“Call and ask him.”
“He might refuse,” Jenny warned. “Jake won’t want to tarnish Adam’s memory, even to save himself.”
“Without his permission, the investigators may not allow the evidence,” Tracy added.
Maggie’s heart sank. The very traits that convinced her Jake was innocent might seal his guilt. The kitchen clock ticked loudly, emphasizing the passing time.
“Stuff it.” She thumped the table. “Let’s find the papers first, then worry about the rest of it later.”
“What about your flight?” Tracy tapped her watch. “We’ve only got a few hours before you have to leave.”
“Jake can’t wait.” Maggie didn’t hesitate. “I’m packed and ready to go. So the sooner we get going, the sooner we get this done.”
“All right,” Tracy said. “I’ll drive.”
Her sister broke the speed limits getting to Jake’s house, but no one complained. Once inside, they rushed down into the basement. The boxes were in the same place the delivery guy had dumped them on the day Jake had moved in.
They went through the boxes one at a time, checking each one meticulously, then resealing it and moving it across to the other side of the basement.
An hour passed, then two. The pile of unopened boxes diminished steadily, but they didn’t find what they needed. The silence in the basement grew tense as the minutes ticked by, broken only by the rustle of paper and the jarring rip of packing tape.
Finally, there was only one box left.
Maggie took a deep breath as she sliced through the tape. The evidence had to be in here.
On the surface, it contained memorabilia and albums of press cuttings. Pucks, folded game-worn jerseys, programs and photos.
Her shoulders slumped as she stacked the items carefully beside her.
Time to admit defeat.
Lifting out a promotional bobblehead doll, she noticed the bottom of the box wasn’t lined with packing paper like the others. Curious, she pulled out a thick plastic folder filled with documents.
Her heart jolted.
With shaking fingers she opened the folder. Even before she’d finished reading the top page, she knew she’d hit the jackpot.
“A credit card receipt from the internet pharmacy in Jake’s name, but with Adam’s address. And the card itself.” She flipped it over. “This isn’t Jake’s signature. We have to get this to Jake’s hearing.”
Jenny dusted her hands on her jeans and got to her feet. “My boss is out of town and I don’t have any meetings this afternoon.” She was the personal assistant to a local media mogul. “If we leave now, we should just make it.”
Tracy looked at her watch and grimaced. “You’ll have to go without me. I need to be there when Emily gets home from school.” She turned to Maggie. “You have just enough time to get home before the driver arrives to pick you up.”
Maggie had a tough choice to make. If she missed the plane, she’d miss tomorrow’s meeting and lose her deal with Patty. She had no wiggle room. It was that meeting or nothing.
On the other hand, this was her chance to prove to Jake that she believed in him, even if he didn’t believe in himself.
Newark Airport or the NHL headquarters in Manhattan?
“I’ll get the evidence there in time,” Jenny promised.
Maggie had no choice. There was only one answer.
Much as she wanted to follow her heart, this time her daughter came first.
* * *
THREE FORTY-FIVE.
The minute hand inched forward. The illuminated NHL logo in the reception of the League’s headquarters seemed to pulse with the same frequency as Jake’s heart.
He ran a finger under his too-tight collar. The damn thing was choking him. This already felt like the longest day of his life, and it wasn’t anywhere near over. His parents and Aunt Karina had dropped by the house earlier to show their support.
“We’ll show them you’re not a jerkie.”
“Junkie.” He’d managed a half smile for Tru’s mom.
“Junkie, jerkie. It’s the same, no?”
“Either way, you’re not a cheat,” his mom had said, straightening his tie. Their unquestioning belief in his innocence had touched him deeply.
As had the many supportive texts, tweets and emails from teammates and other players, referees, commentators, journalists and fans. The Cats and the NHL Players’ Association had issued statements backing Jake and vowing to clear his name.
The one voice he’d wanted to hear was Maggie’s. But his phone had remained silent. Despite what had happened between them, he knew she wouldn’t believe this crap about him. That he needed her reassurance only reinforced the mistake he’d made.