Page 127 of Scored

“That makes two of us who are surprised.”

Jen stepped out and shut the door.

I motioned to the small conference table. “Shall we sit?”

Fin and I sat on one side of the table and Preston on the other.

Preston’s stare went to my left hand. “Congratulations.”

“Thank you.”

“You know,” Fin said, “you could have sent a text. You didn’t need to make a special trip on account of our engagement.”

Preston sat taller and focused on me. “I know what our fathers were discussing the Saturday before Reid died.”

“You do?” I leaned forward. “What?”

“The meeting was about my dad helping with Lexington’s infrastructure. However, before the meeting, my dad learned some possible disturbing information about one of Reid’s employees.”

My stomach twisted. “Why would he be looking into Dad’s employees?”

“Roger Coke is my dad’s fixer.” Preston shook his head. “He does whatever Dad needs. I don’t know why Roger was looking into this employee, other than he was checking out everyone connected to the Coopers. Reid was asking for a large sum of money.”

I swallowed.

“Anyway,” Preston said, “the reason this information is significant is that the employee he learned about was Bre Stanton. She was adopted over forty years ago.”

I closed my eyes and reached for Fin’s hand, under the table. When I opened my eyes, Preston’s expression was filled with sympathy.

“You know, don’t you?” he asked.

“I know that when Bre was put up for adoption, her birth certificate listed the father as unknown.”

He looked puzzled. “How had he employed his own daughter without knowing it?”

Preston didn’t know about Dad and Bre’s affair. “Please, Preston, we don’t want this information made public.”

He shook his head. “It won’t be, unless it comes out in the trial.”

I turned to Fin with wide eyes. “Dad knew. He went to her house on Sunday to confront her. He knew. He hadn’t known, but he knew.”

“You saw him on Sunday after the game,” Fin said. “Did he seem upset then?”

“No. I have a feeling Dad had a way of compartmentalizing different parts of his life.” I turned to Preston. “Bre is pleading guilty. There won’t be a trial. Is Ed going to do anything with this information?”

“No. I told him to let it be buried with Reid.”

“And your dad listened to you?”

“Believe it or not.” He smiled. “My dad has secrets too. I reminded him of that.”

“Thank you for telling us. It all makes sense now.”

Preston furrowed his forehead. “Was Bre blackmailing him?”

“It was a little more complicated than that.”

Preston stood. “Seriously, congratulations on the Super Bowl and the upcoming nuptials. I’m glad you’re happy.”