Chapter One: The Deleted Name

“Then learn that football does not happen only on grass.” “That is exactly why forty-eight million should be spent where the grass requires it.” Silence. Someone suppressed a laugh. Elena asked, “Your alternative?” Lin changed slides. The screen showed Noah Vidal, a reserve defensive midfielder for relegated Graycastle City. Twenty-four years old, valued at four million, with only 1.3 tackles per ninety minutes. “Him?” Banks leaned back. “He wasn't a regular for a relegated side.” “Because Graycastle asked him to chase the ball. His gift is making the ball enter the space his teammates want. Every sideways step closes the first pass, so someone else receives credit for the tackle.