEO won’t cause problems between you and Uncle Darin.”
She shook her head. “I’m a Hubbard. Darin knows that. We’ve worked together in football operations for most of our careers. Darin can handle whatever comes up there. What about you?”
“What about me?”
“You told me why I’m a good fit as CEO. Darin can handle football operations.
Grant is communications, and Lip is chief brand officer.
You and Reid worked together on the business side of the Coopers—stadium operations, ticket sales, and marketing.
Do you plan to keep that up or are you going to shift your focus to football operations? ”
“Both. I can’t step up to CEO until there’s someone capable of stepping into my role. At the same time, as owner, I believe Dad was right about me understanding the franchise as a whole.”
She tilted her head as her green eyes softened. “You have a full plate, Vee. Now with this mess with Bre…I’m worried about you.”
“You’re helping me by moving into Dad’s office. My shoulders feel lighter already.” I tugged on my lower lip with my front teeth. “Was there anything beyond regular work between Dad and Bre?”
Aunt Rachel’s lips formed a straight line.
“It’s a thought I’d been having since yesterday.”
Aunt Rachel shrugged. “I don’t know with any certainty. Your father was a complicated man. Certainly, if there was, it’s better that it doesn’t come out when he’s not around to defend himself.”
“But if there was and Bre’s accused of his murder, it will come out.”
“Reid had trouble with trusting after…”
“My mother?”
She nodded.
A pesky thought had been rattling around in my brain since I learned about the affair. “I’ve never been told the circumstances of my mother’s leaving. Did she leave Dad for another man?”
My aunt let out a long breath. “Olivia and Reid were never truly compatible.”
“I’m an adult. I have few pictures of my mother” —I shook my head— “and no memories of her. Dad made his will, according to Joe Eads, because he didn’t want another situation with Daphne like he had with my mother.
What was that situation? How could she walk away from her husband and baby?
Tell me what you know. I can handle the truth. ”
“This is a conversation you should have had with your father.”
Tears prickled the back of my eyes. “I used to try. The subject of my mom was the only wall between Dad and me.” I shrugged. “I thought there was time…that one day, he’d tell me the truth.”
“If Reid didn’t want that story known, I respect his wishes. That’s the same answer I have for your question about Bre.”
I looked at the message scrolling across my watch face. “I have a meeting about the players on the injury list. I need to go.”
Aunt Rachel reached out, grasping my arm. “We’re going to survive this.”
Fighting new emotions, I pressed my lips together and nodded. It was time to meet with Coach Tilson in an official meeting. Pratt, our offensive coordinator, Brown, our defensive coordinator, and Royce Beasley would also be present.