Chapter 10: The Pool

I held the phone out to Maddox across the console.

He read the screenshot once.

Then he read it again, slowly, and his hand tightened on the wheel.

"I've never seen that," he said.

"It says Hendry won."

"I know what it says."

"It says scholarship girl. By Halloween."

"Roxanne, I'm not in a chat called that. Ours is Wolves Official. I've never..."

"There was a pool." I kept my voice level. "I heard you shut it down on Friday, in front of nine men."

"Teddy told me this morning that you never bring anyone home."

"Because there was no one."

"That's what it looks like when someone is winning a bet."

He turned to look at me.

"You can't believe that."

"I don't know what I believe." My throat was tight. "I was a joke to someone for five years."

"I can't do it again," I said. "Take me to work."

"Roxanne."

"Please."

He put the truck in gear.

Neither of us said a word the whole drive.

I started my shift at noon, and at twelve forty the door chimed.

He did not wait at the pickup window.

He joined the queue, behind a woman with a stroller and two students in lacrosse jackets.

When he reached the front, he stood in front of me with his hands at his sides.

"Next," I said.

"That message is fake."

"Sir, what can I get you?"

"I didn't see it until you showed me. I don't know who sent it."

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