Beta

Savannah tried not to think about work while in Nashville, but it was difficult. Dominic had put in on her to figure out the connection between Odella, Bartholomew, Bartholomew’s half-brother, and Miami. And, as much as she researched, she just really couldn’t figure it all out. She was half tempted to go back to Miami, but she didn’t think she’d actually find anything else out from Sebastian. She had interrogated him, but he wasn’t talking. All he would say is that Odella had visited him, and he hadn’t asked her to.

Alex kept Savannah from working too hard in Nashville. While the men were basically on lockdown to prevent them from partying too hard and to focus on the game at hand, Savannah and Alex had the day to themselves. Alex had wanted to visit the bars, and Savannah was the last person to turn that down. She could drink a Jack and Diet Coke at 7 in the morning and be satisfied.

They were smart enough to not be decked out in Stars gear just yet while everyone around them was cheering for the Predators. They sat down at a table by the bar, and Savannah ordered her normal, while Alex just ordered a diet coke. Savannah looked at her from across the table. “No alcohol? There something you need to tell me?” she questioned.

Alex laughed and shook her head. “No, just thought I’d wait til at least noon before I have my first drink. I want to be halfway coherent for the game tonight,” she added.

Savannah shrugged while she waited on the bartender to come back with her drink. “How’s Jamie been?” she asked. Tyler had been a little better, but Savannah knew he was focused. He wasn’t even fighting with her about work like he normally did. That’s how she knew all he cared about was hockey right now.

“A little off. I can’t tell if it’s the playoffs or what,” Alex spoke.

“Off how?” Savannah inquired.

Alex shrugged. “I don’t know. Just kinda distant, I guess. I’m trying not to think much of it,” she said. “What’s new with work?” she changed subjects, and Savannah knew Alex didn’t want to talk about her relationship right now.

“I still can’t find this connection and it’s driving me crazy,” Savannah told her. “I think I might just go talk to Odella directly.”

That caught Alex’s attention. “You think that’s a good idea?” she asked just as their drinks arrived.

Savannah took a long sip of hers before replying. “Probably not, but I don’t really have any other choice. Besides, she was the one contacting me. She clearly wants to talk to me.” Savannah immediately regretted her words, as she realized she hadn’t told Alex or Shea about Odella calling her. She hadn’t wanted to worry either of them while planning Shea’s wedding. And Odella hadn’t called her since then.

“Whoa, wait,” Alex said. “Odella contacted you? When?” she questioned.

Savannah sighed. She had to tell her now. “A couple of times,” she admitted. She knew that Alex was about to scold her, and she cut her off. “It was nothing major. It was always this cryptic message. She would just tell me she has something I want. I didn’t even know it was her at first. I thought it was some woman trying to tell me Tyler was cheating on me or something. But, then we realized it was her. She hasn’t called me since the wedding.”

Alex’s eyes went wide. “She called you at the wedding!?” she cried. “Why didn’t you tell us?!”

“Because I wasn’t about to ruin Shea’s wedding with something that didn’t even matter,” Savannah explained.

“Does Tyler know?” Alex asked suddenly.

Savannah nodded her head. “Yeah, he wasn’t too happy I wasn’t telling anyone,” she told Alex.

“And you think going to talk to her is a good idea?” Alex asked. “You know she’s scheming something.” Savannah knew she was right, but she didn’t want to admit it. “Van! You can’t possibly think it’s a good idea to meet up with her. Promise me you won’t,” Alex said.

“I won’t right now,” Savannah agreed, but mainly because she was currently in Nashville and Odella was either in Dallas or Miami, both locations far away from Tennessee. Either way, it was impossible to meet up with her right now. Though, it didn’t mean that Savannah couldn’t call her and set up a meeting for when she was back in Nashville. She just wasn’t going to tell Alex that right now.

Alex sighed. “Thank you.”

Savannah nodded her head, but her mind was still on Odella. She tried to push it aside and pay attention to Alex telling her a story about her latest photoshoot. Suddenly, Alex interrupted her own story to say, “Hmm...Jamie’s texting me.”

Savannah leaned across the table. “What’s he saying?” she inquired.

Alex read the text and then looked up at Savannah. “He said to meet him in the lobby at 11:30,” she said.

