by Nancy Radke
“Maybe I should take up songwriting.”
“Hugo has a knack for it.”
“I guess so.”
“He says he hears songs when he’s with me. Sometimes he can hardly write them down fast enough.”
Stormy laughed. “So that’s why he married you.”
“A small part of it. Let’s go inside and get something cold to drink. We’ll have a light supper and you can get a good rest before tomorrow. Then you can drive in and get started.”
“And you trust me with your car?” Stormy was an impetuous driver, and had had her share of accidents when learning to drive.
Perri shrugged as they passed through the spacious entranceway. “It’s insured.”
They went into a lovely kitchen area and Perri pulled a casserole out of the freezer and put it into the oven.
“You have a beautiful home,” Stormy said, as she helped Perri fix a salad. “You probably never want to leave.”
“You’re right. Hugo has a housekeeper that has been with him for years. She and her husband live here and take care of the place when we’re gone. But they’re getting old and I only call on her now and then for help. I want to take care of this myself.”
“You don’t miss flying all over the world, looking for things for the store?”
“Not at all. Hugo is everything I’d want to look for.”
At that moment Hugo entered. “Food smells good.” He handed a piece of paper to Stormy. “Here you are. The names, addresses and phone numbers of the ring doctors.”
“That was fast. I was told the numbers were all unlisted.”
“I have my sources. Now two of them live in the Las Vegas area and one is out near Lake Havasu. Use our phone, call them after we eat, and set up appointments to see them.”
“I’ll do it now.”
“You should only need one of them to examine Jerry and determine if the fight should go on. They might agree to it over the phone, but I think asking them in person will get you better results.”
“Shouldn’t I call them right now?”
“No. Wait until they’ve had time to eat and relax. They’ll be in a better mood than if you interrupt their meal.”
Later she called all three numbers, set up two appointments, one for the next afternoon and one for the evening and left a message on the answering machine at the one out by Lake Havasu.
Knowing this helped Stormy relax and she spent an enjoyable evening with Hugo and Perri.
“There has to be a reason Jerry is intent on going through with this match,” Hugo said. “He never struck me as someone with a death wish.”
“He won’t tell me anything.”
“And Elston?”
“Dad won’t even listen to me. I’ve tried to ask him. He seems to think everything’s all right. I guess I’ve championed so many causes, he doesn’t take me seriously.”
“Well, if I had a problem, I’d want you fighting for me. You don’t give up.”
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
Next morning Hugo insisted on following Stormy into Kingman, Arizona. They went to his bank and he purchased a credit card which he loaded for her and then gave her two hundred in cash. “Don’t skimp. Use it. You’re running out of time. Move into a big hotel where you’ll be safer and can relax.”
“But I don’t need to—”
“Yes, you do. I can’t check on what Jerry is doing if I have to worry about your safety.”
It reminded her of Kyle and she smiled. “Then I’ll do that this morning. I don’t know how to thank you,” she said, overwhelmed by his generosity.
“You’re family. Money is only good when it can help someone. Jerry’s now my cousin too, you know.”
“Then, thank you. I’ll change hotels as soon as I get there, then go visit the doctors.”
“Sounds like a plan. And Stormy....”
“Yes.”
“Don’t mention I gave you the phone numbers. I don’t want to lose any of my contacts.”
“Oh. Okay.”
Giving a farewell wave to Hugo, Stormy climbed into her cousin’s car and drove the two hours back to Vegas. The interior had already heated up in the short time they were in the bank. She’d have to remember to pre-start the air conditioning the next time.
Arriving in Vegas, she switched hotels, choosing one that was fairly close to where Kyle was staying as it was also close to where the fight was to be held. It was already one o’clock when she finished. She needed to meet with the first doctor at two and didn’t want to cut it close, so decided against grabbing some food at the hotel cafeteria while her car was being brought around.
A quick drive out to the doctor’s residence proved fruitless, for although he had made the appointment, he wasn’t home.
Stormy drove back towards town, wondering what to do while she waited to see the other doctor. She had accidentally turned on the windshield wipers as she tried to start the car and it reminded her of Kyle. Perhaps she should go to his gym and see him, let him know how she was doing.
A family-style restaurant reminded her she was hungry, so she slowed down and pulled in. The car behind her pulled in too, so it seemed to be a popular place.
It was cool and relaxing inside and had slot machines in the entrance hall. They sure knew how to take your money in this town.
She chose the smorgasbord and loaded up on fruit and proteins.
After a good meal, she felt ready to face the bear again. She paid for her food using the credit card Hugo had given her, and even remembered to start the car while inside the restaurant.
Thanking the cashier, she got to the door, and was starting to push it out, when there was a tremendous explosion. Glass and metal and bits of car flew through the air.
If she had been outside, she could have been seriously injured. She looked at the cracked glass in the door, then out at where she had parked. A mass of fiery wreckage sat in the spot, engulfing a car parked next to it. Had anyone been hurt?
