I laughed. “If you can’t tell that’s him, how do you expectme to believe you when you tell me about his other disguise?”
“I see his stupid face now. I can tell it’s him. Just like Ican tell it’s him when he’s rocking a man bun. What the hell kind of mustacheis that, anyway?”
I stared at Tanner. “I have no idea.”
“Well, I’m glad all three of us coordinated to dress likehomeless men,” Rob said.
“I’m not dressed like a homeless person.”
“Whatever you say. I’ll wait at the entrance instead of inthe stands. I don’t want to be anywhere near Tanner. And speaking of Tanner…howabout you wave him down here so you can tell him that I’m your best friendright in front of his mustachioed face?”
“Let’s wait until after. I don’t want the hitwoman to see usall together before we try to corner her.”
“Fine. But you have to tell him. In front of me.”
“I will.” Honestly, if I was still alive in a few minutes I’ddo whatever Rob wanted. Because I wouldn’t have been able to do any of thiswithout his camera.
I watched as Rob walked over to the entrance. And that’s whenI saw the hitwoman coming into the stadium.
I opened up a group chat between Rob and Tanner and sent thema text. “That’s her walking in now. Keep an eye on her.”
“Get me out of this group chat,” Rob texted back.
Tanner’s message popped up next: “I concur.”
“You guys, focus. I need to wrap up practice and then we cansurround her.”
“Fine. I’ve got eyes on her,” Tanner said. “She sat downright in front of me on the bleachers. I can’t see a gun, but it’s probablyunder her coat.”
I swallowed hard as I watched the kids do sprints. This wasit. Either the end of Mr. Pruitt or the end of me.
“We need a mission name,” Rob texted.
“I actually agree with Robert on this,” Tanner replied. “Howabout Operation Robert Shouldn’t Be Here?”
“Or Operation Tanner is a Liar.”
“What have I ever lied about?”
I put my phone in my pocket and ignored them. Honestly, itwas nice that they were here. But I didn’t want to put either of them at risk. Iwasn’t going to tell them when I was approaching her. Hopefully she’d startmoving away from Tanner soon and then I’d get there and restrain her before Roband Tanner even reached us. That way I would be the only one in danger.
And I couldn’t wait till the end of practice. I’d alreadymade the team sprint for far too long anyway. I blew my whistle and waved themin.
I wanted to make Smith apologize, but I knew that would justmake him hate Jefferson even more. “Great practice,” I said instead. “I’ll seeyou guys tomorrow.”
Smith grumbled something under his breath.
I also didn’t have the patience to reprimand him right now. Icould feel the hitwoman staring at me.
“Coach Caldwell?” Jefferson said.
I didn’t have any advice for him right now. It was back tothe drawing board. “I’m sorry, Jefferson,” I said. “I actually have to getgoing.”
“Oh, okay.” He looked down at his feet and started walkingtoward the stands.
What was he doing? “Jefferson, wait. I’ll talk to you. Justlet me clean up this stuff. I’ll meet you by my car.”
He smiled and nodded, then hurried off to the parking lot.
The hitwoman was already on the move. Shit. I triednot to look like I was staring at her, as I hurried towards her. But I waspretty sure she saw me because she picked up her speed. Not fast enough thistime, though.
My phone buzzed in my pocket, but I ignored it as I caughther arm.
She turned around and looked up at me. “Matt.” She didn’t sayit like she was about to kill me. She said it like she had no idea why I was touchingher.
“I know you’re working for Richard Pruitt.”
“What?”
Rob and Tanner were coming this way. I gripped her wrist alittle harder. “Tell me everything you know and no one needs to get hurt.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
I studied her face and only saw…confusion. “How much moneydid he pay you to kill me?” I demanded.
“Kill you? What?”
“Don’t play dumb with me.”
“I have no idea what you’re talking about, Matt.” She pulledher arm out of my grasp. “You have no right to touch me after you never calledme. I waited weeks like a freaking idiot.”
I lowered my eyebrows. So I was right. I had slept with her? Butwhat the hell did that have to do with anything?
“And the whole time you were with someone else? I don’t evenwant to know if that woman is your wife. I don’t want to be pulled into yourmess of a life.”
“My wife?”
“I saw you with that redhead and the cute little girl.”
I remembered the first time this woman had run off. Rightafter she saw me with Penny and Scarlett. “Wait, you’ve been running away fromme because you think I’m married?”
“I’ve been avoiding you because you’re a dick.”
“Then what the hell are you doing here stalking me?”
“Stalking you? God, I’d rather be anywhere than talking toyou. But I came to see Henry’s practice.”
“What?”
“My son, Henry Jefferson. The kicker.”
This woman was Jefferson’s mom? What the fuck was going on? “Soyou don’t work for Mr. Pruitt?”
“I have no idea who you’re even talking about.”
Her being Jefferson’s mom explained why she’d been to some gamesand practices. But it didn’t explain everything. “Why did you follow me at thecemetery?”
“I didn’t follow you. I was there to put flowers on my late husband’sgrave.”
Oh fuck. It all finally hit me. I’d slept withJefferson’s mom? That was so wrong on so many levels. And not only that, butshe was a widow. She was absolutely right. I was a dick.
“And you were the one literally chasing me,” sheadded. “I thought you were trying to tell me to keep quiet because of the wholecheating thing.”
“What the hell,” Rob said, panting. “Freeze.” He put out hishand like that would have stopped her from running off.
“We have you surrounded,” Tanner said.
“Who are you people?” She put her hands in the air like shewas worried she was part
