Chapter 189 Away Game

Chapter 189 Away Game
Lena’s POV

The morning after Ryan was discharged from the hospital felt different. The house was quiet, but neither of us had slept well. The surgeon’s words stayed with me.

Someone might have caused the collision on purpose.

Every time I closed my eyes, I saw Ryan hitting the boards again. I found him awake before sunrise; he stood in the kitchen wearing a sweatshirt over his sling. A cup of coffee rested on the counter, untouched.

“You are up early,” I said.

He looked over his shoulder. “I could say the same about you.”

“I stopped pretending I was asleep,” I whispered.

He smiled faintly. “I heard you walking around.”

I walked over and wrapped my arms gently around his waist, making sure not to touch his injured shoulder, and he rested his chin lightly against my hair. For a long moment, neither of us spoke. We stood there.

“I wish yesterday had never happened,” he said quietly.

“I know,” I whispered.

“I keep thinking about the rookie,” I said. He said.

I looked up at him. “You saved him.”

“I did not think.” He said.

“You did not have time to think,” I whispered.

He sighed. “I would probably do the same thing again.”

“I know you would,” I whispered.

He smiled with a mixture of pride and frustration. “That is the problem.”

His phone vibrated on the counter. Coach Hartman

Ryan answered immediately. “Morning, Coach.”

I listened while Coach Hartman spoke through the speaker. “The team charter leaves in four hours.”

Ryan nodded even though Coach could not see him. “I remember.”

“I wanted to call before everyone arrived.” Coach said.

“I appreciate it,” Ryan replied.

Coach Hartman hesitated before continuing. “The guys asked if you would meet the bus.”

Ryan looked at me. “I can do that.”

“You do not have to stay long,” Coach said. “They just want to see their captain before we leave.”

“I will be there.” He replied.

After the call ended, Ryan remained quiet.

“You want to go with them,” I said.

He looked down. “I do.”

“You also know you cannot,” I whispered.

He nodded. “This is the biggest road game of the season.”

“I know,” I whispered.

He rubbed the back of his neck with his left hand. “I have never missed a trip when I was healthy enough to travel.”

“You are not healthy enough,” I whispered.

“I know.” His voice carried disappointment instead of anger. “I just hate feeling left behind.”

I stepped closer. “You are not being left behind.”

“It feels that way.” He muttered.

“I understand,” I muttered.

He looked at me. “I am supposed to lead them.”

“You still can,” I whispered.

“From my living room?” He muttered.

“From wherever you are,” I said.

He smiled. “You make everything sound simple.”

“It is not simple,” I whispered. I reached for his hand. “It is just true.”

The arena parking lot buzzed with activity. The team bus waited outside while equipment staff loaded bags into the storage compartment.
Players laughed and talked as they arrived.
When Ryan stepped out of the car beside me, every conversation stopped for a moment.

Then Ethan walked over with a wide smile. “There is our captain.”

Ryan laughed. “You make it sound like I disappeared.”

“You scared us,” Ethan said.

Ryan nodded. “I know.”

Ethan hugged him carefully. “Do not ever do that again.”

“I will do my best,” Ryan said.

Several teammates came over one by one. Nobody talked about hockey at first. They asked how he felt. They asked whether he was sleeping. They asked if he needed anything. Watching them reminded me that this team was more than coworkers; they were family.

Coach Hartan walked over carrying a clipboard; he looked at Ryan with quiet relief. “It is wonderful to see you standing.”

“It is good to be standing.” He said.

Coach smiled. “I will take that.” He glanced toward the waiting bus. “The boys have been looking forward to this.”

Ryan nodded. “So have I.”

Coach lowered his voice. “You know I would let you come if I thought it was safe.”

“I know,” Ryan replied.

“I also know you would spend the whole flight trying to coach from the back row.” Coach said.

Ryan laughed. “You know me too well.”

“I do.” Coach placed a hand on Ryan’s healthy shoulder. “We will handle tonight.”

Ryan looked toward the bus. “I wish I were handling it with you.”

“I know," Coach said.

The players began climbing aboard, and Ethan stopped beside Ryan before getting on.

“You will be watching?” He asked.

“I would not miss it.” He said.

“You better answer my messages during intermission,” Ethan said.

Ryan smiled. “I make no promises.”

Ethan laughed. “You are impossible.”

