In Confidence

by Karen Young

  Twenty-Seven

  After the encounter between him and Ferdy in the john, Nick knew the fat was in the fire. He wasn’t certain when Ferdy would rat to Coach, only that he would. What Tyson would do, Nick didn’t even begin to guess, but he was sure to retaliate, and “shock and awe” would probably be the best way to describe it. His plan was pretty desperate, and he knew he would be in hot water big time by leaving after being told in no uncertain terms by Cam and his mom not to, but he couldn’t sit back and wait for Tyson to hurt anybody in his family. The cat was a message and Nick got it.

  If Ferdy was telling the truth and knew nothing about the note and Kendy’s cat, then there was only one other possibility as to who’d done it: Harley or Big Guy. But no matter who did it, the source of the threat was Coach Tyson. Nick wasn’t giving Tyson the opportunity to rig his “suicide” like he’d done with Jack Ford.

  As the junior varsity game ended, the team broke out of the dugout. There was about thirty minutes to kill until the second game. The Mustangs had won and there would be some celebrating in the locker room, but Nick had other plans. He’d scoped out the stands looking for Kristin at the beginning of the first game. With a muttered “Yes!” he’d spotted her, as she was necessary to his plan since she had a car.

  Seeking to reassure his Gran, Nick waved to her, sitting up high, and then instead of falling in with the rest of the team, he cut away and headed for a spot that would take him within speaking distance of Kristin. He was peering up, trying to catch her eye when somebody touched him on the shoulder.

  “Hi, Nick.”

  He started and turned. “Dad!”

  Ted’s smile was tentative. “Surprised to see me, I guess.”

  “Well, yeah. I mean—” He turned, swept the stands with a panicked gaze and saw Kristin rising to leave with her friends. If she left, he was screwed. “It’s been a while,” he said, turning back to his dad while his mind raced to figure out plan B.

  “Too long, son.” Ted was studying Nick’s face as if he had sort of forgotten what he looked like. “Can I buy you a drink?”

  “Got some,” he said, holding up a bottle. “Thanks, anyway.”

  “Take a short walk, then?” Putting out his hand, he didn’t quite touch Nick but urged him with a look that was uncertain. Nick couldn’t remember ever seeing his dad looking uncertain. “We won’t go far.”

  “Sure.” Nick glanced around, looking for the Lexus. “Is Francine here?”

  “I don’t think she does sports. I know you don’t have much time between games,” Ted said, “but I wanted you to know that I was here. I saw you play. You’re turning into a fine baseball player, Nick.”

  Nick guessed it wasn’t the right time to tell him that as of tonight, it was iffy whether he’d be playing anymore. And if his dad hadn’t walked out on them, he might be able to tell him the world of shit he was in and get some help to do something about it. It was a bitter thought, and suddenly he didn’t care if his dad knew of his resentment. “How do you know what kind of player I am, Dad? You don’t have much of a base to compare with since I don’t think you’ve hardly ever been around to watch me play.”

  “That’s true. But it doesn’t mean I can’t start coming more often.”

  “When? Between setting up a new practice and keeping Francine happy, how will you work it into your schedule?” Nick knew bullshit when he heard it. “You never had time before and Mom wasn’t nearly so high maintenance as Francine, right?”

  “I know you’re bitter. I can see—Well, all I can say is that I’m going to make it up to you, Nick.”

  “Yeah, sure.” Nick kicked at a cigarette butt on the ground.

  Ted stopped and faced him. “I mean it, son. I’ve made some huge mistakes. I know you and Kendy are hurt. I know it’ll take some time to get over that. But I—”

  Nick spotted Kristin heading back from the concession stand. Which meant she hadn’t left. Maybe he wasn’t screwed. “Sorry, Dad, but I’ve got to see someone about something that’s pretty important.” He lifted his hand to get Kristin’s attention.

  Ted frowned at the distraction. “I’m going to call you about this weekend, Nick,” he said.

