“Jesus,” I curse as we scramble to get into our lockers.
Bishop pauses. “I think we need to organize a search party.”
“Come again?” I ask, beyond puzzled. “I’m sure the police—”
“Yeah, I know they’ll be out looking for her,” he interrupts. “I’m sure with the idea in mind she’s running with Charlie. But fuck, Dax… she shot Pepper. Legend said she also pistol-whipped Lucy, the nanny. What if…”
Bishop’s voice falters, and he gives a cough to clear it. Leaning in, he whispers, “What if that crazy bitch did something to Charlie? I mean… she’s fucking crazy, right?”
“You think we need to be searching for Charlie?” I ask slowly, because although I understand exactly what he’s saying, I absolutely don’t want to consider it as a possibility.
Bishop rubs at his head. “I don’t know, but this is going to be leaked to the news fast. I’m confident we’re having no team practice today. I’m going to Legend’s, so he has someone with him. I think you need to rally the team together, then get out there and start searching. The more eyes, the better.”
A jolt of adrenaline zings through my body. “Yeah… got it. Can totally do that. And I know exactly who to recruit to help me get it going.”If I thought I wasn’t prepared to hear the news about Lida shooting Pepper and kidnapping Charlie, I am most certainly not prepared for the haunted man who stands before us when Tacker opens the door to his apartment. It’s only been a few days since his accident, but he looks like he’s lost fifteen pounds. Or maybe that’s just because he’s shaved his entire head down to a mere stubbly buzz, which makes his cheekbones stand out gauntly.
His left arm is in a short cast, and he has scrapes and scabs all over his face from the air bag. Both eyes have a little bruising under them, and there’s a cut across the bridge of his nose.
Tacker doesn’t offer any greeting, just stares at me blankly. I survey the shabby apartment complex he lives in, which is shocking given the amount of money he makes. Clearly, he doesn’t care about spending it.
“Team needs your help,” I say, just to gauge his reaction to the word “team” because I’m not sure if he ever really felt he was a part of us. He’s kept us all at such a distance, and he hasn’t asked any of us for help over the course of the last several months since the season started.
And let’s face it… technically, he’s not part of the team. Coach told us the day after the accident that he was indefinitely suspended, and no one has heard any follow up as of yet.
“How so?” Tacker asks neutrally, not even bothering to invite me into his place.
“Lida shot Pepper and kidnapped Charlie,” I say bluntly. The guy has had it rough, but there’s no time to spare him.
His eyes bug out of his head. “What?”
“Pepper is at the hospital. The police are out searching for Lida and Charlie, but the team is all out canvassing the area, too. And I figured you’d want to be in on it.”
What I’m implying without actually saying is Tacker is unable to actually go out and look by himself as he is currently without a vehicle and has a pending DUI charge. Not to mention the whole broken wrist and concussion thing.
But I judged my teammate correctly, since he nods vigorously. “Yeah… of course. Let me grab my wallet and phone.”
He’s not gone but a minute before he returns, locking his apartment door behind him. As he follows me, he asks, “How is Pepper?”
“I haven’t heard yet. Last info I had was Legend was heading to the hospital, so I expect we’ll get an update soon. Bishop is going to start a group text.”
After I unlock my car and we get belted, Tacker twists in his seat to face me. “Do you think Charlie is okay?”
Just last month, Legend had invited Tacker and me to spend Christmas Eve with him and Charlie. Not much gets our big, silent, and brooding captain out of his shell, but he bonded with Charlie. Spent a good portion of the night holding her, and it was the most hopeful I’d ever been about the man.
Or at least I had been…
Until he drove his truck into a concrete barricade.
But I can see the angst in his expression. Recognize it deeply. I’m terrified Pepper might die and Charlie—
Nope… can’t think like that. I’m afraid I’ll vomit. “I think,” I say carefully, “that Lida is a mom first and foremost. Despite the fact she’s done some crazy stuff, all she’s wanted since she reappeared in Legend’s life was to have time with her daughter. I have got to believe that means something. That Charlie is at least safe with her.”