“She’s a friend from back home. Answer it,” said Aleks with a devious smile.
Having survived the attempt on his life from the shot of vodka, Peter figured he had nothing to lose.
“Hello?”
“Privyet?”
“Don’t worry, she speaks English,” said Aleks.
“This is Peter, a teammate of Aleks.”
“Oh, where is Aleks?”
“Right next to me. We’re out at a bar together.”
“Of course. My name is Nadia.”
Peter and Nadia talked about everything, from soccer to karaoke bars to life in Russia. When the conversation lagged, Aleks and Pavel would prod Peter to continue, offering more questions to ask Nadia, while making sure Peter kept his eyes on the screen. Aleks glanced at his watch then asked for his phone back.
“It is Aleks. Peter has to dance now. Spasibo.”
“Aw, come on, man, we were just getting friendly,” said Peter, blinking several times and shaking his head, as if he was still trying to clear the vodka.
“Time for another shot, then we dance,” said Aleks.
“Bring it on, dude!” said Peter, surprised by his own party attitude.
Benny checked his watch. 9:45 pm. He looked at Peter, who was in no mood to leave.
“Uh, guys, I can’t believe I’m saying this, but it's 9:45. We gotta get back,” said Benny.
“No, we don’t, Ben,” said Peter wrapping his arm around him.
Benny looked at Peter in disbelief. One shot of vodka, even Stoli, could not have erased eighteen years of obedience. He leaned in to talk privately.
“Dude, I’m having fun too, but Pennington will have our asses if we’re late.”
“I know that. But screw ‘em. We’re having fun,” said Peter with a shake of his head and more blinking.
For once in his life, Benny had to be the responsible one. He looked at Aleks and Pavel.
“You guys staying?”
“Yes, we are staying,” said Aleks resting his elbow on Peter’s shoulder.
“OK, I guess I’ll see you tomorrow,” said Benny.
With a confused look, Benny headed for the door, not knowing what it was like to be the first to leave a party. On the walk back to the academy, through what had seemed to be familiar streets, he felt lost like he was now actually in a foreign land. His lifelong friend, always the voice of reason, stayed behind in a Finnish karaoke bar with two Russians. He wasn’t sure how to explain this to Coach Pennington, but he knew one person who he needed to call.
30
They could keep their sauna, their fruity wine, even all of their pine furniture. The one amenity that Eddie appreciated most at the Ansalahti resort was the small fire ring outside his cabin, ready to light each evening with fresh kindling and firewood. His thoughts swirled amid the smoke as he sorted out facts from fears, realities from rumors. He was smitten with Anna, perhaps fooled by her on the walk that night, but intrigued with the possibility that she may have good intentions. He had met owners like Victor and coaches like Stuart before, but she was a part of the equation that he had never encountered in a sport setting. And if her work with the team was somehow altering mindsets, then all the players should experience the episodes and emotions similar to Peter.
Still, as he leaned back in the green, wooden Adirondack chair to take in the starry sky, Eddie felt alive. This trip had a purpose, not to mention adventure. It would end soon enough, so he convinced himself to relax, keep an eye on the boys, and learn.
Then his phone buzzed with an incoming call.
"Eddie, it's Benny. Are you sleeping?"
"Ben, it's not even 10 o'clock, I'm not that old. What's up?"
"Oh, yeah, right. So, I'm like walking back to the academy."
"OK, from where?"
"A karaoke dance club in town."
"Buddy, I've heard you sing. Did they kick you out?" said Eddie, sipping on his last coffee of the day and smiling at his own joke.
"Not really, I left on my own… by myself," said Benny emphasizing the last word.
Eddie sat forward in his chair.
"And who were you with?"
"Pete, Aleks, and Pavel. And they're all still there."
"What time is curfew?"
"10pm. They know that, but they don't care. At least, that's what they said."
"Peter Borg said that?"
"Yeah."
Eddie poked at the logs in the fire.
"Were they drinking?" asked Eddie.