“I’ll go find some lunch on my own,” Savannah smirked.

Alex rolled her eyes. “He said both of us,” she said, pushing the phone in Savannah’s face to show her the text.

“I don’t think I want to be any part of a threesome with you and Jamie,” Savannah joked.

Alex picked up her straw wrapper and threw it across the table at Savannah. “Shut up!” she exclaimed. “I don’t think he’s proposing a threesome. We’re not that outgoing,” Alex chuckled. “Now you and Segs on the other hand…” she trailed off.

“No way am I allowing Tyler to have another girl with us,” Savannah stated, crossing her arms over her chest.

Alex laughed. “With Segs’ past, I don’t blame you,” she said. “But seems like you’ve got him tamed now.”

“I wouldn’t say tamed,” Savannah replied. “Just in a relationship.”

Alex nodded her head in agreement while the conversation changed to a new topic. The two finished their drinks with just enough time to go back to the hotel and meet the two men. When they walked in the lobby, Jamie and Tyler were already sitting in the lobby. Savannah had to admit that Tyler looked good in his t-shirt and jeans. He stood up when he saw Savannah and Alex walk in.

“They let you out of prison?” Savannah joked.

“Just for lunch,” Jamie replied. “Have to be back by 2:00 to get ready to go.”

“Two and a half hours,” Savannah said, looking at her watch. “What will it be, boys? You get to pick. You’re the ones that have to play tonight.”

“Bishop was saying there’s this really good place just up the street. Let’s go there,” Jamie replied, and they followed him out the door. He asked Savannah and Alex what they had been up to that morning.

The men expected some sort of touristy thing, but were surprised with Alex’s answer. “We went downtown to one of the local bars. Savannah got a head start on her Jack and Diet Cokes for the day.”
Tyler glanced over at her while holding her hand as they walked down the street. “Damn. Day drinking. Wish I could partake.”

“You can do a little day drinking when you win the Stanley Cup,” she replied.
Jamie nodded his head in agreement. “Damn right we will!”

Tyler laughed in agreement as he and Savannah walked side by side. It had been a while since they felt like a normal couple. Between Savannah nearly getting killed on missions and Tyler being laser focused with hockey, their relationship had taken a back seat. Not that either of them cared. They both knew that at times, work came first.

Everyone enjoyed their lunch together. The guys were excited to get out the hotel briefly, but both were anxious for the game that evening. Every game was a must win at this point, and if they weren’t focused, they were going to be kicked out of the playoffs.

Even Savannah found herself slightly anxious, and she was accustomed to high stress situations. But, as she and Alex walked into the arena that was filled with Predators fans, she realized this could be the last game of the season for Tyler. His family had made the trip to Nashville and had seats in the same vicinity as Savannah and Alex. Savannah said hi to them, but then found her seat next to Alex.

Alex was tapping her foot, clearly as nervous as everyone else in the building. As the game got started, Savannah knew immediately it was going to be a physical one. Within the first two minutes of play, Tyler got slammed into the boards twice, and Jamie had drawn a penalty against a Predators player that had slashed him.

For as dangerous as Tyler felt Savannah’s job was, Savannah couldn’t help but think that Tyler’s was much more violent and more risky of getting injured. But, she wasn’t about to get into an argument with him over that. She sat on the edge of her seat through two periods, when the game was tied 1-1. Halfway through the third period, the Predators scored again, and Savannah felt like she was on an emotional roller coaster. That only worsened when Tyler scored the game tying goal with just over a minute left in the game.

Going into overtime, Savannah looked over at Alex. Both of them knew that if the Stars lost, they were going to be staying at their own places. There was no way either would want to stay with their boyfriends after a tough loss like this. Savannah turned her head to look at Tyler’s family sitting a section over from her. They looked as nervous as she felt. She clasped her hands together, waiting on someone to score. It wasn’t until the second overtime that the game ended in a heartbreaking fashion. One of the rookies took a terrible penalty, giving the Predators a man advantage. Twenty-two seconds into the penalty kill, one of the Predators’ defensemen had a one timer that went over Bishop’s left shoulder. Immediately, she saw the entire Stars team deflated. Her eyes stayed on Tyler, who just skated to the bench, completely defeated.

