Dan Alexander, Pitcher

by Jean C. Joachim

“How much did they give you?”

  “Five thousand dollars.”

  “And how often?”

  “Every month.”

  A gasp and mutterings from the gallery met her ears. She looked at Dan, who’s eyes were wide. She glanced at Flash, who scowled at her.

  “You paid no rent?”

  “No.”

  “No phone bill?”

  “No.”

  “That five thousand was simply spending money, then?”

  “Yes.”

  “So, you had no need for money or expensive things from Mr. Kincaid?”

  “No, I didn’t.”

  “So, he gave you those items because he loved you?”

  “Objection! Calls for a conclusion,” the defense attorney interrupted.

  “Sustained,” the judge said.

  “Would you say those gifts, those dinners, were given to you because you were lovers?” Al asked.

  “Objection! Same as before.”

  “Sustained. You’ll have to ask that question to Mr. Kincaid, Mr. Housman, if you want an answer.”

  “Right, Your Honor. Sorry.”

  “Now, let’s get to that night, in the nightclub. You went to the ladies’ room?”

  “Yes.”

  “And you met someone there?”

  “Objection!” the defense attorney shouted.

  “I’m afraid you opened the door to that one, counselor, when you mentioned the woman in your cross examination. Objection overruled.”

  “Did you talk to anyone in the ladies’ room?”

  “Yes. A woman.”

  “What did she look like?”

  “Red hair, false eyelashes, lotta makeup, tight dress, boobs hanging out…oops, excuse me, Your Honor.”

  The judge smiled at her, and Holly grinned back.

  “Did she give you her name?”

  “She said she was Tiffany.”

  “Do you usually talk to women you don’t know in the ladies’ room?”

  “Sometimes. But not a real conversation. Maybe a few words about the guy you’re with or something like that.”

  “I see. But this time was different?”

  “Yes.”

  “Did Tiffany speak to you first, or did you speak to her?”

  Holly stopped for a moment to think. “I think she said something first, but I can’t be sure.”

  “What did she say to you?”

  “She asked if I was Flash Kincaid’s new girl.”

  “And you said?”

  “I said, ‘yes’.”

  “What did she say then?”

  “She went into this long thing about how she’d been working for him a whole lot longer than I had. She got pretty mad and said not to push her around because she had seniority, or something like that.”

  “And what did you say?”

  “I told her I wasn’t his girl in the way she meant.”

  “How did you think she meant it?”

  “She was pretty clear, calling me a ‘working girl,’ that she thought I was a prostitute.”

  “And were you?”

  Holly gasped. “No!” Her gaze went to Dan’s face. He looked as surprised as she felt.

  “What did you say to her?”

  “I told her I was dating him.”

  “And what did she say to that?”

  “She then went on to explain that he had a stable of about six or seven girls, and he was selling drugs too. And if I wanted some coke, she was sure he’d give me some, free of charge.”

  “And did you take her up on that?”

  “No. I don’t take drugs.”

  “What was your reaction to her words?”

  “I got scared. Suddenly, everything made sense. The meetings with business associates at midnight. People with accents who approached us at the club. And when I asked him about it, he said he had someone creating new videogames for him and it was all very hush-hush.”

  “And you believed that?” Al Housman’s eyes opened wider.

  Holly looked down at her hands. “I’m ashamed to say I did.” She looked up at Al. “I was in love with him. I believed everything he told me.”

  “And now?”

  “Now, I know it was all a lie.”

  “Objection!”

  “Overruled. Go ahead, go ahead, Mr. Housman,” the judge said, pointedly checking his watch. “Make it snappy. It’s almost lunchtime.”

  “Did you believe Tiffany?” the D.A. asked.

  “I did. Because what she said made the pieces fit.”

  “And what did you do with this new information?”

  “I ran. I slipped out the back door and picked my way through the alley.”

  “What did you see while you were there?”

  “Objection! Asked and answered in direct examination.”

  “Sustained! Move it along, Mr. Housman.”