As the bus engine started, Ryan stood quietly beside me. He raised his left hand, and the players waved through the windows. The bus slowly pulled away; Ryan kept watching until it disappeared around the corner. Only then did he lower his hand, and the silence between us felt heavier than before.

I slipped my hand into his. “You are already thinking about the game.”

“I know every line combination.” He said.

“I believe you,” I whispered.

“I also know Coach will change the second defensive pairing if they fall behind.” He said.

I smiled. “You really cannot stop coaching.”

“It keeps my mind engaged.” He said.

I looked at him. “What does your mind avoid thinking about?”

He did not answer immediately. Finally, he spoke. “I hate saying goodbye to them.”

“It is only one road trip,” I whispered.

He shook his head gently. “It is not the trip.”

“What is it?” I asked.

He watched the empty street where the bus had disappeared. “For the first time in my career…” He swallowed. “I do not know if I will ever travel with them again.”

His words broke my heart, and I turned toward him and took both of his hands.

“You are not writing the end of your story today,” I whispered.

He looked at me, but before he could answer, my phone rang. The caller ID showed Detective Harper, and I answered immediately.

“Lena speaking.”

Her voice was urgent. “Where are you?”

“We are still outside the arena,” I replied.

“Listen to me carefully.” She said.

“What happened?” I asked.

“We finally identified the person who released the brake on the camera rig.” She said.

My heart began to race. “Who was it?”

She took a slow breath. “They just boarded the same flight as Ryan’s team.”

I felt the blood drain from my face, and I tightened my grip on the phone. “What did you say?”

Detective Harper spoke calmly, but I could hear the urgency in her voice. “The suspect boarded the charter flight less than ten minutes ago.”

I looked at the empty road where the team bus had disappeared. “How is that possible?”

“We identified the person after reviewing enhanced security footage.” She said.

Ryan stepped closer. “What is happening?”

I placed the call on speakerphone, and Detective Harper continued. “The person wore an arena staff jacket during the collision.”

Ryan frowned. “So they work for the arena?”

“We do not believe so.” She said.

“What do you mean?” I muttered.

“The jacket was stolen from a maintenance locker earlier that morning.” She said.

Ryan exchanged a worried look with me. “So someone disguised themselves.”

“That is our current theory," the detective said.

I took a slow breath. “Why are they on the team flight?”

“We do not believe they are supposed to be.” She said.

Ryan’s expression hardened. “They are using a false identity.”

"Yes," the detective said.

He looked toward the road again. “Coach needs to know.”

“I have already called him,” Detective Harper replied. “He is not answering.”

Ryan immediately reached for his phone. “I will call Ethan.”

He pressed the call button; the line rang once, then twice, then it went to voicemail. Ryan tried again – the same result.

“He always answers.” He called Coach Hartman next, but there was no answer. His jaw tightened. “They have probably switched their phones off for takeoff.”

Detective Harper answered quietly. “That is what concerns us.”

I could hear people talking in the background where she was. She spoke to someone for a moment before returning to us.

“We have contacted airport security.” She said.

“Can they stop the plane?” I asked.

“They are trying.” She said.

Ryan looked at me. “If that person is really on board…”

He did not finish the sentence, and I knew why. Every player on that flight was unaware that someone who had already been linked to a dangerous incident might be sitting only a few rows away.

Detective Harper spoke again. “There is one piece of good news.”

Ryan waited. “The suspect did not board as a player.”

“Then how?” We asked.

“As part of the contracted flight crew.” She replied.

Ryan stared at the phone. “The flight crew?”

“Yes.” The detective replied. “They presented forged credentials.”

My heart pounded.

Ryan looked toward the sky. “They are trapped together.”

Before anyone could say another word, Ryan’s phone vibrated. A text message appeared from Ethan.

We just finished boarding. Something feels strange. One of the new crew members keeps watching us instead of working.

Ryan typed as quickly as he could. Do not confront anyone. Tell Coach quietly.

He pressed send; the message failed. Not Delivered. Ryan tried again, but the same notification appeared. No signal; the aircraft had already begun moving.

Ryan lowered the phone slowly. “They cannot hear us now.”

We stood together in complete silence. Somewhere above us, a plane carrying Ryan’s teammates was climbing into the clouds. And somewhere inside that aircraft, a person using a false identity was travelling with them. Nobody knew why they were there, and nobody knew who they were targeting, but every instinct I had told me one thing. The danger had not stayed behind on the ground. It had just taken off.