The Lakeside Conspiracy (22 page)

CHAPTER 92

Michelle looked at the stairs again; Alex was almost to the bottom.

“Ms. Jones, we have to hurry! Get in!” Michelle said. Ms. Jones lifted one leg and barely got it inside the cab. “Hurry, Ms. Jones!” Alex was at the bottom of the stairs just across the street.  “Okay, Ms. Jones, here we go!” Michelle went into a half-squatting position and planted both hands on Ms. Jones butt. With one big push, she shoved her into the truck. Michelle pushed her legs inside and slammed the door.

Michelle ran around to the driver’s side, opened the door and jumped in. In all the rush, she hadn’t taken the time to get her keys out. She looked out her window and saw that Alex was waiting for a trolley car to pass so he could cross the street.

She found the keys and jammed the truck key into the ignition as Ms. Jones was trying to get herself upright in the seat. At the moment, her head was laying across the center console. She was having great difficulty sitting up because her left arm was pinned underneath her. Ms. Jones’ right arm was flailing around trying to find something to grab onto to help her sit up. Twice, she smacked Michelle in the head.

“Help me,” she said. “Help me!”

Michelle would have helped her, but she had enough going on. She started the truck and started to back up just as Alex Martin got across the street. He reached the front of the truck just as she accelerated forward. Alex jumped to the side and slammed his fist on the hood of the truck. Michelle was blocked from pulling into the street by several cars stopped in front of her.

Alex grabbed the handle of Michelle’s door and tried to open it, but Michelle had locked the doors a second before. His broken nose and black eyes were just inches from Michelle. She tried to move, but was still blocked in. She turned to look at Alex again just in time to see his fist coming through the window. Michelle ducked, but the window shattered and glass went everywhere.

Alex was now halfway into the truck. Michelle had one shot. She cocked her arm and as she sat up, she slammed her elbow into Alex’s already broken nose. He let out a scream and dropped to the parking lot on all fours. Blood was gushing from his nose.

Michelle saw a small opening in traffic and went for it. As she did, she turned to see Alex getting to his feet and holding his nose with both hands. “Now we’ve both kicked your ass!” Michelle yelled as she pulled away.

The quick left hand turn onto the street provided the momentum Ms. Jones needed to sit up. Michelle and Ms. Jones looked at each other and shook the pieces of glass out of their hair. Then Ms. Jones said, “That boy’s sorry he messed with you.”

The streets in Eureka Springs were narrow and full of curves, not exactly designed for speed. It was much easier to get around on foot than by car. That was until you were ascending a hill, which Michelle was doing as, she left the downtown area. She looked at the clock and realized she probably wouldn’t make it on time.

“Ms. Jones, make sure you’re seatbelt is buckled. We’re going to have to make up some time,” Michelle said as she pressed the accelerator to the floor.

CHAPTER 93

Max tried calling Michelle every couple minutes, but got no answer. If today was going to work, he had to walk into that room before the meeting ended. Michelle and Ms. Jones needed to be there or this wouldn’t work. Today was the only day. Every person in Lakeside who was involved in this situation would be in one room, but they’d only be there for fifteen more minutes.

Many of these same people would come back next week, but Coach Patterson wouldn’t be there. He only came when he was speaking, which was every couple of years. And Max couldn’t wait to get what he knew out in the open. And he knew he couldn’t trust Bill Jackson or the police chief or anyone else for that matter.

So many people in town had ties to the university and in particular, the athletic department. The livelihoods of a lot of people depended on the success of Pioneer’s football. What Max had to say today wouldn’t make anyone happy. Having them all in the same room along with the local media was his only chance to make his case. And it would all come down to Michelle getting Ms. Jones there in the next ten minutes so she could tell her story.

He tried calling Michelle and then Ms. Jones. Neither answered.

CHAPTER 94

The lights had been in Michelle’s favor and there’d been no slow-moving traffic in front of her. At 1:22 p.m., she was about five miles from the Best Western. It helped that she’d been doing over 60 miles per hour on a road with a posted speed limit of 40. Michelle looked at Ms. Jones. Her eyes were shut tight and her lips were moving. Michelle assumed she was praying, which was probably their only hope now.

