wrote her love letters. I asked her out again. I tried different tactics. Do you ever read romance novels?'
'Not really.'
'The hero and heroine are always rejecting each other. Through wars or pirate attacks or high society parties, the couple fight and claw and seem to hate each other. But deep down they are in love. They're repressing their true feelings, see? That's how it was with Valerie and me. There was an undeniable tension there. A high-voltage surge between us.'
'Uh-huh,' Myron said. 'Roger, why did you want to see me?'
'I thought you could talk to the police for me.'
'And tell them what?'
'That I didn't kill Valerie. That she was in imminent danger from someone else.'
'Who?'
'I thought you knew.'
'What makes you think that?'
'Valerie told me. Right before she was murdered.'
'She told you what exactly?'
'That she was in danger.'
'In danger of what?'
'I thought you'd know.'
Myron raised his hand. 'Slow down a second, okay? Let's start at the beginning. You were at the U.S. Open.'
'Yes.'
'Why?'
'I go every year. I'm a big fan. I love to watch the matches. They're so mesmerizing-'
'I think we covered that already, Roger. So you went as a fan. Your going had nothing to do with Valerie Simpson? You didn't follow her there?'
'Of course not. I had no idea she'd even be there.'
'Okay, so what happened?'
'I was sitting in the stadium watching Duane Rich-wood demolish Ivan Restovich. Incredible performance. I mean, Duane slaughtered him.' He smiled. 'But why am I telling you this? You're his agent, right?'
'Yes.'
'Can you get me his autograph?'
'Sure.'
'Not tonight, of course. Tomorrow maybe?'
'Maybe.' Earth to Roger. 'But let's stick with Valerie right now. You were watching Duane's match.'
'Exactly.' His voice grew serious. 'I wish I'd known you were Duane Richwood's agent then, Myron. Maybe everything would have been okay then. Maybe Valerie would still be alive and I'd be the hero who saved her and she'd have to stop denying her true feelings and let me into her life and let me protect her forevermore.'
Myron remembered a quote from
'What happened, Roger?'
'The match was basically over so I checked my program. Arantxa Sanchez-Vicario was about to start her match on court sixteen, so I figured I'd go over there and get a good seat. Arantxa's a wonderful player. Such a hustler. Her brothers Emilio and Javier are pros also. Nice players, but they don't have her heart.'
'So you left the stadium,' Myron tried
'I left the stadium. I had a few minutes, so I went over to the booth near the front entrance. The one with all the TV monitors giving the scores of the other matches. I saw that Steffi had already won and that Michael Chang had been dragged into a fifth set. I was checking out some doubles matches on the board. Men's doubles, I think. Ken Flach was one of the people. No, it was… I can't remember.'
'Stay with me, Roger.'
'Anyway, that's when I saw Valerie.'
'Where?'
'By the front gate. She was trying to get in, but the guard wouldn't let her. She didn't have a ticket. She was very upset, that was clear. You know, the Open is always sold out. Every year. But I still couldn't believe what I was seeing. The guard wouldn't let her in. Valerie Simpson. He didn't even recognize her. So naturally I went to her aid.'
Naturally. 'What did you do?'
'I got my hand stamped by another guard and walked outside the gate. Then I came up behind her and tapped her on the shoulder. When she turned around I couldn't believe what I saw.'
'What?'
'I know Valerie Simpson,' he said, his words slower now. 'Even you will have to concede that. I've seen every match she ever played in. I saw her at work. I saw her at play. I've seen her on the streets, on the court, at her house, practicing with that slimy coach of hers. I've seen her happy and sad, up and down, in triumph and defeat. I saw her progress from an enthusiastic teenager to a fierce competitor to a despondent, lifeless beauty. My heart has ached for her so many times, I've lost count But I'd never seen her like this.'
'Like what?'
'So scared. She was absolutely terrified.'
Little wonder, Myron thought. Daffy Duck here sneaks up behind her and taps her on her shoulder. 'Did she recognize you?'
'Of course.'
'What did she do then?'
'She asked for my help.'
Myron arched a skeptical eyebrow. He'd learned the technique from Win.
'It's true,' Roger insisted. 'She said she was in danger. She said she needed to get in and see you.'
'She mentioned me by name?'
'Yes. I'm telling you, she was desperate. She pleaded with the guard, but he wouldn't listen. So I came up with an idea.'
'What was that?'
'Scalp a ticket,' he answered. He was clearly pleased with himself. 'There were dozens of scalpers hanging around the subway entrance. I found one. A black man. Nice enough fellow. He wanted a hundred and fifty dollars. I told him that was way too much. They always start high. The scalpers, I mean. You have to negotiate with them. They expect it. But Valerie would have none of that. She just accepted his price. That's Valerie. No head for money. If we'd gotten married, I would have had to handle the finances. She's too impulsive.'
'Focus with me, Roger. What happened after you bought the ticket?'
His face went soft and dreamy. 'She thanked me,' he said, like he'd seen a burning bush. 'It was the first time she ever opened up to me. I knew then that my patience had won out. After all this time I'd finally cracked the face. Funny, isn't it? For years I tried so hard to make her love me. And then when I least expect it, boom! – love crashed into my life.'
I, me, I, me, I, me. Even Valerie's murder he could only see in terms of himself. 'What did she do then?' Myron asked.
'I escorted her through the gates. She asked me if I knew what you looked liked. I said, you mean Myron Bolitar the basketball player? She said yes. I said yes, I knew. She said she needed to find you.' He leaned forward. Earnest. 'You see what I mean? If I had known you were Duane's agent I would have known exactly where you were. I would have led her right to you. Then everything would have been all right. I'd have gotten a bigger thank-you and that priceless Valerie Simpson smile all for me. I'd have saved her life. I would have been her hero.' He shook his head for what might have been. 'It would have been perfect.'
'But instead?' Myron tried.
'We split up. She asked me to cover the outside courts while she searched the Food Court and the stadium area. We were going to meet back by the Perrier booth every fifteen minutes. I took off and began my search. I was anxious. Finding you would have proved my undying love-'
'Yeah, I got that part.' This guy must have been gobs of fun for ol' Rolly to interrogate. 'What happened next?'
'I heard a gunshot,' Quincy continued. 'Then I heard screams. I ran back toward the Food Court. By the time I got there a crowd had formed. You were running toward the body. She was on the ground. So still. You bent down and cradled her body. My dreams. My life. My happiness. Dead. I knew what the police would think. They tormented me for courting her. Called me names. Heck, they threatened to put me in jail for asking her out – what were they going to think now? They never understood the bond between us. The attraction.'
'So you ran,' Myron said.
'Yes. I went to my place and packed a bag. Then I took out the maximum amount on my MAC card. I saw on TV once how the police tracked a guy down by where he used his credit cards, so I wanted to make sure I had enough cash. Smart, huh?'
'Ingenious,' Myron agreed. But he felt his heart sink. Valerie Simpson had had no one. She'd been alone. When danger struck she turned to Myron, a man she barely knew. And someone had murdered her. A painful pang consumed him.
'I stayed in crummy motels and used fake names,' Quincy rambled. 'But someone must have recognized me. Well, you know the rest. When they caught me, I asked for you. I thought you'd be able to explain to them what really happened.' Quincy leaned forward, whispered conspiratorially. 'That Detective Dimonte can be rather hostile.'
'Uh-huh.'
'The only time he smiled was when I mentioned your name.'
'Oh?'
'I told him you and I were friends. I hope you don't mind.'
