Page 15 of Breakaway

“Who told you that?”

“Assistant Coach Baylor negotiated my contract for me.”

“Well, he was wrong. We’ll be raising your salary effective with my purchase of the team. The increase will be on your first check which will be Friday next week.” He raises a brow. “Did he explain to you the other potential bonuses you might be eligible for?”

I shake my head. “Other bonuses?”

“Caitlyn, there are bonuses for certain wins, All-Star games, MVP awards, playoff semi-finals. All sorts of ways. I’m going to get you a complete copy of your contract. Anything you don’t understand come and discuss with me. I will get this straightened out for you.”

“Sir, I— I…”

“We play the game by the rules. I run my businesses ethically and equitably. All I need from you is for you to play your heart out. But after watching your last game, I already know you do.”

“I will sir, I promise.”

“There will be some team changes after this weekend. You already know we hired Leslie. I would like you, Leslie and Tatum to start working more closely with Steph. She has untapped talent. I’ll be at the games this weekend.”

He stands, holds out his hand to shake mine then grins. “I think Doc Banner is going to try to make it for Saturday’s game as well. We’re all excited about what the team can do.”

I walk out of his office filled with hope. Something I haven’t felt in a long, long time.

CHAPTER 9

Turk

I wanted to meet Dad at Mel’s diner. I need to know if Mel’s part of Cat’s problem. I need to know he’s watching out for her, not taking advantage of her.

Dad’s already in a booth drinking coffee. I see Mel pause on the other side of the pass window as I take my seat. I realize not much gets by the big guy. That’s gonna be good or bad depending on his role in all of this.

After the waitress takes our orders and delivers my coffee, Dad starts right in.

“The records were sealed. But I was able to get a friend in the department to dig for me. Your girl’s mom was a drug addict. Her stepdad was a drug dealer and addict. Her parents were bludgeoned to death when she was sixteen. She found the bodies and called the cops.

“Her grandmother from her father’s side had just gone into assisted living. She had nobody except one stepbrother who has taken over the family business. He was twenty-six at the time and got custody of her. The initial case worker tried to intercede but… well, the courts are overbooked.

“Six months later she was picked up for prostitution.” He meets my gaze. “This is the part that stinks of foul play. She was in the lobby of a nice enough hotel, when an officer was walking through after dropping off his parents. Caitlyn literally walked up to him in her skimpy outfit and propositioned him.

“Now let me say, I personally worked with the officer, so I called him. He said he couldn’t ever get her to talk, no one could, but he knows in his gut she approached him on purpose. She didn’t want to be doing what she was there to do and used him to get out of it. Knowing it meant going to jail, says a lot.

“A decent public defender took her case and argued it was human trafficking although Caitlyn would never reveal the name of her handler.”

“You think it was the stepbrother.”

“I do. I think her lawyer also suspected him. She was able to keep Caitlyn in the system which was safer.

“Guys I know still on the force want him taken down. They’ve seen things that link him to some heavy shit. The asshole is smart and has enough money now to buy his way out of a lot of trouble. He also has connections on the force and possibly the city council.

“There is one more loose end. When the grandmother dies, Caitlyn will inherit her house. It’s a big landmark house in a ritzy neighborhood. I’m not sure Caitlyn knows.

“Is she in danger?”

“Would he use her if he could? Yes. Is he out to kill her? I can’t answer that. But I will say he’s the kind that would if it benefits him. If you learn anything or find something, let me know. Slack is not a good man. She needs to stay away from him.”

“That’s an understatement,” a deep voice chimes in. “What the hell is it to you?”

Glancing up, I meet Mel’s stormy gaze. After slamming our breakfast on the table he glowers at me, hands on his hips.

Dad stands and offers Mel his hand. “Mel, good to see you.”

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