Not Guilty- A Love Story of Conspiracy and Exoneration

When Jared Henry bumps into Darcy Blake as they are rushing to their next class, the high school basketball phenom and proverbial only child begin a saga marked by adolescent love, wrongful accusations, Jared's fall into his own purgatory, and his determination to become worthy of her once again. Jared grew up on a small farm located in Southwest Virginia. He was a very good student and a better athlete, leading his basketball team to championships and drawing the attention of major college recruiters, but he never felt worthy of, or comfortable with the attention. A psychologist would have a technical explanation, but inwardly he was damaged, first by exposure to his dysfunctional family and later by the devastation he suffered when he was framed on a drug charge and lost his beloved girlfriend Darcy. He didn't just lose her, she went on to marry the coach he won a state championship playing for. His academic achievement along with his jump shot offered him opportunities to succeed and live the good life but it was Darcy who gave him reason to think he could find true happiness. With her, life was full of promise, but fate found ways to insure the most important one wouldn't be kept. Darcy Blake was the proverbial only child, a blend of sweetness and beauty, and innocent selfishness if there is such a thing. She was capable of playing Jared like a fiddle, even when she didn't intend to. Bo Lundy was the older coach and teacher who had sowed his wild oats and sought to find his pristine angel to settle down with. He lacked integrity, but he had something else- a plan lacking scruples and with his goal in sight, devoid of the wreckage he would leave in his wake. Bo's ally was Tony Dean, a classmate and teammate of Jared's and his rival of sorts; not as talented but easily manipulated by others. Bo needed a partner in crime and Tony was his man.