“Booker Flamont and his friends tried to kill my father, Sheriff. Isn’t that reason enough for wanting to see my dad’s team get back at the Badgers … in a way that would hurt them the most?”

He studied her for a few beats. “No. I ain’t buying it. You and Logan are still hiding something. And I can promise you I’m gonna find out what it is.”

“Well, he’s sitting right over there, Sheriff. Why aren’t you speaking to him?”

Curtis replaced the matchstick in his mouth and shook his head. “No. Not here. Not now. I got enough on my plate back at the jailhouse. But you tell Logan that I ain’t done with the both of you.”

“Fine. But have you made your decision?”

“’Bout what?”

“About the game!”

“Young lady, hell will freeze over before I let that game happen.” He tugged the brim of his Stetson down low. “You can tell Logan I said that, too.”

“Curtis?” Cole sat up on the bench. “He’s here?”

“Was,” Savannah said. “He just slipped out through the back gate … same way he came in, I think.” She glanced at Cole’s teammates. “I see your friends have still not gotten their fill.”

“Well, tell me! What did Curtis say?”

“I think you’re going to have to kill him, Logan.”

“Why?”

“’Cause he said the game would only happen over his dead body.”

“Shit.”

“Did you expect anything different?”

“Honestly, no.”

“I tried everything to convice him to let them play. He’s hearing none of it.”

“I’ll have to talk to him myself.”

“I wouldn’t recommend it. He’s pretty hot. Only reason he didn’t collar you here is that he couldn’t afford to make a scene. His opinions wouldn’t exactly go over well with this crowd. Plus, he’s got his hands full at the . . .” She stopped and drew in a sharp breath.

“At the what?”

“At the, uh … jail.”

“The jail? What are you talking about?”

“Promise you won’t get mad?”

“Hell, Savannah, what is it?”

“It’s just that … yesterday I gave the sheriff a tape that … well, let’s just say that he’s heard every word Booker said at the Circle K.”

“You what? Jesus, Savannah, that’s gonna fuck up everything! When exactly were you going to tell me about this?”

“I’m sorry, but we’ve been a little preoccupied, you know. And keep your voice down; people are looking.”

Cole gritted his teeth. “How the hell can I make this game happen if our opponents are in jail?”