  “I don’t know, Dad. I’ve made plans already.” Not exactly the truth, but he wasn’t sure he wanted his dad to decide to drop back into their lives now, with him and Kendy just rolling over and letting him. Except for rare occasions like holidays and stuff, his dad had hardly ever been around for him or Kendy. He’d maybe show up for a Little League game or go out with them sometimes for a pizza. Most of the time, he was up real early and off to the hospital, then on to his practice. Home too late to hear about anything his kids had done. Nick had only started to wonder lately whether or not his dad had even spent much time with his mom.

  “Cam wants me to help him floor his attic this weekend,” he added. Cam hadn’t exactly set the time, but it could be this weekend, he told himself.

  Ted was momentarily speechless. “I didn’t know you knew how to do that kind of work.”

  “I’m learning a lot from Cam.” The kind of things he’d never have learned from his dad. Ted probably didn’t even know the right end of a hammer. And if he’d had an old house like Cam’s, he would have hired someone to get the work done without even thinking about doing any of it himself.

  “How about a pizza or something when you’re done?” Ted asked.

  “That’s the thing when you’re doing manual labor, Dad,” he said, looking anywhere but at him, “who knows how long it’ll take to do a job. So I guess I’ll have to take a rain check. See what happens.” Nick couldn’t ever recall blowing it off when his dad had suggested spending time with him, but it was surprisingly easy.

  “You spend a lot of time with him?”

  “Cam? Yeah, me and Kendy both. She’s really nuts about him, takes pictures of his house, kills a lot of time over there. Lately, she’s been trying to exorcise the ghost in his attic.”

  “What?”

  “He’s got her thinking one of his ancestors haunts the place.”

  “I see.” Ted was nodding slowly. “And how does your mother feel about him?”

  Nick looked directly into his dad’s eyes then. “Maybe you should ask her. A good time would be when you drop by to give her the money you owe that’s past due.”

  Ted raked a hand over his hair. “There are things you don’t understand, Nick.”

  “Yeah, shit happens. Isn’t that the excuse most deadbeat dads give?”

  “Is that how you think of me, son? As a deadbeat dad?” His dad looked really…like, sick.

  “You want the truth, Dad? I’m not sure how I think of you. Or what I think of you. What you did was pretty rotten. It caused a world of hurt to Kendy and Mom. And, you know what? It was embarrassing, too. Your old man steals the wife of his partner, that’s not something you’re proud for your friends to know.”

  “If it’s any comfort,” Ted said, looking strained and shaken, “I’ve been thinking the same thing lately when I look in the mirror. But it’s a thousand times worse hearing you say the words, Nick.”

  Nick wasn’t so mad now, just kind of sad. There hadn’t been a lot of time in the past when he’d had his dad’s full attention. When it came, he’d lapped it up like a puppy dog, but that was when he’d worshiped his dad and looked forward to any crumb he might toss him. He didn’t worship him anymore. He just felt sorry for him.

  Looking away, he saw Kristin watching him. “Look, Dad, I’ve gotta go.”

  “Francine and I are not together anymore, Nick. That should make the time we’re together, you and Kendy and I, more enjoyable.”

  “She go back to Dr. Walt?”

  “It looks like she might. I really don’t know.”

  With a shrug, Nick began a backward getaway. What did his dad expect? Women like Francine weren’t faithful and true like his mom. And he’d walked away from her.

  “Bye, Dad.”

  Turning, he jogged toward the
stands and Kristin without looking back. Ted was left looking somber and shaken.

  It took him a few precious minutes to maneuver Kristin to an area at the edge of the stands where he could make his pitch. She held a soft drink in a paper cup. She took a sip through a straw and indicated his dad still standing where Nick had left him. “Wasn’t that Dr. Forrester talking to you?”

  “Yeah, he just dropped by, I guess.”

  “I don’t think I’ve ever seen your dad at a game,” Kristin said, still watching him.

  “That’s because he’s never been.”

  “Oh.”

  “Kristin, I don’t have much time. This is an emergency.”

  “Again?” She gave a huff of exasperation. With her hip cocked and her eyes fixed on the ball field, she said, “Just tell it to me without all the hyperbole.”

  “Hyperbole?” He almost smiled. That Kristin was something else.

