Chapter 15: The Clip

The clip started again before I could read the story under it.

Young Joel struck once.

The other player fell and didn't get up on camera.

The video ended before anyone checked him.

"Who sent this?" I asked.

Joel scrolled down.

"A sports account. The headline's everywhere now."

He stood and pulled on yesterday's shirt.

"You can use the shower. I'll make coffee."

"Joel."

"I have a mechanic coming for the tires."

"Look at me."

He did.

"You already told me what happened."

"I told you why. That won't be in the video."

"Then we put it beside the video."

He shook his head.

"Every camera that comes after me comes after you too. Maybe I should step away for a while."

"You can decide where to stand. Don't decide where I stand."

He looked down at the phone.

"I don't want to give Grayson another thing to throw at you."

"He's already throwing it."

I went downstairs in Joel's borrowed shirt and my own jeans.

Toni was waiting with breakfast sandwiches and a new roll of helmet tape.

She saw Joel's face.

"I watched the whole game once," she said. "That clip leaves out the rookie."

"Where is he now?" I asked.

Joel said the man worked nearby and had stayed in touch after leaving hockey.

"Call him," I said.

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