Read The Recruiter (A Thriller) for Free Online

seen in a while. Four players essentially play zone, with the fifth taking the player who needs to be neutralized one-on-one. In this case, that player is Beth. The Tank will play Beth one-on-one, but the other players will be able to double team as they’re playing zone.
    Beth knows there’s only one way to really beat the box-and-one: her teammates have to step up. She needs to draw the double-team, then dish off to the player who’s free.
    The first three possessions of the fourth quarter she does just that. But her teammates don’t come through. The first shot is blocked, the second one is an air ball, the third comes up short. The tightness, the nervousness, the pressure, it’s all visible on her teammates’ faces.
    With just four minutes gone by in the fourth quarter, it’s a tie ballgame.
    Beth’s coach calls for a timeout. She tries to get the team psyched up, but Beth can read the faces around her. They’re looking at the scoreboard, looking at the point totals, at the time left.
    The buzzer sounds and the huddle breaks. Beth turns toward the court, but her coach grabs her arm. Beth looks into her eyes, and the coach says, “You can do it, Beth.”
    She understands what the coach is saying. She nods.
    At the first sign of a double-team, Beth fakes a pass, and the defenders back off her; she pivots quickly and hits a fade-away jumper. They’re up by two. The other team scores on an easy lay-in. Next possession, Beth drives into the lane, splits the defenders, and hits a jumper. She feels it. It’s a magical feeling, that she can do almost anything, score at will. It’s as if she can hear every individual’s cheer, see the court in slow motion. It’s all there for her. For the taking.
    The teams continue to trade baskets, with Beth hitting shot after shot, passing to a teammate only when it’s a gimme.
    With a minute left in the game, it’s all tied up.
    The Tank brings the ball up the court. Beth shadows her, but doesn’t go for a steal. Behind her, the players settle into formation. Beth’s mind is working fast. She knows what they’re going to do. Their big center has been hitting her baseline shots all through the game. Beth’s center, shorter and without the jumping ability, is powerless to stop her. Beth knows they will run at least ten seconds off the clock, then get the ball to the big center.
    Beth waits, sinking into the lane when the Tank doesn’t have the ball, then popping back out to keep up the defensive pressure. Suddenly, Beth sees the Tank’s expression change.
    They’re going for it.
    The ball swings around, and Beth leaves her position and sneaks through the lane. The ball is fed to the big center, who turns, pivots, and goes up for the shot. Beth, on a dead run, leaps from behind and blocks the shot. The ball comes down in the center’s hands. She loses control, and the ball goes out of bounds.
    Beth’s ball.
    She brings the ball up the court quickly. Tied up, forty seconds left. Beth works the ball around the perimeter. There’s too much time to try for a last shot. Beth fakes a pass to the right wing and drives into the lane. The defenders swarm her. She fakes a jump shot and drops a perfect bounce pass to her forward cutting to the basket. The ball comes into Beth’s teammate’s hands.
    And goes right through.
    The ball goes out of bounds, and the ref blows his whistle.
    Beth retreats, fury in her mind. She fights it off and encourages her team. They have to stop them.
    The Tank brings the ball up and Beth gauges the distance. She starts to go for the steal, but the Tank moves quickly, pivoting her body, blocking Beth’s angle of attack. Will they go to the center again? Beth drops into the lane. Will they try again? Beth watches the center post up, who holds up her hand, but it’s a half-hearted attempt. Beth can tell by the body language that she doesn’t really want the ball.
    In that instant, Beth knows it’s going to the Tank.
    The ball is on the left