Bluegrass Undercover by Kathleen Brooks

you have. You specifically tested for it during training camp. Strange that you’ve heard about it, considering that it has just now been submitted to the FDA for the animal testing phase. Also it’s strange that you knew you had to test specifically for S2.” Cade watched as Trevor transformed from the buddy-buddy salesman to the cold blooded dealer that he hid underneath a nice suit.
    “ I’m the kids’ coach. I hear them talk in the locker room. See what they do when they think no one is around. I see and hear everything that goes on with my team. That’s what being a good coach is all about.”
    “ A good coach, yes, but not a great coach. I can make you a great coach.”
    “ How?” Cade was interested in seeing how much he could learn for Annie. Would bringing her this information get her to say yes to a date? She hadn’t, after all, been able to give him an answer to his question about a date.
    “ I can make you a great coach by you accepting my proposition, Mr. Davies. My very profitable proposition.”
    “ I’m listening, but I can tell you now the mostly likely answer will be no.” Cade heard the steroid triplets suck in their breath. At the sight of Trevor’s eyes narrowing into cold flints of blue ice, he guessed not too many people told Trevor no, and of those, not many lived.
    “ No one says no to the Gaylen and lives to tell about it. What do you want me to do about it boss?” one of the steroid triplets asked.
    “ Isn’t that a little cliché?” Cade suppressed the chuckle. It was all straight out of a bad movie.
    “ Nothing…for now. Let’s see what Mr. Davies says after I have pitched him my proposition.” Trevor took a step forward and jabbed him in the stomach.
    Cade sucked in a breath from the punch he was not expecting. He had gotten caught up in laughing at the goons and didn’t take Gaylen seriously, a mistake he wouldn’t make again. It wasn’t the strongest punch Cade had ever taken, but it was enough to make his stomach knot. Okay, time for playing games was over.
    “ Now, be a good boy and listen to what I have to say before you answer. As a teacher, you should know better than to make a judgment before hearing all the facts.” He watched as Gaylen stepped back to lean against his desk. “This is what you are going to do. You are never going to test for S2 again. You are going to strongly recommend to all your top players that they come in for a free, six month promotional pass to the Keeneston Iron Club and Spa. They will receive free personal training from retired NFL player Devon Ross as a nice perk and enticement to join. It should also give you peace of mind to know they’re being trained by one of the best.”
    “ Didn’t Ross only play for one season with the Cincinnati Bengals?”
    “ It’s more than you played. I believe your coaching bio states you only played high school ball,” Gaylen scoffed.
    “ You got me there. Go on. What else do you want?” Cade tried not to roll his eyes. Fighting terrorism got in his way of college ball. Apparently Trevor hadn’t dug that far in his history. Not too smart on his part.
    “ Oh Coach, it’s not what I want. It’s what I can give you. I can give you the best team in the state. All I need from you is for you to coach the team.”
    “ That’s it?” Cade asked skeptically.
    “ That’s it. You recommend the players come to the gym, you stay out of the locker room after practice, and you stop the special drug testing for S2.”
    “ You’re asking me to break the law. To supply my kids with an illegal substance.”
    “ Not at all! S2 is only temporarily illegal. Soon enough it will be legal when we have a chance to present it to the FDA. And, I am not asking you to supply it. Simply turn a blind eye to it and in return you get a championship team.”
    “ What about the state required drug tests?”
    “ Do them. By all means do everything the athletic board requires of you. Just what they require you to