Bluegrass Undercover (Bluegrass Brothers)

one minute left in the rematch game against their rival T.H. Morgan and they were tied. Austin had passed the ball to Trey who had leveled one defender and twisted out of another tackle forty yards back. He had broken free and was heading for the end zone to give Keeneston the lead.
    Trey tucked the ball against his chest as he lunged past the last defensive player to reach the end zone. The whistle blew and the referee’s arms went up causing the stadium to erupt.
    “Come on, men! Huddle up! The game is not over. They still have time to score.” Cade called his defense around him as the extra point was kicked. “Stick to your man. Don’t give them an inch. You win this, and you play at Commonwealth Stadium from now on.”
    The defense took the field with determination. The quarterback from T.H. Morgan pulled his arm back and released a canon of a ball that shot downfield. Cade almost closed his eyes, but he couldn’t look away. If the receiver caught this ball, there would only be Aiden, the freshman safety, there to prevent the touchdown.
    He watched as Aiden stuck with the receiver as they bolted downfield. Aiden turned his head to locate the ball coming right to the outstretched hands of the receiver. The five feet nine inch Aiden leapt into the air at the same time as the receiver. Hands battled, bodies clashed, the ball was caught, and the crowd gasped as the two players landed in a heap on the field.
    Cade stopped running, his eyes never looking away from the two forms on the ground. The referee pulled the receiver off of Aiden, looked down, and blew his whistle. Cade couldn’t blink. He didn’t want to miss the signal. The referee pointed back downfield. His shrimp of a freshman had intercepted the pass. They had won!
    “Austin! Knee the ball until time has expired. We’re going to Commonwealth Stadium, boys.” He was surprised Austin could even hear him between the team cheering and the screams coming from the crowd.
    Cade took a moment to hear the cheers, to see his players celebrating. Parents were jumping up and down in the stands along with the rest of the town. He had just brought a team of inexperienced underclassmen to the state semi-finals. On top of that, he may have just cracked the case for Annie. His happiness drained out of him. What would happen when she solved the case?
    “Annie!” He found her hugging his players, along with Paige, as they made their way into the locker room.
    “Cade! Oh, congratulations! This is just so unbelievably wonderful! She wrapped her arms around him and squeezed tightly.
    “Bro, you’re amazing! I’m afraid I may have broken Annie’s hand though,” Paige rasped out, her voice raw from cheering.
    “Thanks, Paige. I’m sorry to abandon you, but Annie is needed for a parent meeting. I’ll talk to you soon, though, okay?” He gave her a kiss on the cheek and escorted Annie to the field house as Paige continued to high five the players.
    “What’s going on? Is everything all right?” Annie asked as she hurried to keep up with him.
    “Austin has seen the light. He wants to confess all. We’re meeting with him and his parents right now. And, I have a plan,” he smirked.

Chapter Twenty
     
    Annie and Special Agent Romero stood looking at the Keeneston County Utilities box truck that was parked in front of John Wolfe’s house. She didn’t know if it would hold the three agents and equipment without the bottom falling out. The truck was mostly rusted and was missing a muffler and a side mirror.
    “Where did you get this, um, truck?” Vincent Romero asked. He stood with his hands on his hips and wearing the DEA traditional uniform of a gray suit and black tie. His dark hair was sprinkled with gray around his temples and slicked back with some gel.
    “This is ol’ Bessie. She’s the county’s one and only utility repair truck. I borrowed her from my cousin’s, brother-in-law’s, son’s best friend,” John told him as if that was common. What wasn’t common was the way he was adjusting his sweatpants and pulling at the t-shirt he was wearing. “Do I really have to wear this getup?”
    “Yes, John. You don’t wear suspenders to work out in. Come on. You know what to do. Give us forty-five minutes until you head to the gym. Let these guys finish wiring you up.” Cade stepped back as one of the agents explained to John the hidden video in the sweatband he positioned on John’s head.
    “Are you ready, Austin? Do you have any