You don't know that, Sawyer said.
He lived for owning the team. When she took over, he was pissed. She ends up being
everything New York wants in an owner because she minds her own business. She makes only
one move, acquiring Clu Haid, and it's a beauty. Clu pitches better than anyone dared hope. The
Yankees start heading for greatness. Then you step in. Clu fails a drug test. Sophie Mayor looks
incompetent. The Yankees tumble.
Sawyer seemed to recoup a bit. Something in what Myron had just said had given him a new
lease. Odd. That makes no sense whatsoever.
What part?
All of it, Sawyer said, chest back out. Sophie Mayor has been good to me. I was working as a
drug counselor at the Sloan State and Rockwell rehab centers when she gave me my chance to
move up. Why would I want to hurt her?
You tell me.
I have no idea. I firmly believed that Clu was on drugs. If he wasn't, then the test was faulty.
You know the results are double-tested. There was no mistake. Someone had to fix it.
It wasn't me. Maybe you should speak to Dr. Stilwell.
But you were there? You admit that?
Yes, I was there. And I will no longer dignify your questions with answers. With that Sawyer
Wells abruptly spun and stormed off.
I don't think he liked us, Myron said.
But if it's all about you, then we are he.
So he doesn't like himself?
Sad, isn't it?
Not to mention confusing, Myron said.
They headed for the exit.
So where to, O Motivated One? Win asked.
Starbucks.
Latte time?
Myron shook his head. Confront FJ time.
Chapter 30
FJ was not there. Myron called his office again. The same secretary told him that FJ was still unavailable. Myron repeated that it was imperative that he speak to Francis Ache Junior as soon as humanly possible. The secretary remained unimpressed.
Myron returned to his office. Big Cyndi wore a bright green spandex bodysuit with a slogan across the chest this on a woman who could barely squeeze into a caftan. The fabric screamed in pain, the letters in the slogan so elongated that Myron couldn't read them, kinda like what happens to Silly Putty after you press it against a newspaper headline and stretch it out. Lots of clients have been calling, Mr. Bolitar, Big Cyndi said. They are not pleased by your absence.
I'll take care of it, he said.
She gave him the messages. Oh, and Jared Mayor called, she said. He seemed very anxious to
talk to you.
Okay, thanks.
He called Jared Mayor first. He was in his mother's office at Yankee Stadium. Sophie switched
on the speakerphone.
You called? Myron said.
I was hoping you could give us an update, Jared said.
I think someone is setting up your mother.
Sophie said, Setting me up how?
Clu's drug test was a fix. He was clean.
I know you want to believe that
I have proof, Myron said.
Silence.
What kind of proof? Jared asked.
There's no time for that now. But trust me on this. Clu was clean.
Who would have fixed the test? Sophie asked.
That's what I want to know. The logical suspects are Dr. Stilwell and Sawyer Wells.
But why would they want to hurt Clu?
Not Clu, Sophie. You. It fits in with everything else we have. Raising the specter of your missing daughter, taking your big baseball trade and turning it against you I think someone's out to hurt you.
You're jumping to conclusions, Sophie said.
Could be.
Who would want to hurt me?
I'm sure you've made your share of enemies. How about Vincent Riverton, for one?
Riverton? No. Our whole takeover was far more amicable than the press portrayed it.
Still, I wouldn't rule him out.
Listen, Myron, I don't really care about any of this. I just want you to find my daughter.
They're probably connected.
How?
Myron changed ears. You want me to be blunt, right?
Absolutely.
Then I have to remind you what the odds are that your daughter is still alive.
Slim, she said.
Very slim.
No, I'll stay with slim. In fact, I think it's better than slim.
Do you really believe Lucy is alive someplace?
Yes.
She's out there somewhere, waiting to be found?
Yes.
Then the big question, Myron said, is why.
What do you mean?
Why isn't she home? he asked. Do you think someone's been holding her hostage all these
years? I don't know.
Well, what other choices are there? If Lucy is still alive, why hasn't she come home? Or phoned home? What is she hiding from?
Silence.
Sophie broke it. You think someone has resurrected my daughter's memory as part of some
vendetta against me?
Myron was not sure how to answer. I think it's a possibility we have to consider.
I appreciate your bluntness, Myron. I want you to remain honest with me. Don't hold back. But
I'll also keep my hope. When your child disappears into thin air, it creates a huge void. I need
something to fill that void, Myron. So until I find out otherwise, I'll fill it with hope.
Myron said, I understand
Then you'll keep looking.
There was a knock on the door. Myron put his hand over the phone and said to come in. Big
Cyndi opened the door. Myron gestured to a chair. She took it. In the bright green she looked a
bit like a planet.
I'm not sure what I can do, Sophie.
Jared will investigate Clu's drug test, she said. If there was anything amiss, he'll find out
about it. You keep your eyes open for my daughter. You may be right about Lucy's fate. Then
