Free Soar by Joan Bauer

Prim’s hedge. Adler, dog genius, can’t find it.
    I hear her old voice: “Well, I knew Hargie Cantwell, and I know his parents.” Mrs. Prim is looking at us from over the hedge; she squeaks the bagel toy. “And I heard that when Coach Perkins went to pay the Cantwells a visit, Mike Cantwell wouldn’t let him in the house. Matter of fact, he told him to get off the property!”
    She throws the bagel on the ground. Adler runs to get it and brings it back to me.
    â€œGood dog.”
    â€œWhy would Mr. Cantwell do that?” Franny asks.
    Mrs. Prim straightens up as much as she can. “I suppose like most things, time will tell.”

Chapter
14

    WE DON’T HAVE to wait long for time to tell us.
    COACH PERKINS ARRESTED
    Winningest Coach in Hillcrest Hornets History
    Accused of Giving Performance-Enhancing Drugs to His Players
    That news runs through Hillcrest like a wild horse you can’t catch. Coach Perkins is out on bail the next day and shuts himself up in his house. The sheriff seals off the locker rooms at the high school and the stadium as part of the investigation.
    A pile of Hornets hats are thrown in front of the stadium.
    A TV reporter stands next to the pile and asks, “Did he do it?”
    Did he?
    Everyone is asking that.
    â€œHe did not do it!”
    Chip Gunther stands in front of his sports store, furious, and points a finger at the TV camera.
    â€œI know this man. I was head of the committee that brought him here. He’d give his life for his players. The thought, the misrepresentation, that he would do such a thing is wrong. You hear me? Wrong! This witch hunt better end. I’m inclined to think there are people in other places who want to see this man fall. Well, he’s a winner and he’s going to win this battle! I guarantee it!”
    The Hornets cancel their next two games.
    â€œI know Coach Perkins,” Franny tells me. “I babysat for his kids. I made scrambled eggs in his kitchen!”
    I don’t know what to say to that.
    Her eyes look so sad, like someone close to her has died.
    I look for her at school—she’s not there.
    I look for her after school—she’s not at the baseball diamond, and neither are the guys who always play.
    Everyone has questions:
    Are the Hornets taking steroids?
    All of them?
    Some of them?
    When will we know?
    So much is coming at us:
    HORNETS SUSPENDED FROM LEAGUE PLAY
    Will Six Championships Be Overturned?
    And the biggest one yet:
    DID STEROIDS KILL HARGIE CANTWELL?
    â€œThere is strong circumstantial evidence that steroids contributed to that young man’s death,” the prosecutor says. “A charge of manslaughter against this coach is warranted.”
    I’m on my front porch. I hear Franny’s mother shout, “Bo, I can’t imagine how you feel, but—”
    â€œThat’s right, you can’t!” Bo shouts back, and then he runs down Weldon Road. Mrs. Engers stands on her porch and watches him go.
    Walt walks out holding the
Hillcrest Herald.
“This is tough stuff, my man.”
    It sure is. “What do you think about it, Walt?”
    â€œIf Perkins did it, if he decided to break the law and willfully put the kids under his care at risk like that . . . then I hope they throw the book at him.”
    I nod. “Coaches are supposed to protect their players, not hurt them.”
    â€œThat’s right.” His face softens a little. “And listen, Jer, when things like this happen, focus on the people who are trying to do the right thing.”

Chapter
15

    I WANT TO be the kind of person who tries to do the right thing.
    I’m in the cafeteria, in line with my tray, trying to make an informed decision.
    I shake the cafeteria helper’s hand. She’s wearing plastic gloves. “I’m Jeremiah Lopper.”
    â€œMaude Denton.”
    â€œIf I were your son, would you recommend the turkey