Michelle passed the “Welcome to Lakeside” sign doing just over 65 miles per hour. The Best Western was just another couple of miles. It was 1:27 p.m. The Touchdown Club would dismiss in three minutes. If only she’d been able to get word to Max. She knew as well as he did that today from 12:30 to 1:30 was there only chance to confront the guilty parties in a forum where they just might have a chance of being believed.

At 1:29 p.m., Michelle slammed on the brakes and turned into the parking lot. She parked the truck and yelled, “Ms. Jones, we have to hurry!”

Ms. Jones tried, but her hurry speed wasn’t any faster than her other speeds. Michelle grabbed her arm and tried to drag her toward the entrance, but it did little good. Ms. Jones was moving as fast as she could.

CHAPTER 95

It was now or never. It didn’t look like Michelle and Ms. Jones would make it. He could only hope they were okay. At 1:29, just one minute before Coach Patterson’s speech would end, Max walked through the door into the rear of the room. The Best Western ballroom held about two hundred people and it was full.

Max walked past the buffet table and saw that it had been a Charlie’s Chicken day. He grabbed a piece of chicken and ate it as he walked up the side of the room toward the head table. Coach Patterson hadn’t seen him yet, but a number of others in the room had. Terry Cook, the chief of police, was tapping one of his officers on the shoulder and nodding toward Max.

A murmur started in the room, which caused others to look toward Max as he continued toward the front of the room. Donnie Black was seated at the head table right next to the empty seat Coach Patterson had been in and that Max was about to occupy. Just as he made it to the table, he heard Coach Patterson say, “I think we’ve got a few minutes for questions.”

The timing was perfect. Max didn’t even have to sit down. He stood next to Donnie Black who glowered at him. “Coach, I’ve got a question,” Max said.

It had been over a year since Max had spoken to Coach Patterson, so Max was encouraged when Coach smiled and said, “Max, great to see you.”

Max quickly surveyed the room. In addition to Donnie Black and Terry Cook, he saw Bill Jackson, at least one member of the board of education and three members of the local media. A local television station out of Fayetteville was also there. All the key players were in the room. Now it was time for Max to kick-off. He hoped Michelle and Ms. Jones would make it before someone said the game was over.

Max cleared his throat and said, “Coach Patterson, talk to us for a moment about the recruiting battle. How tough is it to get the best players to come to Northern Arkansas State?”

“I’m not gonna lie to ya, it’s tough,” Joe said. “We’re always battling with the school down in Fayetteville for the best athletes in the state. Some of them want to play in the SEC. That’s tough to compete with, but we’re doing our best to attract young men who want to live right, get a good education and enjoy some of the best facilities anywhere in the country thanks to our Pioneer’s foundation. Donnie, why don’t you stand up? Folks, give Donnie and his team a round of applause.”

After the applause died down, Donnie took his seat again. Then Max said, “Coach, you mentioned wanting to attract players who want to live right. By that I assume you mean young men who follow the rules, make good choices, that sort of thing.”

“Absolutely,” Coach Patterson said. “Our young men know it’s a privilege to wear a Pioneer’s uniform and they represent the program both on the field and off.”

“And having played for you, I know that philosophy permeated your entire program,” Max said.

“That’s my goal,” Coach Patterson said.

“Well, coach, since you’ve already recognized him for his great work, let me ask Donnie to stand up for a moment,” Max said. Donnie stayed in his seat and never moved. Never blinked. Max could almost see the heat rising off him. “Come on Donnie, don’t by shy. Stand up.” Max grabbed Donnie’s arm and pulled him to his feet.

Donnie Black was a powerful man. He raised millions of dollars each year for the university football program. Without him, the program would be nothing. Donnie knew it and so did almost everyone in the room. What Jack Murphy was to Lakeside, Donnie was to Northern Arkansas State.

So what Max was about to do was would either save him and take down Donnie or the other way around. “Donnie, do you know who Dante Jones is?” Max asked.

Donnie’s eyes seemed to burn right through Max. “The name is familiar,” Donnie said.

Max turned his attention back to the stage, “Coach, are you familiar with Dante?”

Coach Patterson stroked his chin and stared at the ceiling for a moment. “I’m sorry, Max, I don’t know that I am.”

