Change-up: Mystery at the World Series by John Feinstein

Author:John Feinstein [Feinstein, John]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: detective

14: CLOSING THE LOOP

STEVIE WALKED TO THE END OF BRILL’S LANE before he even glanced over his shoulder. Seeing no one, he stopped and took his backpack off so he could check to make sure his computer hadn’t been damaged when he fell.

It appeared to be fine, as was his phone. He then dialed Miles Hoy. “That didn’t take long,” Hoy said. “Hatley any help?”

“Not exactly,” Stevie said, not interested in explaining but knowing Hoy would ask him about his bloody lip and the state of his clothes. His shoulder was throbbing, but the pain wasn’t that bad. “Can you come pick me up at the end of Brill’s Lane?”

“Give me ten or fifteen minutes. I came back downtown to eat. I forgot to get lunch.”

Stevie didn’t argue. He hung up, found a grassy spot near the road to sit, and dialed Kelleher. When he told him what had happened, Kelleher’s first response was, “Oh jeez, your dad’s going to kill me. I told him you couldn’t possibly get into trouble.”

“You wouldn’t think that dealing with a retired policeman would be dangerous work,” Stevie said. “What do we do now?”

For the first time since he’d met him, Stevie sensed that Bobby Kelleher was unsure what to do next. The silence on the other end of the phone was deafening.

“Bobby?”

“I’m thinking,” Kelleher said. “Part of me says you should catch the next train home, come to the ballpark, and get your shoulder looked at by a doctor. Then we should sit Susan Carol down and tell her the time for keeping secrets has passed.”

Stevie liked that idea. But he didn’t think it was the right thing to do. He was already in Lynchburg. They knew now that Norbert Doyle had lied about his wife’s death. But they didn’t have enough facts to write a story yet or even to confront Doyle.

“I think I should stay awhile longer,” Stevie said. “I think I should try to find the babysitter and see if she knows anything. It must’ve been Walsh who warned Sergeant Hatley someone might be coming, right? But maybe he figured that’d be enough. Maybe he hasn’t found Erin James yet.”

Again Kelleher didn’t answer right away. “Okay,” he said finally. “Start with the phone book. There’s obviously a good chance she doesn’t live there anymore, but it’s worth a shot while you’re there. I’m still trying to find out who the hell Walsh is. He told that cop some kind of giant lie about you or, more likely, paid him off to not talk to you. So he’s not another reporter.”

“He could be a tabloid guy.”

“Yeah, you’re right. That’s possible. I’m heading for the ballpark now. Maybe I’ll find out more there.”

“Okay, I’ll call you back if I have any luck.”

Stevie heard Kelleher sigh. “Do me one favor,” he finally said.

“What’s that?”

“Be careful.”

“Bobby, I am being careful,” Stevie said.

“I know. Be carefuller.”

“That’s not a word.”

“For you I need to make up words. Call me back within the hour one way or the other.

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