The Tournament

by Angelo Kontos

  Alex did not respond at first. Now that he was finally face to face with Havock, he would not be rushed. He stared hard at the old criminal and was surprisingly comfortable doing so. He was going to take his time and make every word count.

  “Let me see if I understand this,” Alex began. “Twenty-five years ago, you broke into my house, murdered my father, and now you show up here expecting me to hand over a hundred thousand dollars. That about right?”

  Havock contemplated his reply. “Except we didn’t break in. Your old man let us in, but the rest was pretty spot on, yes.”

  “I see,” Alex nodded. “Well, you’re not getting a dime from me because even though you may not think so, you’ve cost my family enough.”

  “You know I spared your mother that night, Alex?”

  “You mention my mother again…I’ll reach across and beat your face in before the three stooges over there have a chance to do anything,” Alex fumed and tightened his grip on the bat even more. “No word of a lie.”

  “I mean, I know what that’s like,” Havock said. “It’s no way to grow up…without a mother.”

  “That’s so sweet,” Alex replied. “For a second there, I almost forgot you’re a psychotic criminal. What’s your name, anyway?”

  “My friends call me Havock. You can call me that.”

  “Well, Mr. Havock, in case it’s not obvious, I’m not afraid of you.”

  “You really were a chicken shit that night though, weren’t you, Alex?” Havock laughed. “I mean, the way you jumped out that window…leaving your parents to die.”

  Alex struggled to contain his temper and got to his feet. The three men shifted and one of them put a hand inside his coat. Havock held his hand up to stop them.

  “I’m going to leave now,” Alex announced. “If your boys here don’t move, I’m going to start taking home-run swings at their heads. I can promise you that if this is finally my day of reckoning, I won’t go down without a fight.”

  Alex pointed his bat at Havock and continued.

  “Don’t ever come back here thinking you can get money out of me.”

  He then turned his attention to the three men. “Get the fuck out of my way.”

  “How’s that doctor friend of yours, Alex?” Havock asked coolly as he picked lint off his coat.

  Alex stopped in his tracks and turned to face him.

  “What did you just say?”

  “You know what I’ve always wanted to say to a doctor?” Havock asked. “I’ve always wanted to do the whole Bugs Bunny bit…you know, What’s up, Doc?”

  Havock laughed again.

  Alex could not find words to respond. Havock got up and dusted himself off, as though the couch he’d been sitting on wasn’t good enough for him.

  “I know you’re leaving for New York tomorrow morning, Alex,” Havock said. “I’m not unreasonable, but I expect the money when you get back. If I don’t get it then, well, I’m sure you can figure out the rest. A guy as smart as you doesn’t have to be told what’ll happen if you do something dumb. I’ll be watching.”

  Havock walked past Alex to the front door.

  “And by the way, I meant what I said about The Tournament,” he said. “It’s fantastic. I hope you guys win. I’ll be watching that too.”

  With that, Havock and his three goons left Alex standing there alone in the dark lobby.

  80.

  “Just go ahead,” Tom said, resigned to his fate. “My wife already said if I come back drunk again she’s gonna take the kids and leave. You’re just doin’ me a favour. You can believe it or not, but I’m sorry about your old man.”

  Mike took his aim across his sights and pressed a finger against the heavy trigger. Just a wee bit more pressure and what little brains Tom had would be splattered all over the ground and nearby trees. Mike would have to quickly retreat to his car and get out of there. Even in the isolation and darkness of night, a loud shotgun report may lead someone to call police.

  “Why did you open a store there? In that exact spot?” Mike asked. “Why there?”

  Tom turned around slowly to look at Mike with a genuinely surprised expression on his face.

  “I opened it there because it was the cheapest place around to rent,” Tom said. “I didn’t think about nuthin’ else.”

  “The fire?”

  Tom did not respond.

  Mike imagined Becky and his sons coming to visit him in prison for the next ten to twenty years. He thought of Becky living in their home alone and raising their children without him. Finally, Mike thought of his father.

  What would his dad be thinking right now?

  After a few long seconds, Mike lowered the gun.

  Tom was just a sad drunk. A loser. A sad, drunk loser.

  “Maybe think about getting some help after you wake up,” Mike said. “Before it’s too late.”

  “Whaddya mean after I wake up?” Tom asked nervously.

  Mike flipped the shotgun around and struck Tom with the butt of the weapon at the base of his neck. Tom lost consciousness immediately and fell forward in a heap onto the ground.

  81.

  After Havock and company walked out, Alex watched the four of them get into that black car across the street and drive away. He played a hunch that if they were going to keep tabs on him, they would likely not think to start immediately. It was risky, but he had to communicate with Diana before leaving for New York. He wanted to tell her everything, but he thought it might be better to hold back a few details. She would be terrified. She would want to help. It would make matters worse.

  Alex could not even process the idea of something happening to Diana because of him. He would never be able to find a way forward. Of that, there was no question. He packed his hockey equipment and a bag for the road and was out of the apartment just before six a.m.

