Chapter 34 Hiring The PI
Harper's Pov,
I woke up at 5 AM to 17 missed calls.
The story had gone live an hour ago and apparently the entire sports world had opinions about it.
I scrolled through my phone with my stomach in knots, watching notifications pile up faster than I could read them.
"CORRUPTION IN SPORTS: Agent Accused of Coordinating With Prosecutors to Destroy Player's Girlfriend"
ESPN had picked it up.
So had The Athletic, Bleacher Report and… Sports Illustrated.
At around 6 AM, my name was trending on Twitter and not in the way I'd hoped.
Half the comments called me brave for speaking out. The other half called me a lying attention seeker who was making up conspiracies to avoid prison time.
"Harper." Maya appeared in the doorway with two cups of coffee. "You need to see this."
She handed me her phone.
Richard Moss had released a statement thirty minutes ago:
The allegations made by Ms. Sinclair are completely false and defamatory. I have never coordinated with any prosecutors or team management to harm her in any way. These accusations are a desperate attempt by someone facing serious criminal charges to deflect blame and manipulate public opinion. I will be pursuing legal action for defamation.
"He's suing me," I said flatly.
"He's threatening to sue you. Big difference." Maya took her phone back.
"But yeah, he's playing the victim card hard. So are the Titans. Morrison released a statement saying their only concern was Crew's health and that they never threatened his contract."
"That's a lie."
"Of course it's a lie. But they're betting that people will believe them over you." She sat down next to me.
"The DA's office also released a statement denying any improper contact with Richard. They're calling the emails fabricated."
"They're not fabricated. Emma gave them to me directly from Richard's communications."
"I know that. You know that. But the public doesn't know what to believe." Maya pulled up another article.
"The good news is that several other journalists are now digging into Richard's history. Mike's story opened the door and now everyone wants a piece of it. There are already questions being asked about that sexual assault case from five years ago."
We were still talking when my phone buzzed, cutting through the moment.
I didn’t even have to look to know who it was.
Monica, of course.
"I have to go," I told Maya. "Bail hearing in two hours."
"I'm coming with you."
"You don't have to—"
"Yes I do,” she said quickly, cutting me off.
“You're not facing this alone."
“Alright, if you insist.” I said with a faint smile.
…..
The courthouse was packed with reporters.
They swarmed us the second we got out of Maya's car, shoving cameras and microphones in my face, shouting questions over each other.
'Harper, did you fabricate the emails?'
'Are you using this story to avoid prison time?'
'Do you have any comment on Richard Moss's defamation threat?'
Monica appeared out of nowhere and physically pushed through the crowd, creating a path for us.
"No comment. Move!"
We made it inside and she pulled me into a side hallway, her expression furious.
"What the hell were you thinking releasing that story the same day as your bail hearing?"
"I didn't plan it that way—"
"Well it looks planned. It looks like you're trying to influence the judge through media pressure. And the prosecution is going to argue exactly that." She pulled out a folder.
"They've amended their motion. They're not just asking for increased bail anymore. They're asking for you to be remanded into custody pending trial."
The floor dropped out from under me. "They want to put me in jail right now?"
"They're arguing you're a danger to witnesses and that your media campaign proves you're willing to do anything to avoid accountability." Monica's voice was hard.
"Harper, I told you this would happen. I warned you that going public would complicate your case… didn't I?"
"But the emails are real. The conspiracy is real."
"The conspiracy is inadmissible in this courtroom. Which means all the judge sees is a defendant making wild accusations in the press while facing serious charges." She checked her watch.
"We're up in ten minutes. Let me do all the talking. Don't react to anything the prosecutor says. Don't make eye contact with the judge unless I tell you to. And for God's sake, don't look smug or defiant. You need to look remorseful and stable."
"I'm not remorseful. I didn't do anything wrong."
"Then fake it. Because if you end up in jail today, we can't fight your case from the inside."
…..
The hearing was brutal.
Assistant District Attorney Jennifer Walsh stood up and painted me as a manipulative sociopath who'd orchestrated a media smear campaign to intimidate witnesses and influence potential jurors.
