Free A Shot In The Night (John Harper Series Book 2) by Edward Holmes Page A

understatement so I just nodded and beckoned the
other fighter towards me with my gloved hand.  I caught the look of shock and
what I thought might be admiration on Fraser’s face as I walked forward.  I
snapped out jabs and waited till Micky threw a straight punch at me.  He was
more wary of me and what he was doing now because of the warning from his own
trainer and he wasn’t as clinical as he should have been.  As his arm retreated
I punched the back of it near the elbow and it locked causing him some pain.  I
pushed him back towards the ropes with a punch and leaned back as he threw a
return jab.  Stepping to the side I landed a straight right with the full force
of my strength and I saw the fight go out in his eyes and his legs wobble.
    I
was tempted to finish him off but instead I turned my back and walked away to
boos from the audience.  Tony was indicating to me to turn around and I offered
a glance as Micky tried to steady himself on the ropes.  Fraser was standing
there counting which I thought was maybe a little slow but before he got close
to finishing the fight the final bell sounded.  If I’d had the strength I
would’ve raised my arms but I just stood there in the middle of the ring with
my hands on my hips slowly filling my lungs up with air.
    The
cornermen for Micky quickly entered and looked after their man, Tony joining
them as Fraser took a moment away and walked towards me.  I dug out the
gumshield from my mouth and managed to say, “You owe me a conversation.”

Chapter Fifteen
    Sat
down in the small room that Max Fraser called an office I nursed the back of my
neck with an icepack.  I had showered and was back in my clothes but very much
feeling my age and the agony of nine minutes of physical contact.  There was
very little natural light in the room and the walls were lined with filing
cabinets which were labelled for accounts and fighter details.  Separating the
filing system was a well used and stained couch with a pillow and blanket on
the arm.  An old personal computer was on the desk behind which Fraser sat,
papers strewn across the wooden top.
    I
was leaning back on a very battered chair which somehow retained some of its
cushioning, much more so than the one next to me which was sprouting stuffing
from a number of holes in the green faux leather.  Sat on the couch Tony was
peeling an orange, which made it a rather surreal environment.  He was the
first to talk which gave me more time to heal.
    “So
boss what do you think, we gonna sign him up?”
    Laughing
hurt so I quickly stopped.  Fraser didn’t so much as chuckle but he did nod
once, “You’ve got some experience in a ring.  Did you fight anyone I’d know?”
    “Doubt
it, my career was very limited.  Your boy’s good.”
    “He’s
too rash,” Tony said before Fraser could answer, “that little incident with the
elbows proves that.  If he was to try and get in the ring with some of the
better fighters around his weight he’ll get caught.”
    Fraser
shot a glance at the other trainer before returning his gaze to me, “What do
you think?”
    “He’s
quick but he stuck rigidly to his combo attacks at the start.”
    “Ha!”
Tony exclaimed, “I knew you had noticed that.”
    “What
I’d tell him is to move his head more against taller fighters; I suppose though
that it would be a rarity that he would fight someone of my height at his
weight.”
    Fraser
nodded twice this time, “You’re right.  I’m still getting used to this
kickboxing stuff.  I’ve got a couple of trainers who come in and help out on it
but me and Toe here are old school boxers.  But you have change with the times;
everyone wants to be a Mixed Martial Arts fighter these days.”
    “My
training was more in that mould,” I offered.
    “Well
it’s more than your usual copper gets.  I don’t like police in my gym, Harper,
so as much as I respect you for getting in the ring and lasting the distance
I’d like you to leave when