Hoosier Hoops and Hijinks

by Brenda Stewart

That was more like the Pepper I knew. I got in my car and followed her to the boy’s house. Pepper was right about the timeline. His house was only ten minutes from the school. But if it was him, where’d he take Olivia?

  “Let me do all the talking,” she said to me as we approached the door. Of course, I nodded, but I’m sure she knew it wouldn’t last.

  Jason Hale’s father answered the door still wearin’ his robe and slippers. He was tall, but much bulkier than Mr. French with sandy blonde hair and a neatly trimmed beard and mustache. He led us to the livin’ room where his son and wife sat.

  Pepper asked all of the standard gettin’ to know you questions. Jason kept glancin’ at his father before he answered. They must have had some kind of signal thing goin’. She finally asked him whether he met Olivia last night before goin’ home.

  “I saw her outside the locker room,” he said.

  “Why didn’t you go out celebrating with everyone else?” asked Pepper.

  “I wasn’t feeling good. Too much excitement I guess,” he said as he glanced at his father again. “I had a bad headache.”

  “Maria says Olivia had somethin’ to tell you,” I blurted. “What was it?”

  “And who are you?” asked Mr. Hale.

  “Vito Mazzara. I’m a private investigator and just happen to be Maria Mazzara’s uncle.”

  Pepper was glarin’ at me. I’d jumped in before she had the chance to work her way up to askin’ the question herself. “Well, Jason,” she said. “Did you and Olivia talk?”

  “Yeah, but it wasn’t important.”

  Wrong answer, I thought. When Jason said this, he looked down as if in shame. There’s nothing like body language to let ya know someone’s holdin’ out on ya. I simply said, “Really?”

  “I think my son’s made it very clear he wasn’t well last evening,” said Mr. Hale, frownin’. “My wife and I were still awake when he came home. It was 11:00 pm. I know this because I found it odd he was home so early. Now if there’s nothing else, I’d like for the two of you to leave.”

  “Sure, Mr. Hale,” said Pepper. “I just have one more question.” She turned to Jason. “Did Olivia tell you where she was going when the two of you went your separate ways?”

  “She didn’t say anything, just ran out,” said Jason. “I figured she was going to Applebee’s.”

  Mr. Hale escorted us unceremoniously out the door. Me and Pepper looked at one another. I was sure we was thinkin’ the same thing. Why wasn’t this kid more upset about his girlfriend bein’ missin’? And what the h-e-double hockey sticks did she have to tell him that gave him a headache?

  “Where to next?” I asked.

  “Coach’s house. He’s usually the last to leave. Maybe he saw something.”

  We arrived at Coach Pratt’s house approximately twelve minutes later. Nice two-story brick in one of the older neighborhoods. I remembered him from the game. Red hair in an army crew cut. Face turned beet red every time somebody screwed up or the ref made a call he didn’t like. He limped slightly on his right leg. It made me wonder if he’d had some sort of accident that ruined his chances of a career playin’ sports.

  A cute young girl with blonde hair and bright blue eyes answered the door. She yelled, “Dad, you’ve got company!” and let us into the foyer.

  He looked taller than he had when I was fifteen rows up in the bleachers. He invited us into the livin’ room. Pepper was askin’ questions before we even sat down.

  “Mr. Pratt, as you may have heard Olivia French disappeared after the game last night,” she said.

  “I did,” he said. “This is awful. I’d be devastated if it were one of my girls.”

  “I don’t suppose you saw her waiting for Jason Hale after the game?” asked Pepper.

  “No,” he answered. “I was with some of the news media right after the game. By the time I went towards the locker room, Jason was getting ready to leave. Said he had a headache and was going home.”

  “And Olivia wasn’t with him?” asked Pepper.

  “Nope, and Jason didn’t mention her. My only concern was Jason’s headache. I knew he hadn’t hit his head or been bashed by anyone during the game, so I chalked it up to him being tired.” He paused for a moment. “You’re not thinking he had anything to do with this, are you?”

  “Until we find her, everyone she knows is a suspect, Mr. Pratt,” said Pepper.

  “This kid has a basketball scholarship. He’s going to Purdue next year,” said the coach. “He wouldn’t blow this opportunity.”

  “Let’s hope not,” said Pepper. “We’ll be going now. If you hear anything or remember anything, please let us know.”

