Some of the players nod along, going through the motions more than anything.
“Now let’s talk about something more important, gentlemen. Let’s talk about you. What do I preach to you? What question do I ask you? I ask you, what does it take to break you?
“A ground ball under your legs. Does that break you, or do you bounce back and make the next play? A crap call on ball four? Does it break you, or do you forget it and worry about the next pitch? This is no different, guys. This is a gigantic shit sandwich, I grant you that. But it’s just a setback. And I guarantee you, guys, you’ll have bigger setbacks than this one in life.
“So what are you gonna do about it? Are you going to let what happened to me break you? Are you gonna look back on this opportunity and say, ‘Gee, something bad happened, so our team fell apart’? Or are you gonna look back on this and remember how you overcame adversity and reached your goals? That’s the only question you guys have to answer: Will this break you?”
“Fuck no,” says Wittmer, eyes cast downward.
“You want to do one thing for me, do that,” I say. “Do not let this break you.”
24
Allison
I sit stiff at my desk, staring at my laptop screen, pretending to read 302s—FBI reports of interviews with the congressman’s aides—while my phone lies face up beside the keyboard. The hour approaches noon, each passing minute bringing another flutter through my chest. I tell myself it’s Luke’s meeting, Luke’s life, but he’s in that room because of me. The guilt pulses beneath the anxiety, a low, steady throb I can’t shake. I want him to call; I dread his call.
I’ll make this right, I tell myself, the only thought that brings even momentary relief. I’ll get a judge to temporarily reinstate him. And then, when the DNA and print results come back, I’ll bury Trinity—
A knock at my door. Aaron, the associate, holding a stack of papers. Still as formal as ever, dressed in a three-piece suit, his necktie taut against his collar and perfectly dimpled. “May I come in?”
I wave him in. “Those are the revisions?”
“They’re in final, yes.”
He hands me the papers. With Aaron doing much of the grunt work, we have put together a complaint, a motion for a temporary restraining order, and a supporting legal brief, asking the court to force Mortimer College to keep Luke on as coach until the matter is more fully litigated.
“May I sit?” he asks.
“You don’t have to ask for permission to sit,” I snap. “Or call me ‘ma’am.’ This isn’t the army.” I look over the papers. All my edits have been incorporated. I peek at him. “Sorry, I’m a little tense.”
“It’s your brother. Understood.”
“This is terrific, Aaron. And done so quickly. What’s your take on our chances?”
His head bobs side to side. “A private school gets a lot of leeway in these situations. We’d have an uphill climb. Maybe a TRO, but not an injunction that lasts more than a few days.”
That’s my take, too. The odds are against us. The school can probably do whatever it wants in this situation. But sometimes you win by simply out-lawyering the other side.
“Knock knock.” In my doorway is Harp, as always with the leather jacket and jeans, and something tucked under her arm. “I can come back. Just call.”
“No, come in, we’re done. Jennifer Harper, meet Aaron Starks. Aaron’s an associate working on the congressman’s case. Harp is our ace investigator.”
Aaron gets to his feet and offers his hand. “Look forward to working with you.”
Harp gives him a once-over first and isn’t subtle about it. “Likewise,” she says.
“Unless there’s anything else? I’ll leave you.” Aaron all but clicks his heels and salutes before leaving.
Harp drops into the chair where Aaron had been sitting, fanning herself with her hand.
“Down, girl,” I say. “We work together.”
“You can look, even if you can’t touch.”
“I’m his boss.” Aaron is no doubt easy on the eyes, broad-shouldered and trim, warm eyes. But it’s like something clicked off inside me long ago. My mind doesn’t move to that next level of imagination, of fantasy. I may not be cut out for being single. I don’t know how.
“And that’s a problem because…?” She tosses today’sTribuneon my desk.
