by Gregg Stutts
“Gail, don’t worry. The boys are fine,” Paul said. “Come on, I’ll take you back.” To Bo and Max, he said, “Give me a few minutes. I’ll be back.”
Max sat down while Bo left to find a cup of coffee. Max looked around at the others in the waiting area. Some were still waiting to see a doctor. Some were family members or friends waiting to hear news. Sitting across from him was a pregnant woman and a girl who looked to be about fifteen or sixteen. About the age Sarah would be today. When the girl coughed, all Max could think about was the flu virus flying at him. He moved to the other side of the room and picked up a sports section someone had left behind.
He read the article on the Lakeside-Bentonville game and the playoff implications. A Bentonville win would lock them in for the number one seed in the west. A loss combined with a Fayetteville win would knock them down to a number two seed. All twelve local writers and sportscasters were picking Bentonville to win. The closest score anyone predicted was 28-14. The largest margin was 56-3.
Maybe he was crazy, but he was feeling good about their chances, at least he had been. Realistically, if TJ or Carl couldn’t play, they had almost no chance of winning. TJ’s back-up was a sophomore who had potential but needed another year to gain some weight and experience. Carl’s back-up was a junior who last year also played trombone at half-time. Max had to tell him if he was serious about starting someday, he’d have to choose one or the other. Not that he had anything against a kid playing in the band—he just couldn’t have a starting lineman marching at halftime when the coaches needed him in the locker room.
He set the paper down and studied the mom and her sick daughter. The woman’s dress was frayed and faded. Her coat had seen better days too and had a large tear on the sleeve. The girl wore jeans and a ragged sweatshirt that was a couple sizes too big. Both outfits looked like they’d come from a thrift store.
He’d gotten as far from the girl as he could. Not the mother though. The mother, who had to be at least seven or eight months pregnant, hugged her daughter close and never stopped stroking her hair and kissing her forehead. If anyone in the room couldn’t afford to be sick, it was this woman. Surely, she wouldn’t be allowed to take anything if she also got sick. But she didn’t care. She cared about her daughter.
He tried to see if she wore a wedding ring, but her left hand was wrapped around her daughter and out of sight. He wondered if it was her only child. Fifteen years is a big gap between kids.
Like the gap between Sarah and Michelle’s new baby.
“Max? Max?” Bo said louder the second time. “I’ve got some news.”
“Sorry,” Max said. “What were you saying?”
“I just talked to TJ’s dad. He said TJ has a sprained left wrist, but everything else checked out okay. No signs of a concussion or anything serious.”
“That’s great,” Max said. “What about Carl?”
“It sounds like the driver’s side door took the brunt of the impact. Apparently, they spun out of control and hit a tree. Carl is okay but has some bruised ribs.”
He wanted to ask whether it looked like they would be cleared to play, but did everything he could not to. Fortunately, Bo was able to read his mind.
“The doctor said they’d both be sore, but he’d clear them to play tonight since neither of them showed any signs of head trauma.” Bo smiled and said. “The doc was a linebacker in high school. He gets it.”
As they were leaving, Carl’s mom stopped them. “Thank you for being here. It means a lot to the boys. They said they’d be ready for tonight.”
“I’m glad they’re both okay,” Max said. “Could’ve been worse.”
“It really could have been,” she said. “Carl said when he hit the brakes, the pedal went right to the floor. There was nothing he could do. What a blessing there wasn’t another car involved.”
As they walked to the truck, Max couldn’t help thinking about the last car accident involving one of his players. He didn’t want to go there, but... did someone tamper with the car?
Chapter 23
It was nine-thirty by the time Michelle got back to her car, still waging war with her thoughts. It wasn’t going to be easy, but she was determined to do everything within her power to make her marriage work. God would have to work on Max.
The two joggers she’d seen on the trail got into their VW station wagon and exited the parking lot. Other than a black SUV with tinted windows parked a few spaces away from her, the parking lot was empty. She got in her car and locked the doors.
She started the engine, but when she tried to move, the car felt sluggish and difficult to turn. She stopped and got out to check. It felt like something was stuck underneath the car, but nothing was there. When she walked around to the passenger side, she saw the problem. Her right front tire was completely flat.
It had been years since she’d changed a tire. On the few occasions she’d even had a flat, Max always came and changed it for her. She got back in the car, shut off the engine and picked up her phone and debated calling him.
As bad as things were at the moment, he’d be even angrier if she didn’t call him and ask for help. She pressed his number and after a few rings got his voice mail. She kept it brief, told him what happened, where she was and asked if he could come. She waited for fifteen minutes without a reply.
She gave him until ten o’clock, and then pressed the button to open the trunk. It wasn’t her first choice, but she’d have to figure it out. As she got out, she realized it was still just her and the black SUV. The windows were too dark to tell if anyone was inside.
