“Ignore them for now. Give me a couple of hours to do some digging and to craft a response. Do you have a contact number for the governor?”
Max had given us his cell. I gave that to Frank and hung up.
“My publicist said to hold off on the interviews. If you want to give out his number to get them off your back, here it is,” I said. I pulled out one of Frank’s cards and gave it to Mr. Palm.
It wasn’t his direct line, but his people would know what to do. I needed the people at the high school to help me and didn’t want to piss them off by having to play secretary for me.
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In Art Appreciation, Zoe pointed to the chair next to her.
“I hear I get to plan our date.”
“I was just thinking of something where we could spend time together and talk,” I said.
“Could we go dancing? Pam said that if we got to the Thunderbird early and ate, we could stay and dance.”
The last time I’d gone there, Pam had frozen up when the frat boy hit on her. But the time before had been fun. It sounded like a plan.
“Would it be okay if others showed up?” Zoe asked.
I blinked a few times. Didn’t she want to go on a date with me?
“My mom won’t let me go on a date with just a guy. It either has to be a group thing or a double date,” she explained.
It finally sunk in. I was surprisingly okay with that because I understood that Zoe grew up in a religious family. I liked her parents and would abide by their rules. During class, I asked about our first date, and she admitted she told a little white lie that Brook and Halle would be there. I then asked about horseback riding and the car rides we took; we did those alone, how were those different? She explained that we never really left the area, meaning we never drove past the park that was the entrance to their community.
I told her to call my brother. He knew people who worked at the Thunderbird and would help arrange things. I hoped he and Angie could show up. It had been a while since I’d gone out to have fun with him.
◊◊◊
Frank sent me a text to call him when I got a chance.
“I prepared a press release on your behalf and called Caryn, and she shared it with your dad. It just basically says how dismayed you are that the honor killing happened based on an innocent encounter with the girl. Then I added that your prayers and sympathy went out to her family and friends.
“I needed to get it out so the east coast media could make their deadlines,” Frank explained.
He’d sent it out without my approval. I wasn’t sure if I was happy about that, but I was okay with what he’d said. I would talk to Dad and Caryn about it. Between the three of us, we’d figure out how it should be handled in the future. There was no use complaining about it now.
“I don’t have to do an interview?”
“No, but Governor Higgins has asked that you attend a Town Hall meeting on Saturday. He invited you to bring the Davis family as well, as his guests. I’ll create some talking points in case you get pulled into the discussion.”
“What’s the purpose of the meeting?” I asked.
“To discuss the security of the state, and to counter the wild accusations Mr. Newman’s making,” he said.
“Tell me he’ll be there,” I said, getting excited.
“No, it’s not a debate.”
“I never said I wanted to debate him. How could he say the governor or I should have foreseen the death of that poor girl? I don’t understand. I wonder if he would foresee me putting him on his ass,” I said.
“Remind me to never piss you off,” Frank said.
“Never piss me off,” I shot back.
“Jerk.”
“Say that to my face,” I teased.
“Take your ball and go home. I’m not playing today,” he laughed.
“Fine, I’ll talk to you later.”
◊◊◊
It was pleasant out, so I talked Jim into hitting me some fly balls outside. I finally got to try out my new cleats and glove. I was still breaking my glove in. Jim took delight in making me run all over the outfield. Johan had joined us just to shoot the shit and goof off. He caught the balls I threw back in.
You could actually see the difference that Connor Fletcher, our strength and conditioning coach, had made with them. Jim and Johan both had put on weight, and it looked like all muscle. Jim was a big guy who was starting to look like the prototypical tackle. If I were a linebacker, I wouldn’t want to mess with him. Johan wasn’t as tall, but he had become more defined.
My weight was now up to two-twenty, and I honestly felt faster. I continued to do my speed drills that Chris Case had taught me and was also using the weight vest Bo Harrington had given me. I currently had it on as I shagged fly balls.
Yuri stuck his head out the back door of the Field House.
“Moose said to get your butt in here and bat!”
“Teacher’s pet,” Jim teased.
He wasn’t smiling when I swatted him in the balls with my glove. I ran inside with my cleats on and hid behind Moose. I had a bad feeling Jim might get revenge. Moose made me put on my turf shoes, and I stepped into the batting cage. I could hardly wait for our first
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