She backed up slowly and sat down on one of the chairs in the waiting area as people from inside the restaurant went streaming outside to see what had happened.
Taking out her cell phone, she called Perri.
“About your car. You said it was insured?”
“Yes.” Perri sounded hesitant. “What did you do to it?”
“I didn’t do anything. It just blew up.”
“What? Just a minute. I’ve got Hugo on the other line. Hugo! My car blew up. Stormy just called. Stormy, I’m going to hold the phones together.”
“Stormy?” Hugo’s voice. “Where are you?”
She told him.
“Go sit back down in the restaurant. Don’t claim the car. I don’t want you talking to the police right now. I’ll come and get you.”
She walked back in, sat down, and ordered some coffee. Only then did it hit her that someone had tried to kill her. Her hand shook so much the cup clattered on the saucer. Her whole body shook. She got up, went to the restroom, used it, washed her face and hands and took several deep breaths. And then some more breaths to settle herself before returning to her table.
It took Hugo less than two hours to reach her. He walked in wearing dark glasses and motioned for her to come out. She paid and joined him.
“You sure stirred up a hornet’s nest,” he said as they drove away in his Range Rover.
“What did I do?”
“I think someone doesn’t want the match called off.”
“But to try to kill me? Isn’t that a little extreme?”
“We might be talking mob. If we are, it’s not.”
“What should I do?”
“I’ll take you out to your next appointment, then we can decide. We’ll be late, but it shouldn’t matter.”
“Thanks.”
“I’m glad you called right away. The police will call Perri. I told her to tell them it was stolen. That will stop any link with you or her.”
This doctor was home and looked surprised to see her. “I’d
given up on you.”
“Sorry I’m late. I had to switch cars.”
“No problem, come on in. So what’s this about your brother?”
Stormy told him.
“Can you prove who you are?” he asked. “A lot of money rides on these fights, and gamblers try to work every angle. If they knew about Jerry’s problem, they’d be betting against him.”
She showed him her driver’s license. “I’m still using my dad’s address until I settle down. It’s not the same as Jerry’s, but you should know of my dad. Elston Drake. Jerry’s trainer.”
“What does he say?”
“They won’t listen to me. I feel if a doctor would give Jerry an examination before the match, there would be no question about whether it should be held or not.”
“I’ll call and see if I can examine him. I’m not the doctor for this particular fight, but they might let me anyway.”
Stormy sat there, waiting for him to call.
He picked up his phone, dialed a number, listened for a second, then hung up. “The line’s busy. I’ll try again later. Now why don’t you go on home?”
She didn’t want to do anything but get back to the safety of Hugo. “All right. Here’s my cell number. Can you let me know what he says?”
“Certainly.”
“And thank you. I’m glad someone is going to do something.”
“You’re welcome. Mind you, I can’t promise that they’ll let me examine him, but I would think that if there is any doubt, he’d be checked.”
He showed her outside and Stormy walked to the car and got in beside Hugo.
“Well?” Hugo asked as he drove back towards downtown Las Vegas.
“He’s going to call. He said he was.”
“Do you believe him?”
“I don’t know.” She should feel elated, but she wasn’t. All she could feel was the steady passage of time, moving inexorably toward the day of the match. She only had five days left.
“What should I do now?” she asked.
“There has to be some reason your brother is going through with this, knowing he’ll probably die. It has to be something where he doesn’t have a choice.”
“What?”
“I wonder if he’s got gambling debts. Do you know if he’s lost a huge sum of money lately?”
“I don’t know. I was surprised to see him at the slots. But they were just nickel slots.”
“I’ll take you back to the hotel. I’m going to nose around and see what I can turn up. I want you to try to rest a little. Stay in crowds where it will be harder to target you. And when you’re in your room, keep the dead bolt closed.”
He pulled over to the side of the road. “You drive in, so I can hop out before we get to the strip. If you have to contact me, call Perri. If you see me in a room, don’t say my name. Don’t tell anyone I’m helping you.”
She switched seats with him, started the wipers, then got the car moving again.
“We’ll see if the doctor does anything. Give him two days. If not, we’ll go out to see the last doctor. I’ll contact you. Don’t try to contact me for that.”
“Okay. Won’t you need a car?”
“I’ll rent one. I don’t want to be driving something that can be traced back to Perri. Pull over here and let me out.”
She did so and he walked the short distance to a bus stop as she drove away. She stopped to get gas and then went on to her hotel.
She gave the keys to the valet and went inside.
Kyle finished his training for the day and looked around, hoping he’d see Stormy again. He couldn’t get her out of his mind.
“What’s wrong?” his manager, Leon, said. “You’ve been distracted all day. Rodriguez almost put you down a time or two.”
He had been thinking of her lying on his bed, the towel over her face, completely relaxed. She had the most perfect ankles. When Leon spoke, he had to bring himself back to the foul-smelling and grungy-looking gym.
“It’s nothing,” he said.
“You got to keep your mind on your business, at least until the fight is over. You can’t afford to be distracted.”
“It’s nothing, I said.”