"Only like one shot so far," said Benny. "I've just never seen Pete like this. It's like he didn't care. Like he wanted to stay there with those guys."
Eddie understood Benny's surprise. Peter Borg was the quintessential Boy Scout, always on time, always prepared, and the poster boy of sound judgment.
"Well, I guess they'll be late and have to deal with Coach in the morning," said Eddie.
"That's what I told them. I was hoping you could maybe go talk him out of it. I don't care what Aleks and Pavel do. Pete will still be late, but maybe only like 20 minutes."
"Dude, it's going to take me twenty minutes just to get over there."
"Please, Coach," said Benny. "That's kinda why you're here, isn't it?"
That remark hit home. It's precisely why he's here, thought Eddie.
"OK, where are they?"
"Karaoke Captain. Like six blocks from the academy. Just Google it," said Benny. "And thanks, Coach."
Eddie heard the uptick in Benny's voice, a relief that his friend wouldn't be left on his own in a strange environment.
The Uber that Eddie called got him to the club by 10:15. It had been a while since Eddie had ventured out into nightlife and never alone. So, he tried to think of an excuse to tell the bouncer to jump the line.
"Hey man, I'm here to pick up my little brother. He's underage, so you don't want him in there," said Eddie to the man on the rope, shorter than Eddie but chiseled from granite.
"I check all the ID's, no one gets in who's underage."
"He snuck in the back door," said Eddie, hoping there was a back door.
"Show me some ID."
Eddie flashed his US passport.
The bouncer rolled his eyes and unhooked the velvet rope.
"You both need to be out of here in five minutes."
Eddie slid him a 20 Euro note then hurried through the door, checking his phone to track his five minutes. Benny mentioned he left the guys at the bar, so that was the first stop. Not entirely sure what Aleks and Pavel looked like, especially under dim, colored strobe lights, Eddie scanned the crowd for the only familiar face he would find. But the Russian duo saw him first.
"Hey, is that the American coach?" said Pavel, nudging Aleks.
Aleks glanced over his shoulder to see Eddie working his way methodically from the bar to the dance floor. Peter was on the far side of the room, directly in Eddie's path.
Aleks cut across at a ninety-degree angle to meet Eddie squeezing through a thicket of drunk girls admiring the tan, dreadlocked newbie.
"Hey, Coach Alonso, over here!" said Aleks in a cheerful voice.
Eddie glanced over to see a tall, pale athletic young man waving to him wearing a plain white t-shirt and a black ball cap.
"Coach, I'm Aleks from the academy team," he said, offering a fist bump. "Looking for some fun?"
"Hey, Aleks. No, actually I'm looking for Peter. Have you seen him?" said Eddie, looking up at the Russian who had a good three inches on him.
"Uh, yes, but he just left. He wanted to get back for curfew," said Aleks, tapping his watch.
"Well, I just talked to Benny, and he said Peter stayed."
Aleks was ready for the inquiry.
"Yes, he did. But then he changed his mind and left a little while ago. I'm surprised you didn't see him walking back," said Aleks, his eyes shifting to focus behind Eddie.
The lights were flashing, and the vape smoke left a low hanging fog, but Eddie could spot a lying face when he saw one.<
br />
"Alright, thanks. I'll catch up with him," he said.
He felt Aleks watching him as he headed to the door. As he dodged a group coming off the dance floor, he maneuvered to his right towards the restrooms. Standing behind a vending machine, he looked back to see Aleks talking again to Pavel, satisfied that the American coach had left the building. Eddie scanned the dance floor again then back to the bar. He spotted him, the wholesome, blond, blue-eyed, All-American, but now with a party boy appearance, drink in one hand, a drunk girl in the other.
Eddie didn't want to make a scene but hoped he could cut Peter out of the crowd and talk to him one on one. His chance came when one of Peter’s new female friends pulled him out on the dance floor. Eddie moved to the far side, keeping Peter between him and the Russians. Inching up to the edge of the floor, he stood motionless until Peter finally glanced over to see him. His eyes squinted across the crowded floor until they recognized Eddie.
