“What I am is outta here,” Cole said. “Coach, don’t worry about me. I’ll be on that bus tonight, ready to play.”

Curtis took hold of his elbow. “Cole, you’re gonna get your butt in that ambulance and go to the hospital. And you’re gonna wait until I get there so you can answer the rest of my questions. I want to know exactly what happened in your front yard this morning.”

“Speaking of questions, Sheriff, what say you answer mine?” Savannah intervened.

The sheriff shook his head. “Not now, missy.”

Savannah looked at her father. “Fine. How ’bout a statement from you, then, Coach?”

“I’m not your coach, I’m your father, and I’m telling you to give it a rest.”

Cole broke free of Curtis’s grasp.

Curtis said, “Get in that ambulance now, Cole! It’s not a request.”

“Hey, Cole!”

All eyes turned to Maxine Wiley. The varsity head cheerleader stood at the front of the crowd, one hip cocked strategically, her skirt riding high.

“I know how to make that hand feel better,” she said. “I think you’ll remember what I’m talkin’ about.”

Laughter and whistles all around.

Savannah rolled her eyes and jabbed the recorder into Cole’s face. “So why the reluctance to seek medical attention, Mr. Logan?”

“No comment, sweet . . .” He started to say sweet tits, but remembered that he was addressing his coach’s daughter. “Sorry, Ms. Hickham. No comment at this time.”

“It’s a simple question,” she persisted. “Why would a football player with a big game only hours away be so reluctant to receive medical attention?”

The answer was that getting into the ambulance would mean going to the hospital, which would also mean stitches, sedatives, and more questions about the attack at his house—all things that could prevent him from playing tonight. He knew that even a suggestion of the threats made to him—and to his teammates—might mean a cancellation of the game.

“All right, fine. I’ll go to the hospital,” he said, feigning surrender. “But let me drive myself.”

“You think I was born yesterday, Cole?”

“Curtis, I’ll go straight to the emergency room, I promise. I just don’t like ambulances and would prefer to take my bike, that’s all.”

“Cole, it’s not safe for you to ride a motorbike with your hand like that,” Hickham said.

“I’ll be fine.”

Curtis shook his head. “I said no.” He made a move for his handcuffs.

Savannah jumped between them. “I’ll take him.”

All eyes went to her.

“Sure,” she said. “I’ll take him. I’ve got my car here. It’ll be no problem.”

“And why, may I ask, are you volunteering?” Hickham said.

She took her time answering. “Call it school spirit and giving back to the community. You don’t mind, do you, Mr. Logan?”