  “Ms. Ruiz is very big on expanding our vocabulary. We have a list of unusual words that she encourages us to use. Hyperbole means—”

  “I know, exaggeration. But I’m not exaggerating, Kristin. But since you’re clued in to what’s going on, sort of, I’m hoping you’re gonna save the day. I don’t know anybody else who has a car and I need a car in the worst kinda way.”

  “Where do we have to go and why?”

  He thought a moment, looking away. He didn’t think he was putting her in harm’s way by doing this, but this whole situation was getting dicier by the minute. If anything happened to her, it would kill him. He was beginning to like Kristin. A lot.

  “Don’t even think of spinning me a line of baloney, Nick. Just tell me straight where we’re going and why.”

  “You’ll do it?”

  “Depends. Maybe. After you told me Sunday what was going on with Ward, I thought about telling my mom and going to the police, but—” She shook her head. “Don’t freak out, I didn’t do it. Yet.”

  He’d like to go to Chief Singletary himself, dump everything in his lap. He would, too, if his mission tonight was a success. “I need to make a road trip tonight to check out where a couple of Coach’s former athletes live. And I don’t have wheels.”

  “Why?”

  “I really think I shouldn’t tell you that.” When she instantly opened her mouth to argue, he said, “I got some names from Ward’s brother, Jimbo. There was a guy named Ziegler. I looked him up. I used the Internet at the library,” he said before she could ask. He glanced over his shoulder at the field house. Yeah, like he figured, the team was beginning to head to the dugout. Play would begin in a minute. “There’s neat stuff that cross-matches names with addresses and phone numbers, too. Besides Ziegler, only two of the people he named still live in Rose Hill. I want to take a ride and see if anybody drives a pickup that I recognize.”

  “What if it’s parked inside a garage and you can’t see it?”

  He blew out a breath. “Kristin, why do you always have to come up with a negative argument?”

  “It’s logic, not negativity.”

  “If it’s closed up in a garage, then we’re cooked,” he said. “Now, listen. I need to locate the vehicle before I can tell Chief Singletary what happened. There’s stuff I didn’t tell you about, but it’s bad. The chief needs facts to pump up his investigation. I think identifying the driver of that pickup will do it.”

  “Ward could do that right now,” Kristin said. “I mean, he could give facts to pump up the investigation. His statement alone would be enough to bring Tyson down.”

  “I don’t think he’s ready just yet,” Nick said.

  “Because he’s not as brave as you are.”

  Nick felt himself turning red. “C’mon, I’m not brave.”

  “Yes, you are. And that’s the reason I’m willing to help you. Otherwise, I wouldn’t get mixed up in this, no way. Because when it’s all finished and Coach Monk is brought down, you’re going to be able to say you did the right thing. It’s scary, but that’s the way it is, Nick. Some of us have guts and charisma and some of us don’t.”

  Nick found himself grinning. “Is it okay to tell a girl that she’s got guts?”

  She tossed her drink in the trash. “As long as you add the ‘charisma’ part.”

  “You’ve definitely got it all, Kristin.”

  To his amazement, she went up on her tiptoes and, with her hands on his shoulders, kissed him. “I’ll pick you up at this gate as soon as the game’s over, okay?”

  Now he was really red. “Okay. And thanks. I owe you one.”

  “No, you owe me two. But just for the sake of argument, suppose the thugs all have a garage?” When he rolled his eyes, she laughed. “Just kidding. You’d better get to the dugout. The Man’s looking.”

  The varsity game was almost over when Rachel and Cam finally arrived at the ball field with Kendy. They quickly located Nick sitting in the dugout and then Dinah high up in the stands. When she caught Rachel’s eye, she made her way down to the ground. “How’s Graham?” she asked Kendy, ruffling the little girl’s hair.

  “He’s sick as anything, Gran, but the vet says he’ll be all right.”

  Dinah questioned Rachel with a look. “It was touch-and-go for a while,” Rachel said in a tone meant to convey reassurance to Kendy. “The vet is keeping him for a few days. The paint can be removed, but he’ll have to have some other treatment to help him overcome whatever it was that made him sick. It was a close call. Thanks to Kendy, he’ll pull through.”

