whole team groaned. But they started to run back and forth on the field, because they knew if they didn’t, I’d just demand they do something even worse.
“What did the team do to deserve that?” Rob asked as he joined me on the sidelines.
“Roughing the kicker.” More or less.
Rob laughed. “That scrawny little guy? What the heck is he even doing on the team?”
I looked at Rob. Honestly, I had no idea what Jefferson was doing on the team. I had been trying to make his time at Empire High easier, but all I was doing was making it worse. All of that was suddenly in the back of my mind though because Rob was also dressed like a homeless guy.
“What the hell are you wearing?” I asked.
“A disguise.”
“I didn’t tell you to dress up.”
“Right. But it’s a top secret mission. Which always require disguises.” He scrutinized my sweatpants and Empire High t-shirt. “I guess we chose the same disguise.”
Why did everyone keep making fun of my coaching outfit? “I’m not dressed like a homeless guy.”
“Whatever you say.” He patted my back. “So what’s the plan? Is the hitwoman even here?”
“I haven’t seen her yet.”
“I guess I should go hide somewhere? Oh yeah, here’s the camera.” He pulled the camera out of a small case in his pocket. “Don’t break it.”
“I won’t. But um…how does it work?”
Rob laughed and peeled it out of the case. Yes, peeled it out, like a sticker. It was clear and he stuck it next to the Eagle emblem on my t-shirt. It was completely undetectable. I even knew where it was and I could hardly see it.
“I need your phone,” he said.
I handed it to him.
He pressed a few buttons and then handed it to me. “It’s all linked up now. The video feed is already rolling and it’s getting uploaded directly to your phone.”
“That’s amazing.” I looked at my phone and could see what the camera was recording.
“It is pretty crazy. So where should I hide? I was going to hide in the stands, but I don’t want to be next to that homeless guy.”
“That’s Tanner.”
Rob squinted. “Are you sure?”
I laughed. “If you can’t tell that’s him, how do you expect me to believe you when you tell me about his other disguise?”
“I see his stupid face now. I can tell it’s him. Just like I can tell it’s him when he’s rocking a man bun. What the hell kind of mustache is that, anyway?”
I stared at Tanner. “I have no idea.”
“Well, I’m glad all three of us coordinated to dress like homeless men,” Rob said.
“I’m not dressed like a homeless person.”
“Whatever you say. I’ll wait at the entrance instead of in the stands. I don’t want to be anywhere near Tanner. And speaking of Tanner…how about you wave him down here so you can tell him that I’m your best friend right in front of his mustachioed face?”
“Let’s wait until after. I don’t want the hitwoman to see us all together before we try to corner her.”
“Fine. But you have to tell him. In front of me.”
“I will.” Honestly, if I was still alive in a few minutes I’d do whatever Rob wanted. Because I wouldn’t have been able to do any of this without his camera.
I watched as Rob walked over to the entrance. And that’s when I saw the hitwoman coming into the stadium.
I opened up a group chat between Rob and Tanner and sent them a text. “That’s her walking in now. Keep an eye on her.”
“Get me out of this group chat,” Rob texted back.
Tanner’s message popped up next: “I concur.”
“You guys, focus. I need to wrap up practice and then we can surround her.”
“Fine. I’ve got eyes on her,” Tanner said. “She sat down right in front of me on the bleachers. I can’t see a gun, but it’s probably under her coat.”
I swallowed hard as I watched the kids do sprints. This was it. Either the end of Mr. Pruitt or the end of me.
“We need a mission name,” Rob texted.
“I actually agree with Robert on this,” Tanner replied. “How about Operation Robert Shouldn’t Be Here?”
“Or Operation Tanner is a Liar.”
“What have I ever lied about?”
I put my phone in my pocket and ignored them. Honestly, it was nice that they were here. But I didn’t want to put either of them at risk. I wasn’t going to tell them when I was approaching her. Hopefully she’d start moving away from Tanner soon and then I’d