  Once outside, I turned to her. “Somebody’s lyin’. I can feel it in my bones.”

  “Ah, come on Vito,” she said.

  “I got great instincts, Pep… I mean Sergeant.” I figured I’d better show her some respect if I wanted to continue in her good graces. “Maybe we should have a talk with my niece. I bet she knows more about what Olivia had on her mind than she’s tellin’ me.”

  When we got back to my brother’s house, the family was just gettin’ ready to go to early Mass. There were my three little angels all dressed in their Sunday best. I hated to put Maria on the spot, but we had to know what was on Olivia’s mind.

  “Hey!” I shouted, causin’ everyone to turn their heads.

  “Uncle Vito, did you find Olivia?” Maria shouted as she ran to me. I shook my head. “Maria, you remember Sergeant Flannigan?” Maria nodded.

  “We need to ask you some questions,” said Pepper. “Your mom and dad can be with us, if you like.”

  “Am I in trouble?” asked Maria.

  “No. Why would you be in trouble?” I exclaimed. “We’re just tryin’ to figure out what was goin’ on with Olivia, that’s all.”

  Maria chose not to have her parents present, and her father agreed since I’d be with her. We went into the den and shut the door. Maria looked very nervous.

  Pepper got right to it. “Is Olivia pregnant?”

  The look of shock on Maria’s face said it all. How could I have been so dense? What kind of serious stuff do teen-aged girls usually have to tell their boyfriends in private? Apparently, the lack of sleep and coffee had muddled my brain. I decided to let Pepper handle this one.

  “Is she?” Pepper asked again.

  My niece’s eyes filled with tears. I figured Olivia swore her to secrecy, and at her age, friendships meant more than consequences.

  “We aren’t sure,” said Maria. “She’s late and the pregnancy test she took said yes, but she hasn’t gone to a real doctor.”

  Pepper pursed her lips in an I see expression. “So I assume this is what she needed to tell Jason?”

  “Yes, but Jason wouldn’t have hurt her,” insisted Maria. “He loved her.”

  “Unfortunately, sweetheart, sometimes people do hurt the ones they love,” said Pepper givin’ me a sideways glance. Ouch!

  “One more question,” said Pepper. “Was Olivia definitely going to meet you at Applebee’s after she talked to Jason?”

  “Yes,” said Maria. “She told me she’d call me if she wasn’t coming. I never got a call.”

  “Don’t worry,” said Pepper, stroking Maria’s cheek. “We’ll find your friend. You can go now.”

  Me and Pepper stayed so we could go over what we knew thus far. Olivia stayed behind to give the bad news to the boyfriend who is a potential basketball great with a scholarship to Purdue University. Boyfriend is so bummed he gets a headache so he bows outta goin’ to the restaurant with her. But, did he? Was he so upset he lost it and took her somewhere to do her in?

  “Sounds like Jason has motive,” said Pepper. “I thought it was strange when he minimized what Olivia had to say.”

  “Nowadays most guys don’t feel their careers are over because of a pregnancy,” I pointed out. “Teenagers don’t think they have to get married anymore.”

  “Still, it would put a cramp in his style if
he had to get a job in order to pay child support.” Pepper got up and paced. There was a knock at the door.

  “Will you be joining us for Sunday dinner, Patricia?” asked my sister-in-law. Theresa always used Pepper’s proper name.

  “No,” answered Pepper. “I need to check back with my colleagues to see if they’ve found her at any of her friends’ houses. However, you and your husband should be prepared. The longer Olivia is missing, the more likely foul play is involved.”

  “Oh, dear,” said Theresa. “Thank you, Patricia. It’s good to see you. I just wish it was under more pleasant circumstances.”

  “Me, too. I’ll show myself out,” she said then turned to me. “I’ll talk to you later.”

  While the family was at church, I made a couple of calls. I talked to Mr. French again to see if he’d heard anything. He said he and his wife called every friend and family member in town, but no one had seen or heard from Olivia. The search dogs they’d requested found nothin’ beyond the school grounds, so she didn’t walk somewhere. The second call I made was to my secretary. I know I coulda emailed her, but that’s so impersonal. I left a voicemail instead. I took a nap hopin’ my brain would rest enough to function properly when I woke. I still couldn’t believe the pregnancy angle hadn’t been the first thing to pop in my head. I slept until 2:00 p.m. when Theresa knocked on the door callin’ me to dinner.

