“I don’t know. I’m not really in the loop. They weren’t happy about me asking Olivia to plant the bug.”
“Why not? They couldn’t be bothered.”
“Yeah, but I’m connected to you, and even asking Olivia to do it for me was ethically dicey. Not really impartial. A lawyer might be able to make that a problem.”
“Fuck them.”
“Probably shouldn’t have said that while you’re recording.”
“I left my voice recorder in the car. I’m twenty feet away.”
“Ah. Well then, yeah, fuck ’em.” Zeke lowered his tone. “And if we’re not being recorded, can I tell you how awesome you were on the ice? That game you played was fire.”
“I probably should’ve played worse. We might’ve won and screwed all this up.”
“I was glad you didn’t half-ass it. I’ve been worried…”
“About what?”
“About what it would do to you, if you agreed to lose.Evenunder threats andevenif the GREC asked you to. Whatever came afterwards, you’d have always known you threw a game you could’ve won. You’re an honest guy. I think that would eat at you.”
The lump in my throat made it hard to speak.He really gets me.“I’ve been lying about who I am, though.”
“Different kind of lie. You never promised anyone to be open about your sexuality. You did promise to play your best for the team when you signed your contract. You’re a guy who keeps his promises.”
I nodded a few times, there on that dark street. “Right.” My phone chimed an incoming call, so I mumbled, “Thanks,” and switched over.
Iverson said, “Your uncle called Smith after he hung up with you, told the guy you’re a scammer. He said he gave you the ten grand, but you’re claiming you only got five. You’re a cheat, looking to increase your payoff for basically not doing anything. Threatening to go to the cops.”
“Did Smith believe that?”
“Hard to say. He told Wayne to deal with you, keep you under control. Good job so far.”
“Uncle Wayne was the one who toldmethere’s only five grand in the envelope. I thinkheskimmed it.”
“Well, that is serendipitous.” Iverson laughed. “Putting the pressure on at both ends. Although it might make your uncle more determined to shut you up.”
“I’m not afraid of Uncle Wayne.”
“Good. Your uncle’s between a rock and a hard place, if he’s a fool who skimmed his boss’s money. I have zero sympathy.”
“Me either. Now what?”
“Now we’re going to arrest your uncle. That takes him out of the mix, and leaves Smith with a big question mark next to you.”
“Arrest my uncle for what?”
“Car theft, like we talked about. You signed the complaint, remember?”
“Of course I remember.” Iverson had sat me down and gone through options and leverage. The truck was half in my name, and if they needed to get Uncle Wayne into custody, it made a handy excuse. “What do you think Smith will do?”
“Ah, that will be the interesting part. Perhaps nothing, write you off as a one-time shot, take the money he made on tonight’s game, and assume you know too little to screw him over. Or perhaps he’ll contact you.”
“So I just wait?”
“Welcome to policing, Mr. Fitzpatrick.”
The condescension in his tone made me grit my teeth. “At least you have my uncle and a place to start. You’re welcome.”
