57. The Unexpected Ally
The Unexpected Ally
Jack
Leaving Harper was difficult, but I know she’s in good hands. Even if my father did have a hand in her father’s death, the man I know would never do anything to hurt me or Harper. Besides, Jennifer trusts my parents, and that makes me feel better.
I just hope her trust isn’t misplaced.
Caden and I dropped Nico off at his house. He needs more rest for tonight. He’s been on his crutches too much. We drove to the practice field, but we’re early so now we’re sitting on the hood of the car looking over the grass.
Each lost in our own thoughts, but comfortable in the silence. Eli’s car pulls up next to mine. Caden and I turn to watch Eli and Luke climb out.
Luke’s jaw ticks like it does when he’s had to be in his father’s company.
“I gave him the drive.” Luke runs a hand through his hair, pushing it away from his face.
None of us have our phones out. Leaving them in the glove box makes this easier.
“The Feds have been in town.” Eli leans against the fence and looks toward where Coach Turner’s car pulls into the parking lot. “It’s got William worried.”
“Do we know why they’re here?” Caden stands and brushes his shorts off.
“My father didn’t know. Neither did whoever was in his office with him.” Luke looks pissed. “At least he doesn’t think it’s Harper, but the guy thought it might be me.”
“Fortunately, Luke’s father doesn’t think that and believes Luke is still his pawn. Willing or unwilling.” Eli shakes his head. “This day is going to be fucked, man. Let’s get this part over.”
“These kids need this. They need us.” I straighten. “So let’s not bring our shit to the field.”
Caden nods. Luke and Eli give me an acknowledging sound as they fall behind me on the way to Darius. He pauses in unpacking his equipment from the trunk when he sees us coming.
“I figured you guys would be a no show after last night.” Darius steps aside as Caden drags out one of the bags.
“We don’t shirk our responsibilities. We made a deal.” I meet his eyes.
He nods. “You guys went through some shit last night. How’s your girl?”
Luke and Eli grab the other bags and follow Caden. Darius closes his trunk.
“She’s okay. Shaken.” I glance over my shoulder at the others before turning back to Darius.
“Honestly, we think the guys might have been on something. It’s been going around school that quite a few athletes are partaking of drugs even at school.
We were hoping you’d be willing to ask for a drug test of all the athletes. ”
Darius’s eyes widen, and then he laughs. “This isn’t something you guys can make happen? I mean, I’ve seen some shit, but nothing like the deferential treatment you all get.”
I shrug. “We take our power seriously, but yeah, there are some things that are better coming from a concerned teacher or coach.”
He grunts and crosses his arms over his chest. He’s got great arms. “I suppose you want me to excuse the football team?”
“Nah, get everyone, including the cheerleaders.” I step back. “We’ve got nothing to hide, and worst-case scenario, you find out the athletes are clean.”
Darius seems to be considering it. “You want a heads-up?”
I shake my head. “I’m clean, and so are my brothers. You can make it a surprise if you want, but I think you should see if you can get it done on Monday.”
“I’ll see what I can do.” Darius moves toward where the others are, and I follow. “No one got hurt last night, right?”
“Not seriously. Nico got hit on the head. I’m sure the girls have some bruises, but otherwise, we got away without any real injuries.”
Do I think Harper will have more nightmares? Yeah, but I’ve got her covered as long as she’s at my house. Between the five of us, we’ll make her feel safe again.
Eli glances up as we get to the bags. Caden and Luke are putting the cones out. There’s commotion on the other side of the field as the kids start to arrive. Parents pull up, and kids get out.
Darius sighs and gestures. “I need to get over there. You guys have this?”
Eli nods. “Yes, Coach.”
When Darius walks away, I help Eli pull out the balls we’ll need for drills.
“Did you call your dad about the basketball players?”
“Yeah.” Eli glances over at where Darius is organizing the boys. “He didn’t sound very happy and said he needed to talk to me, but he said he’d get it done.”
The next half hour we work with the boys, running drills. It’s easy work, and the boys all put forth some effort. But it’s Saturday morning, and they’d rather be in bed or playing Minecraft.
Eli has his burner on him, and it goes off a few times. Darius seems to be paying closer attention to us than he usually does. I’m not sure what that’s about, but maybe he’s worried about what went down last night.
Eli stops beside me as the boys are lining up to scrimmage. “Did you talk to him about the drug testing?”
“Yes.”
“Good. There’s some footage where the guys were a little too loose lipped. It’s not a smoking gun, but it proves they have possession of drugs. Also some dates and times that might be something.”
“That may be enough. We need to catch them distributing though.” We need to shut Zach down. But with the way this town works, they’ll get out with a slap on the wrist, or they’ll get some time for unlawful possession of prescription drugs without a prescription.
Eli nods and heads over to where Luke is working with the kids.
“You know who’s distributing drugs in the school?” Darius steps up beside me. He doesn’t look at me but stares across the field at Eli.
“No one said anything about that.” We don’t trust adults. At least most adults.
“Jack, I heard what Eli said.” Darius raises an eyebrow, daring me to deny it again.