  Sunday dinner was not the happy occasion it usually was. The girls weren’t chatterin’ endlessly about school stuff or who wore the most hideous dress to Mass. It was glum faces all around. I was the only one who cleaned all the roast beef, carrots and mashed potatoes from my plate. Donnie said he’d taken the girls for a drive to all the places Olivia hung out includin’ the mall, but nobody they’d talked to remembered seein’ Olivia in the past twenty-four hours. I’d left the table and was tryin’ to decide on my next move when the doorbell rang. I answered it and to my surprise, Jason Hale was standin’ on the front stoop. “Jason,” was all that came outta my mouth.

  “Mr. Mazzara,” he said, Adam’s apple jumpin’ as he swallowed hard. “I couldn’t talk in front of my parents. I don’t want them to know what Olivia …” His voice trailed off as he steeled himself to tell me everything.

  “Do you want to come in?” I asked.

  “Could we just go for a walk?” he asked. “I don’t want to get Maria’s family all worked up.”

  I grabbed my coat and we started to walk up the block. It took a few minutes for him to get the courage to speak again, but when he did, he confirmed Olivia’s news about the pregnancy.

  “I was shocked. I didn’t know what to do or say so I said something stupid like how could she ruin my life. I guess I hurt her feelings because she didn’t answer me she just took off running. I was going to go after her, but the coach came out and asked me what was going on.”

  “Wait a minute,” I said. “The coach stopped you?”

  “Yeah, he came out, asked me what was going on, and I said nothing that Olivia was a little upset with me. He asked me if I was meeting my friends and I told him no, I had a headache and was going home. I drove over to the park to think before I went home.”

  This was interestin’. Coach Pratt claimed he didn’t know anything about Olivia bein’ there. Why’d he lie to us? I looked at the kid and saw tears formin’. Seemed he really did care about Olivia. We walked back to his car in silence.

  “Don’t worry, kid. I’m gonna find her,” I assured him as he got into his vehicle. He simply nodded and gave me a forced smile. Now I knew what I had to do—tail the coach! I figured the guy wouldn’t make a move while his family was beggin’ for his attention, so I waited until evenin’ to take my place down the street just far enough to see his driveway. I’d brought my snack pack with me. A roast beef sandwich, an apple and bottled water. I used to bring cokes or coffee with me on a job for the caffeine, but realized I had to use the john way too often. They say water is better for ya anyhow—whoever they are. It was startin’ to get dark. Watchin’ the house, I wondered if he’d overheard somethin’ or if he followed Olivia to find out what was goin’ on. But somethin’ about this guy made me think he was a sleaze. Was the coach upset because Jason was his big chance at fame? It would blow Pratt’s chance to make the headlines as the coach who inspired Jason Hale to become a star. The more I thought about it, the more I wondered if this would be a strong enough motive for Pratt to want Olivia out of the way.

  About two hours later, the coach’s silver SUV pulled out of the driveway. I started my car and slowly left my parkin’ spot. After a few minutes, we were on Highway 31 headed north. We ventured through Carmel then Westfield until we were out in the more rural countryside. I couldn’t imagine where he was goin’. Was Olivia in his SUV waitin’ to be dumped in some cornfield? I only hoped he wouldn’t spot me followin’ him. It’s harder to hide in the wide-open spaces. He took an abrupt turn onto a country road. I slowed and followed. Out here, I could watch him from afar and saw him take a left turn. If the farmhouse hadn’t been painted a bright white, I might have missed seein’ it since the only lights were from his vehicle. I passed by to make him think it was just a coincidence I was behind him all this time. A little way ahead, I found a short drive obscured by trees. It was probably where the farmer parked so he could work the field next to it. Gettin’ out of my car, I watched the house. I could see the coach’s headlights were still on. When he walked in front of his vehicle, I could see he was carryin’ somethin’, but it was too small to be Olivia. He went inside the farmhouse. The electricity was still workin’ because lights started to go on. I darted across the yard hopin’ I wouldn’t stumble over branches or somethin’. My hopes were dashed as I tripped over a rock and went face first onto the ground. I felt a stick poke my cheek. I touched it to find it was bleedin’, but didn’t have time to worry about it. Scramblin’ up, I went around the right side of the house. I found a rickety crate to stand on and peered through the grimy window into the kitchen. I saw Pratt put the box on the table and go through a door. It sounded like he was goin’ down a wooden staircase. Next thing I know, he’d pushed a young girl with short blonde hair into a chair. When she looked up, I could see it was Olivia. She raised her hands, bound with one of those plastic things. I forget what they’re called. He cut her bonds and shoved the box in front of her. There was a diet coke, a sandwich of some sort and chips. She ate vigorously like she hadn’t eaten all … never mind. Since Pratt had been with the family all day, the poor girl probably hadn’t eaten since he brought her out here.

