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Reese did think about it, and when Marnie and John arrived moments later, she had to change her focus to Jennifer Brennan. John handed Reese a prepared statement to review. She read it over methodically, scowling.
“No way am I saying this to her. I’m not assuming all responsibility. She’s not faultless.”
“Here’s the thing,” John said. “If we put out the apology, this goes away. If you don’t apologize and she keeps releasing more texts and emails, then it gets deeper for you.”
Reese mulled what he was saying, but she didn’t have to like it.
“Can you give me another day or two? In the meantime, release something publicly that I regret what I said, but nothing more for now. I’m sure I can find some emails or old texts.”
John’s jaw tensed, but he sighed in resignation. “I’ll give you twenty-four hours, but we can’t let it go on any longer than that. And we’ll release a statement shortly. Until then, lie low, okay?”
“I’m not going anywhere.”
“I’m off to check in with Grady. I’ll see you both tomorrow.”
He said the name like Reese should know what he was talking about. “Grady? Grady who?”
“Grady Radcliffe. Your neighbor.”
Reese hopped off her bistro chair and followed her agent to the front door. “Wait, how do you know him?”
John raised an eyebrow. “He’s the new star center for the Renegades. They signed him as a free agent this past summer. We negotiated a great deal, and I’m the one who found him the place next to yours. I told him it was a great building with a convenient location near the arena. Anyway, I’ve got to run. We’ll talk soon.”
“Wait, what?” she said to John’s retreating figure.
“Didn’t you know he was John’s client?” Marnie said.
“I had no idea.”
“I thought you did. Anyway, we need to head out too. Daria and I have a lot of work to do. See what you can do about those emails and texts. And whatever you do, stay off social media.”
* * *
Cam was due within the hour, so Reese did some quick cleanup and prepared the spare bedroom for him. He was like the big brother she’d never had. When she was a kid, she’d often wondered what it would be like to have a sibling, but when she met Cam at the skating academy and their coach suggested that they be paired, it was like they’d known each other for a lifetime. They’d been the best of friends ever since.
He texted her when he reached the building. He had his own key, not that he was in Toronto that much. After he and Reese had retired, he’d moved to London, Ontario, where his girlfriend lived. But when he was in town, he always had a place to crash.
Reese met him at the front door, and when he walked in, she threw her arms around him. Just seeing him made her teary-eyed. He’d always been her rock, and she’d been his. When his grandfather had his stroke, Reese was there every day, helping Cam and his parents set up the house to make it easier for Harry Graham to navigate. Reese helped with cooking, cleaning, and making sure Harry did his rehab. The Grahams were a second family to her, the family she’d always wanted.
“How are you doing?” Cam said, grasping her hand and leading her to the sofa. “Tell me everything.”
“I’m trying to find old texts and emails. My mother says she doesn’t have my old phones, but you’ve seen all the junk she keeps. Something’s bound to be there. I was thinking of driving to Barrie tomorrow. Would you come with me?”
“Of course. Your mom loves me.”
“At least she loves one of us.”
Cam frowned at that. “She’s a bit crusty, but she loves you and she’s proud of everything you’ve accomplished.”
The jury was out on that.
“I thought we could go in the morning. In the meantime, I’m trying to hack into my old email address. I contacted the provider, but it’s been a runaround. And I have a few boxes here of some old stuff, but I don’t expect to find anything.” She paused. “Why is Jennifer doing this now?”
Cam sank back into the plush gray sofa. “I may have an answer to that.”
Reese’s light brown eyes opened wide. “You do?”
“I’ve been asking around. Turns out her skating school is in massive debt. She’s been asking people to invest, but who wants to pour money into in a sinking ship? I think she cooked up this idea to gain some sympathy, and it’s not like the two of you didn’t hate each other back then. If she makes you out to be the villain, maybe people will feel sorry for her and invest in her academy? Or maybe she’s trying to get some money out of you.”
