“I’m leaving,” Coach finally said, keeping his blue eyes lowered. “You can do whatever you want.”
“What?”
“Check your phone,” Coach said. “An article just came out about us—gossiping about whether or not we’re dating. I’m not doing this anymore, Red.”
“Doing…?”
“This!” He threw out his hands. “All of this!”
He sprung from the bed, finally looking her in the eye. His t-shirt pulled tight over his toned body. “You’re a minor. I’m twenty-one. And we are dating. We’ve been alone, traveling together, finding good crags, training. We haven’t done anything legally wrong, but it looks bad. I have to get as far away from you as possible. I’m no longer your coach. I was never here. I never want to see you again.”
“But… nationals. You’re just going to leave me?”
He glanced at her bloody shirt, drew his brows together, then focused on her again. “Are you kidding? Megan, you’re delusional. You’ve been kicked off the U.S.A. Climbing Team. Nationals isn’t happening.”
“But…” She moved back slightly. “You told me that we were going to get through this. Figure this out. That you were going to stand by me.” Tears built up behind Red’s eyes. Her mind screamed inside, her muscles snapped like rubber bands, but she was determined not to cry in front of him.
“All of my sponsors,” Red whispered. “You spoke with them, right? You said if I won the comp in Hueco in six months, then I could have a shot at making the team for nationals. That was the plan. I don’t care about us dating. I care about nationals.”
“Red.” Coach took her by the shoulders, and she flinched. Up close, his tanned face stretched like leather. “You need help. You told me about your mother and her illness. I think you need to go see a doctor. After the incident at the comp in Seattle—”
Red yanked herself away. “No. I’m not like her. I’m nothing like her.”
“Fine. Be in denial. Whatever.” He snatched his backpack from off the bed. “Just like you’re in denial with your ability to stay on the rock.” He motioned to her bloodied shirt. “You should go back home, Red.”
Coach opened the motel door.
“No,” Red pleaded, rushing forward.
Coach paused. Sunlight streamed in through the open door, brightening the dim room. Sweat ran down Red’s neck, her tank top sticking to her skin.
“I’m not leaving. I’m not giving up.”
The air conditioning shut off and the clanking stopped.
“Red, you have no choice.” Coach sighed, his mouth turning down at the corners. “Where are you going to stay? What are you going to do? Sure, you have your GED, but without sponsors, you have no money to support yourself. Your name is ruined.”
He rubbed the front of his chest and his tone softened. “When I saw you at that comp three years ago, I saw something special in you and knew you had the potential to be an amazing climber. It’s why I took you under my wing and paved a way for you. But without me, you have nothing.”
His face hardened once more. “You had your adventure, but your climbing career is over. You have no prospects. No coach. No future here. You had your fun. It’s time to grow up and face reality. Go back to Halifax and live the life you’re supposed to live. Megan ‘Red’ Tucker is no more. But Megan Van Helsburg is waiting. Pick up the life you left off and go home.”
Chapter Four
The Other
* * *
Liam and Nathan edged along the sidewalk, keeping to the shadows. From the sound of their footsteps, they were alone in the damp air. Moonlight reflected off a few puddles and raindrops sprinkled down.
No bruises were visible on Nathan’s body, but that was to be expected because Don had only used “stage fighting” on the boy. Each punch and kick had only brushed by Nathan’s face and torso. Liam would never hurt Nathan—he’d been ready to pass out any second.
Liam tucked his coat closer around him and kept his eyes peeled for any sign of movement. Nathan walked next to him, his head dipped, his feet shuffling. Nathan was only two years younger than Liam, but being around the kid made him feel ancient. They’d spent the last week together, and Liam was ready to rip his hair out.
“Where is your friend, anyway?” Nathan muttered. “I’m cold. I’m hungry. Can’t we just meet him at the bar?”
Liam stopped next to a burnt-out streetlamp and peered up. Murky clouds veiled the sky, matching the towering gray buildings around him.
“I’m not sure why you’re so anxious to get back to that bar—the place where I saved you from almost being beaten to death by Don. You know you owe me, right?”
Nathan crinkled his nose. “Yeah… I still don’t remember that. Not sure it even happened.”
Liam massaged the back of his neck.
He knew Nathan’s memories of the fake beating would be hazy, being as inebriated as he was, so he’d set the whole thing up, hoping he could convince Nathan that he’d saved him. After Nathan had come to, he’d punched Don in the face, and the Spaniard had feigned pain, secretly winking. Liam had a plan to save his livelihood, and it involved getting Nathan Van Helsburg to trust him—first, by opening up about his father.
Everyone knew the late Stewart Van Helsburg had been a powerful man when it came to the politics of the theater, but when Thomas had mentioned Stewart the other night, it had jolted a vivid memory.
Liam closed his eyes, remembering the bitter fall breeze chafing his cheeks. He could still hear the crunch of leaves under his feet when he and Stewart would take long walks on the theater grounds. He could still hear the words Stewart would often repeat after their theory lessons.
“It’s a lovely building, isn’t it?” Stewart planted his cane out in front of him, holding it with both hands. “The theater holds generations of blood within its walls.”
He pointed up to the stone gargoyles that adorned that outer edge of the building, then to the spires that crowned the top of the structure. “Some say there are deadly secrets to this theater. Hidden, in the shadows. My children are what keep this theater alive. You have no idea what treasure they hold. My own family knows tales that would make your blood curdle...”
Being young and naïve, Liam had thought these were just the poetic ramblings of an artistic man. But now, he wondered whether Stewart Van Helsburg had known something. He, too, had heard rumors of a treasure hidden deep within the theater. Perhaps there was a way to save the theater. How much money was hidden, Liam didn’t know, but the Van Helsburg children were clearly keeping it a secret. And if he could convince Nathan to use that money to save the theater, perhaps Don and the others wouldn’t have to lose their jobs. Perhaps Liam wouldn’t lose his fortune. Not if he could help it.
But Nathan hadn’t opened up yet.
“You play the violin like your father, yes?” Liam asked.
“Played. Past tense. Emphasis on the d.” Nathan kicked a can and it rattled down the street.
“Why’d you stop?”