Savannah looked over at Alex as the stadium of Predators fan erupted in cheers. “I don’t think I want to go to the locker room,” Savannah muttered.

“I think it’s best to wait on them to say if they want us there,” Alex agreed.

Savannah made her way over to Tyler’s family. “This sucks,” Candace muttered.

Cassidy nodded her head in agreement. “I really thought it was our year.” It was clear that they felt as connected to the Stars as Tyler was. “Do you think we should wait on Tyler?” she asked her mom and dad.

“We’ll wait on him. He may not want to see us, though,” his dad said.

“I think we’re going to just head to the airport,” Savannah told them. “Can you just tell him to text or call me if he wants to talk...something tells me he isn’t going to want to talk,” she added.

Jackie gave her a soft smile. “Probably not,” she said, knowing her son. “But, I’ll give him the message.”

Savannah turned towards Alex, who followed her out of the stadium. They had a flight out late that evening, knowing the guys would be headed back to Dallas on their charter flight. Savannah knew she wouldn’t hear from Tyler, and she knew to just give him space. She was surprised when Alex received a text from Jamie. On the plane. Let me know when you land and I’ll come pick you up.

Savannah glanced at Alex after reading the text. “I’m not going to have him pick me up. I know he probably just wants to go home and go to bed,” Alex told her.

“You can stay at my place tonight if you want. I’m definitely not going to Tyler’s,” she said.
Alex nodded her head, and Savannah watched her type back to Jamie. Thanks but I’m just gonna uber back with Van. Staying with her tonight. Just know that I’m so proud of you and I love you!

Savannah wanted to comment on how overly cute the couple was, but she kept it to herself. They grabbed an uber and headed towards the airport. Savannah knew it was going to be an extra long night that evening heading back to Dallas.

***

Savannah woke up the next morning before her alarm went off. She had told Dominic that she probably wasn’t coming in that day, but that had been before the Stars had lost. She still hadn’t heard from Tyler since before the game, and she didn’t know when he’d contact her. So, she decided to go into work.

Alex was still sleeping, though Savannah expected her to wake up soon. Alex was an early riser, just as Savannah was. Savannah did her best not to wake Alex, though, as she changed into work clothes. She texted Alex to let her know that she would be back home later and to make herself at home while she was gone.

Walking into work, Dominic glanced up from his desk. “Thought you were taking the day off?” he asked her.

Savannah shrugged. “Just thought I’d come in for a bit,” she replied. “Hey, question for you,” she said, getting his attention. “What do you think of me calling Odella? Seeing if I can get her in here to talk?” Her mind had been on Odella for most of the night. She still was adamant about finding a connection between Odella and Bartholomew and Sebastian.

“You think she’s going to talk to you?” Dominic questioned.

“She called me before,” Savannah replied. “It’s worth a shot. Look, Dominic, I know we’re close. We just need that final bridge,” she said.

Dominic knew this was eating Savannah alive. “If you meet in person, you better bring backup. Liam or I will be there,” he said matter-of-factly.
Savannah didn’t dare argue his demands. “Deal,” she said simply, heading off to go make some phone calls.

She wasn’t surprised when Odella didn’t answer her call. Instead, Savannah simply left a voice mail. “This is Savannah Decker. Give me a call back when you get a chance. I believe we have some things to discuss.”

She wasn’t sure how long it would take Odella to return the call, so Savannah tried to busy herself with other work. While the Bartholomew case was at the forefront of her mind, it wasn’t the only case she had to work on. So, she tried to dig into some of the other ones. Several hours had gone by when Savannah got a call on her phone. She had been so busy that morning that she hadn’t even glanced at it before now, and she was lucky she noticed in ringing since she had it on silent.

She picked it up, hearing Odella’s voice on the other end. “I don’t want to speak over the phone. I’m currently out of town. Meet me Friday. 7 pm. At the abandoned house on 10th. Don’t do anything stupid like bringing backup. I’m not bringing anyone with me.” After that, Savannah immediately heard her hang up.

Savannah stared at her phone. Dominic had told her not to meet Odella without backup. But, Savannah didn’t want to scare her away if she was actually willing to talk. She had a decision to make: piss Dominic off and get some answers, or have Odella run as soon as she caught sight of Dominic. Savannah groaned aloud. Neither option seemed to be ideal.

Notes