by Nikki Turner
“I don’t know. I mean, I need this cash. We need this cash. We can finally take this club idea nationwide and open spots in Atlanta, Philly, New York, Chicago, and L.A. We will be able to stamp our names on something. How do I not go through with this?”
“Then don’t stress. You know what you need to do. It’s all going to work out. Everything will be fine! Trey just needs some time to cool off,” Candi reassured him.
“I know, I know, at least I hope so.” Slim paused. “Question, did you have to put ex in his drink? I mean that was a little drastic, even for you.”
“That was all I could think of at the time. I knew he’d be in a jam and would ask you for help and you’d have him right where you needed him,” Candi replied.
“Fuck it! It is what it is and there isn’t anything we can do about it now.”
Chapter 5
The game clock read two minutes and forty-seven seconds in the fourth quarter. It was turning out that Trey didn’t even have to throw the game. He really was having an off night. Shots he was trying to make, he wasn’t. Dallas was doing a good job of trying to contain him. The game was only close because his teammates were picking up his slack. As bad as Trey was playing, they were only down two points.
Trey continued to monitor the score. He knew how much they had to lose by. Hopefully he wouldn’t be put in the position to play a role in that. Quickly his hope was diminishing and it was time for him to act.
Washington scored on its next possession then Dallas turned right around and turned the ball over for another quick Washington score. In a split second, the momentum of the game had changed. Washington went from being down two points to up two. Trey knew if he didn’t do something, the game would slip away and they’d win. This was the moment he’d been waiting for all his life, but never did he imagine this would be how it would play out. Instead of ensuring his team’s victory, he needed to do the opposite and make sure they lost.
Trey ran down the court to play defense. Once his man had the ball in his hands, he allowed him to go around him and left him open for an uncontested three-pointer. Dallas was now back up by one point. Washington quickly brought the ball up court and called time-out.
“Trey, you need to get up tight on him. You are giving him too much room,” the coach yelled as Trey approached the bench.
Trey looked at the clock. There was now a minute and thirteen seconds left. He needed four more points. He had to make sure the ball would be in his hands. The coach started to draw up a play. As he expected, it was designed for him.
Trey got the ball at the top of the key. He allowed time to tick off the clock trying to set up his defender. He made a quick move to his left and created just enough separation to get off a shot. He rose to take the shot but missed badly. Dallas hustled to get the rebound. The frustration read all over Trey’s face. He couldn’t believe what he was doing.
Dallas knew how key this possession was so as they crossed half court and were about to call time out, Trey reached in trying to steal the ball, but fouled the opposing player with fifty-eight seconds left. The coach couldn’t believe what Trey had just done. As the Dallas player approached the free-throw line, the coach called Trey over to him.
“Why would you foul him? We are only down one. This is no time to start panicking. We’ve been here before. Trey, you know better!”
“I’m sorry, coach. I thought I could catch him off-guard and get the steal. I didn’t think the ref would make that call with the game on the line,” Trey replied.
“Don’t think, just do what you know how to do and win this damn game!” the coach yelled. He calmed himself, not wanting Trey to tense up. “Okay, regardless, if he makes both of these free throws or not we need a time-out. If he misses, make sure we get the rebound.”
Trey nodded in agreement. He ran to the free-throw line. The Dallas player calmly sank both free throws. Trey did as the coach asked and called time-out. They were now down three points, however, there was still a lot of time left. Trey started to second guess fouling so early. This was turning out to be harder than he first thought.
“Trey,” the coach called. “Are you paying attention?”
“Yes, coach, I’m with you.”
“Good, I need you to knock this shot down. If you can get the three, good, if not, take the best shot available. It doesn’t have to be a three,” the coach stressed.
Every professional player wanted to be the hero, however most weren’t afforded the opportunity. In this league, you had to be the marquee player for that privilege. Trey was that. He’d taken his share of clutch shots in the past. The pressure was what he thrived on. He knew how much time fifty-eight seconds was so if he couldn’t get the quick three, he would go to the basket and get an easy two or put the referee in the position to call a foul. That knowledge only came with experience and on this team he was the only one with that experience. He knew if he allowed another player to get the ball, no matter how much the coach stressed a three wasn’t needed, they would try to be the hero and take the three.
Trey made sure when they inbounded the ball, he wasn’t open. He forced another player to take the inbound pass. As Trey predicted, he tried to be the hero and missed a three-point shot. Dallas got the rebound as the Washington players applied pressure, trying to force him into a turnover. Time was quickly ticking away. The coached yelled for them to retreat back to defense and get a stop. It was still a one-possession game.
Trey knew he needed Dallas to score, though. Washington played tough defense and forced Dallas to miss the next shot. As Washington got the rebound, Trey quickly got the ball. He had dodged a bullet the last time with his teammate missing the tying shot. However, he wasn’t going to allow his fate to be in another player’s hands again. He needed to make sure they didn’t tie the game. As he crossed the half-court line he looked over to the coach to see if he wanted a time-out. The coach motioned for him to go. Trey looked at the clock, there were now less than twenty seconds left in the game. He took two hard dribbles toward the three-point line, then gave his defender a pump fake. The defender bit and jumped trying to block the shot. Trey slightly leaned in knowing the referees wouldn’t call a foul and took the shot. It seemed as if it took forever for the ball to reach the rim. It clanged off the backboard and off the rim. The Washington players frantically tried to foul the Dallas player who got the rebound.
