Page 83 of Did You See Evie

He holds up his hand, silencing me. “I think it’s best you talk directly to the police from here on out. I know you’re fond of reaching out to them instead of me, anyway.”

I turn slowly and exit the room.

FORTY-TWO

I sit alone in my office, debating whether I should pack up my things and leave for the day.

What had started as a morning of hope quickly spiraled into the worst-case scenario. The video footage is recovered, and it’s making it clear I have something to hide.

How I wish I could go back and never agree to open that stupid door. I wish I’d never been roped into Nadia’s scheme. I can’t trust Connor or Joanna. For the first time since childhood, I feel like there is no one in my corner.

And we’re still no closer to finding out what happened to Evie.

Mr. Lake has always treated me with warmth, praising my leadership skills and celebrating our victories. This tape, for good reason, made him question his trust in me. Now that I’m on his bad side, all I feel is bitter cold.

Someone knocks on my office door. I’m too dazed with despair to respond, so they let themselves in. To my surprise, Coach Reynolds is standing in front of my desk.

“This isn’t a good time,” I say.

“I’ve seen the tapes,” he says, sitting across from me.

“Congratulations. Now that Mr. Lake has lost all trust in me, I imagine the head coaching position is yours.”

“You really think that’s why I’m here?”

“Of course it is. You want to gloat. Like always. Mr. Lake has told me someone wants me out as coach for years.”

“And you think that person is me?”

“Who else could it be?” I say, defeated. “A week ago, I thought I was on top of the world. Now everything is falling apart, and someone has to swoop in to save the day.”

“I’m trying to help you, Cass. That’s all I’ve been trying to do. None of this is about impressing Mr. Lake or getting some stupid coaching position.”

“Okay. You saw the tape. So why are you here?”

“All I care about is finding Evie. What was on that tape looks bad for you,” he says, turning his head to the side. “But I don’t believe you would do anything to hurt one of your players.”

“I didn’t,” I say, my voice cracking.

Reynolds nods. “So, you want to tell me what happened?”

“I…” I look away, trying to swallow down the wave of emotion rising up, the tears stinging my eyes. I’m used to defending myself, but in this moment, I’m overcome with the need to do something I rarely do, something I haven’t done in years. I want to tell the truth. “I made a mistake.”

Reynolds nods again. “Tell me about it.”

And I do. I dive into the entire story, starting with running into Nadia again, thinking it was some kind of kismet, then explaining how she blackmailed me into opening the door. I’d agreed to help her burglarize the computer lab to keep my own past hidden, but it had nothing to do with what happened to Evie.

Reynolds listens patiently. He leans forward, elbows on his knees, his hands interlocked in front of his body. I keep waiting for a hint of judgement or disgust, but it never comes. He’s open to what I’m saying, slow to criticize.

When he does express some negativity, it isn’t about me.

“This Nadia. She could have something to do with Evie’s abduction,” he says, a sour expression on his face. “If she was willing to blackmail you?—”

“Nadia is a criminal. A thief. And yes, she did try to use my past against me, but that’s only because she was trying to make money,” I say. “She’d never do anything to hurt a child.”

“You don’t know that,” he says. “You said you’ve not been in touch for years.”

Connor said as much too, even though the last thing I want to do is agree with him right now. Nadia and I may have been estranged for years, but I lean on what I do know about her. When my own father was abusing me, she comforted me. She helped me get out of that situation, regardless of what punishment might be involved for her.

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