I gasp at the recollection.
I think his name was Wolf.
And I think I recognize the face.
Chapter Twenty-Two
COOP
“Ihave to tell you that I was pleasantly surprised that you called me, Mr. Barnes. I didn’t think you were actually going to agree to this interview, much less be the one to initiate it.”
“I guess all those days you’ve spent sitting on the bleachers cozying up with Owens didn’t help with your understanding of me. Didn’t she communicate that I’m a man of my word?”
Jim the reporter looks at me contemplatively.
“We don’t talk about you much,” he says with a cautious smirk.
Motherfucker.
We both sit down, directly across from each other, in some sort of homemade lounge set up inThe Examineroffices.
“Speaking of Ursula, is she coming today? I know she usually likes to attend most press events, and since she did have an indirect hand in making this happen, I’d hoped she’d be here.”
I bet you did.
“She won’t be joining us today but while we’re on the topic of …Ursula… I just wanted to get something straight with you.”
“And what is that?”
“She’s off limits. Meaning she can’t engage in any personal relationships with staff. It’s a direct conflict of interest. You understand.”
Jim stares at me with a cocky grin.
“I don’t work for you, Mr. Barnes.”
“You work The Nighthawk beat, I am a franchise Nighthawk player, and Owens works for me. Therefore, it’s a direct conflict of interest.”
“I don’t think it is, and until she tells me differently, I’d prefer it if you’d stay out of my and Ursula’s private affairs. You know … I just wouldn’t want to make things awkward for her.”
I sit back in the large leather club chair I’m sitting on and lift my legs up on the matching ottoman. Jim is determined to get under my skin and while I should probably get up and leave now, I want to see where this is headed. What’s his angle?
“Maybe we should get started,” I say.
“Awesome. Can I get you anything?”
“I’m good. Let’s just get this over with.”
“Fine by me. Like I said, I appreciate you taking the time out of your very busy schedule.”
He says that like it’s a federal crime that I work.
“Just so you’re aware, Mr. Barnes, I’ll be taping this conversation for reference purposes, fact checking, etcetera.”
“I figured as much.”
There are a few things about Jim that rub me completely the wrong way. He talks too much about Owens. He acts like he knows her so well when I know that cannot be the case. Secondly, he’s cocky to a fault. He has some sort of chip on his shoulder. If I had to guess it’s because he played football in high school, loved it, but sucked at it and now he hates all of us who are fortunate to make a living at it. Lastly, he’s ambitious and not in the healthy way. I think he’d sell out his own mother to get ahead in his career.
“Readers love to hear about their favorite players’ hometown roots. Could you tell us a little bit about your life in Georgia?”
