Part 5 (1/2)

Chapter Eight.

Adrian I dont know who you are, whether you work for Mike or not, and I dont really care. If you dont get the f.u.c.k off my hood right now, Im gonna pummel your a.s.s into the ground.

The man got up and held his hands up innocently. His smile didnt falter, and he didnt step away from my vehicle. He had better hope to all that was good he didnt scratch my paint job with his thrift store jeans.

Come on, Adrian, Im just doing my job here. This would go a h.e.l.l of a lot easier if youd listen to reason. It makes me go away, it makes anything else that might happen go away, and like I told you yesterday, it makes us all a little richer. No harm no foul.

My gear bag was where I dropped it as I took the few steps it took to get me up in his face. My words came out in a hiss through gritted teeth as I loomed over him. Get it through your little brain, a.s.shole, I want nothing to do with you, and I will never, never f.u.c.king throw a game. Not for you, not for anyone else.

I watched as he bit down on his lip, taking in my words but not really hearing me. He reached back behind him, and I poised to strike. If he had a gun, I might not get out of this unscathed, but d.a.m.n it, Id go down fighting.

He sensed me tense. Relax, man, I only want to show you something. Here, look. I found something the other day I think youd be interested in. The man had an object in his hand. It was too small to be a gun. I looked closer as my muscles released a little tension, but I kept my guard up just the same. He flicked his finger across the screen of a disposable cell phone. Here, you take it, have a little gander. I think youll be impressed.

I took the burner phone. The man crossed his arms in front of his chest and leaned back against my car once more. His eyes danced with expectant amus.e.m.e.nt.

I looked at the screen. There was a familiar picture from years ago of me in my first and only year of college at one of the many parties Id been to. I held the phone back to him. Whats your deal, man? Anyone can see those pictures on FaceBook.

Scroll through em, they get better. Go ahead, just swipe across the screen, its easy.

I took the phone in my hand again and scowled at him. I know how to use a d.a.m.n cell phone, even one as cheap as this piece of s.h.i.+t.

He shrugged. Gets the job done.

Im sure. My eyes dropped back to the screen, and I pushed aside the first picture to expose a second one of me down on one knee with a long tube to my mouth and a full funnel of beer over my head. I cringed.

Yeah, Id never picture you as a drinker, but back then He let the sentence trail off, then circled his finger in the air, indicating that I should keep going. They only get better after that one. Keep going, the antic.i.p.ation is killing me. He smirked and pretended to twitter with excitement.

I handed him the phone. No thanks I think we are done here.

I dont think so, buddy boy. He pulled out a set of keys and laid the tip of a solitary key point to the paint on the hood of my car. You can keep going and enjoy the show for free, or it can cost you a couple thousand in a new paint job. Either way, youre gonna look, your choice on the price.

f.u.c.k, fine. I threaded my fingers through my drying hair out of frustration, and then I scrolled to the next picture. It was a mug shot of me from that same year of college, numbered plaque and all.

That is one of my favorites, drunk and disorderly. he taunted.

The next one slid into view. It was a picture of my police record. It showed my arrest from when I was a teenager. How did he get a picture of that? Those records were supposed to be sealed. I was a minor. My father made sure I had a good lawyer and just happened to be friends with the local judge.

I should have served some time in juvenile detention for stealing that car, but I ended up with a summer of hard labor in community service, my dad kicking my a.s.s everyday in yard work when I got home. I knew I was fortunate and I should be thankful, so I never complained once about any of the work.

Its an interesting little picture isnt it? Sure would suck to have that information leaked to the press, he clicked his tongue and shook his head, and right before the game that could qualify you for the Super Bowl. By the looks of you out there today, man, you probably would have made MVP.

I was about to lose it. Shut your mouth. You have no idea why I did that. My family needed that f.u.c.king money to pay my brothers medical bills. I wasnt some jerk-a.s.s delinquent, it wasnt like that.

I thought I saw a flicker of understanding in his blue eyes.

You have to understand that. I did it to help, not to just steal a car. I dont know how you got those records, but it couldnt have been legal. No one will believe you, theyll think you doctored them”I was f.u.c.king sixteen years old, for G.o.ds sake.

The man placed his hand over his chest, that flicker of understanding replaced with mockery. Youre breaking my little heart. He pretended to pout. You want it to go away? You know what you have to do. Its not hard, Adrian. Its easier than getting daddy to pay your bail. He continued to leer at me. Really is a touching story, though, a real tear jerker. I bet the girls get wet just hearing about what a charitable, family-oriented man you have become, soldiering on through hards.h.i.+ps unknown. They ought to make it a movie. I can see it now, his hand went across the sky, Local boy does good, shows at ten and midnight.

f.u.c.k you. I said bluntly.

No man, f.u.c.k you if you dont get with the program, and it wont be by your girlfriend. h.e.l.l, maybe shed like to see what kind of man shes s.c.r.e.w.i.n.g. I can send her the pictures, you know.

The thought of this a.s.shole going anywhere near Mallory was my trigger. I pulled my fist back and grabbed his collar, slamming him down to the hood of my car, forgetting about the pristine paint job. I was going to mutilate his face.

Hey now, boys, whats all this? Maxwell, is that you? Holy h.e.l.l, get off each other, you d.a.m.n idiots! Whos that with you, Dawson? Coachs voice brought me back to my senses.

The man stood up, pus.h.i.+ng me to the side. He straightened the collar of his leather jacket and took a step toward the coach. Hey there, Coach. Great season so far. Boys look good out there.

Coach squinted to see the man in the dimming light of the sky. Do I know you, son? Maxwell, everything all right here?

The man continued to speak as I seethed. Oh yeah, Adrian and I go way back, college days. I got pictures, if you wanna see em. He held out the burner phone, and I jumped into action.

Ahh no need for that, there, ah, pal. Coach has seen plenty of old pictures of me from back in the day.

Coach looked suspiciously between the two of us. You know him, Adrian?

Yep, sure do. We were catching up, thats all. Got a little heated. I clapped my hand on the mans shoulder, squeezing as hard as my fingers could dig through the protection of his leather coat. We go way back.

Yeah we were trying to decide who got laid more in college. See Adrian here has experience in cars and well, Im an anytime, anywhere kinda lover.

My eyes must have been burning fire.

Coach nodded. Okay well if your friend here will excuse us, I need to talk to you Maxwell.

Sure thing, Coach, no problem. The game is important, we all wanna win. Dont we, old friend? The man pointed a thumb at my chest. Ill catch up with you soon, Maxwell, my boy.

Coach and I stood together in the parking lot next to my deposited gear and watched as the man in the leather jacket strolled with no real direction or need to hurry away from us.

Once he had rounded the corner, Coach turned on me. You want to tell me who the h.e.l.l that really was and why you were about to sacrifice your G.o.dd.a.m.n career to beat the s.h.i.+t out of him, right here in our stadium parking lot? Christ on a cracker, son, do you know what that would do to our image?

I bowed my head in apology, feeling like a teenager again. It was nothing. I shouldnt have taken it that far. Im sorry.

Bet your d.a.m.n a.s.s you are.

I am, I felt like a fool.

Listen, Maxwell, I know its hard to contain your rage, but d.a.m.n it, you got to think of the team, not just your own a.s.s. What you do here or anywhere else affects us all. Its all our a.s.ses out there on the line. I dont know who that hood was, but I know for s.h.i.+t sure he wasnt your long-lost fraternity brother. He looked like a thug, and we cant have that type of character hanging around here. You get me?

Yeah, I mumbled.

No, Maxwell, do you f.u.c.king get me?

Yes, Coach! I yelled.