“I don’t believe you. You’re usually honed in like an eagle on its prey before a match. Some dame? Somethin’ else? I heard that Jerry’s sister came by.”
“She did.”
“There was a photo of you two together on You-tube, walking through the casino. She’s some looker.”
“She is.”
“Softening you up for her brother, I imagine.”
“What makes you think that?”
“She’s done it before.”
Kyle looked at him. What did Leon know that he didn’t?
“She uses different stories to psych out Jerry’s opponents. She’s real successful. Jerry has almost won before the match begins.”
Kyle couldn’t believe it. Stormy had been almost overcome with heat exhaustion. Who would put themselves in danger to help stop a boxing match? And she wasn’t eating properly.
“What did she tell you?” Leon asked. “That he has soft spots on his brain?”
“Yes. Exactly.”
“She’s used that before. She goes around acting like she’s so concerned with her brother. It distracts his opponent, so he has an easy win. I would’ve mentioned it before, but didn’t think you’d fall for a trick like that.”
Kyle felt like a fool. He had taken her up to his room, given her aid and comfort. Taken her out to eat. She had probably laughed all the way back to Jerry and their dad.
“Look Kyle, her brother is in excellent health. He’s training hard to beat you. You know he’s good, else he wouldn’t be challenging you. Don’t be a sucker for a pretty face. If she can give him the advantage by making you pull your punches, you might as well concede the fight right now. Hand over the champion’s belt to him. Look, man, you gotta keep her out of your head. Stay away from her…at least until after the fight. You let her into your space, you’ll have her talking to you during the fight. ‘Don’t hurt my brother,’ she’ll say, and you’ll hesitate while he hammers on you. You just can’t see her any more.”
Kyle nodded. Leon was voicing what he’d been thinking. He wondered if it was already too late. Stormy was in his dreams at night, worried and calling out to him. She ran beside him during the day, stood in the ring as he sparred, making him forget strategy. His sparring partner had knocked him on his rear with a well-aimed blow that Kyle normally would have deflected easily.
“Thanks for the heads up,” he told Leon.
“No problem. Just stay away from her. She’ll mess up your mind any way she can.”
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
Kyle drove back to his hotel, not seeing the bright Vegas lights. It was a good thing Leon had warned him. He would have gone to Stormy’s hotel this evening to see how she had progressed. He shook his head as if to clear it of the vision of her. She had seemed so helpless. A damsel in distress. She had managed to get into his mind without any problem at all.
He had thought he would help. He tried to contact the ring doctors himself. Was told their numbers were not given out to anyone except the officials, to prevent bribery.
He turned his car over to Tommy and walked over to the next hotel where he sometimes had a meal, then stopped near the entrance.
Stormy drove past him in a brand new Range Rover, stopped at the entrance, turned it over to the valet and went inside.
So, she didn’t have a car, did she? What was that she was driving? He wondered what she would say. He walked up behind her just as she asked the receptionist for an early morning call. Staying here now? Where did that money come from? Or had she had some all along?
“Hello again,” he said.
She turned to see who was speaking to her.
“Kyle. Hello. What are you doing here?” She looked happy to see him.
“I often eat here. They’ve got a cook who does my meals when I’m in town.”
“Do you mind if I eat with you again? I don’t like to eat alone. I can pay my own way now.”
“Of course not. I’d like to hear how you’ve been doing.” He was prepared this time. He wouldn’t fall for her story.
He led her to a secluded spot in one of the restaurants. “I’ll have my usual, Frank,” he told the waiter. “Stormy?”
“Number 4.”
Several men had followed them and he stopped to sign autographs and sent them away. A young boy ran up. “Autograph, sir?”
Kyle reached for the paper to sign it. Then he looked the boy up and down. He’d seen him before.
“I think you’ve gotten five so far. What are you doing, selling them?”
The kid shrugged but continued to hold out his paper.
“How much are you getting?”
“Twenty to fifty,” the boy said.
“You got any more paper?”
The boy pulled out a stack of nine. Kyle quickly signed them all and handed them back.
“Now, don’t bother me again. Okay?”
“Okay. Thank you!”
He drank some water while the happy boy ran away.
“You’ve made his day,” Stormy said.
“I kept thinking I’d already signed one for him.”
“And you were right.”
“How are things progressing?” he asked.
“Well, so far one of the doctors actually called Jerry and told him he was going to give him one more physical before the match.”
“What did Jerry say?”
“He said it didn’t matter. That the doctor couldn’t stop the match.”
“You heard Jerry say this?”
“No. The doctor called him after I left, then called me to let me know. Just a minute ago, while I was driving back.”
“Are you sure that that actually happened?”
“I... No. I’m not sure. That was the second doctor I visited. The first one wasn’t home, although I had called first and made an appointment. I might try him again, just to make sure.”
“How did you get their phone numbers?” She probably hadn’t thought about the fact that they were unlisted.
“Oh, a friend of mine, uh, he got it for me.”
“So you drove out?”
“Yes.”