“That’s okay, coach,” Max said. “Donnie is familiar with him.” Max looked hard at Donnie. “Aren’t you?”

“I said I was familiar with him,” Donnie said. “Now can we please get back to the program?”

Max ignored Donnie’s question. “Donnie, did you have any involvement with Jack Murphy, the president of the Lakeside football booster club?” Max asked.

“Everyone, listen, I want to apologize for this interruption in today’s program. I know you didn’t come here today to hear me talk,” Donnie said and gave a slight nod to Terry Cook, the police chief, who stood up and headed toward Max.

Max stepped onto the stage and stood next to Coach Patterson. “Coach, I played for you fifteen years ago and have always known you to be a man of integrity, so I’m sorry to inform you that you’ve got some things going on around the program that don’t line up with your values.”

Coach Patterson said nothing, but looked at Max, giving him the opportunity to continue.

“Coach, I think you’ll want to hear what Donnie has to say,” Max said. “Tell us Donnie, did you have any type of involvement with Jack Murphy?”

“We were friends,” Donnie said. “Just like a lot of people in this room.”

Max had already passed the point of no return, so he continued. “Just friends. Nothing else?”

“Nothing else,” Donnie said.

“So are you saying you had no knowledge of Jack Murphy recruiting Dante Jones out of the state of Alabama after his sophomore season, bringing him to Lakeside, providing his family with a home and his mother with a job, with the understanding he would play football for the Pioneers?”

“No knowledge at all,” Donnie said. “But it sounds like something you would have had knowledge of, Max, as the head coach.”

“So you’re telling us you had no knowledge of that arrangement?” Max said. “And you don’t know anything about Dante’s car accident?”

“No, I don’t,” Donnie said. “And you better be careful, Max. You’re treading on thin ice now. Those are some libelous claims you’re starting to make.”

“Slanderous,” Max said.

“What?” Donnie said.

“The word your looking for is slanderous,” Max said. “If I was making untrue statements in writing, it would be libel. My statements are spoken, so if I’m wrong then I’m guilty of slander, not libel.” Max and Donnie stared at each other. “I’m not wrong though, am I, Donnie?”

Like a lot of people, Max could see Donnie wanted to hit him. Max whispered to him, “Wanna take a swing at me, don’t ya? Don’t do it. That’s called battery.”

Terry Cook, the chief of police, stood up and said, “Max, I don’t know where you think you’re headed with all this, but that boy’s car accident was just that, an accident.”

“And that’s your official opinion, Terry?” Max said.

“It’s not my opinion,” Terry said. “It’s a fact.”

“Mechanical failure, if I remember right,” Max said.

“Brakes failed coming around that turn,” Terry said. “Boy ran straight into a tree.”

“So the skid marks on the street and the rear end damage to his car weren’t a consideration in the investigation?” Max said.

“I’m not sure where you’re getting your information, Max, but you’re wrong,” Terry said, “There were no skid marks and no damage to the rear bumper.”

“You’re sure about that?” Max said. “That’s your official position?”

Terry’s eyes shifted to Donnie Black for an instant as if to say, “
Would you end this now?”

Max took his phone out and said, “Coach Patterson, would you tell me what you see in this picture?”

The coach put his glasses on, took Max’s phone and studied the image. “It looks like a car wreck.”

“Are there skid marks on the street?” Max said.

“Clearly,” Coach Patterson said.

“And would you say the rear bumper of that car is damaged?” Max said. “Possibly by another car running into the back of it?”

“I don’t know about that,” Coach Patterson said. “But I guess it’s possible.”

A writer for the local paper said, “I’d like to see that picture.”

“Now hold on,” Terry Cook said. “We don’t have any way of knowing who took that picture or when or if it was, what ya call, doctored up?”

“Photoshopped,” Max said.

“What?” Terry said.

“Photoshopped,” Max said again. “That’s how you would alter a digital picture like this. Only I didn’t. And I’m the one who took it.”

Donnie Black turned to Coach Patterson and said, “Coach, I’ve really got to apologize for this disturbance today. You deserve better treatment than this.”

Max looked at Donnie and said, “You’re right about one thing, Donnie. Coach Patterson deserves better.”

Just then Michelle and Ms. Jones walked into the room. Their timing couldn’t have been more perfect.