Page 151 of Puck Me Secretly

CHAPTER 52

The court setMax's bail for one hundred thousand dollars which I offered to post. Brian helped me prove my assets to the justice of the peace.

I stood in the side room waiting. “What’s taking so long?”

“They’re processing his release.”

“What did the police say after they interviewed me? Why aren’t they dropping the charges?”

“It’s your word against the victim’s. She has no known motivation for making these allegations against Max, but you are motivated to lie on his behalf.”

“I’m not lying.”

“Police are doing their diligence to legitimize your claims, but this takes time. They have to subpoena a warrant for the cameras in Max’s building, but there are no cameras in the stairwell, and the defense is claiming that they can’t prove that he didn’t leave.”

I pushed my fingers into my hair. “This is insane. He’s innocent.”

“I know that, but they need to be sure before they drop the charges.”

“They shouldn’t have pressed those charges in thefirst place.”

“The media isn’t helping.”

“What are you talking about?”

“Your new GM is making a bunch of unholy claims in front of the media.”

“Like hell he is.”

I walked over to the television in the corner and I turned to the local sports channel. Dozens of reporters surrounded Baxter, who stood on the front steps of the arena.

“We report with deep shame and sadness, that two nights ago, one of our players, Max Logan, was arrested for the violent and disgusting sexual assault on an innocent woman. She remains in the hospital. We do not stand behind this player or his reprehensible act. We do not condone violence against women. As I am now acting on behalf of Mark Ashford and the Vancouver Wolves, I will do everything in my power to manage this situation.”

“Will you trade Logan?” A reporter shouted.

Baxter stared into the camera. “I’ll be doing everything I can to ensure that animal never plays hockey again.”

Holy fuck!

I turned to Brian. “Can he do this?”

“If your mother gave him full proxy, he can do whatever he wants.”

A knock sounded on the door.

I turned to see a bailiff open the door. Max stepped in. He looked tired, and he wore the same clothes I last saw him in, but he appeared unharmed.

I rushed to him, throwing my arms around him. “Are you okay?”

He unwrapped my arms from his waist. “Can we talk? Alone?”

Without speaking, Brian stepped out of the room and shut the door.

Something cold and ugly walked across my chest. “Are you okay?”

“How’s your Dad?”

“Doctors believe he will make a full recovery.”

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