29
ROMAN
Three daysof watching Marnie shut down and I’m done playing by her rules.
She asked for space. I gave her space.
She’s been maintaining distance like her life depends on it—avoiding me in hallways, leaving team facilities early, responding to texts with single words if she responds at all.
I know what she’s doing. She’s trying to protect both of us from Winters. Trying to be so perfect, so spotless, that he can’t find anything to use against her.
But all she’s actually doing is making herself miserable while Winters waits for his next opening.
The problem is that Winters isn’t going away. He’s biding his time, documenting everything, building his case. And no amount of Marnie avoiding me in public is going to change that.
So I’m ending this. Today.
I knockon Barrett’s office door at 7 AM, before practice, before anyone else is in the building.
He looks up from his computer, raises an eyebrow when he sees me.
“Captain. Early even for you.”
“Got that documentation we talked about.” I close the door behind me and set my laptop on his desk. “Everything you need on Winters.”
Barrett sits up straighter. “You finished it.”
“Three former players, full medical records, testimony transcripts, timeline analysis showing the pattern.” I open the laptop, pull up the files. “Louden, Granger, Donovan—all rushed back too early, all with complications, all documented. Plus Rodriguez’s case showing Marnie followed protocol exactly while Winters pushed for two days recovery on a grade two MCL.”
I turn the screen toward him. “It’s all here. Organized, ready to go.”
Barrett scans through the documents, his expression getting grimmer with each page.
“This is damning.”
“That’s the point.” I lean back. “You said you couldn’t act unless Winters escalated. But when he does, you’ll have everything you need to bury him.”
“And if he doesn’t escalate?”
“He will. He’s been watching Marnie for months, documenting everything. It’s just a matter of time before he makes his move.” I close the laptop. “I want you armed when he does.”
Barrett sighs deeply. “You know Marnie doesn’t know about this.”
“I know.”
“She’s going to find out eventually.”
“When Winters is already gone and her job is safe.” I stand.
Barrett shakes his head slightly. “Get your files ready. I’ll tell you when weneed them.”
I leave feeling like I’ve at least done something. Set the trap. Now we just wait for Winters to step in it.
But waiting isn’t going to help Marnie stop being scared.
For that, I need a different approach.
The bookstore downtownopens at 9 AM. I’m waiting outside at 8:55.
