Lamar.”
“He was this rich white kid who lived down the hall from me. I didn’t even know him that good. Brad was the one who asked him to come that night. He used to wear a suit and tie to class like he was some sort of businessman. And he would blast U2 music from his room. I told him once if he didn’t turn it down, the only Bloody Sunday he was going to witness was when I introduced my fist to his face.”
“Did he?”
He smiled confidently. “I could always spot an opponent with no spine.”
“Like a weasel … I need a name, Lamar.”
His smile vanished. He rubbed his temples, as if he were having an internal debate. His face scrunched like he was feeling physical pain. But I could see he’d passed the moment of no return. The volcano was bubbling over with twenty years of pain … and then it erupted, “His name was Bobby … Bobby ‘The Weasel’ Maloney! If I ever get my hands on that sumbitch I will…”
I was already scrambling through my overnight bag. I removed a bunch of objects, including my cell phone, and placed them on the table. Finally, I found the copy of the newspaper I was looking for. On the front page was a picture of Maloney giving the
“Is that him?” I asked, shoving the paper in his face. “Is this the Bobby Maloney who sold you out?”
Lamar studied the photo. Years had gone by, but a person never forgets the man who sent him to prison. He shook his head with a combination of anger and sadness before simply saying, “Sumbitch.”
Having spent countless hours with Coldblooded Carter, I’d become quite knowledgeable on the history of professional wrestling and it’s cast of characters. At the center of many of Carter’s stories was a wrestling manager named Bobby Heenan, who was known derisively in many quarters as Bobby the Weasel. He was infamous for talking tough at his opponent, but then cowering when confronted. This led to a famed match in 1988 against the Ultimate Warrior, in which the loser had to wear a weasel suit.
When Lamar mentioned the wrestling nickname to Lauren, it clicked for me. I first thought of Carter’s Bobby Heenan stories, but then my mind wandered to weasels I knew named Bobby, including one who used to wear his weasel suit to school to impress the teachers. Before that moment I hadn’t connected that Maloney had also attended UNC, and would have been a freshman at the time of the accident-not yet eighteen at the time of the accident. I now understood why Grady Benson moved to Rockfield. There was just one more key piece of information.
“What was the date of the accident?” I asked urgently.
He flashed ten fingers. Then he did it a second time. “The day that ruined my life.”
10/10
I thanked Lamar like he just saved my life, and rushed out of the museum into the torrential downpour. I climbed into my rental and headed north toward the airport. I went to call Christina to pick me up and realized I left my phone in the cafeteria. It was too late to go back.
I now knew Officer Jones’ next move, and I had the date marked on my calendar.
Chapter 76
All flights were canceled on Thursday night due to Hurricane Ava. This was not good news for the woman who had the misfortune of working the ticket counter. Dealing with JP Warner was not discussed in the job manual.
I thought of driving, but the reality was that I would arrive in Rockfield no earlier than Friday morning, no matter what I did. So I gritted my teeth and took the first flight the next morning.
When I finally arrived, I purchased a new cell phone. I then tried to get in touch with Christina, but she was nowhere to be found … or more likely, wasn’t answering. So I was forced to call my mother for a ride, which made me feel like I was twelve years old. She sent Ethan instead. It was an obvious attempt by Mom to get the two bickering brothers together.
“Nice shiner,” I greeted Ethan. I knew it resulted from the fight he had in my honor.
“You should see the other guy,” Ethan replied, stealing my line. We climbed into his minivan, which was filled with a strange combination of dolls and football equipment. I saw it as another sign that I should never have children.
“I really appreciate what you did for me.”
“It was nothing. Although, I’m not sure the school board sees it as such a noble act.”
“What did they say?”
“I can coach the rest of the regular season. But I will be suspended for the league championship game and state playoffs.”
Guilt churned in my stomach. “That’s total BS! They purposely took you out at the pinnacle of your career to make a point that they wouldn’t play any favors because Dad’s on the board.”
“The pinnacle of my career is every day when I wake up and get to do something I love for a living. I’m lucky they didn’t fire me.”
“It really doesn’t bother you they are taking away your chance to win your first state championship? This year was your best shot,” I replied, perplexed.
“It’s not
I took a moment to let it sink in. Just more proof that we were from different planets. “You really are about the story and not the glory.”
“Huh?”
I smiled. “It’s just that I always wanted to be like my older brother. I guess the more things change the more they stay the same.”
“Try living with three screaming kids, and busting your rear to make the next mortgage payment, then tell me you still want to be like me.”
“I wish I could have been a better role model for Noah.”
Ethan patted me on the shoulder. “If Noah knew what you were doing for him he’d be proud. Did you find anything new about Jones on your trip?”
I was too tired to go through the whole convoluted story, and explain how his real name was Benson. “Nothing I can prove. Is there anything positive we can talk about?”
“The Rockfield High football team is undefeated-are you coming to the game tonight?”
“Now
“Mom tells me that you and Gwen might be getting back together.”
That didn’t last long. My face slumped. “There’s a problem.”
“I’m sure whatever it is you two will work it out. You’re meant for each other,” he said, sounding like he was giving his team a pep talk.
“It’s a big problem.”
“Another man?”
“Kind of.”
“What does that mean?”
“Jones is holding her captive.”
Ethan slammed the breaks in the middle of the I-84, almost causing a thirty-car pile-up. “You’re sure?”
“Yes.”
At least I hoped she was a captive. The alternative was too dismal to even think about. I was banking on the fact that Benson was intelligent, and the smart move would be to keep her as an insurance policy.
“Then what are we waiting for? Let’s go to the cops.”
