Page 47 of Scored

“I do too,” Aunt Rachel said.

Walking away, I read Jen’s message.

“THERE IS A DET. OLDSON HERE TO SEE YOU.”

What the fuck?

CHAPTER 19

Vee

“Detective Oldson,” I greeted as I entered my office. He was standing near the floor-to-ceiling windows looking out over the outside practice field.

He turned in my direction. “Nice view.”

“Thank you,” I said tentatively. “Is there something new regarding my father’s accident or is this about my phone call a week ago?”

“I have a few questions for you.” He looked around. “It won’t take long. Can we talk a minute?”

I motioned toward the comfortable seating area, the same place Don and I sat in earlier this morning. “I have a few minutes before my next meeting,” I said, sitting in one of the chairs. The thought of the coach made me think of something else. “My father had a standing meeting with our head coach every Monday at seven in the morning. Detective, my father was never late. His accident took place at 7:15 a.m. He should have been here in his office with Coach Tilson.”

Detective Oldson took the other chair. “I didn’t know that.”

“I’m sure Don Tilson could tell you more.”

He made a note on his phone. “Ms. Hubbard, can you tell me about what your father did?”

I tilted my head. “What he did? My father did a lot of things. Can you be more specific?”

“His job. What did it entail?”

“That’s something I’m learning more about each day.” A smile came to my lips. “I’m discovering that he did much more than any of us truly knew. He’s left quite a hole here in the Coopers organization. It seems to be taking multiple people to fill the gap.”

“Are you aware that your father had been working with donors and large corporations on an infrastructure initiative?”

“I am.”

“Did you know he had a meeting two days before his accident with Edward Clark from Meadow Farms?”

Preston’s father?

“Two days?” I furrowed my brow. “Saturday?”

“Saturday evening to be exact.” He pulled up a photo on his phone. “This is security footage from the Granddam Restaurant, in the Manchester Hotel. It’s a little dark, but you would agree that’s your father?”

I stared at the screen. The room was dark, but I recognized both men. “That’s my father. Is there a time stamp on the picture?”

“It reads 7:37 p.m.”

“That’s also Edward Clark.”

The detective looked up. “You know Mr. Clark?”

“I used to date his son Preston.”

“According to eyewitnesses, from what they can recall, their dinner was contentious.”

I shook my head, still staring at the picture. “I have no idea why my father would meet with Edward Clark. And my father wasn’t the contentious type.” I looked up from the picture. “Did you say this was about Dad’s infrastructure initiative?”