I wave as they drive off and Lucy and I go inside to talk and catch up before the big game. I’m not a big hockey person, but I know how big of a deal this is for Hutch. He’s been here for me so I’ll be there for him. Fair’s fair, right?
“Uh…Daisy?”
I lock the door and turn to where Lucy is standing a few feet from the door.
“Yeah?”
“You have a package here.”
I go over to where she’s standing and look down at the small table where we drop things off as we come into the house. The box has no return address. Picking it up, I shake it and it rattles. What is it?
“Did you order something?”
“Nope.”
Going into the kitchen, I find a knife and open the box. It takes a minute for my brain to catch up with what I’m seeing. Inside is a doll with red hair, one of those cheap imitation barbie dolls. It’s been mutilated and covered in a red substance that might or might not be blood. A note is pinned to the inside of the box with one word written on it—Bitch.
“Uh, let’s call Hutch back.”
“No. Tonight is too important for him. If he gets to play, this will be on his mind and he won’t play well. I’ll call the cops, not that I expect them to do anything, but my lawyer said to report everything.”
This has to be Joe, but how to prove that?
I’m not nearly as upset as I thought I’d be if he did something. Not that I’m not upset. I can feel my body trembling at the thought of what that doll means, but it’s not as bad as the other day. I’m either getting used to the constant fear, or I’m learning to lean on Hutch.
Sighing, I dig my phone out of my purse, calling my lawyer first and then the police.
So much for an afternoon of catching up with Lucy.
CHAPTER 37
Hutch
There areknots in my stomach. I want to hurl.
Collin is doing a better job of keeping his emotions on lock down. He looks stoic. But he’s been like that since lunch. Was it what Lucy said? I know Daisy loves her, but I’m not so sure I do, not after the way she spoke to Collin. Girl is not all that even if she thinks she is. Her one saving grace in my eyes is that she loves Daisy and has and will protect her. That’s the only reason I didn’t snap at her when she used that tone on C. I didn’t appreciate it. I just hope she didn’t get in his head. Not tonight.
“You good?” I ask softly so no one else will hear.
He nods. “Just trying not to show how nervous I am.”
“Hey.”
I look up to see another of the players, Urie Svenson, come over. He’s from Sweeden and looks it with his ice blonde hair and blue eyes. Man is almost six foot five and wide as a Viking warrior of old.
“I’m Urie, the other half of your wingman team on the second line.” He holds out his hand and shakes both Collin and mine.“Sorry I wasn’t at practice today. I had to take care of a VISA issue at the embassy. They were trying to send me back to Sweeden.”
Fuck that would have been rough.
“Everything all good now?” Collin asks.
Urie runs a hand through his hair. “I do not know. I am allowed to keep playing for now, but my lawyer is trying to sort it.”
Shaw Chandler wanders over to where the three of us are. “Urie, everything worked out?”
“I can play as I told Coach, but it is not all sorted yet.” His accent is thick. I’ve heard him talk on the sports channels and its normally not this thick, but then he’s worried about his VISA. All these new immigration rules and regulations has a lot of people worried. Even the wide world of sports.
Shaw turns his attention to me and Collin. “How did your practice go? I meant to come over, but we were going over some tape of the other team. Their starting line is stacked with guys who don’t care if they hurt your or not.”
