Page 178 of Ice Mechanic

My shoulders tighten. “Crowley, we’re running out of time here.”

“Unfortunately, my hands are tied.”

Those tied hands sure cost a fortune. I shake my head. “That’s not good enough.”

The lawyer sighs. “It isextremelydifficult to find evidence without a witness statement.”

“I don’t want to involve April until we have something solid,” I say firmly. “Dragging her back to that moment over and over again is not something I’m willing to do.”

“I’m aware of your preferences, but there’s a reason cases are built on victim statements. I informed you of this from the moment you hired me. If we can’t find evidence, the statement is a must.”

I squeeze the bridge of my nose. “Even if we submit one, the harassment and discrimination took place between April and her boss. No one else was in the room at the time. I’m no lawyer, but even I know we can’t build a case on ‘he-said, she-said’. It has to be more substantial than that if we’re going to make this guy pay.”

The lawyer remains quiet, which tells me I’m right.

I hunker over the table. My voice is low but heated. “This guy took April into his office, looked her right in the eyes, made unsolicited remarks about her appearance and then fired her. That wasn’t a one-off incident. It’s a habit. Iknowwe can find other women to come forward if we keep searching.”

“That’s the other issue. This man seems very well-respected in the town. Our investigators haven’t found anyone willing to say anything negative.”

There’s a hint of a question in there. As if I’m sending him and his team on a witch hunt after an innocent man.

I fold my fingers into fists. “Small town closets aren’t any different than big city ones. Give it a shake and the skeletons will fall out.”

“I’ll keep working every angle, but don’t get your hopes up, McLanely. Sometimes, shielding the victim and not letting them tell their story hurts more than helps in the end.”

The lawyer hangs up and I massage the bridge of my nose. My temple is throbbing and I wish I could pop a Tylenol and go to sleep.

Unfortunately, I have afternoon training and a suit fitting for the conference tomorrow.

A few hours later, Derek picks me up from the rink and takes me to the fitting. My hair is still damp from the shower since training ran late and I didn’t have much time to do anything with it.

Derek talks loudly on the phone beside me, “No, Sinclair. I don’t want just any makeup artist. I want the world’s best. Give me one of those guys who work on those K-pop idols. I want this guy’s face plastered on the walls of teenaged girls. I want crazed fans lining up around the block, willing to jump into traffic for him.”

I give Derek a squeamish look.

Derek waves away my concern like a common mosquito. He keeps negotiating on the phone and finally hangs up.

“That was the new PR company. I upgraded to a team that works with A-list Hollywood celebrities. Cost me an arm and a leg, but the results speak for themselves.”

I give my fidget spinner a flick. “Why are you talking to Hollywood PR companies?”

“Chance, did that small town mess with your brain or your eyes?”

I scowl.

Derek doesn’t seem to notice and prattles on. “You’re not seeing the big picture. You’re thinking too small.”

“I’m thinking about hockey.”And April.“I pay you to do the rest.”

My agent hooks an arm around the back of his seat and swivels his body so he’s facing me. Those eyes that only see dollar signs are beaming with excitement. He does a flick of his wrist so his Rolex catches the light. “You were all about hockey before and look where that got you?”

“I was suspended,” I say flatly.

“Precisely.” Derek delivers the word with a dramatic flair. “An athlete’s true value isn’t his stats. It’s hisinfluence.And you Chance McLanely have magnifiedinfluence.”

“We’ve talked about this, Derek. I’d rather be known for my skill.”

“It’s too late for that. If I hadn’t stepped in and saved your reputation, no one would have remembered your skill on the ice. You would have been known for that suspension.”

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