Hannah snorts and then picks up her teacup again. “Okay, Frankie. Explain.”
“I’ve used my algorithm to predict performance while also investing wisely in a handful of star players whose contributions can’t be duplicated through multiple players. We utilize the resources we already have from within the organization to make up the difference.”
“Is that why you and our new manager went to Arizona?”
“It was,” I say, trying not to betray my surprise that she knew where we were. “There are three kids playing out there that bothCharlie and I have assessed. We think they’re ready to contribute at the major league level.”
“Three players, all barely twenty-one, with little if any experience above Double A starting at three premiere positions next season and we can win with that?”
“We can, with Nakamura to lead the rotation and Esposito slotting into that fifth start position, our second, third and fourth guys were three of the best in the league last year, keeping us in games, not taxing the bullpen too much.”
“And both Stew and Avery are on board with this?”
“They are.”
She takes one final long sip from her teacup and finishes it off, holding my eyes with hers firmly. “I’ll go back to the board with it, no guarantees, but for now I can authorize you at least putting us forward when he’s posted. We’ll see how negotiations go from there.”
“Seriously? That’s . . . you’re agreeing?”
“I am,” Hannah says, smiling at me. “But a word of caution.”
“Of course.”
“This is on your head. I know you believe in this plan and you have Stew and Avery’s backing, but this is ultimately your recommendation and its success or its failure will be pinned to you. No one is going to fire Stew or Avery over an off season move like this, not with Stew’s health or with Avery’s reputation. A first-time female interim general manager who got in over her head trying to play with the big boys? It’ll be you.”
“I know.”
“I thought you would. Good luck, Frankie. You’re going to need it.”
Then I’m shuffled out of the office by Nancy, who appears out of nowhere again, holding the door open for me with a smile and then shutting it firmly behind us.
Shaking my head, having no idea whether to be thrilled orpetrified by what just went down, I start to head downstairs, back to my office ,when Nancy gently clears her throat.
“She wants you to succeed,” the gray-haired secretary says. “Desperately wants it. She loves baseball, has since she was a little girl. She wants to win the World Series and she wants you to build the team that does it.”
“She made that clear.”
“Then why are you still standing here?” Nancy asks, clearly exasperated with me. “Go do it.”
I’m halfway to the elevator, staring out at that view of the park and Manhattan, millions of people going about their day and none of them have any idea.
The Brooklyn Eagles want a championship and I’m the one that’s going to bring it home.
But firstIneed to go home, unpack, and get myself together before it all begins again. We don’t just need Nakamura; we need to make sure he’s surrounded by the best possible team. Cole, Archie and Xander are the start of that, but not the end.
When I landed back inNYI dropped my stuff and went straight into the office, but now I need to unpack, and get cleaned up before heading back in to work.
My car can’t quite pull up to the front of my place because there’s a massive moving truck double parked and blocking most of the street.
“I’ll get out here,” I say, and send him on his way, but as I approach the house, I catch sight of a familiar form. One I can’t quite believe I’m seeing and, when he sees me, his surprise is just as extreme.
Shane gapes at me, mouth open, staring unblinking before he finally says, “What are you doing here?”
“What . . . I live here,” I respond, trying desperately to come up with another reason for why he might be standing here with a moving truck.
“You live here?”
“Yes, I live here. The second and third floor.”
