Chapter 15

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Viv and Jack walked down the crowded halls of Abbott Academy trying to avoid getting bumped by teenagers rushing to their classes. Viv glanced at a couple of teens making out at their locker and she couldn't help but think that Reggie was almost as old as those kids. Apparently she wasn't alone because Jack grunted as they passed the amorous youths.

"Thinking about Hanna and Kate?" Viv asked.

"Just thinking that maybe I should start looking into an all-girls high school in Chicago."

"I hate to break it to you Jack. But that," Viv pointed back to the teens, "is unavoidable."

Jack growled and said, "Doesn't mean I have to like it."

Viv just gave him a knowing smile as she knocked on a door that read: Coach Lofton, Athletics.

"Come in." A gruff voice invited.

Opening the door and heading inside, Viv and Jack found Coach Frank Lofton. He was in his 50's, had a receding hairline, mustache and a paunch belly that he wore with pride. He looked the classic part of a high school football coach right down to the whistle hanging around his neck. The wall of his office was lined with trophies and framed photos from local newspapers sport sections. When Viv took a closer look, all the articles featured pictures of Lofton. Viv decided that it the person the coach was most concerned about was himself.

"Hi, you must be the agents here about Jeremy." Lofton stood up to shake hands. "Please sit down."

"What can you tell us about Jeremy?" Jack asked.

"He's one of the best quarterbacks I've ever seen. He can run fast and his throwing arm is phenomenal." Lofton shared before waving to the trophies behind him. "He's lead us to the state championships for the last three years."

"Have you noticed anything unusual in his behavior lately?" Viv asked, with her notebook in her hand.

"Well, his game hasn't been as strong as it used to be. He's seemed kind of distracted." Coach Lofton leaned back in his chair. "This wasn't the first practice he missed lately. That's why I didn't think anything about him not showing up yesterday but we have homecoming in a few weeks and I needed him to get his act together. I thought if I called his parents they might put a bit more pressure on him."

"Pressure how?" Jack asked.

Lofton put his hands on his desk and said, "Just make sure he attended all his practices, get his head back in the game."

"Did you try talking to Jeremy?" Viv asked.

"I tried but he shrugged me off." Lofton began.

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Lofton was sitting at his desk clutching a football. Jeremy was standing in front of him dressed in his uniform.

"What's going on Jeremy?" Lofton asked; his tone serious. "You've missed two practices and if you were any other player I'd bench you for it. Plus, you've been fouling up plays, when you're here you not really here, what's going on?"

"I've just had a lot on my mind. I'm sorry, I'll work on it." Jeremy replied.

Lofton leaned forward on his desk and put the football down. "Is there anything I can help you with?"

Jeremy bit his lip and looked down but replied, "No."

"Is it girl troubles? Is this about Liana?"

Jeremy's expression fell as he replied, "Liana and I broke up."

"Well, I'm sorry to hear that but you know, there are lots of fish in the sea but this season is your last state championship." Lofton said. "Do you get what I'm saying?"

Jeremy paused, understanding what Lofton was really telling him and replied, "Yeah, I got it."

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"He showed up for every practice for the next few weeks so I figured our little talk helped." Lofton commented, clearly satisfied that he did all he could.

"Do you know why he and Liana broke up?" Jack asked.

"You know how dramatic those high school romances are – it could be for any reason." Lofton airily replied.

"Yeah, I do." Viv smiled as she shared a look. Obviously this coach was more concerned with adding another trophy to his collection than the personal life of his players.

"Before we leave, is there anything else you think if worth mentioning?" Jack asked.

"Well, he did have a black eye." Lofton added; his voice mildly concerned. "He told me he got it while wrestling around with his buddies."

"Do you believe him?"

"Yeah, you know how rough boys can be." Lofton shrugged and smiled when the school bell rang. "I have to go teach. Are we done here?"

"Yeah, we're done." Jack replied watching Lofton gather up his clipboard and keys. "We'll need to talk to the rest of your players."

"If you can wait a few hours, the entire team will be here for practice at 3:00 p.m." Lofton replied as he grabbed the door handle to leave.

"We'll be there." Jack nodded that it was okay for Lofton to leave.

As Lofton exited he stopped and turned back to the agents and said, "I hope you find him."

Once he was gone, Viv turned to Jack and said, "I think he's more worried about losing his championship than about Jeremy."

Jack simply looked at Viv and nodded in agreement.