Page 61 of Landing Liam

“Odie, we have a problem,” I say, trying to keep the panic out of my tone as I peer out the window. A crowd is forming near the slopes, bundled in coats and scarves, their energy buzzing even from this distance. I know Liam is out there, probably surrounded by whispers and stares.

“I’m too tired for cryptic,” Odie grumbles. “Just spit it out.”

“Someone leaked the story,” I say, gripping the edge of the windowsill. “About Liam. The doping allegations.”

There’s a beat of silence before Odie groans louder, the sound half frustration, half exhaustion. “You’re kidding me. No one was supposed to run that yet! Janowicz’s head is going to roll.”

“We need to figure out who did this,” I insist, spinning away from the window and running a hand through my hair. “Why would they jump the gun?”

“Does it really matter?” Odie snaps. “The guy’s obviously juicing. It was only a matter of time before someone found out.”

I freeze, anger flaring hot in my chest. “No, Odie. He’s not. He’s not that guy.”

“How do you know that?” He sounds skeptical, like he’s indulging me more than believing me.

“Because I’ve been around him,” I say, much firmer now. “I’ve seen how disciplined he is. His schedule, his diet, his training—it’s all carefully calculated. None of this screams cheater.”

“Yeah, well,” Odie sighs, clearly unimpressed, “maybe that’s part of the act. People can fake anything when they know the world’s watching.”

I shake my head, pacing the room again. “It doesn’t make sense. Why would someone so careful and meticulous risk everything for a shortcut? Something doesn’t add up.”

“Okay, fine,” Odie concedes begrudgingly. “But if it wasn’t Liam, then who had the motive to leak it? Someone on his team? Another competitor? His jealous ex? Hell, could it have been you, Maggie?”

I stop mid-step, my heart pounding as his words settle over me like a storm cloud. “Of course it wasn’t me!” I snap, but even as I say it, the reality of how it looks hangs heavy in the air. The texts. My job. The fact that I’m here.

The weight of it all crushes me as Odie continues. “You’re close to him. Too close, if you ask me. If Liam’s smart, he’ll start asking those same questions.”

The line falls silent, but his words echo in my mind. Too close. Maybe Odie’s right. Maybe Liam already is asking those questions. And if he is, what happens when I’m not the one with the answers?

“We need to figure out who leaked it and why they chose a disreputable online gossip site to sell the story to,” I decide, pacing the length of the room as Odie groans on the other end of the line.

“Why are you saying we?” he asks, annoyed.

“Because,” I sigh, “you’re going to use all your contacts to figure out who the unnamed source in the story is.”

“Fine,” he mutters. “Send me the story.”

I copy the link, paste it into our text thread, and wait for the telltale ping on his end. “Did you get it?”

There’s a pause before he clears his throat. “Yeah, I got it. Let’s see… ‘Shredding the Rules: Liam Thompson Caught in Doping Controversy.’ Catchy title.”

“Just keep reading,” I urge.

Odie grumbles as he begins reading aloud.

Snowboarding legend Liam Thompson, beloved for his daring tricks and charm on the slopes, now finds himself at the center of a swirling scandal. An unnamed source has come forward, alleging that the pro athlete has been using performance-enhancing substances to maintain his edge in competitions.

‘Liam's been under immense pressure to stay at the top,’ the source reveals. ‘Everyone thinks he’s this golden boy, but behind the scenes, it’s a different story. His recent performances have been too good to be true. People in the industry have been whispering about this for months.’

Thompson, 31, has always been known for his strict training regimen and clean lifestyle, making the allegations all the more shocking. However, the source claims his seemingly perfect routine is part of the façade. ‘It’s not just about staying fit,’ the insider insists. ‘There are substances that can make recovery faster, muscles stronger, and stamina greater. Liam knows his career is winding down, and this might be his way of prolonging it.’

Thompson’s team has yet to comment, but fans are already split, with many taking to social media to defend the star while others call for accountability. ‘If these allegations are true, it’s a betrayal,’ said one longtime fan. ‘I’ve always admired Liam, but cheating isn’t the way to keep a legacy alive.’

With the spotlight now brighter than ever, all eyes are on Thompson to address the claims and prove his innocence—or face the fallout.

When Odie finishes, the room feels as though all the air has been sucked out of it.

“Well?” I prod.