Spirit of a Champion (Sisters of Spirit #7) (10 page)

“You don’t miss flying all over the world, looking for things
for the store?”

“Not at all. Hugo is everything I’d want to look for.”

At that moment Hugo entered. “Food smells good.” He handed a
piece of paper to Stormy. “Here you are. The names, addresses and phone numbers
of the ring doctors.”

“That was fast. I was told the numbers were all unlisted.”

“I have my sources. Now two of them live in the Las Vegas area
and one is out near Lake Havasu. Use our phone, call them after we eat, and set
up appointments to see them.”

“I’ll do it now.”

“You should only need one of them to examine Jerry and determine
if the fight should go on. They might agree to it over the phone, but I think
asking them in person will get you better results.”

“Shouldn’t I call them right now?”

“No. Wait until they’ve had time to eat and relax. They’ll be in
a better mood than if you interrupt their meal.”

Later she called all three numbers, set up two appointments, one
for the next afternoon and one for the evening and left a message on the
answering machine at the one out by Lake Havasu.

Knowing this helped Stormy relax and she spent an enjoyable
evening with Hugo and Perri.

 “There has to be a reason Jerry is intent on going through
with this match,” Hugo said. “He never struck me as someone with a death wish.”

“He won’t tell me anything.”

“And Elston?”

“Dad won’t even listen to me. I’ve tried to ask him. He seems to
think everything’s all right. I guess I’ve championed so many causes, he
doesn’t take me seriously.”

“Well, if I had a problem, I’d want you fighting for me. You
don’t give up.”

Next morning Hugo insisted on following Stormy into Kingman,
Arizona. They went to his bank and he purchased a credit card which he loaded
for her and then gave her two hundred in cash. “Don’t skimp. Use it. You’re
running out of time. Move into a big hotel where you’ll be safer and can
relax.”

“But I don’t need to—”

“Yes, you do. I can’t check on what Jerry is doing if I have to
worry about your safety.”

It reminded her of Kyle and she smiled. “Then I’ll do that this
morning. I don’t know how to thank you,” she said, overwhelmed by his
generosity.

“You’re family. Money is only good when it can help someone.
Jerry’s now my cousin too, you know.”

“Then, thank you. I’ll change hotels as soon as I get there,
then go visit the doctors.”

“Sounds like a plan. And Stormy....”

“Yes.”

“Don’t mention I gave you the phone numbers. I don’t want to
lose any of my contacts.”

“Oh. Okay.”

Giving a farewell wave to Hugo, Stormy climbed into her cousin’s
car and drove the two hours back to Vegas. The interior had already heated up
in the short time they were in the bank. She’d have to remember to pre-start
the air conditioning the next time.

Arriving in Vegas, she switched hotels, choosing one that was
fairly close to where Kyle was staying as it was also close to where the fight
was to be held. It was already one o’clock when she finished. She needed to
meet with the first doctor at two and didn’t want to cut it close, so decided
against grabbing some food at the hotel cafeteria while her car was being
brought around.

A quick drive out to the doctor’s residence proved fruitless,
for although he had made the appointment, he wasn’t home.

Stormy drove back towards town, wondering what to do while she
waited to see the other doctor. She had accidentally turned on the windshield
wipers as she tried to start the car and it reminded her of Kyle. Perhaps she
should go to his gym and see him, let him know how she was doing.

A family-style restaurant reminded her she was hungry, so she
slowed down and pulled in. The car behind her pulled in too, so it seemed to be
a popular place.

It was cool and relaxing inside and had slot machines in the
entrance hall. They sure knew how to take your money in this town.

She chose the smorgasbord and loaded up on fruit and proteins.

After a good meal, she felt ready to face the bear again. She
paid for her food using the credit card Hugo had given her, and even remembered
to start the car while inside the restaurant.

Thanking the cashier, she got to the door, and was starting to
push it out, when there was a tremendous explosion. Glass and metal and bits of
car flew through the air.

If she had been outside, she could have been seriously injured.
She looked at the cracked glass in the door, then out at where she had parked.
A mass of fiery wreckage sat in the spot, engulfing a car parked next to it.
Had anyone been hurt?

 She backed up slowly and sat down on one of the chairs in
the waiting area as people from inside the restaurant went streaming outside to
see what had happened.

Taking out her cell phone, she called Perri.

“About your car. You said it was insured?”

“Yes.” Perri sounded hesitant. “What did you do to it?”

“I didn’t do anything. It just blew up.”

“What? Just a minute. I’ve got Hugo on the other line. Hugo! My
car blew up. Stormy just called. Stormy, I’m going to hold the phones
together.”

“Stormy?” Hugo’s voice. “Where are you?”

She told him.

“Go sit back down in the restaurant. Don’t claim the car. I
don’t want you talking to the police right now. I’ll come and get you.”

She walked back in, sat down, and ordered some coffee. Only then
did it hit her that someone had tried to kill her. Her hand shook so much the
cup clattered on the saucer. Her whole body shook. She got up, went to the
restroom, used it, washed her face and hands and took several deep breaths. And
then some more breaths to settle herself before returning to her table.

It took Hugo less than two hours to reach her. He walked in
wearing dark glasses and motioned for her to come out. She paid and joined him.

“You sure stirred up a hornet’s nest,” he said as they drove
away in his Range Rover.

“What did I do?”

“I think someone doesn’t want the match called off.”

“But to try to kill me? Isn’t that a little extreme?”

“We might be talking mob. If we are, it’s not.”

“What should I do?”

“I’ll take you out to your next appointment, then we can decide.
We’ll be late, but it shouldn’t matter.”

“Thanks.”

