'I'm the Chairman of the Board of Trustees, at Taft.'
I put some ketchup on my hash.
'Do you follow college basketball, Mr. Spenser?'
'Some. I like the pros better.'
'Well, Taft, as perhaps you know, is a major basketball power. Not only in the east, but nationally.'
'Made the final four, couple years ago,' I said.
'Yes, and we're ranked in the top twenty again this year,' Morton said.
'Kid, Dwayne Woodcock, is a piece of work,' Haller said.
'Yes,' Morton said. 'Best power forward in the country.'
'So what can I do for you,' I said. 'You looking for a point guard?'
Morton took in some air, slowly, and let it out slowly, through his nose.
'I guess I'll have to finally say it,' he said.
I drank some Sam Adams and ate some hash. 'There's rumors of point shaving,' Morton said.
'Ah,' I said.
'The student newspaper first reported it, and a couple of sportswriters have said something about it to Brad Walker.'
'Who's Walker?' I said.
'The A.D.'
'How about the coach?'
'People don't like to give Dixie bad news. He reacts, ah, poorly to bad news,' Morton said.
'Tends to kill the messenger,' Haller said. He'd finished his scrod and was nearly through his second martini. It always puzzled me he could have that kind of lunch and then go into court and win cases.
'So no one's asked the coach,' I said.
'No,' Morton said.
'Anyone ask the players?'
'No. Dixie doesn't like people upsetting the players,' Morton said.
'Does the college paper say where it got its rumor?'
Morton shook his head. 'Kids say they're protecting their sources.'
'How about the sportswriters?'
'Well, we haven't actually pressed this very far, Mr. Spenser. We didn't want to lend credence to the rumor, and we didn't want to encourage the rumors to circulate, if you see what I mean.'
'So what is it you want me to do?'
'We want you to track the allegations down, establish their truth or falsity, put the matter to rest.'
'What if they're true?' I said.
'If they are true we will turn the matter over to the district attorney. The university is not prepared to cover up illegal things,' Morton said. 'We care about our student athletes, and we care about a winning program at Taft. But we also care about rule of law.'
'I may have to annoy your coach,' I said.
'I understand. He's a difficult, proud, volatile personality; but don't misjudge him. Dixie Dunham is a good man.'
'We'll get along fine,' I said.
Haller made a noise in his throat and then coughed into his clenched fist. Morton glanced at him and said nothing.
'If we can agree on the costs, are you willing to sign on for this?' Morton said.
'Sure,' I said. 'My fee increases twenty percent, though, if your coach is mean to me.'
'Mr. Spenser,' Morton said, 'I can't promise . . .'
'He's kidding,' Haller said. 'He does that a lot.'
'Oh, of course. Well, let's talk money.'
We did. It wasn't hard, and when it was over I was employed again.
'Am I working for you, Mr. Morton, or the University?' I said.
'You are employed by the Board of Trustees and empowered to act on their behalf.' He glanced at Haller for confirmation.
'Baron,' Haller said. 'It doesn't make any difference how you say it. He'll do what he wants to.'