It took almost ten minutes to get the jack unbolted from inside the trunk. The spare tire was one of the small ones, but it still looked heavy. It took another five minutes to get it unbolted and out of the trunk. The diagram printed on the side of the jack showed where to place it underneath the car, but it was still hard to figure out. She studied it for a minute, and then slid the jack to what looked like the proper location. She glanced back at the SUV.
There wasn’t anyone else on the trail.
Her hands trembled as she pumped the jack, hoping she was doing everything right. After a couple minutes, the tire was clear of the ground by an inch. She was about to remove the lug nuts when she remembered she should have loosened them first. Max always did that and had made a point of telling her why it was important, although at the moment, she couldn’t remember what the reason was.
She lowered the car back down and placed the tire iron on the first lug nut. She pushed on it, but nothing happened. She pushed harder, but it didn’t move. She took a deep breath and pushed as hard as she could but didn’t even get a squeak.
She got back in the car and tried calling Max again. Still no answer. She got out again to give it one more try. She fit the tire iron over one of the lug nuts and pushed as hard as she could.
Behind her, she heard a door open and slam shut. “Hello, Michelle.”
She turned to see two men walking toward her. She didn’t recognize the one man. But the other she did. It was Donnie Black. And now it wasn’t just her hands trembling.
Chapter 24
Driving back to school, Max kept thinking about the comment Carl's mother made about the brakes. Brake pedals don't just go to the floor. Were they tampered with? Or was he being paranoid. He didn’t know, so he kept it to himself. Just because Dante's accident hadn't actually been an accident, it didn't mean there was anything suspicious about this accident. Still though, if he was beginning to think like a conspiracy theorist, could anyone blame him?
He went to his office and shut the door. He needed TJ and Carl to play. Their back-ups weren't ready. Not even close. If his starters weren’t one hundred percent, he could only call plays that went to the other side of the line. That might work for a series but Bentonville would adjust and Lakeside’s offense would be shut down.
No, their only real chance was if they could play. That was obvious. Of course, it was obvious. Anyone who knew their gam
e plan knew they couldn't win without TJ and Carl.
Anyone who knew...
If someone wanted to sabotage their game plan, then taking TJ and Carl out of the game would do it. That was crazy though. Would someone really go after a couple of high school guys? Someone could have been killed.
Like Dante.
Would Donnie Black really try to hurt high school kids just to get back at him? He laughed to himself when he realized the answer to his own question. There was no doubt in his mind Donnie would hurt those kids; he'd already shown what he was capable of. And what he could get away with.
Donnie himself had warned Max to watch his back. Willy also had a bad feeling about Donnie. The problem was not having real evidence.
In Dante’s case, he had a picture of a car. All he had now was a warning and a bad feeling, but that wasn't evidence. He couldn’t go to the Lakeside Police. He was responsible for getting their chief fired. They weren’t going to help him.
I have no one.
It was hard to keep his eyes open. He laid his head on the desk. The last two months were catching up to him. He lost his wife, got her back and lost her again. He’d been threatened, chased, framed for murder, and had two bosses looking for a reason to fire him. And worst of all, his wife was pregnant with her old boyfriend’s baby. It could be yours.
There was a knock on the door. “Come in,” Max said. It was Bo. He couldn't tell if it was good news or bad. “What’s the latest?”
“Good news and maybe not so good news,” Bo said. “The trainer put a soft cast on TJ’s wrist and wrapped it good. He should be good to go. I think we’ll get at least ninety-percent out of him.”
“I guess the news on Carl isn’t as good,” Max said.
“Game time decision,” Bo said. “Their working on some extra padding around his rib cage. We’ll see how he feels during warm-ups tonight.”
“Do what you can,” Max said. “I don’t want him to get hurt worse, but you know we need him.”
“He’s a tough kid,” Bo said. “He’ll be ready.”
Max leaned back in his chair as his thoughts returned to Michelle. He knew it was difficult for marriages to survive the death of a child. And many marriages don’t survive adultery. But what percentage of marriages survived the death of a child and adultery…and raising another man’s baby?
The odds can’t be good.
Chapter 25
“What are you doing here, Donnie?” Michelle said.
“Now what kind of greeting is that? JD and I are just out for a drive. It’s just such a beautiful day.”
She went back to trying to change the tire and tried not to let them see how much she was shaking.
“Looks like you're having some trouble there,” Donnie said.
“Nothing I can't handle,” she said.
“Are you sure?” Donnie said. “Because we’ve been watching you and it doesn't look like you're making much progress. JD could give you a hand if you want.”
“I am strongest man in world,” JD said in either a fake accent or one Michelle didn’t recognize.