  Alex hurried to the nearest subway entrance and after having a quick look around to see if he was being followed, he ducked in, paid his fare and ran downstairs for the train. He kept his eye on the two entrances to see who might come through, but he doubted the tired-looking woman yawning and holding a briefcase was one of Havock’s associates. The first train came in. The doors opened and Alex waited until the last second before getting on it.

  He took a service entrance into the hospital and made his way to the emergency ward, looking over his shoulder numerous times. He was stopped by a security guard before he could make it to the nurses’ station.

  “I need to see Dr. Cross,” Alex said. “It’s important.”

  “Who are you?” the guard asked.

  “It’s okay,” a nurse who knew Alex called out. “Let him come in.”

  Alex brushed past the guard and went to the station. “Thanks. Where’s Diana?”

  “She’s on a break. We were really busy all night. Do you know where –”

  Alex had already taken off down the hallway. “Yes, I do.”

  He knew where Diana took breaks. Over the years, he had visited her at work many times.

  Another doctor opened the door to the staff lounge and Alex was right on his heels. Diana was sitting at a table by herself eating a grapefruit and looking up at a TV news channel.

  “Hey,” Alex said.

  Diana looked up, surprised. “Hey.”

  “I had to see you before I left.”

  She got up and looked at him seductively, even though there was a nurse sitting nearby eating a soup and trying to look away.

  “Oh, yeah?”

  “We need somewhere private to talk.”

  Alex looked around and saw a door.

  “What’s in there?” he asked.

  “It’s a storage closet.”

  Alex dropped his bags, pulled Diana into the closet and shut the door. Diana turned the light switch on. The last time she was in this closet was a few months ago when she ran in to pop a pill. It was a memory she did not appreciate.

  “What’s wrong?” she asked.

  “Those flowers you got tonight
,” he said. “Did you see who dropped them off?”

  “No,” Diana replied. “I was working. Why?”

  “Listen, Dee, I don’t have a lot of time,” Alex said. “You cannot go back to the apartment, okay? Just go to your parents’ house and be careful.”

  “Alex, what’s going on?”

  “Nothing. I just…I need to figure a few things out, okay?” Alex said. “Don’t come around the apartment and don’t call me.”

  “Alex, you’re scaring me.”

  “There’s nothing to be scared about, but you have to listen to me, okay?”

  “Oh my God, Alex. They’re back?” Diana gasped. “Are those men really back?”

  “I have to go.”

  Alex grabbed the door handle to leave, and Diana blocked his way.

  “Alex, if those men are back you have to go to the police!”

  “Ssshhh! Keep your voice down! I can’t go to the police,” Alex said in a loud whisper. “I’ll handle this.”

  “Alex, please, nothing can happen to you.”

  “Stay away from me until I can figure this out. I’m serious, Dee. As far away as possible. Don’t try and get involved.”

  Alex pulled on the door handle and stopped. He grabbed Diana and kissed her on the lips.

  “Your parents were wrong about a few things, but they were right about you being too good for me.”

  Alex opened the door and left, closing it behind him and leaving Diana alone in the closet.

  82.

  After checking into the same hotel beside the United Nations, Ken and Freddy got the team together for a meeting. A few players were banged up and there was collective fatigue after playing so much. They reviewed film and talked some more about matchups and how to contain Wayne Vanstone. Ken and Freddy suggested they relax ahead of their big game the next night. They would have a light skate tomorrow morning and then go out and try to win it all in Game 6.

  The team travelled to Times Square. Whether they had one game left to play or two, their time together was soon coming to an end. Why not go out and have a night of fun in New York City?

  Alex found himself in a huge toy store in Times Square with Isaac. The team had walked all the way over from the hotel and then dispersed to wander around before meeting again later for a team dinner. Corey Peters had offered to pick up the cheque, which everyone had a difficult time believing.

  The toy store had an indoor Ferris wheel and Alex and Isaac were riding it. They were the only adults on it without children and got some strange looks from people in the crowded store.

  Isaac mentioned to Alex that after his daughter was born, he and Melanie had spent a weekend in New York City after she won a contest on the radio. They came to this store and rode on the same Ferris wheel.

  “What do you mean they just fired her?” Alex asked. “They can’t do that without a reason. It’s called ‘cause’ or ‘just cause’ or something like that.”

  “They gave her some bullshit about her receipts, but she’d never steal,” Isaac said.

  It was rare for Isaac to be out in public without his sunglasses. When Alex asked, Isaac explained that Melanie stepped on them while throwing him out of her house – again.

  “But she thinks you stole? To give her money?”

  Isaac nodded. “But I didn’t. Not this time.”

  “Then how’d you get money?”

  “I didn’t steal.”

  “Yeah, so how’d you get money?”

  Isaac didn’t respond and looked away as the Ferris wheel carried him and Alex up and down. Alex looked over at his friend and was starting to feel mild motion sickness.

  “You didn’t do what I’m thinking,” Alex said.

  “I did,” Isaac replied.

  “That must’ve killed you.”

  “It did.”

  “Why didn’t you tell her?”

  “I tried,” Isaac said. “She didn’t give me a chance.”

  “Well, you have to tell her when we get home.”

  “If I tell her, she’ll just feel like she’s got to give it back.”

