The Penalty Box (Vancouver Wolves Hockey #3)(90)

“Not sure. They said that Mica has asked to speak to a lawyer, but the police are stalling. They are holding Mica without letting him talk to his legal team.”

“What?” I paused, letting that sink in. “Can they do that?”

“Apparently they can as long as they don’t question him. His lawyers think they are trying to buy time to get more evidence. So, we are in a holding pattern here.”

I sank into my desk. “I don’t think I can work today.”

She studied me. “Mark Ashford wants to talk to you.”

My stomach grew hard. “He does? Why?”

“He didn’t say, but he’d like you to come down to his office.”

“What does he want?”

“I suspect he wants to know what the fuck is going on.”

“What do I do?”

“We’re going to go see him.”





*



Mark Ashford’s assistant ushered us into his luxurious office.

“Charlie, Krista,” he said with a resigned smile. “Please, take a seat.”

I sat across from him, feeling very much like I was about to be scolded at the principal’s office.

He crossed his arms over his desk. “So, I will cut to the chase. I know that your marriage to Mica was a setup—designed to get him to look like he was settling down and moving away from his wild ways.”

I didn’t move a muscle. He looked between us, and I couldn’t take it.

“It’s true,” I blurted out. “It wasn’t a real marriage at first, but it is now.”

He smiled kindly. “Thank you for being honest with me.”

“When did you find out?”

“I knew from the start.”

“You did?”

“From the first time Krista mentioned it to me, it sounded like the most preposterous idea I had ever heard. I knew Mica was against marriage. And for him to suddenly be marrying his agent’s assistant seemed a bit too convenient.”

My hands twisted anxiously in my lap.

“But I knew what your intentions were, and I was okay with it. I thought you’d be a good influence on him, even if the relationship was in name only. In fact, I encouraged him to settle down.”

“Why are you telling me this?”

He crossed his arms. “I figured we should clear the air.”

“Are you upset?”

“Not about that.”

“He’s been arrested.”

“I saw that on the news. Can you tell me what is going on?”

I explained everything.

He looked thoughtful. “I heard rumors that the police thought he brought someone along with him on his away games. I’ve talked to several of the players and the trainers, and by all accounts, Mica has never invited any woman along with him. According to his teammates, the only thing he cares about is talking to you or texting you. He’s been focused completely on the game, hardly drinks and, based on eyewitness accounts, he is alone when he goes to his room. If it ever came to it, we could subpoena hotel security footage of the hallway outside his hotel rooms, but I would bet that the footage from those tapes would prove he’s always alone.”

It shouldn’t have, but that made me feel almost sick with relief. “Thank you.”

Krista interjected. “What we can’t figure out is why he’s being set up like this.”

“Do you have anyone working on this?”

“Both of my PIs are working around the clock.”

He nodded. “Good. Any more details on why he has been arrested or what they are charging him with?”

“Lawyers can’t get near him, but we know it is in regards to Sabrina’s disappearance.”

He looked thoughtful. “You know, I play golf with the chief constable of the police force. Charlie, would you mind if I called him and did a little digging around myself?”

My body filled with relief that so many people were going to bat for Mica. “Whatever you can do to help.”

He came around the desk to put a warm arm around my shoulder. “Don’t give up on Mica, okay?”

My smile was watery. “I won’t.”

“We will sort this out.”

“Thank you.”

“Now, you take care of yourself. We’re all working to get him out of this mess, and we will make that happen. I think all of us know this is complete baloney, so it’s just a matter of time before the truth sets him free, right?”





*



Together Krista and I walked out of the stadium.

“You look like shit.” She eyeballed me critically. “No offense.”

I was exhausted. “None taken.”

She paused and looked over the mostly empty parking lot.

“Krista, did you know?”

She turned to me. “Know what?”

“That Mark Ashford knew this marriage wasn’t real?”

She grimaced. “He called my bluff before you got married.”

“What?” Disbelief flooded me.

She looked apologetic. “He didn’t believe that the relationship was real, but he loved the idea of Mica getting married. We made a deal. If I could get Mica to marry you, he would cut the suspension and re-sign Mica.”