  “Okay. Sorry, Your Honor. I have no more questions, at this time.”

  “We will break for an hour for lunch,” the judge said, and banged his gavel once.

  Relief seeped into her body. Holly looked up. The Magees were making thumbs up, but her parents slipped out of the courtroom without making eye contact. When she looked for Dan, she saw Nat, Bobby, Skip, Matt, and Jake sitting behind the pitcher. They all rose, but remained in the aisle.

  Al Housman approached her. “Great job! Great job, Holly.”

  “Really? You think so?”

  “I think you were very credible on the stand. My colleagues said a few of the jurors nodded when you spoke. It’s hard to be certain, but I think you convinced them.”

  “After being called a gold digger, a money grubber, and a prostitute, I’m not feeling too confident.”

  “Aw, the defending attorney has to do that. It’s just his job. Don’t take it personally.”

  “I don’t think it can get much more personal.”

  “Grab a bite and be back by one thirty. John and Buzz are going with you,” Al said, motioning to the two men.

  Her bodyguards followed. When she reached Dan, he took her hand. She collapsed into his arms, crying into his chest. His teammates gathered around her, mumbling encouraging words.

  “You were amazing,” Dan whispered into her hair.

  “Don’t cry, Hot Dog Girl. I mean, Holly,” Matt said, offering his handkerchief.

  She took it and smiled at him while she blotted her cheeks. “Thanks, Matt. You guys are great. Thanks for coming.”

  “No game today,” Nat said.

  “We had to be here,” Jake put in.

  “You’re wonderful, all of you.” She kissed each one on the cheek.

  “Let’s go eat,” Dan said.

  “Hell, yeah. I’m starved,” Bobby piped up. “Shake the goons, and let’s go.”

  “The goons are staying with her.” John glared at the Nighthawk second baseman.

  “Okay, okay. No offense,” Bobby said, holding up his hands.

  As Holly went through the door, an older woman approached her and spit in her face.

  “Whore!” she hissed.

  John got between the woman and Holly, while Buzz headed for security. The players surrounded Holly.

  “Who was that?” Dan asked.

  “Flash’s mother,” Holly said, wiping her face with Matt’s hanky.

  Chapter Fourteen

  When they returned to the courtroom, the players shuffled their feet, hesitating outside the door. Photographers were poised to snap Holly and anyone else associated with this high profile trial.

  A reporter approached Dan. “Aren’t you Dan Alexander of the New York Nighthawks?” He stuck a mic right in the pitcher’s face.

  “Yes.”

  “What are you doing here?” Another reporter, a female, asked.

  “I’m supporting a friend.” Dan tried to push politely by the news hounds to get to Holly.

  “You’re friends with Flash Kincaid?”

  “No. No more questions, please.”

  “Why not? Got someth
ing to hide?”

  “No. I’m just a private citizen trying to help a friend. Please move aside.”

  The woman continued to block his path. “Who’s the friend?”

  “That’s my business.” Dan was through being polite. He pushed her to the side, gently, and strode by her.

  She turned and narrowed her eyes, staring at Holly. “That’s the friend? Some friend.”

  A male news jockey came up beside the first one. “She’s pretty hot. So, you’re dating Flash Kincaid’s old girlfriend,” he called out to Dan, who ignored him.

  He reached Holly.

  “See what I mean?” she said.

  “They’re harmless.”

  “Depends on tomorrow’s headlines and how your owner feels about it,” she replied.

  Dan shrugged. “As long as I’m pitching strikes and winning games, he won’t care.”

  Holly hugged herself to keep from touching him. Melting into his arms was so inviting.

  “Wish I could stay, but we have practice,” Dan said. He stuck out his hand. When Holly gripped it, she felt something cold and hard. Looking down, she spotted a key. “You’ll need a place to stay.”

  “I couldn’t. I can’t. You need to stay away from me. I’m a publicity nightmare.”

  “I don’t care.”

  “But I do. You don’t deserve negative press, but if you hang with me, that’s what you’ll get.”

