“Fuck.” She drags a hand through her hair, looking like she might cry. “If I get caught later, he’s going to deny everything. He’ll hang me out to dry. But I’ll tell you if you promise to give me the cup and not turn me in right now. If you catch him withactual evidence, I’ll confess that he made me do it. I’ll testify or whatever. Just… not like this. Not with nothing to protect me.”
Hazel and I exchange a look. It’s a risk, letting her go without concrete assurance that she’ll follow through. But right now, the bigger fish is whoever orchestrated this in the first place.
“We need your phone number,” Hazel says. “And your address.”
Brooke hesitates.
“We need some guarantee before we decide not to report you,” I add. “Insurance. You understand.”
“Fuck me.” She laughs bitterly, a hollow sound. “Everything’s gone to shit since I came to this crappy town. Fine. Fine.”
She rattles off a phone number and an address. Hazel types it into her phone, then sends a quick text. A moment later, Brooke’s pocket buzzes.
“Check it,” Hazel says. “Show me the text.”
Brooke pulls out her phone and turns the screen toward us. The message is there—Hazel’s number, a simple “Hi.”
“Okay,” I say. “Now tell us who paid you.”
Brooke takes a shaky breath. “Some guy called Holden Pierce.”
The world tilts.
Holden. Who works in the committee with Pete as the financial director.
The same guy I saw yesterday, talking with Seth’s father about the rodeo’s poor performance. Who got defensive when I pointed out that the town was fully booked with visitors and who is supposed to be managing the finances for the committee that works with the rodeo circuit. What the hell is he doing?
“You’re sure?” My voice comes out steadier than I feel. “Holden? That’s the name he gave you?”
“Yeah. Skinny guy, kind of nervous-looking? Said he worked for the town. Paid me half up front, promised the other half afterthe rodeo.” She laughs again, that same bitter sound. “Guess I’m not seeing that money now, huh?”
“Probably not,” Hazel agrees.
“Are you going to give me the cup or what?”
I nod at Hazel. She reaches into her bag and pulls out the plastic-wrapped cup, holding it out to Brooke.
“Holden still owes me five hundred dollars,” Brooke mutters, snatching it from Hazel’s hand. “But I guess staying out of prison is worth more than that.” She gives us both one last wary look. “If you find real evidence and need me to back you up, you have my number. But I’m not sticking around this town for another second.”
She turns and disappears into the crowd, moving fast, shoulders hunched like she’s afraid we might change our minds.
I watch her go, my thoughts spinning in a dozen directions at once.
“Holden,” I say slowly. “He’s the financial director at the town committee that overlooks all events.”
“Okay…”
I tell her what I saw and heard yesterday. “So why would he be trying to sabotage the rodeo on purpose. Pete is working so hard to keep the rodeo in our town. And I think there’s something a lot bigger going on here than one girl spiking one drink.” I stare out across the arena, at the crowds gathering for day two of the rodeo, at the massive banners featuring Seth and Carter and Kai. “And I think Seth was just collateral damage. A way to create scandal, drive down attendance, give Holden a cover story for why the numbers don’t add up. Except, I have no idea why.”
“Maybe the next town over paid him?”
I shrug. “Something I’ll tell the guys and see if they know anything else.”
Hazel loops her arm through mine, squeezing tight. “For now, let’s go and enjoy the shows.”
And together, we walk back into the arena to watch the rodeo, and I can’t get it out of my head as to why Holden would orchestrate this, seeing as he’s been living in Honeyspur Meadow most of his life.
19