"Coach? What the hell are you doing here?" said Peter.
"Weird, I was going to ask you the same thing," said Eddie trying not to sound too judgmental.
"Just hanging with my boys," said Peter with a dismissive shrug.
"What about Benny?"
"What about him? He left a while ago," said Peter as he looked back to signal to his dance partner that he'd be right back.
"Probably because of the 10pm curfew?" said Eddie, keeping a lookout for Aleks.
"Yeah, whatever," said Peter as his new admirer rejoined him with arms draped around his neck.
Eddie heard no slurred words as Peter stood straight as an arrow in front of him.
"I thought you left, Coach," said Aleks, coming up from behind with Pavel.
"And I thought you said Peter had left," said Eddie, looking back with no smile.
"Guess not," said Aleks, returning the glare.
Eddie turned back to Peter, now gyrating with a group of three girls.
"Pete, you need to get back to the academy."
"No, I'm good," said Peter, without a look back.
"C'mon, man, Benny's worried about you. And so am I."
"Hey Alonso," said Pavel stepping into Eddie's view. "Peter is a big boy, and he does not want to leave."
"He's right, man. I don't want to leave. I'm with these guys now. You and Benny need to chill," said Peter, finally looking at his longtime coach with a look of annoyance. "Stop trying to babysit me. Did my Dad send you?"
"No, your Mom did. She's worried about you," said Eddie.
Peter looked away, shrugging off one of the girls.
The bouncer put his hand on Eddie's shoulder.
"Your five minutes is up. Where's your brother?"
"Right there," said Eddie, nodding towards Peter.
"Brother? I don't know who this guy is," said Peter, smiling at the bouncer.
"You got ID?" said the bouncer looking at Peter.
Peter showed him his passport. The bouncer turned back to Eddie.
"You need to leave," he said, standing between Eddie and Peter.
"Why?"
"For giving me a bullshit story to cut the line," he said, grabbing a handful of Eddie's shirt.
Eddie shook off the grasp and turned on his own. Then he looked back at Peter. Amid the pulsing beat and spinning lights, the sticky floor, and the smell of vanilla vapor, the young coach and his star player held a glance. It was only a few seconds but long enough to recognize a shift in their relationship.
Then another nudge from the bouncer broke their bond. Eddie turned, giving a sharp shoulder bump to Aleks on his way by. The young Russian spun around with fist cocked, but Pavel grabbed his elbow, pivoting in front of his countryman as Eddie continued to the door.
Outside the club, waiting for his ride, Eddie looked at his phone. It was a text from Benny.
"Coach, did you find him?"
"Yeah, I found him. He's still here. I'm heading back."
There was no reply from Benny.
31
In the early hours of Sunday, there was no fruit plate. No leisurely breaths of the fresh, pine air. No time for a healthy jog to the academy. Eddie gulped his coffee as he beat the sunrise out the door to the waiting Uber. A restless night of speculation, suspicion, and improbable explanations had only convinced him of his next step.
He arrived before the security guard. He dispatched his car and ducked under the lowered gate arm into the parking lot. Still flooded by the overhead lights, he walked around to the rear of the main building to the training ground. As he expected, there was a solitary figure amidst a pre-dawn workout. Back and forth across the width of the field, first with a ball, then sprinting without. The pace and the lack of rest between sets impressed Eddie. He made his way to the near sideline.
"Liverpool ladders?" asked Eddie.
Dripping in sweat, locked in a zone, Stuart looked up startled.
"Alonso?"
Eddie nodded.
"Geez, you scared the shit out of me. How did you get in here?"
"Under the front gate. I guessed you'd be back here," said Eddie. "Looks fun."
"Care to join me? I've got five more reps," said Stuart stepping up to the line.
Stuart took off across the field. Eddie dropped his phone and sunglasses and fetched a ball. He tapped it on the toes of his right foot then on his left until Stuart returned.
"I'd like to talk to you about Peter Borg," said Eddie.
