Chapter 17 - The Unspoken Truth
The roar of the crowd was deafening, but the celebration was cut short before Mia could even finish her cooldown lap.
Two state troopers in brown uniforms walked onto the track apron, accompanied by the regional athletic director, Arthur Sterling. They weren't there to award a medal. They walked straight toward Coach Gary Strickland.
"Gary Strickland?" the lead trooper asked, pulling a laminated warrant from his breast pocket. "You need to step away from the timing console. You're being placed under arrest for criminal endangerment and destruction of property."
A collective gasp swept through the arena. Gary backed away, his face turning an ashen gray, knocking over a rack of timing transponders. "What are you talking about? This is a mistake!"
"We reviewed the security footage from the maintenance hallway at 4:15 this morning," the trooper continued, his voice echoing in the sudden silence. "You were seen entering bay three with a metal file and tampering with competitor equipment."
Gary’s gaze darted frantically across the room, landing directly on Brenda in the VIP box. Brenda took a step back into the shadow of the curtain, shaking her head in silent, terrified denial.
"Don't look at her, Gary," I said, stepping onto the track, holding the anonymous typed letter high above my head. "Look at me. Did she pay you to sabotage Mia today, just like someone paid to tamper with my brakes three years ago on County Road 9?"
Gary snapped. "I didn't touch your damn car three years ago!" he yelled, struggling against the handcuffs snapping around his wrists. "Brenda just paid me twenty grand to make sure Chloe won the European spot! That was it! She said Mia wouldn't get hurt, she’d just drop out! That’s all Brenda told me to do!"
The entire arena went dead silent. Brenda turned on her heel to flee toward the exit, but two campus security officers blocked the double doors.
Mia rolled up beside me, breathing hard, sweat pouring down her face. She looked at Chloe, who was sitting motionless in her chair on the track, sobbing uncontrollably into her hands as her mother was escorted down the stairs by police.
"Mom," Mia whispered, taking my hand. "Is it finally over?"
May you like
I looked down at the letter in my pocket. "Not yet, baby. Gary didn't write this note. He was just Brenda’s pawn."
***
