The Mystery of Jessica Benson by C.K. Laurence Read Free Book Online Page A

poked
out from under his ragged cap. He was disheveled as usual, with
a raggedy three-day growth of graying whiskers.
“What the fuck’s a matter with you today, Sands? You
can’t seem to get outta your own way! What? Your shoulder
getting worse?”
“Shoulder’s fine, Coach.”
“Yeah? So what’d the doc want? I’m sure he didn’t
come out just to shoot the shit, hey.”
“Well, yeah, he sort of did, now that you mention it,
Coach. He was just cruising for gossip.”
“Heh. And you’re the one who’s the center of it today.
Heard you made a real ass outta yourself at Tyrell’s last night.
Word is you were some kind of warrior and that’s okeedokee
with me s’long’s you don’t let it affect your performance out
here.
“I don’t wanna keep having to lecture you about what’s
ahead, son, and the importance of keeping your head on straight,
do I?” His gestures mimicked President Bush’s during one of his
carefully choreographed speeches.
“And that broad ain’t worth fretting over any which
way.” He stopped talking and moved in close to Kyle.
The stench of his chewing tobacco almost made the
quarterback gag. Raymond’s voice grew threatening.
“Hear me good, boy. Let her go and get your head back
in the game. We only got two left on the schedule and I’m
planning for the Demons to win both of ’em. Then we’re heading
to the play-offs.
“I don’t know what’s going on in your mind, but wipe it
clean and come ready to play. Don’t mean shit to me to bench
your ass and give Tyrell his chance. He’s more’n ready for it,
and if he’s ready and you’re not, you better start makin’ fast
friends with the fucking bench. You know what I’m saying?” He
cleared his throat with a deep retching cough and spit a wicked
brown mixture of mucous and tobacco not far from Kyle’s feet.
A dead silence hung over them. The two looked hard at
one another and finally, with no further advice, the Coach
stomped away. Probably going to hassle some other poor
schmuck , Kyle thought. Having no further stomach for field-side
lectures, Kyle headed to the locker room.
Halfway there he saw Luke Arnold, the team’s security
chief, heading his way with two people in tow, a sour looking
man and what looked to be a fairly attractive woman, both
wearing visitors’ passes and guns.
“Hey Kyle. Hold up a minute. These folks are here to
see you.” Then as he got closer, he mouthed “Police.”
Kyle smiled at them and threw his arms up in surrender.
“I bought two tickets to the ball already.”
No one smiled back, and he thought he heard the guy
mutter asshole under his breath. As they got closer, the male
asked Arnold if there was somewhere they could meet privately
with Kyle. Arnold nodded and beckoned them to follow him into
the complex’s offices.
Kyle only caught a glance at the female as she turned her
head to speak with her partner, but something about her struck a
chord. She was reminiscent of someone he had known a long
time ago. He studied her more closely and realized it was, in
fact, Karen Brandt. He instinctively moved toward her, but
something stopped him. She cocked her head and lifted her hand
just enough for him to stay put.
Arnold made sure the trio was comfortable in a small
conference room and offered coffee or cold drinks. Beverages
were declined and Luke left, closing the door behind him. Karen
spoke first.
“I’m Detective Karen Brandt and this is my partner, Will
Kaufman. We need to talk with you about last night.”
When he heard her voice, memories came flooding back.
Karen’s brother, Brett, had been his closest friend in high school.
He was Kyle’s best receiver as well, and they had been
inseparable. Then Brett got sick. He was diagnosed with
leukemia and forced to undergo rigorous chemotherapy. Kyle
wanted to quit football and spend more time with him, but Brett
had insisted he continue playing, for both of them. Finally there
had been an unsuccessful bone marrow