Before I could even tell him to do so, Preston dialed Miriam to summon Eli Gatlin upstairs. His training could wait while we sorted this mess out.
“He came back clean on the background you did on him, right?” Preston asked.
Once Eli signed the contract with us to represent him, I’d had Micah’s team run a basic background check.
It came back with a few bullshit things like an unpaid parking ticket, and an arrest with charges dropped from a bar fight a few years back, but nothing serious.
“You saw the report,” I reminded Preston.
A second later, Preston’s office phone beeped. He pressed the button on the speaker.
“Sorry, Preston, but Coach Branson says Eli never showed up for training today.”
I blinked and glared at the phone on the desk. “What do you mean he never showed up?” I shook my head, knowing Miriam wouldn’t have the answer. “Call Branson and put him through,” I demanded.
Preston stood from his chair, his face growing in anger. “What the hell is this kid doing?”
Within a minute, Branson was on the line.
“Did he give a reason for not showing up today?” Preston asked.
“Nope. Never even called.”
“Has he ever not shown up for training before?” That question came from me.
“This is the first time he’s been a no-show. He has come in late a few times, though.”
“Let me guess,” Preston said. “No explanation given either.”
“You guessed it. He’s looked tired when he has come in late. Like the guy was up partying all night or something.”
I blew out a breath. “Thanks, Coach.”
We disconnected the call. As Eli’s managers, we didn’t keep on top of his training schedule. That was between him and his new training team. But this was alarming.
“Let me get this straight,” Preston began, pacing back and forth. “This guy is showing up to practice late, now he’s not even showing up, and we have potential sponsors mentioning they’ve heard rumors about him? We’re told to look into his past fights?”
I slid my hands into my pockets and paced as well. “Wolcott.”
“What?”
“Roger Wolcott. He was Eli’s handler in Los Angeles. He trained at Wolcott’s gym.”
“He died a few months ago,” Preston added.
I nodded. “That’s why Eli decided not only to agree to us managing him but also to switch to training with Branson and his team.”
“We need to speak with the kid now.”
I agreed as Preston picked up his office and dialed Eli’s cell.
“Answer your damn phone,” Preston demanded as the phone continued to ring. He put it on speakerphone.
The voicemail came on.
“Give us a callback. ASAP unless you want to end your career,” I demanded before hanging up.
“He’s fucking up. And I don’t like the way Andy talked about those rumors,” Preston said after a moment of silence.
