“Hasn’t been here for a good six or seven years if I recall.” Another tight smile. “And the records here on my screen say the same.”

“Like I said, I’m aware he no longer goes here. I’ve asked around and no one in town has a beat on him so I thought maybe if I could talk to Coach Bassett, he might know where I could find him.”

There’s another prolonged stare from the apparent keeper of Downship Junior College followed by a huff. “Please, wait here.” It’s all she says before she strides away, her nylons swishing and her shoes squeaking on the linoleum floor.

Only a few moments pass before she can be heard swishing and squeaking her way back down the hallway toward me.

“Exit out of this door,” she says, motioning with her hand, “and then take a right down to the locker rooms. Coach Bassett will be waiting for you outside. He’ll be the one wearing all the muscles and the baseball hat.”

“Okay.” Odd way to put it, but she’s kooky in her own right so I let it go and follow her directions toward the locker room. The school is on the outskirts of Charleston. It’s small but it sprawls across lush green grass, and a grove of trees supplies its picturesque backdrop. The school’s colors of blue and gold adorn the walls in murals and posters . . . and even the coach as he stands waiting for me with his arms crossed over his chest.

“Coach Bassett?” I ask and receive a curt nod in response.

“Yes, how can I help you?”

“Chase Kincade with Kincade Sports Management.” I reach my hand out to him and he shakes it.

“I currently don’t have any players even close to the caliber needed to play in the major leagues so I’m quite curious what this is all about.”

“Ryan Camden.” I smile and shift on my feet as his expression grows guarded.

“What about him?”

“I was wondering if you happened to know his whereabouts or how I can get in contact with him?”

He eyes me beneath the bill of his cap, his arms still crossed over his chest. “Why?”

Why? A part of me sags in relief at the simple word, because doesn’t that mean Ryan is still alive?

I didn’t realize until right now how much I feared I’d find out otherwise. And I’m not certain why it’s so damn important to me that he is alive.