Free The New York by Bill Branger Page A

them.”
    â€œI don’t get that at all,” I said, resenting not getting what she was saying.
    â€œHe undermines the salary structure, league arbitration, everything. He tilts the game by freeing up his old cast of characters, ‘cept for you of course.”
    â€œWell, it’s a secret.”
    â€œAnd you weren’t supposed to tell me what you told me.”
    â€œWell, I trust you. I waited this long ‘cause I didn’t want any trouble for you.”
    â€œAnd this fellow, Deke Williams in Chicago?”
    â€œDeke ain’t gonna say nothin’ to no one. He taught me all I know.”
    â€œHe taught you about that? The thing in the bedroom?”
    â€œNo, I learned that on my own.”
    â€œYour mouth is so sweet. I think you get turned on wearing my bathrobe.”
    â€œI do when you’re wearing my shirt.”
    She stared at me, sort of smiling but not smiling at the same time.
    â€œYou don’t suppose there’s something wrong with us?”
    â€œThere’s always something wrong with everyone, that’s normal. What ain’t normal are the people pointing out there’s something wrong with you.”
    We were quiet then for a while, pondering old Ryan’s philosophical point. I often think I should have been a philosopher, if you could find anyone who would pay me for it. Took a course or two in philosophy at Arizona State. I liked the existentialists best, because they had the best scam: None of it means nothing except that it just is, so what’s the next question?
    â€œGeorge used you as a goat twice,” Charlene said, shaking her head, suddenly turned serious.
    â€œI don’t understand that anymore than I understood George when he asked me the first time if I spoke Spanish.”
    â€œFirst, you’re the Judas goat, leading all those little lambs from Cuba into his slaughterhouse. Then, if anything goes wrong, you’re the scapegoat. He’ll figure out a way to get everyone’s hatred directed at you.”
    â€œWhy would anyone hate me?”
    â€œTeacher’s pet.”
    â€œAh, I can handle that. I been called worse things in my life.”
    â€œTraitor. To your fellow ball players.”
    â€œI have been thinking on that. But a relief pitcher ain’t got a lot of friends to start with, so I can handle it as long as they keep putting TV sets in the hotel rooms on road trips.”
    â€œAnd the Cubans? They aren’t going to trust you, Ryan.”
    â€œI wouldn’t, either. But I’m not going to betray them to George, you know. Besides, what are they gonna do? Invade New York? March on the Pentagon? Smuggle in cigars? Canadians do that already.”
    â€œI wonder,” Charlene said. “I’ve wondered a lot since I got that letter from Miss Roxanne Devon.”
    â€œThat was a phony letter, we proved it with the phone company.”
    â€œI know it’s a phony now. From what you just told me. You see? This was all George Bremenhaven, sending me that letter. He doesn’t want to see you get attached to anyone or anything to queer his deal. And you’re attached to me.”
    That’s when I thought of Jack Wade and the IRS man. So I told Charlene and she just shook her head.
    â€œPoor old Ryan. You’re already in the slops up to your knees and you’re just beginning to realize it.”
    â€œI realize a lot of things,” I said. That was pure defense and we both knew it. Charlene said nothing, waiting for me to collect myself. Realize a lot of things? I didn’t. Not a damned thing until thee. “I got a mind to fly to New York and bust George in the face.”
    She stared at me. The eyes were cool, the way they’d look at someone ordering a Big Mac,
    â€œDo it, then,” she said quietly.
    â€œI just might.”
    â€œYou won’t.”
    â€œWhy won’t I? I just might”
    â€œRyan. You’re gonna do what