was playing. âThe standard is one player, one security guard,â he said. âBasically, weâre just trying to make sure the players can get through the crowds unimpeded. Most fans, when they see security people coming with a player, get out of the way. With a well-known player, we usually add a second security person. In the case of someone like Symanova, who attracts a lot of attention, we add a third guard. That was the case hereâshe had three security guards with her.â
âTo follow up, then, what in the world happened?â
Loconto smiled wanly and looked at Kantarian to see if he should continue. Kantarian nodded. âThere was a commotion,â Loconto said. âSeveral people walked across the path of the players, and all the security guards got jostled. It isnât all that unusual for that to happen, especially near the entrance to Armstrong before a big match, when people are bunched up trying to get inside. When the security guys got untangled, they looked around and Symanova was gone.â
âJust like that?â It was the same questioner, still holding his mike. No one objected. He was asking the right questions.
Loconto nodded. âNo one really knew what had happened. The security people thought perhaps sheâd fallen or gotten too far ahead of them. By the time they realized she wasnât anywhere in their vicinity, the crowds appeared to have swallowed her. Her racquet bag was found a few yards from where all this happened, but we havenât found anyone who can remember seeing her drop it.â
âIsnât that kind of remarkable?â the reporter with the microphone askedâas if reading Stevieâs mind.
âYes, it is,â Loconto said. âThis whole day has been remarkable.â
Someone on the other side of the room had a mike. âAgent Campbell, is the FBI looking at this as a kidnapping?â
âWe arenât looking at it as anything yet, but we have to consider kidnapping a possibility,â he said. âWeâre still in the process of interviewing her family, other players, andââhe nodded at Norwoodââher agents. The NYPD did its best to seal exits and check people leaving as soon as the incident occurred, but in a place this size, if someone is trying to sneak out, they probably can do itâespecially if this was a preplanned event.â
âArlen, are you going to stop play?â
It was Collins, violating the rule about being at a microphone. No one seemed to mind.
âNo, Bud, weâre not,â Kantarian said. âWeâve spoken to the Symanovs and they want play to continue. Weâre in agreement with the FBI that it doesnât help the investigation to stop play. If the FBI told us it would help, weâd stop, but they donât think it will.â He paused and smiled for a moment, which surprised Stevie. âWe get criticized by you people quite a lot because it takes us three days to play the first round. This is one time where it helps us. If we can find Nadia in the next forty-eight hours, assuming sheâs up to it, we can reschedule her first-round match and it will be as if this never happened. Thatâs what weâre hoping for.â
Someone brought up Joanne Walsh. âWe understand she and her agent think the match should have been defaulted.â
âI think once Joanne understands the unique circumstances here, she will feel differently,â Kantarian said. He stood up, indicating the press conference was over. âWeâll keep you informed as we know more.â
The babble of voices broke out again, people trying to shout questions. One voice, clearly British, kept asking loudly if anyone knew where âR.J.â was and had he been informed.
âWho is R.J.?â Stevie asked.
Susan Carol rolled her eyes. âR.J. is R.J. Tenuto, the lead singer for Boys-in-Demandâtheyâre a kind of teen hip-hop