  “So what? I’m not a baby, Holly. You don’t have to protect me.”

  “Please.” She slipped the key in his breast pocket.

  “Come on, Dan,” Matt said, tugging on his sleeve. “We’re gonna be late.”

  He backed away as cameras clicked.

  “How does it feel to date a gangster’s girl?” the woman called after Dan.

  He ignored her, keeping his gaze on Holly.

  Blinking rapidly, Holly turned and entered the courtroom, the only place she could be safe from the prying eyes of the media. The smell of wood polish and old leather greeted her. John and Buzz flanked her, one in front and one in back, to avoid another incident like the one with Flash’s mother, who was nowhere to be seen.

  For the first time, Holly understood the need for them

  “Goodbye, Dan,” she whispered to herself.

  Taking a big breath, she returned to her seat. A shoulder squeeze from Nancy put a smile on the young witness’s face. She wasn’t alone.

  At four thirty, the judge called for a recess until the next day.

  John and Buzz appeared to escort Holly to her hotel room. She stopped to receive hugs from the Magees.

  “You were great,” Bud said.

  “Stay strong. We believe in you,” Nancy added. “Unfortunately, we can’t come back tomorrow. Bud has to work, and Lisa has school.”

  “That’s okay. I may not be called back to the stand. It was great to have you here today. Love you guys,” the young woman said, putting an arm around Lisa.

  With one guard on either side, Holly headed for the subway.

  John stopped her. “No subway. Too dangerous. Our car is waiting,” he said.

  When she turned, she spied Buzz holding open the back door of the town car. When all three passengers were loaded in, the vehicle headed for the West Side Highway.

  “You did good,” Buzz said.

  “Yeah. I believed you,” John added.

  “Thanks, guys. I just hope the jury did.”

  As they inched along the snarled line of bumper-to-bumper traffic, she prayed the trial would be over soon and she could get on with her time in the protection program. She wondered if there was any way to salvage what she had been building with Dan. Probably not, after all, who knew how long she’d be away? She couldn’t ask him to wait. Celibacy wasn’t his style. She frowned, understanding that the price she’d pay for her bad judgment and careless life was much higher than she had imagined.

  The trial dragged on for five days before the jury was empaneled. Holly shredded a tissue in her hands while she waited for a verdict. Her life hung in the balance. If they found Flash innocent, she’d be hiding for the rest of her life. If he was guilty, she’d have to remain in witness protection until the sentencing. She was convinced he’d file an appeal first.

  When she had gone to the police, she’d had no idea how entangled her life would still be with Flash Kincaid’s. Would she still have come forward if she had known then what she knew now? There wasn’t a moment’s doubt. Yes, she would have. It was the right thing to do, even if she had to give up the best man in the world. Some decisions were obvious, even if hard to swallow.

  * * * *

  Dan was quiet on the ride back to the stadium. His teammates chattered on about the trial.

  “I wanted to smack that defense guy in the mouth,” Jake said.

  “Yeah, fuckin’ dumbass. Saying nasty things about our Hot Dog Girl,” Matt added.

  For Dan, processing everything he’d learned about Holly took all his attention. She hadn’t lied to him—she’d been a bad girl, all right. But she claimed she never knew what Kincaid was up to. He wanted to believe her. However, the defense attorney made some powerful arguments that tested the pitcher’s faith in his girlfriend.

  “His cheap low-down shots at Holly pissed me off,” Skip said.

  “If we’d a been anywhere but court, I’d have busted him one,” Nat said.

  Dan looked out the window and recalled his day at Playland with Holly. She’d been so concerned about the two teens. She’d kept her eye on them, protective every moment, laying down rules. That didn’t jive with the image the defense portrayed of Holly as a carefree, don’t-give-a-damn chick who loved money above all else.

  When she’d turned down his offer of his apartment as a refuge, that had cemented his belief. She’d put his welfare above going into witness protection, where she’d be forced to give up her life and take on another identity. He didn’t want to lose her. He’d hoped she’d take him up on his offer. Or had he? If she had, would that have proved she wanted him for what he could do for her, regardless of the consequences to him? Maybe. He was confused. Why did this situation end up being lose-lose for them?