“I’m glad you called right away. The police will call Perri. I
told her to tell them it was stolen. That will stop any link with you or her.”

This doctor was home and looked surprised to see her. “I’d given
up on you.”

“Sorry I’m late. I had to switch cars.”

“No problem, come on in. So what’s this about your brother?”

Stormy told him.

“Can you prove who you are?” he asked. “A lot of money rides on
these fights, and gamblers try to work every angle. If they knew about Jerry’s
problem, they’d be betting against him.”

She showed him her driver’s license. “I’m still using my dad’s
address until I settle down. It’s not the same as Jerry’s, but you should know
of my dad. Elston Drake. Jerry’s trainer.”

“What does he say?”

“They won’t listen to me. I feel if a doctor would give Jerry an
examination before the match, there would be no question about whether it
should be held or not.”

“I’ll call and see if I can examine him. I’m not the doctor for
this particular fight, but they might let me anyway.”

Stormy sat there, waiting for him to call.

He picked up his phone, dialed a number, listened for a second,
then hung up. “The line’s busy. I’ll try again later. Now why don’t you go on
home?”

She didn’t want to do anything but get back to the safety of
Hugo. “All right. Here’s my cell number. Can you let me know what he says?”

“Certainly.”

“And thank you. I’m glad someone is going to do something.”

“You’re welcome. Mind you, I can’t promise that they’ll let me
examine him, but I would think that if there is any doubt, he’d be checked.”

He showed her outside and Stormy walked to the car and got in
beside Hugo.

“Well?” Hugo asked as he drove back towards downtown Las Vegas.

“He’s going to call. He said he was.”

“Do you believe him?”

“I don’t know.” She should feel elated, but she wasn’t. All she
could feel was the steady passage of time, moving inexorably toward the day of
the match. She only had five days left.

“What should I do now?” she asked.

“There has to be some reason your brother is going through with
this, knowing he’ll probably die. It has to be something where he doesn’t have
a choice.”

“What?”

“I wonder if he’s got gambling debts. Do you know if he’s lost a
huge sum of money lately?”

“I don’t know. I was surprised to see him at the slots. But they
were just nickel slots.”

“I’ll take you back to the hotel. I’m going to nose around and
see what I can turn up. I want you to try to rest a little. Stay in crowds
where it will be harder to target you. And when you’re in your room, keep the
dead bolt closed.”

He pulled over to the side of the road. “You drive in, so I can
hop out before we get to the strip. If you have to contact me, call Perri. If
you see me in a room, don’t say my name. Don’t tell anyone I’m helping you.”

She switched seats with him, started the wipers, then got the
car moving again.

“We’ll see if the doctor does anything. Give him two days. If
not, we’ll go out to see the last doctor. I’ll contact you. Don’t try to
contact me for that.”

“Okay. Won’t you need a car?”

“I’ll rent one. I don’t want to be driving something that can be
traced back to Perri. Pull over here and let me out.”

She did so and he walked the short distance to a bus stop as she
drove away. She stopped to get gas and then went on to her hotel.

She gave the keys to the
valet and went inside.

Kyle finished his training for the day and looked around, hoping
he’d see Stormy again. He couldn’t get her out of his mind.

“What’s wrong?” his manager, Leon, said. “You’ve been distracted
all day. Rodriguez almost put you down a time or two.”

He had been thinking of her lying on his bed, the towel over her
face, completely relaxed. She had the most perfect ankles. When Leon spoke, he
had to bring himself back to the foul-smelling and grungy-looking gym.

“It’s nothing,” he said.

“You got to keep your mind on your business, at least until the
fight is over. You can’t afford to be distracted.”

“It’s nothing, I said.”

“I don’t believe you. You’re usually honed in like an eagle on
its prey before a match. Some dame? Somethin’ else? I heard that Jerry’s sister
came by.”

“She did.”

“There was a photo of you two together on You-tube, walking
through the casino. She’s some looker.”

“She is.”

“Softening you up for her brother, I imagine.”

“What makes you think that?”

“She’s done it before.”

Kyle looked at him. What did Leon know that he didn’t?

“She uses different stories to psych out Jerry’s opponents.
She’s real successful. Jerry has almost won before the match begins.”

Kyle couldn’t believe it. Stormy had been almost overcome with
heat exhaustion. Who would put themselves in danger to help stop a boxing
match? And she wasn’t eating properly.

“What did she tell you?” Leon asked. “That he has soft spots on
his brain?”

“Yes. Exactly.”

“She’s used that before. She goes around acting like she’s so
concerned with her brother. It distracts his opponent, so he has an easy win. I
would’ve mentioned it before, but didn’t think you’d fall for a trick like
that.”

Kyle felt like a fool. He had taken her up to his room, given
her aid and comfort. Taken her out to eat. She had probably laughed all the way
back to Jerry and their dad.

“Look Kyle, her brother is in excellent health. He’s training
hard to beat you. You know he’s good, else he wouldn’t be challenging you.
Don’t be a sucker for a pretty face. If she can give him the advantage by
making you pull your punches, you might as well concede the fight right now.
Hand over the champion’s belt to him. Look, man, you gotta keep her out of your
head. Stay away from her…at least until after the fight. You let her into your
space, you’ll have her talking to you during the fight. ‘Don’t hurt my
brother,’ she’ll say, and you’ll hesitate while he hammers on you. You just
can’t see her any more.”

Kyle nodded. Leon was voicing what he’d been thinking. He
wondered if it was already too late. Stormy was in his dreams at night, worried
and calling out to him. She ran beside him during the day, stood in the ring as
he sparred, making him forget strategy. His sparring partner had knocked him on
his rear with a well-aimed blow that Kyle normally would have deflected easily.