Panting with his hands on his head, he looked at Eddie for a few seconds then pointed to the line. The two former professionals took off at a full sprint across the field. Stuart carried an extra ten years and twenty pounds over Eddie but still beat him by a step.
"Thought you were faster," said Stuart with an open mouth gasping for air.
"Lack of sleep," said Eddie with his hands on hips.
They lined up again, this time with soccer balls at their feet. With a grunt from Stuart, they took off. While Eddie had lost some of his close control, his speed dribbling was still a weapon. He eased across the line three steps ahead of Stuart.
"Now I'm awake," said Eddie as he offered a fist bump to Stuart, who ignored it.
By the time they finished, the sun was melting the heavy dew, making their shoes as wet as their foreheads. They exchanged no words until Stuart brought two towels back from his bag, throwing one at Eddie’s head. They sat on the metal bench facing into the morning light.
"Tell me again why you're here?" asked Stuart, wiping his face.
"I want to talk to you about Peter," said Eddie.
"No, why are you in Kotka? And Stockholm last week?"
"Peter's mom asked me."
"Asked you to do what exactly?"
"She had heard about some early issues with Peter. The dizziness, the fight, that stuff."
"Why didn't she contact us?"
"She didn't want to embarrass Peter."
"So, sending his old coach was better?"
"She thought I might see things that she wouldn't."
"Well, see anything?" said Stuart, shrugging.
"Coach, I'm just confused by all of it. I've known Pete for years, and he's had more out of character moments in the last week than in the last five years."
Stuart looked out across the field.
"He's a good player… when he's locked in," said Stuart standing up to stretch.
"One of the best I've coached, and his improvement here has been impressive. Almost too hard to believe," said Eddie.
Stuart turned to look at Eddie.
"You're welcome?" said Stuart.
"Oh, no doubt, your coaching has made a difference. Just a remarkable spike in performance."
"I don't know what to tell you, Alonso. These kids are here to get better, and they are getting better. There's been a few off the field issues, but you're going to get some of that."
Eddie paused before responding. "There's one more issue to add to the list," said Eddie.
He described his call from Benny the previous night, his enc
ounter with Peter, Aleks, and Pavel at the club and the lack of concern Peter had for missing curfew.
"Coach, I know this kid, and he's always shown high character, never a problem. And now his best friend and I don't even know who we're talking to anymore. And I trust Aleks and Pavel about as far as I can throw them."
Stuart's phone buzzed from his bag. He reached over to check it.
"Sure enough, here's the report from Franz," said Stuart.
"What time did they get back?"
"3:47 am," said Stuart, reading his phone.
"And their mental state?"
"Pavel was hammered, but the other two were fine."
"What's the punishment?"
"Don't know. I haven't had to hand it out here. In my Liverpool days, the hungover lads had to run till they puked but not sure I can do that here. And that's just the one. The others only missed curfew," said Stuart.
Checking his watch, Stuart gathered up his gear.
"I've got to get on with the morning," he said.
"What's up with Anna Lehtinen?" said Eddie.
Stuart zipped his bag with unnecessary force.
"I don't know, mate, you tell me."
"All I know is that she's a neuro researcher and here with some kind of a cognitive program for the boys. Combine that with what Peter's been through, and there seems to a connection."
"Sounds like you've got it all figured out," said Stuart walking away.
"Can we ask her?" asked Eddie.
"Not without pissing off the boss," said Stuart, still walking. "Besides, I already tried."
"I talked to her on the way home this week,” said Eddie. “She sounds like she has plenty to say but needs some encouragement. Confidential, off the record. Niemi will never know."
Stuart stopped and took one final wipe of his head with the towel. He turned to face Eddie.
"Tonight, just the three of us, in private," said Stuart.
Eddie stood, then walked over to again offer a handshake. This time, Stuart accepted it.
On their way off the field, they passed Franz, who was going about his morning security rounds.
"Morning, Franz. Thanks for last night's report," said Stuart.
Franz nodded then stared at Eddie.
The Playmaker Project Page 16
