Uncle Wayne’s tone pitched higher. “Hey, I didn’t say that. Did I say that? Just, he’s in charge. If he says you get ten K, that’s his choice. If he only delivers five, that’s his choice too.”
Five thousand missing? I bet Uncle Wayne had something to do with that. And even if he didn’t, it made the accusation plausible. “Wait. Did you skim the rest? I bet you did. I bet he sent ten, and you took five off the top and figured he’d never know.”
“No! I wouldn’t touch Mr. Smith’s money. That was his decision.”
“I don’t believe you. I want to talk to him, right now. Or I’ll…” I fumbled for a threat.
“Or you’ll what, pussy boy?” Uncle Wayne laughed. “I got no problem with queers, but that’s not true for hockey or the pigs, is it? You and that cop next door. You threaten me, and I’ll out you both on Twitter.”
“It’s called X now, as you’d know if you hadn’t been in the slammer for years.”
“Iknowthat. I just forgot.” Uncle Wayne’s voice went sly. “What do you think will happen if the boys in blue find out there’s a queer hiding among them.”
I barked a laugh. “Zeke was interviewed about being gay on the force in a magazine, years ago. He’s out, you asshole, and my team knows too.” That landed a little punch under my ribs that made me catch a breath, but the worry was followed by a fierce tide of relief.I’m out. Maybe not all the way, maybe he can screw with me, but not like before.
I ordered, “Get me in touch with Mr. Smith. Let him tell me to my face that he only sent five grand. Or I’ll go to the cops and tell them you tried to bribe me. I bet your prints are on the money, on the envelope.”
“Fuck you. Smith will bury you.”
“Maybe. But if he doesn’t bury you first, you’ll be back in prison for years. You want to take that risk?”
The line went dead. Was that good or bad? I couldn’t tell. It suggested I’d rattled him anyhow.
I drove a few blocks away from the arena before I had to pull over. My hands shook.What if he calls my team? What if he outs me to some gossip rag online? I need to call Zeke.Zeke wasn’t at risk for simply being gay, but if his name got linked to mine, he might face nasty media publicity he really wouldn’t want.
I unpinned my voice recorder, left it on the seat next to the envelope, and got out. Pacing a dozen strides away from the car let me get my breath under control.
Zeke answered on the first ring. “Callum. You okay?”
“I’m fine. Uncle Wayne said the money really was short. Apparently only five grand in the envelope, instead of ten.”
Zeke barked a laugh. “Nothing like making your story work, eh? You think the shortage was his doing or Smith’s?”
“I don’t know, but it was a good excuse to demand to speak to Smith.”
“What did Wayne say?”
“He hung up. I’m waiting.” I paced back and forth on the sidewalk. “He threatened to out both of us to the media. I’m sorry.”
“For what? None of this is your fault. He can’t do me any damage, and I hope your team would stand by you.”
“I told them tonight,” I admitted. “Not management, but Coach and the guys.”
“You did? How’d that go? Are you okay?” Concern softened Zeke’s voice.
“I’m good. The guys were fine. Maybe not all of them, but enough. Coach has a lesbian aunt. He’s backing me up.”
“That’s a relief, right? Takes some of Wayne’s power away from him too.”
“Yeah. I liked telling him I didn’t give a fuck what he did. Except it’s not really true. He could sell any story he likes, make me out to be some kind of man-whore, send the paps to peek in your windows.”
“Whatever he does, we’ll handle it. You and me together. And babe, as incredible as you are, I think a gay man in the PHL isn’t the big story it once was. Anything else he tells them is a lie and can be ignored.”
“I’m not good at ignoring shit.” I had to hide how I’d liked hearing him call me babe. I was a tough, six-foot-three hockey player. I shouldn’t like pet names. “I prefer to punch my enemies.”
Zeke chuckled. “I’ve noticed. Sticking him back in a prison cell will be more effective, if less satisfying.”
“I guess.” I paced some more. “What’s Iverson doing? Shouldn’t he be getting back to us?”