Trey ran over to the referee complaining, looking for a foul. He knew it really wasn’t a foul but he had to sell the part. He was almost home. He’d done everything he could do to meet his end of the bargain. All he needed now was for the Dallas player to make these two free throws and he did. Washington was now down five with only seven seconds left on the clock. There was no way they could win. Trey took the inbound pass and walked the ball up the court as the time ticked down to zero. The Dallas players jumped for joy; they knew they had won the game. The deed was done. Trey walked off the court, leaving a piece of himself behind.
Chapter 6
Slim thought deep down inside, Trey would find a way to renege on their agreement. A part of him expected him to. He didn’t actually think Trey would have the balls to go through with it, but he was wrong. He quickly picked up the phone to call Candi to make sure she knew everything was set and in place. Slim knew Trey would be suspected of point shaving if he placed the bet so he had Candi have one of her girlfriends whom she trusted place it for them instead.
“Hello,” Candi answered.
“It’s done! He came through.”
“I know, I’ve been watching.”
“I can’t believe it, he fucking came through!”
“How much did we win?” Candi asked.
“A little over seven million total. As promised, you get a million of that. Can you believe it, baby?”
“Oh my God!”
“That is what I’m talking about! Okay, we have to be cool about this. Have you gone over everything with your girl?”
“Yes, Karen is cool. You don
’t have to worry about her. I knew you’d trip, that’s why I flew out here with her.”
“You’re in Vegas?” Slim questioned.
“Yes, I knew you’d get all concerned and start worrying me to death. What can I do if I’m in D.C. with you? Nothing! So I flew to Vegas with her to make sure everything went smooth.”
“Smart, very smart, that was good thinking! So this is what you do, have her pick up the money and once she does y’all get on a plane. Once y’all get here, I’ll pay her her cut. Make sure she doesn’t skim any money off the top.”
“Okay, I told you I’m on it. You don’t have to worry about it. She already knows the plan. I told her we’d pay her one hundred and thirty grand.”
“Sweet, I was prepared to give her three but if she agreed to one thirty that sounds better to me.”
“Yeah, I knew you’d overpay her, that’s why I didn’t even bother to wait. I got her to do it for one thirty and left it at that.”
“You know I’m going to fuck the shit out of you when you get home! You are on fire right now.”
“When am I not, and you better do more than just fuck me, I can get that any night.”
Slim started laughing.
“What about Trey?”
“What about him?” Slim questioned.
“How much do we have to give him?”
“He already got his cut. All he wanted was clean piss, so that ship has sailed.”
“So then maybe I should be getting a little more than a million, don’t you think?”
“Baby, I can’t even argue with you. Your ass has earned it. How about we add an extra million to that and make it an even two million?”
“That sounds good to me, baby!” Candi replied.
“Okay, so I’ll see you tonight?”
“No, we’ll be back tomorrow morning. That’s the next flight out.”
“Are you sure?” Slim questioned.
“Yes, I’m sure. Do you think I want to be here a minute more than I have to? I can feel Georgetown calling my name now. I have money to spend and things to buy.”
“Calm it down now, you can’t go crazy and start spending large too soon. You know I’m still watched, so all eyes will be on us. If you start spending big, they’ll know something is up. You have to slow-walk it. Spend the money we make off the club and stack that paper, that way it doesn’t draw any red flags. Trey really stuck his neck out on a line for us. I don’t want this shit coming back to bite him or us.”
“Fuck him!”
“All that right there …”
Candi cut Slim off. “I’m sorry, I know that’s your man and all, but shit! Fuck him! Damn! What has he done for you? Here you tried to put money in his pocket and look how he acted.”
“Again, you need to calm it down with all that. One, what I asked him to do wasn’t fair to him, and two, he has been there for me more than you’ll ever know. How is none of your business, which is why you don’t know. Bottom line, I don’t want this shit coming back on him. He doesn’t deserve it. He actually was the innocent one in all this. Did you forget we are the ones who manipulated him to fucking do it?”
“Okay, okay, I’m sorry. I hear you. I’ll make sure I’m careful. I’m sorry, baby, okay?” Candi said.
“I’ll see you when you get here,” Slim said, then hung up the phone.
Chapter 7
The phone kept ringing off the hook. Trey wasn’t in the mood for anyone’s judgment or opinions. He continued to ignore it. Even when the front desk attendant called up to let him know that Susan was there to see him, he wanted to tell him to tell her to turn around but he knew that would bring about questions. Which would make matters worse and Trey wasn’t in the mood. The depression of costing his team a victory and possibly a championship had started to sink in.
Susan walked in the front door. Trey left it cracked open after he hung up with the front desk receptionist, so she would be able to get in.
