Fight Card: Copper Mountain Champ by Jack Tunney

Author:Jack Tunney [Tunney, Jack]
Language: eng
Format: azw3
Tags: Mystery, Thrillers & Suspense, Thriller & Suspense, Suspense, Two Hours or More (65-100 Pages), Sports, Genre Fiction, Literature & Fiction, Mystery; Thriller & Suspense
Amazon: B00JEN6UV2
Publisher: Fight Card Books
Published: 2014-03-29T11:00:00+00:00

ROUND FIVE

Ray Cooper steered around a fender bender in an intersection where the drivers were arguing and parked curbside in front of the Big Ship. He left the car and entered. He carried no pen or notebook. His interview with Mickey Sonnenelli wasn’t off the record, but he didn’t want a record of the chat other than what he carried in his memory.

He found Mickey in a side both with a full beer. He hoped it wasn’t the latest in a long string of brews. Mickey looked up with clear eyes as Cooper slid onto the seat.

“How you doing, Mickey?”

“Okay.”

A waitress came over and Cooper ordered a rum-and-Coke.

“You said you had something for me,” the reporter said.

Mickey pulled an envelope from under his coat. The waitress returned with Cooper’s drink as he opened the envelope. Folded sheets of paper, both covered with distinct handwriting complete with signatures at the bottom.

Cooper read the letters. Both had been written by members of the construction crew who built the tunnel which caved in. One of the crew had written he was told to use less lumber on the support frame to save money. The other stated he was forced to buy other components of less quality than standard because of the budget.

Mickey said, “They’ll swear to all that in court if you want.”

“Who else did you share these with?”

“Nobody.”

“Mickey...”

“Nobody.”

“Okay.” He returned the letters to the envelope and stowed it in his jacket. His pulse quickened. Mickey had provided much more than he expected. He’d practically handed over a smoking gun. He didn’t want to stay any longer than necessary. The letters needed to be in the office safe ASAP.

“The paper will take it from here,” Cooper said. “You keep a low profile and your mouth shut.”

Mickey nodded.

“After my editor sees these, we’ll go to the cops.”

“Everybody knows the old man owns the cops,” Mickey said.

Cooper swallowed some of his drink. “Not the state cops. Not the state A.G. The old man is only powerful in this town.”

The bartender called out, “Hey, Ray! Phone call.”

Cooper left the booth for the bar where the bartender gave him the handset. Cooper tried not to bump a larger lady on a stool behind him. “Cooper talking.”

“Ray! It’s Julie! You gotta come over and help me!”

“Whoa, where are you?”

“At home with my mother and somebody’s outside the house. I think they’re from the mine and I called the police, but if they are from the mine...”

“On my way.”

Cooper dropped the handset and ran out.

Mickey Sonnenelli watched the door shut behind the reporter and wondered what the issue was. He felt better now the letters were out of his possession, but he wasn’t confident in his ability to keep a low profile. Shutting up was easy, though.

Mickey finally drank his beer, all the way down, and left enough on the table to cover both drinks. He went outside. No cabs in sight. He didn’t feel like waiting for a bus. He started walking. A cab would show soon enough. Mickey buttoned his jacket, stuffed hands in pockets, and heard steps behind him.

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