relentless physical therapy for my own lingering shoulder strain from

ed. Each compens

flicker

rs. They're holding a supplemental tryout. A spot opened up. Th

aped. A sec

houlder was better, not perfect, but

t was in

ophia, c

she'd said, a little too

news to him. He was still in the wheelchair, though his "

to fly to Jacksonville, Soph

ed in his car, something that could prove it wasn't his fault. He only just remembered where he might have seen a copy of it –

our drive each way. My flight is the d

write down the details for me, but his hand was shaking too much." She lowered her voice. "He drew a map. It's... it looks like a child's sc

er me. Lucas, master manipulato

s?" Sophia had an army of i

cifically asked for you. He said... he said you're

was a bi

onight, Sophia." The weat

n and out. Please. For hi

leverage: Mom

the map,"

es, and an X marking a spot near a supposedly abandoned warehouse.

e that quickly escalated into a torrential downpour. The o

o near zero. Wind bu

paved track leading into dense woods. The warehouse

d in my rearview mirror, blindingly bright. They w

wheel, my kn

no time

etal. My head slammed a

spun, then

ss claimed me was of the Jacksonville tryout,

as, someho