  He got into sweats and started out in the workout room to warm up. After the treadmill, he did stretches then headed to the bullpen to get loose. The trainer assigned Matt to catch him. Dan was scheduled to pitch the first road trip game in three days, so he needed to be in top form, and practicing with Jackson worked best.

  Pitcher and catcher took their positions.

  “Throw a couple of curves,” Matt called.

  Dan nodded. He rifled in two that missed the box, three that nicked the lower corner, and then five more that were right on the money.

  Matt smiled. “Slider.”

  Dan followed Matt’s instructions, throwing ten of each pitch. He forced himself to put Holly out of his mind and concentrate on pitching. He had to keep up his record. They were scheduled to be in the play-offs after this road trip if they didn’t fuck up the last ten games. Washington was hot on their tail, as was Miami.

  After practice, the guys convinced him to go to Freddie’s. They ordered burgers and a pizza to split. Each man had one beer. Dan nursed his.

  “Some fuckin’ day, eh?” Skip asked.

  Dan nodded.

  “What’s the story with you and the Hot Dog Chick?” Jake asked, squirting catsup on his burger.

  “Don’t know now. Everything’s up in the air. Depends on the trial. God damn it! Her name is Holly!” Dan banged his beer bottle down on the table, but didn’t spill any.

  “Sorry, sorry. Yeah. I know. Holly,” Jake said, glancing down at his food.

  “Not to change the subject, but how are we gonna get Jackson laid on the road?” Skip asked.

  “Tape his mouth shut,” Dan offered.

  “Fuck you, Alexander,” Matt said, as the men laughed.

  “Seriously. His temper is getting worse. This guy definitely needs a woman.” Jake took a bite.

  “I don�
��t need any help.”

  “Don’t see you sinkin’ the sausage on your own, buddy,” Nat said.

  “He’s too busy going solo,” Bobby said.

  “Falling in love with himself!”

  That brought the men to tears, they were laughing so hard. Matt swiped at them in mock anger then took a swig of beer.

  “What are you gonna do about the asshole reporters?” Nat asked, turning to Dan.

  Dan shrugged. “Not much I can do. Just ignore them, I guess.”

  But the next day when the papers hit the stands, the headlines even made broadcast news.

  “Dan Alexander Pitches Woo to Gangster’s Girl”

  “Alexander, Nighthawk’s Star, Dating Kincaid’s Kutie”

  “Dan Digs Drug Dealer’s Doll”

  He sent his doorman to pick up all three papers then threw them against the wall. Why can’t people leave us alone?

  He packed a bag and drove to the stadium. After boarding the bus to the airport, he loosened his tie and rested his head back, but sleep wouldn’t come. Sitting next to him, Matt offered him a piece of bubble gum. Dan took it and chewed, looking out the window, wondering if other people had lives that were as complicated as his.

  He sat back and shut his eyes. Visions of Holly asleep, her short hair dark against the pillow, her creamy skin bared to him. He wondered what she was doing. He’d scoured the newspaper for information about the trial, but there was none. He hoped it would be over soon, and there’d be no appeal, but he doubted that.

  Back to the mental pictures of her—in the shower, dressed up at the club, screaming on the Dragon Coaster. And of her pink towels, still hanging in his bathroom. He smiled. When they reached the airport, he tightened his tie, raked his fingers through his hair, and prepared to hit the security line and board the luxury jet provided by the Nighthawks. Nelson Hingus, the team owner, made sure his team traveled in style.

  The men passed through security without a hitch and boarded the plane. A pretty blonde stewardess greeted them. This jet had tables for cards and movies on decent sized screens. Some of the Hawks liked to play games. The trainers had a poker group. Dan and his buddies played hearts, Oh Hell, and rummy. Matt brought along a backgammon set, because it was his favorite. He declared himself to be a killer player.