Chapter 7 - The Victim's Secret
Avery stared at the transfer record.
The money had been sent three days before Lila emailed her.
Hannah folded her arms.
“Maybe Lila wasn't exposing the scheme.”
“Maybe she was part of it.”
Avery hated how possible that sounded.
The next afternoon, Lila finally called again.
This time, Avery didn't ask questions.
She said one thing.
“I found the payment to your father.”
Silence.
Then Lila whispered, “Where are you?”
Twenty minutes later, they met in an abandoned parking structure behind the old theater building.
Lila wore a baseball cap and oversized sweatshirt.
She looked exhausted.
Avery stayed ten feet away.
“Tell me everything.”
Lila shook her head.
“You'll hate me.”
“I already lost my scholarship, my team, and half the campus thinks I tried to kill you.”
“My opinion of you is not the problem.”
Lila flinched.
Then the story came out.
Lila's father had lost his business after a failed investment.
Vale offered help.
In exchange, Lila would help recruit wealthy high school athletes into his private summer programs.
She would also sign false expense forms.
The fundraiser money had been moved through her father's company and returned to Vale.
Lila agreed because Vale promised to keep her father's debt private.
Then she learned he was doing more.
He was selling guaranteed roster positions.
Manipulating scholarship recommendations.
Paying students to provide false medical waivers.
And using donor money to cover everything.
Lila began copying documents.
She wanted out.
She emailed Avery because Avery was the only captain she trusted.
Before Avery could respond, Vale discovered what Lila had done.
“He told me if I exposed him, my father would be charged with fraud.”
Lila's eyes filled.
“Then he said I'd be expelled.”
Avery swallowed.
“And the harness?”
Lila looked down.
“Vale told me there would be an accident.”
Avery stopped breathing.
“He said the clip would fail after I was already low enough to fall safely.”
“You agreed?”
“I thought I'd land on the crash mat.”
Avery's voice became hard.
“And then you'd blame me.”
Lila began crying.
“He said no one would believe me unless I named someone.”
“You chose me.”
“He chose you.”
The words hit harder.
“Why?”
“Because you were asking about the money.”
Avery stared at her.
Lila wiped her face.
“But something went wrong.”
“What?”
“The crash mat was moved.”
Avery's anger vanished.
“What do you mean?”
“When I fell, it wasn't where Vale said it would be.”
May you like
Lila looked terrified.
“I don't think he planned for me to walk away.”