Michelle turned around and started to say something to the guy who thought he was the strongest man in the world, but let it go. She looked at Donnie instead. “Did you have something to do with this?”
Donnie laughed. “Now that’s funny. Isn’t it, JD?”
“Very funny, boss,” JD said.
Michelle was pushing as hard as she could. “And why’s that so funny?”
“Because that’s what your husband asked me last night,” Donnie said.
Michelle wasn’t going to give him the satisfaction of playing his game, so she said nothing and kept pushing and hoping to just get a little movement from the first lug nut.
Help me, Lord.
“Yeah, I was just out for a drive last night and came across your husband who was having some car trouble of his own,” he said. “He didn’t tell you?”
She wanted to ask what he was talking about but didn’t. “Yeah, well Max is a capable guy. I’m sure he was fine,” she said.
“You mean you’re not sure?” Donnie said. “Oh, I forgot. Your husband is staying at a motel. I guess that means you didn’t talk to him last night. You two aren’t having trouble, are you? Cause that would be a shame.”
It flashed through her mind to spring from her crouching position, spin 180 degrees and swing the tire iron into the side of Donnie’s face. If the legal system wasn’t going to get justice for Dante, then maybe she could. The next thought that flashed through her mind was giving birth in a prison hospital and having to say goodbye to her baby while she served a murder sentence.
“Well, we’ll just get out of your way now, Michelle,” Donnie said. “It looks like you’ve got your hands full.”
She gripped the iron hard to stop the shaking. When she heard them get back in their SUV and pull away, she realized she’d been holding her breath and finally exhaled. But she heard the brakes squeal and from the corner of her eye saw them stop.
“Oh, Michelle, I almost forgot,” she heard Donnie say.
She stayed focus on the lug nut and didn’t look.
“I almost forgot to congratulate you,” he said.
She kept her head down, but yelled, “Oh yeah, congratulate me for what?”
“On your new baby, of course,” Donnie said.
She dropped the tire iron, which clanked loudly on the pavement. Donnie Black knew she was pregnant. She almost peed her pants.
She felt paralyzed as she heard the tires squeal and kick up sand and pebbles against her back.
Chapter 26
Michelle waited until she could no longer hear the SUV then looked to make sure they were gone. She couldn’t stop shaking. Donnie Black was a killer. He’d taken pleasure in scaring her. And he knew she was pregnant.
What if he knows about Chris?
She got back in the car and locked the doors. Max wasn't answering her calls, so she texted him: “Max, PLEASE call me!”
She waited a few minutes, but he didn't reply, then placed another call. She got an answer on the second ring. “Rose, I’m sorry to bother you. I tried calling Max but he didn’t answer and I have a flat…I tried to change it but I couldn’t get the lug nuts off and then Donnie Black was here and I tried calling Max again…I need help, Rose, please, I…” Michelle began to cry.
“Michelle, tell me where you are,” Rose said. “Willy and I will come get you.”
It took Michelle another minute to calm down and let them know where she was. Rose said they’d be there in fifteen minutes.
It wasn’t until Willy and Rose arrived that Michelle felt safe enough to unlock her doors and get out. Rose gave her a long hug. Then Willy did. She got in the backseat of their car where she and Rose watched as Willy changed the tire. He had the job done in ten minutes and had the flat tire loaded in the trunk of his car. He said he’d get it looked at.
They insisted Michelle come back to their house for lunch. She wasn’t feeling very hungry but didn’t argue. The thought of going home to her empty house scared her. “Michelle, how about you ride in our car with Rose and I’ll drive your car?”
Willy probably saw how much she was still trembling, so she didn’t object.
Over lunch, she opened up. She told Willy and Rose everything. About being pregnant. And Max leaving. And Donnie Black. She knew Max was going to be angry she’d told Willy and Rose, but she needed someone to talk to besides her mother. It was embarrassing to confess everything, but it also felt good to get it out.
After she was finished, Willy said matter-of-factly, “We’re in a battle.” He and Rose then held her hands and prayed for her. Willy said he wanted Michelle to stay with them for the night and wouldn’t take no for an answer. Michelle had no intentions of refusing the offer. Rose suggested Michelle lie down and rest in the guest bedroom.
She laid down on the bed, closed her eyes and thought about the decision she’d made while on her walk, the one to be the best wife sh
e could be regardless of what Max did. Right after that the condemning thoughts went to another level and Donnie Black showed up and scared her to death.
Willy is right. I’m in a battle.
She shivered and pulled the blanket over her.
Chapter 27
Max had done all he could to get ready for Bentonville. Now all he could think about was a cheeseburger. It was time for a run to Feltner Brothers. On the way to his truck, he pulled his phone out. Michelle had tried to call him over several hours ago. And then texted him: “Max, PLEASE call me!”