“It’s dark in here. You do know it’s the middle of the day? You need to let some light in here,” Susan said as she went over to the blinds to open them. Trey ignored her and went over to the couch to lie down. The TV was on and set to ESPN. Trey, of course, was the topic of conversation. Sportscasters talked about how Trey folded under pressure and wasn’t able to get his team over the hump.
“Why are you in here watching this? Trey, you can’t do this to yourself. You have had a great year, regardless. You can’t let this get you down. It was only one game,” Susan pleaded.
Trey smirked. “I wish it was that easy, Susan. I swear I do.”
“You can’t beat yourself up about one game. You are entitled to a bad game just like anyone else, aren’t you? Don’t pay any attention to the critics. This isn’t like you. Usually, you let it motivate you for the next game.”
“Not this time! This time is different. I don’t even feel like playing. I feel like a disgrace and I let my teammates down. Shit, I let the city down.”
“Trey, we wouldn’t even be in this position if it wasn’t for you.”
Trey cut her off. “Exactly! We would have won the championship if it wasn’t for me. I should have just not played! I don’t know why I even went through with it. What was I thinking?”
Susan was puzzled. “Hold on, what are you talking about? Is something else going on that I don’t know about?”
Trey got up from the couch and went into the kitchen. He started to pour himself another drink when Susan stopped him.
“Susan, I’m not in the fucking mood. Honestly, I just want to be left the fuck alone!”
“What has happened to you? I’m starting to not even know who you are anymore. You need to cut this shit out and you need to do it now! It’s not like the series is over. You still have a game on Tuesday night. You are still up three games to two.”
“It’s not about that,” Trey replied.
“Then what is going on? I can’t help if you don’t let me in. What is going on?”
Trey knew he needed to talk to someone about what happened. If he didn’t, it would continue to eat him up. Susan was one of the few he could trust with anything. He knew whatever they talked about would stay between the two of them, but he also knew it would come at a price. How could he tell her everything?
Trey had been trying to reconcile with her for over a year now and rekindle their past relationship. Each time, Susan would turn a blind cheek to his attempt. When she caught him cheating on her, that tore her apart. She’d let him into a place within her heart that she’d never let any man in before, and for him to turn around and hurt her so much, she could never forget that. Forgiving him was the easy part, it was the forgetting that was holding them back. Trey knew the minute he told Susan everything, his chances of getting back with her would become slim to none.
“Okay, if I tell you, you have to promise one, not to get mad and two, not to hold it against me.”
“Then I’ll pass. I don’t want to know.”
“Huh?”
“Trey, if you want to tell me, cool, I’m here and ready to listen. But I’m not going to sit here and make you a promise that I might not be able to keep. I don’t know how I’m going to react to what you tell me. So if you don’t want to tell me, fine.”
“Why do you have to make things so difficult? Shit, why can’t you just agree and let it be!”
Susan walked out of the kitchen.
“Where are you going?” Trey asked.
“If you aren’t telling me, then there is no need for me to be here. Again, I don’t know nor like this person you are right now. This isn’t the man I know so I’d rather leave than be around you.”
“Wow!” Trey said, speechless.
As Susan turned to head toward the door, Trey grabbed her arm to stop her.
“What, Trey?” Susan asked.
“I threw the game. We didn’t lose, I threw the game. I made sure we lost.”
Now Susan was speechless. She was at a loss for words. All she could do was st
and there and stare back at him.
Trey continued. “You were right about Slim. My knee started to bother me again and the team doctor started talking about I might have to get it scoped. I didn’t want that, we’re in the middle of a championship run. That was all I needed was to find out that I might have torn something and I’m out for the play-offs. So I got scared and called Slim. That is why he was at the game.”
Susan’s facial expression clearly explained how she felt about the situation.
“And let me guess, Trey, Slim gave you something to take away the pain?”
“What other choice did I have? He only gave me enough for the play-offs, nothing serious. I didn’t want to tell you and you get upset. I didn’t know what to do, this was the only way.”
“Fine, what does this have to do with you throwing the game?”
“Before I asked Slim for the valium he asked me to throw the game. He said we were favored to win since it was a home game. He could place a bet on the game and if Dallas won by five or more, he’d get a big payday. I was so pissed when he asked me. I couldn’t believe it. Then I find out about my knee and I had no choice.”
“No, you had a choice, but the one that you should have chosen you didn’t. You chose the easy way out. Do you remember what those pain pills did to you? Because I damn sure do and do you remember how you almost lost your career over trying to get off them? What if management finds out you are back on them again? Have you thought of that? And you wonder why I get on you about him. He is the reason you almost lost your career and look, it’s happening all over again. That man is no friend of yours but no, you keep wanting to associate with him.”
“Susan, it is only for one, maybe two games, but now I don’t want to even play. I can’t even look at myself in the mirror after last night. You know, in the beginning, I wasn’t even trying to lose the game. I really was off and having a bad game. I mean, I thought it was a sign from Christ. The day I’m asked to miss and not perform I actually couldn’t hit a shot. But go figure, the night I’m off, the team is on fire. Irony is so funny.”
