Page 77 of In Too Deep

My skin prickles with goose bumps, and I stand up taller, taking in what she’s saying. “Anna?” I question.

She sighs and leans in closer as Coby gulps. “Marta spiked the drinks at the party… then she handed them out. I knew about it, and I did nothing to stop—”

“I knew it!”

My blood boils.

I want to pass out.

A bead of sweat trickles down my forehead as I turn and start pacing the floor. My hands clench at my sides so tightly my nails are digging into my palms.

“Anna, you have to tell the officials,” Coby demands, gently placing a hand on my back to try and placate me, but it doesn’t help. I knew, in my bones, it was Marta who destroyed Caro, but I had no proof. All I want to do is scream but also internally combust all at the same time. I heave in breaths and grow lightheaded as Anna slowly starts to cry.

“I never meant to be this way. I was always so strong and passionate… but Marta, she’s evil. She’s so vengeful and horrible. When things don’t go her way, she lashes out, usually at me. She’s a dreadful person. I can’t believe that I was part of something so heinous.”

I face her dramatically as I pant. “Thendo something, Anna!Tell the authorities. Step up and be the brave girl you once were. Tell them what Marta did. Show them the proof and have her punished for her actions. Caro is facing a ban of eighteen months for this, all because of Marta. With a few words,youcan get some justice for Caro and the others.Youcan make a difference, Anna…please,” I beg, and she wipes her cheek and tilts her head slightly.

“What if it backfires and Marta gets away with it? Then she will turn on me, and I’ll suffer the same fate as Caro. I can’t lose swimming, Lacy. It’s what I live for.”

I shake my head. “Anna, Marta won’t get away with it. How can she? Spiking other athlete’s drinks is illegal. She will be excluded from the team, stripped of her medals, and possibly banned for life from the sport. Just think of how amazing swimming will be without her in it.”

Anna stands a little taller as that information slowly sinks in. She half smiles and nods while Coby grins at me.

“You can do this, Anna.Please. If not for yourself, then for Caro, who’s back home dealing with the media frenzy of being a drug cheat when she’s not one. Clear her name, clear our country and make this right.”

She acknowledges with her head before leaning forward and pulling me into a hug. I open my eyes wide in surprise but hug her back.

“Thank you, Lacy. I wouldn’t have had the strength to do this without your help.”

“So you’re going to report her then?” I confirm.

She takes a deep breath, relaxing her shoulders. “I’ll go to the Board now. Hopefully, in a couple of hours, we will clear Caro’s name.”

“Thank you. Thank you so much, Anna. You have no idea what this means to me or what it will mean to Caro, her family, and Australia. You are so brave, and you are a real hero.”

She smiles before glancing over to an official and stands taller. “Here I go.”

I grin at Coby as he pulls me into his arms. “This is unbelievable. She better pull through and not chicken out. Maybe I should go with her?” I glance over to her, talking to the official.

Coby shakes his head. “No. This is something she needs to do on her own. She needs to know she can stand on her own two feet again. You gave her the boost in confidence she needed. Now, she just has to follow through.”

“I should call Caro.”

Coby shakes his head. “No, not yet. Wait till she’s reported it, and we find out more. Don’t get her hopes up, just in case.”

With a heavy sigh, I agree. “Yeah, you’re right. But holy hell, if Marta gets some sort of punishment for this, I’m going to be so fucking happy.”

Coby grins and chuckles. “I think the whole of the swimming faculty will be happy if something appropriate happens to that girl.”

***

After the medal ceremonies and everything had taken place, a press conference was called, and Tuck ensured that Coby, East and I were summoned to the room while they held it. I’m pretty sure I know what it’s about after seeing Anna again a few hours ago, but my heart is racing so frantically at the thought that something’s going down. I just wish Tuck had told me rather than leaving me to find out this way.Something serious is happening.

East, Coby and I are sitting at the back of the small room that’s littered with reporters. A long desk is stationed at the front with three chairs and a multitude of microphones from countries all over the world. We’re not sure who will be speaking. The conference will start at any moment.

The side door slides open, and cameras begin to flash as reporters fling questions. Tuck, the Head Coach of the Australian Olympic Team and a FINA representative, steps out to the table and sit down. The camera flashes are crazy as I sit up taller, and Coby takes my hand.

“Welcome, everyone. I’m Don Tucker, and I’ll be doing most of the talking for this conference tonight. These Games, mainly the swim team, have been tainted this year with drug cheating offences. Four competitors, Caroline Hughes… Australia, Bik Chang… China, Malena Smirnov… Russia and Jessica Holmes… USA, were stripped of their medals and banned from the sport for eighteen months when their tests returned positive for Adrafinil. These four women were not known to each other, other than they were all connected by swimming. We did find it odd they all tested positive to the same banned substance.

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