Chapter Five: The Walls Have Ears

Mara called it the quiet field. “How long?” she asked. “Two seconds. Afterward I forget something.” “What?” Kai stared at the board. “I just forgot my college roommate's last name.” Mara took the helmet from him. “You're done for today.” But winning made stopping harder than continuing. At Thursday's locker-room meeting, Mountain asked the team to reject Sloane's new low-guarantee extensions. Veterans sat with him. Roster-bubble players stared at the floor. Marcus remained in the back, surrounded by men still loyal to him. “We sign together or refuse together,” Mountain said. “They don't get to use one man's hunger to lower another man's price.” Reserve guard Roy stood. “You have a captain's bonus. We don't. Of course you can wait.”