  “Didn’t you say she threw the money at you?” Alex asked.

  “Well, yeah, but it’s all still there in the house,” Isaac replied. “She’ll use it.”

  “Look, I’m going to give you some free advice. But it’s the kind of advice that if you don’t follow it, will force me to smack you across the head repeatedly.”

  “Let’s hear it, baby.”

  Alex spent the next five minutes offering his advice, and Isaac listened intently the whole time.

  “You really think that’ll work?” Isaac asked after Alex finished.

  “I think it should,” Alex replied. “We’ll need Corey’s help, as much as I hate to keep asking him for things.”

  “Okay.”

  The two friends and teammates went quiet as the big wheel took them up and down again.

  “Can I talk to you about something?” Alex asked. “You’re the only person I trust enough.”

  Isaac looked like he was genuinely moved. “You need me

  for something? My man, I would cut off my right nut for you.”

  “Uh-huh.”

  “I would saw it right off.”

  “Okay.”

  “Then I’d saw off the other one.”

  “Okay,” Alex said. “Shut up.”

  Isaac knew about the tragedy that occurred in the Bucco home, so Alex didn’t have to start from scratch. He took a deep breath and went over the basics: getting back together with Diana; Havock coming out of hiding…

  “Havock? What kind of name is that?” Isaac asked.

  “I don’t know,” Alex replied. “You going to keep interrupting?”

  “Sorry.”

  Alex went on to explain Havock’s demand for cash and of course, the threat on Diana.

  “Does she know?” Isaac asked.

  “Sort of. I had to kind of warn her without warning her.”

  The Ferris wheel jerked suddenly and stopped. The carriage that Alex and Isaac were sitting in was at the highest point. It was an odd way of having complete privacy.

  “You can’t give him that money,” Isaac said.

  “To be honest, I’m not sure how much choice I have,” Alex sighed. “Nothing can happen to Dee. I couldn’t survive that.”

  “C’mon, my man,” Isaac said. “You never back down.”

  “This is different. This is not your typical schoolyard bully. He’s dangerous.”

  The Ferris wheel came to life again, and Alex winced as he felt his centre of gravity drop while the wheel spun them downward.

  “So, what are you gonna do?” Isaac asked.

  “It’s just money,” Alex responded. “I’m going to pay him.”

  “You have that kind of cash?”

  “No, but I can get it.”

  “How you gonna get it?”

  It was Alex’s turn to look away.

  “You’re kidding?” Isaac asked. “That’ll kill you.”

  “It will.”

  83.

  If anyone in New York doubted their team had a chance to come back and force a seventh game, they certainly were not showing it. The capacity crowd rivaled Toronto’s fans in both numbers and passion. Ken and Freddy had anticipated this and got their players to the rink a full two hours ahead of their usual reporting time just to avoid the chaos.

  Corey was back inside the dressing room prior to the game, and everyone was afraid he might go for an awful speech like he did before the first game of the round robin. Barry Davis was already giving him a dirty look. However, Corey didn’t say much.

  Alex wondered what was going on with Corey. It was like everyone wanted to make fun of him, but he wasn’t providing the usual ammunition. He had actually picked up the massive dinner cheque the previous night in Times Square and was pleasant the entire time.

  Freddy came in and told the guys to line up at the door.

  It was game time.

  Prior to
the opening faceoff, Ken violated his own protocol of saying next to nothing right before the start of a game and huddled the players around the bench. He sensed nervousness and was worried New York would use the momentum from their fans to run over his squad once the puck dropped.

  “Get through the first 10 minutes,” Ken implored his team. “New York is going to be playing for their lives.”

  A desperate team led by Wayne Vanstone was an unsettling thought – especially while Toronto continued to miss the contributions of Eddie Mark.

  Just minutes before the first period was to start, Cole showed up and sat at his broadcast table. He looked worn out, but also somehow relieved to be there. Alex banged on the glass to salute Cole with his stick. Cole smiled back and put his headset on.

  Within the first half-dozen minutes of the opening period, Ken’s fears were being realized. New York came out flying and Toronto looked tentative. This gave Vanstone and his teammates an extra step and they took full advantage, scoring on a pretty passing play. Minutes later, Vanstone made another hot pass to a winger bursting up the side of the rink. He fired a deadly, accurate shot that Matt may have grabbed if he’d come out a bit more to cut down the angle.

  Just like that, New York led 2–0 and their fans seemed to be injecting them with momentum as they cheered at the top of their collective lungs.

  Unsurprisingly, Alex found himself up front again. He and Mike went out together on the next shift with Curtis. The pace eventually calmed down, but with just over a minute left in the first period, Barry and the younger defenceman Todd got their signals crossed over a loose puck and Vanstone pounced. He put a quick move on Matt and registered his third point of the game to give New York a 3–0 lead heading into the intermission.

  The team was exactly where Ken did not want them to be, having dug themselves an early hole in a game that was a must-win for the other side.

  “There’s lots of hockey left,” Ken called out to his team. “Win the next two periods.”

  As the second period got underway, things did not start off in promising fashion. Alex took a questionable hooking penalty, his very first penalty of the playoffs outside of his fight with Marty Reed.