She called my interview with Mike "a calculated attempt to poison the jury pool" and said my accusations against Richard Moss were "baseless conspiracy theories designed to deflect from her own violent behavior."
Monica fought back hard, arguing that I had a constitutional right to defend myself in public and that increasing my bail would be punitive rather than preventive. She also pointed out that I'd complied with all conditions of my release so far and had no history of violence prior to the incident with Brianna.
The judge listened to both sides with a completely unreadable expression.
Finally, he spoke.
"Ms. Sinclair, I'm troubled by your decision to go to the media while criminal charges are pending. It suggests a lack of respect for the judicial process and raises concerns about your willingness to follow the conditions of your release."
My heart sank.
"However," he continued, "I'm also troubled by the prosecution's motion to remand you into custody. The evidence presented doesn't support the claim that you're a flight risk or a danger to witnesses. The alleged intimidation of Ms. Rodriguez appears to have been initiated by third parties, not by you directly."
Jennifer Walsh's jaw tightened.
"Therefore, I'm denying the motion for remand. Your bail will remain at $20,000." He looked directly at me.
"But I'm adding additional conditions. You are prohibited from making any further public statements about this case or the parties involved. You are prohibited from contacting any witnesses, directly or indirectly. And you are required to check in with the court weekly until your trial date. Do you understand these conditions?"
"Yes, Your Honor." I said firmly.
"If you violate any of these conditions, I will not hesitate to remand you into custody. Is that clear?"
"Yes, Your Honor."
"Court is adjourned."
…..
Outside the courthouse, Monica pulled me aside before the reporters could swarm again.
"You got pretty lucky in there. If that judge had been in a worse mood, you'd be in a cell right now."
"I know."
"And you're prohibited from talking to the media anymore. Which means no more interviews, no more statements, no more social media posts about the case. Nothing."
"I understand."
"Do you? Because you've been making impulsive decisions for weeks and I need you to stop." Monica's expression softened slightly.
"Harper, I know you're scared. I know you feel like you're fighting for your life. But you have to trust the process. Let me do my job."
"Your job costs $50,000. And that… I apparently don't have."
"We're working on contingency, remember? You don't pay unless we win."
"And if we lose?"
"Then we appeal. But we're not going to lose." She squeezed my shoulder.
"Go home. Stay quiet. Let the media storm blow over. And let me handle the legal strategy from here on out."
….
Maya drove me back to her apartment in silence.
The adrenaline from the hearing was wearing off and exhaustion was setting in hard.
When we got inside, I collapsed on her couch and stared at the ceiling.
"That could have gone worse," Maya offered.
"Could have gone better too."
A few minutes passed in silence before my phone rang again.
I almost didn't answer but something made me pick up.
"Ms. Sinclair? This is Marcus Chen. We met briefly a few weeks ago."
Crew's agent Marcus. The one who'd tried to bribe me to break up with Crew.
"What do you want?"
"I want to apologize. And I want to help you."
I sat up. "Help me how?"
"I read Mike's story this morning. I've been in this business for twenty years and I've never seen anything like what Richard's been doing to you. It's unconscionable." He paused. "I'm a licensed private investigator in addition to being a sports agent. And I'd like to offer my services to help you prove the conspiracy."
"Why would you help me? You work for Crew."
"I work FOR Crew, which means I have a vested interest in destroying the people trying to destroy his career. Richard's campaign doesn't just hurt you. It hurts Crew too.” Mike said.
“It hurts his reputation, his endorsements, his future in the league." Marcus's voice got firmer. "And frankly, I'm ashamed of how I approached you before. I was trying to protect my client but I went about it the wrong way. Let me make it right."
"What are you proposing?"
"I find the proof you need. I connect Richard Moss to Brianna's legal team to the DA's office. I get you documentation that's admissible in court, not just leaked emails. Phone records, financial transactions, witness statements. Real evidence that proves coordination."
"How much does that cost?"
"My standard rate is $10,000 for this kind of investigation. But given the circumstances, I'll do it for five."