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

“We’re going to look into it now,” Colt said. “Anything else I need to know?”

She shook her head.

Georgia’s gut wasn’t so sure Amber wasn’t still hiding something. She should have come forward with this back then, but she’d been a scared girl afraid of her parents and what they might do if they found out she was seeing a known troublemaker and drug dealer. “You sure?”

“Georgia, if I knew who killed Jared, I’d tell you. I’d have told the cops. But I don’t know anything for certain.”

“Did you see Scott again?” Georgia asked. “After Jared died.”

Amber’s eyes watered. “Yes. A week after he died, Scott got in touch with me. He was oddly quite comforting and kind. No underlying motives or anything. It obviously went nowhere. But I do see him from time to time, and I don’t know, it seems like...maybe regret in his eyes that things hadn’t worked out.”

Or that he killed her brother. If only she knew what Jared and Scott argued about and what would keep Scott from attempting to see Amber again. Even if they interviewed Scott, they’d never know if he was telling the truth.

“Thanks for your time. It was good seeing you again. I hate it was under these circumstances.” Colt hugged her, and they let themselves out.

“Chance Leeway, Coach Flanigan and now Scott Hazer all look equally good for the crime,” Georgia said as they backed out of the drive. “I had no idea Amber even had a crush on Scott. She should have told me.”

“She knew you’d worry,” he said softly. “You were always a worrier.”

Colt hadn’t meant it to sound negative, but it had been a negative thing in her life and in his. It continued to hold her back from things she might want in life, and it controlled her more than she’d admit. The battle was never ending.

“I’ll get Scott Hazer’s address and we’ll drop by. In the meantime, let’s go see Chance and break the news that we know he lied about his alibi.”

A storm was brewing, but this time, they had the upper hand.

Didn’t they?

NINE

Southern High was located in the southern half of Magnolia. The Tigers had been a good team, but never as good as Courage High—and maybe that was because someone at Courage High was poaching players. Were all of Coach’s wins due to cheating instead of growing talented players? Was it Coach who was poaching, or was he truly in the dark about the falsified addresses?

Colt pulled into visitor parking, and he and Georgia exited the vehicle. Aside from coaching, Chance taught Algebra I and II.

They entered the school office, and he showed his creds to the secretary. She told them Chance was in his planning period in his office on A Hall. The school smelled of bleach and sweaty boys. The tile floors had recently been buffed, and only a few black sole scuffs were visible in spots.

Now that Harry Benard had passed, Chance would more than likely move up to head coach. Better pay. Better position. Colt wasn’t so sure Chance had killed Harry, and even if he did—they strongly suspected whoever killed him also killed Dandy. What would Chance’s motive be for killing her? He had nothing to do with an illegal recruiting ring fifteen years ago, and that was what she’d been looking into. Unless what happened over a decade ago could link somehow to Chance and his secret.

The hall was quiet. Banners hung above the lockers, paying respects to Coach Benard. He’d clearly been beloved. Voices coming from Chance’s office echoed in the hall, and Colt put his arm out to halt Georgia from entering.

“Just keep your mouth shut,” Chance said with venom. “My dad takes care of you, doesn’t he? Have you ever done one day of time? No. And you won’t unless your lips loosen.”

“Don’t threaten me, Chance. I don’t need your dad or you. Remember that. But you need me.”

Colt and Georgia shared a wide-eyed gaze. That voice sounded vaguely familiar. Colt inched closer to the door to get a peek at who was in the room.

No. Way.

He whispered, “It’s Scott Hazer.”

Georgia gaped. Colt swept into the office. “Hey, sorry for coming by unannounced. Didn’t mean to overhear, but—”

Scott charged Colt and pummeled him to the ground, obviously having spotted his gun and badge on his belt. Georgia shrieked outside the door, and Colt jumped to his feet—his ribs were gonna feel that later. “Don’t you go anywhere,” he barked at Chance and tore out of the office. Georgia was getting to her feet. “You okay?”

“Yeah, go!”

Scott was halfway down the hall, the heels of his shoes squeaking along the tile flooring as he headed for the gymnasium. Colt gave chase. Scott burst through the exit doors that led outside to the football field as Colt entered the gym.

Colt drew his weapon and hollered for him to stop, but as usual, criminals ignored law enforcement’s commands and he kept on trucking toward the football field. Thankfully, Colt hadn’t given up long-distance running, and he gained on Scott until he reached him and tackled him like it was a Friday night, his gun slipping from his hand.

Scott elbowed him in the chest and went for the Sig Sauer. Colt lost his breath but grappled for the gun lying on the field. Colt retrieved it and growled under his breath, “You’re under arrest for assaulting an officer of the law. Nice going, idiot.” He pulled his cuffs and secured Scott in the bracelets. He called in backup, and within eight minutes they’d arrived and hauled Scott into the back seat of the squad car.

Colt met Georgia by the back doors. “Chance?”

“In his office. But he called his dad, so you know. I stuck around to make sure he wouldn’t run. I was worried about you.”

“I’m right as rain.” His shoulder throbbed and burned from having to manhandle Scott, but he refrained from sharing