I shrug. “What does it matter? It’s not like anyone can do anything about it. If you say something, you’ll lose your job. This town has this shit locked down. Even the police are in the pocket of the rich men who run this town. So what do you want to do?”
“Fuck.” Darius scrubs his hand over his face and looks like he’s trying to decide something. “I need to talk to you, but not here.”
Even though we’re off to the side, a couple of kids are running toward us.
“I don’t know what you think that will accomplish.” I glance at the others, and Caden is watching us closely. His lips are pressed into a thin line. He can’t seriously still be worried about me and the coach, right?
“After football practice.” Darius steps forward. “I swear I won’t take a lot of your time. I just can’t talk here.”
“We’ve got a tight schedule today.” I shake my head. Caden wouldn’t be down with me talking to Darius on my own. He thinks Darius is trying to get back in with me, but that ship sailed a long time ago.
“Make time. This is important. I swear. It has nothing to do with you and me.” Darius lowers his head. “We can help each other. Trust me.”
He walks away to intercept the kids. Trust him? Fuck. It’s hard for us to trust anyone outside our group, but I’ve trusted Darius with a lot. And he’s trusted me too. I could have gone to the administration and told them about our affair.
Fuck. I know I’m going to go and listen to what he has to say. But Caden will try to talk me out of it.
“No.” Caden grips the steering wheel tight as we head to the school.
“What if he can help us?” I stare out the side window and try to frame this in a way he’ll understand. “He’s not from here. He’s not invested in the William Foster train yet. What if he has some contacts that could help us?”
When I finish, I turn to look at Caden. The muscle in his jaw twitches. He needs more.
“We can’t do all this shit on our own.” I run a hand through my hair as we pull into the parking lot of the school.
It’s daylight, but the fair ground is quiet.
Is the electricity still out or is it just too early for the fair to be open?
“We’re going to need help outside of this fucking town to get some of this shit done.
They let Zach go last night. After he trapped Harper. After what he threatened to do to her.”
Caden pulls into a parking space and throws the car into park. “You don’t think I know that? You don’t think I haven’t thought about going over to that prick’s house and making sure he’s no longer a threat to Harper? Permanently?”
Caden’s green eyes flash with rage.
“Let me see what Darius has to say.” I reach out and touch Caden’s arm. “You can’t honestly think he has any chance of changing my mind?”
Caden shakes his head. “No, but I don’t want him toying with you. Telling you he can help when he’s just another adult stuck in this town with no way out.”
“I’ll give him fifteen minutes, tops, and then you can come get me out.”
Caden nods and gives me a fierce look. “You feel anything’s off, you get the fuck out of there earlier.”
“Deal.”
The locker room lights are on, and the showers are warm as we get ready after practice. Our coach wanted us to run through some drills. He’s working with the other coach to figure out a time that makes sense for a rematch to finish our game.
But all I can think about is being alone with Darius off campus for the first time since the last time we fucked. Neither of us are in that space anymore. He was clear he didn’t want to continue our relationship even if I was interested in it.
Which I’m not.
I dress. There was a note in my locker when I open it.
The Place at 10
Fuck. That’s how we used to text to meet up. I know where he’s talking about. There’s a little coffee shop on the edge of town that’s out of the way. Most students don’t go there.
Caden glances at me. “You sure?”
When I nod, he narrows his eyes. We dress in silence and then head out to the car. I drive this time. Caden rides shotgun, unwilling to let me go on my own. That was his stipulation. We don’t go anywhere alone today.
When I pull into the parking lot, I turn. “Fifteen.”
“Fifteen.” He nods.
I get out and go into the coffee shop. I don’t bother to go to the counter but take a seat at the table we usually sat at. There’s a couple sitting in the back of the store, but otherwise it’s not busy.
Darius walks in and goes to the counter. He orders and then turns to look at me at our old table. It doesn’t matter that we had an intense relationship, because what I have with Harper fulfills me in ways I don’t think Darius ever could.
He pays and heads over to sit across from me.
“This is your show.” I gesture for him to get on with it.
“Where’s your phone?” He glances toward my pocket.
“In the glove box.” I don’t need whoever is listening to us hearing anything we discuss.
Darius nods and his name is called. He goes up and gets his coffee and another before heading back. He sets the other drink in front of me.
“For your time.” He takes a sip.
I take the coffee and drink some. It’s exactly how I usually order it. Harper would appreciate that. She likes things like that. When we remember something little about her.
“What are you thinking about?” Darius asks.
“Harper.” I lift my gaze to his and let him see how I feel about her. “I love her.”
He nods. “Good. You deserve someone like her. She’s a nice girl.”
“I appreciate the coffee and reminiscing, but I’ve got shit to do. So why am I here?” I sit back and wait.
He glances around. “I can help you if you help me.”
I give him a quizzical look. “How can I help you, and how are you going to help me?”
Darius reaches into his pocket and pulls out a leather wallet case. He opens it and sets it on the table between us. I glance down at the shiny badge. My heart stalls, and I pick it up.
It’s gold with an eagle on it. Drug Enforcement Administration Special Agent is engraved in the shield.
Continue the series in Their Final Score