  When she was done, he said somethin’ to her I couldn’t comprehend. I ducked, fearin’ one of them would see me. How was I gonna get her outta there? I’d left my gun in Chicago, not thinkin’ I’d need it while I was in Indy. I heard a thud and looked in the window again. He’d pushed her up against the wall with his finger in her face. Must not have gotten the answer he wanted. He pulled out one of those plastic things from his coat pocket, rebindin’ her wrists then he takes her back downstairs. A few minutes later I see Pratt throw the garbage from Olivia’s meal into the box and he switches off the light. I got down off the crate and snuck around to the corner of the house. Pratt had switched off all of the lights in the house. He went to the SUV and got in. I waited a few minutes until I heard the vehicle’s noise fade. Then, I put my hand in my pocket bumpin’ one of those pin flashlights. What an idiot! Maybe I could of avoided becomin’ a scar face had I remembered I had this stupid thing. I found the back door and to my surprise, it was unlocked. I pulled it open and crept inside. This entrance went into an old back room with pipes and electrical outlets which at one time accommodated a washer and dryer. The second door wasn’t quite so easy. I pulled out my trusty tool kit and picked the lock. Baby stuff for us P.I.’s. Once inside, I realized I was in the kitchen.

  “Who’s there?” she shouted. “I’ll do whatever you want, just let me out.”

  I didn’t dare turn the kitchen light on in case the neighbors drove by. T
hey might think the place was bein’ vandalized and call the cops—or worse, Coach Pratt. I opened the door realizin’ it led to a basement. I stepped onto the first step, shut the door and found a pull chain light above my head which was still swingin’ from its recent use. I didn’t see the harm in turnin’ it on.

  “Olivia?” I called. “It’s Maria’s Uncle Vito. I’m comin’ down to get ya.”

  I heard her cryin’ as I descended. I found her on a mattress up against the wall. “Hang on. I need to find somethin’ to cut those,” I said pointin’ at her bonds. He’d put one around her ankles, too. I finally found a workbench with some wire cutters. They worked just fine. Once I had her hands and feet free, she threw her arms around my neck bawlin’. I patted her on the back, not knowin’ what else to do. I asked her if she was okay to walk ‘cause we needed to get to a police station. She said she could, released me, and we headed up the stairs. I took her out the same way I came in and just as we made the corner, a flash of bright light blinded us. “Where do you two think you’re going?” said a deep, masculine voice.

  “Please, please,” Olivia pleaded. “Don’t put me back in there. I’ll do whatever you say.”

  “Hey, if it isn’t the coach,” I said tryin’ to sound calm. The ruckus me and Olivia was makin’ in the basement must of kept us from hearin’ the SUV come back. “What you doin’ out here?”

  “I could ask you the same thing, Mazzara,” he said in a not so pleasant tone. The headlights kept me from seein’ him.

  “So why’d you wanna torture this little girl? She gets pregnant by one of your star players and your dreams are shattered? What is it you want her to do?”

  Then I heard somethin’ I wasn’t expectin’. “It’s not Jason’s baby,” said Olivia almost indignantly. “It’s his.” She was pointin’ toward Coach Pratt.

  “Shut up, slut,” he screamed.

  “I don’t understand,” I said. “If it’s his baby, why go to Jason? Why would you have sex with this guy?”

  “He threatened to make sure Jason never got his scholarship. He said he knew how to change the grades in the computer and would make sure Jason didn’t qualify. I love Jason and wanted him to succeed, so I did what Coach wanted.”