  She didn’t say in front of Kendy that Graham had been poisoned. Another hour and it would have been too late to save him. The paint could be construed as a juvenile prank—mean but not lethal—but giving Graham poison was a vicious act. If it was meant as a message to Nick—or his family—it worked. And now that she was here and saw that Nick was okay, she’d prefer taking him off the bench and bringing him home, but again, they didn’t want to arouse suspicion in Tyson. Once he felt the net drawing in around him, who knew what he might do?

  “Was that Ted’s car I saw just now?” she asked Dinah. Over in the parking lot, the Lexus was just pulling away.

  “Yes, he and Nick had a long conversation at the break after the juniors played.”

  Rachel’s gaze moved to Nick, who lifted a hand to acknowledge her. “Did he seem upset?”

  “Nick or Ted?”

  “Either one, Mother. Both.”

  “No, not upset, but neither one of them looked particularly happy.”

  Rachel sighed and decided she could ask Nick what was up when he got home. She glanced up and found Cam watching her. “It just surprised me to see him here.” Cam’s only response was a noncommittal grunt. Ted would probably never be redeemed in Cam’s estimation, she thought.

  They turned Kendy over to Dinah then and stood watching while both got into Dinah’s car and drove off. “At least Kendy’s safe,” Rachel murmured. “And the sooner we get Nick home, the better I’ll feel.”

  Nick had been tardy getting back to the dugout after the break and he’d fully expected Coach to blow a gasket, but he didn’t. Winning this game was vital, as it was a final match between Rose Hill and a chief rival, so discipline was usually as tight as it ever got when the stakes were high. Instead of being relieved that Coach gave him a pass, Nick thought it was a little weird.

  “You are trying to get your ass benched for the next season,” Ward muttered when Nick eased onto the bench beside him. “Where were you?”

  “I had business to take care of,” Nick said, wiping sweat off his face with a towel.

  “What? Your mom sent you to the grocery store?”

  “Funny, Ward.”

  Ward sat looking out at the playing field, his face set. “What’s going on between you and Kristin?”

  “Who said anything was going on?”

  “I saw you talking to her and it looked like something to me.”

  “It’s not what you’re thinking.” His friendship with Ward meant a lot to Nick, and if he did have any ideas ab
out Kristin, he’d have to think about the fallout between him and Ward before acting on it. But he’d think about it tomorrow. Or next week. Tonight, he couldn’t afford to be distracted. His dad popping up on the scene had been stressful enough. Now he had to figure a way to slip away with Kristin, which he knew would freak out his mom and Cam. He just prayed they’d get over it if his mission was a success.

  “Forrester!”

  Jeez. “Yes, sir!” Nick jumped up. Coach Monk was standing at the end of the dugout.

  “Over here. On the double!”

  “Told you,” Ward muttered.

  Nick scrambled past the knees of the juniors to get to the front, where Tyson waited. He’d expected to get his ass chewed, but not in the middle of a game. Usually, Coach was so focused on the action on the ball field that he seldom spared a glance for the juniors during senior play.

  Tyson shoved a glove in his hand. “Sims got his glove wet. There’s another one in his locker. Go get it.”

  Nick hesitated, looking at Tyson. “You want me to open Sims’s locker?”

  “You heard me,” Tyson growled. “Number 416. And see if you can do it without detouring through the stands again.”

  Nick stood for a second looking Tyson straight in the eye. So okay, he wasn’t going to get his ass chewed in front of the team, instead he was gonna be the team gofer. That was the kind of stuff Coach did when he wanted to humiliate somebody.

  “Not a problem,” he said, and set off at a jog. Remembering at the last minute that his mom would be watching, he turned and waved.

  “Where is Nick going?” Rachel’s voice rose a little, drawing a look from the couple sitting in front of her and Cam. She lowered her tone. “We told him not to go anywhere by himself.”

  “He’s probably going to the john,” Cam said, glancing at his watch. “If he’s not back in five minutes, I’ll go check on him.”

  “They all look alike from this distance,” Rachel complained. “For a second, I wasn’t sure it was Nick, since we were so definite in warning him about not putting himself at risk. But that’s his number.”