Love Inspired Suspense April 2021--Box Set 2 of 2 by Laura Scott (free e reader .TXT) 📕

murder. Then a couple of days before his death, he’d confided in Karen he was going with Mississippi State as originally planned. They were surprised, but it was his choice.

Neither had new information to offer. Colt shared a little about the podcast and the attacks that followed and Georgia’s theory about the illegal recruiting. Colt thanked them for coming and assured them he would not rest until he discovered who’d killed Jared, and Georgia echoed the same promise.

They saw themselves out, and Colt lifted his chin to motion Georgia toward the door. “Here comes trouble,” he grumbled.

Chance Leeway strutted into the room. Time hadn’t aged him. He carried the athletic swagger and had the physique to back it up. Not a fleck of gray in his blond hair. Clean shaven and irritated.

“McCoy,” he said as if it were minutes before a game and he knew he was going to win.

Colt didn’t ask Chance to use Colt’s proper title. Didn’t matter. He was in charge of this meeting whether Chance realized it or not. “Chance. Good to see you. Hate it’s under these circumstances.” He extended his hand for a shake. Chance shook it.

“What exactly are these circumstances? I need to be at the school, not here answering questions that I answered a billion years ago.”

Colt clucked his tongue against his teeth. “Well, according to the reports from those billion years ago, you didn’t say much at all due to a lawyer telling you to remain quiet. I don’t see a lawyer now. You need one?”

“You tell me.” His green eyes hardened.

“You’re being questioned, not arrested, but I can read you your rights if you want me to.” He invited Chance to take a seat with a sweep of his hand.

Chance scowled and plopped in the chair with a thud.

“Well, he’s still a charmer,” Colt murmured.

Georgia hid a smirk and sat beside Colt.

Could he be Georgia’s attacker? Did he poison her dogs? He’d had time to kill Coach Benard, clean up and be here now. They’d spent over an hour with the Wilcoxes.

“Why are you here?” he asked Georgia.

“She’s consulting on the case.” He explained about the podcast and attacks.

Chance didn’t seem too concerned for Georgia’s plight. Didn’t make him a killer. Just a tool.

“Tell me about that Saturday night Jared died. What did you do that evening? Do you remember? I know it’s been a long time, man. I’m not expecting a sharp memory, but something. Jared might not have been your best bud, but he didn’t deserve to die.”

Chance nodded. “I respected his game. For sure. Look, truth is I was angry about the game the night before. Y’all won, but I thought the ref made some biased calls. I said some insulting slurs to Jared—to all y’all. I carried the grudge into Saturday night. After meeting up with some guys at the Dairy Freeze, I called Jared to apologize for the threats I’d made. That’s why my dad secured an attorney for me, because that made me a suspect and he didn’t think anyone would believe I was apologizing. You know he’s also a criminal defense attorney.”

Colt didn’t believe it now. Chance wasn’t known for saying sorry, and he wasn’t even cordial about being here.

“I appreciate your cooperation. I’m well aware of teenage rage and spouting off hot air. How did Jared respond to your threats prior to your apology? What kind of threats, by the way?”

Chance snorted. “Typical butt-kicking if he crossed my path. I made it clear that I was the better player and everyone knew it. Face it—it was true.”

It was true. Chance had had a better arm, but Jared was definitely scholarship material even without a deal under the table.

“Did you have a problem with the rumors that Jared was going to Ole Magnolia to play first-string QB and on a full ride for them, when you were going, too—with no ride—and were the better player?” Colt asked. “You’d have been playing his second string. I’d be fit to be tied if it were me. Because you’re right, dude. You were the better player, and Jared knew it. Admitted it to me once.”

Chance rubbed his chin and adjusted his ball cap that read Tigers. “I was miffed. Yeah. But not enough to kill him for a place on the team. Besides, he told me that night on the phone he was looking at going to Mississippi State instead. Probably wouldn’t play much, but he wasn’t feeling Ole Magnolia like he was before. I was shocked. He was gonna pick less playing time over all the fame and glory and the possibility of being drafted into the NFL? I told him he was an idiot.”

Maybe Chance wasn’t lying about the apology. He had just reiterated what Jared’s parents had told them. Only Jared could have told him that. Colt leaned back and crossed an ankle over his other knee in a kicked-back, easygoing position. “Did he tell you that after or before you apologized?”

“After. Told me it wasn’t necessary anyway. I was gonna get all the playing time I wanted. Suited me. Why kill him if I was going to get what I wanted anyway? I had no motive.”

Said like a true attorney’s kid.

“How do you and Coach Benard get along?”

Chance grinned. “I like ol’ Benard. He’s old-school, but he listens to me, and quite frankly, he’s been the mentor I never had. I’ve learned a lot about football from him. Why?”

“What do you know about illegal recruiting? Did he say if that went on at Courage High?”

Chance frowned. “It goes on. For sure. But not at Southern High. Benard is a straight arrow, and he wouldn’t do that. Now, I can’t say your boy Flanigan wouldn’t, and I heard he has. Some guys I used to play with suddenly moved into the district to play for Flanigan. Rumors were it had been worth their while, and they did go on to play for Ole Magnolia, but I don’t have proof. I guess ask Benard.”

Chance