I didn’t want to think about more problems. I decided to go for a swim.
◊◊◊
The FBI’s field office in LA was in the Wilshire Federal Building, close to the UCLA campus. They escorted us to an interrogation room with one of those two-way mirrors you see on TV.
“Mr. Dawson, I would just confess and save everyone the trouble. You know you did it,” I said in my best cop persona.
“What are you doing?” Ms. Addison asked.
“He stole my cookies,” I revealed.
Dad looked at me and saw that I knew.
“Did Fritz rat me out?” he asked.
“Ah, ha! So, you admit it,” I said with a big grin.
Two FBI agents came in as I forced my dad to reveal his theft.
“What does he admit to?” the scary woman asked.
I was about to tell her because one look from her was worse than any I’d ever received from my mom.
“David was goofing around. I’m Maddie Addison, and this is David and Robert Dawson.”
“This is Special Agent Venture, and I’m Supervisory Special Agent Jakes. From what I understand, David is one of the best high school football players graduating this year, and he’s being heavily recruited.”
Ms. Addison changed into lawyer mode. She first wanted to make sure that they understood that we were there voluntarily and didn’t want to end up the central figures in bringing this forward. They didn’t make any promises but said they understood. The only thing they said that gave me pause was that at some point, if this went to court, we might have to testify.
Once we were satisfied, Ms. Addison then showed the two agents the video we’d collected and copies of the list of schools and the amount they initially offered. Then they watched the video of what happened in my mom’s real estate office.
Special Agent Venture took notes on everything as Supervisory Special Agent Jakes asked questions. For the most part, either Ms. Addison or my dad did the talking. I hadn’t been present when Gordon Parker made the offer, so they didn’t need to talk to me.
The agents were very professional and took what we had brought them seriously. We’d been there for nearly four hours when they told us they thought they understood what was going on.
“Did you want to know about the NCAA and their request?” I asked.
“I take it you provided this information to them as well?” Supervisory Special Agent Jakes asked, looking unhappy for the first time.
“David is worried about his eligibility. He’s hired a sports attorney to deal with the NCAA and make sure this doesn’t cause them to have any problems with what has occurred,” Ms. Addison explained.
“What did they ask you to do?” he asked.
“To meet with a representative of Southwest Central State and record the conversation. The NCAA hopes the representative will say something that confirms the link between the shoe company, the sports agent, the coach, and the university with respect to this whole mess.”
“Do you plan to record it like you did the other conversations?”
“Yes,” Ms. Addison said.
“Then send us a copy of the video. I doubt you will get the confirmation the NCAA is looking for, but we will add it to the record.”
We were cautioned to not talk about this matter except with our counsel. They told us that if the FBI were ever asked, they would only say that they could not comment on an ongoing investigation. I noted to myself that they picked and chose when they followed that rule.
The two agents thanked us and sent us on our way.
“That may be the last time you have to talk to them,” Ms. Addison said.
It was a letdown after all the buildup.
◊◊◊
When we got home, Maddie, now that she wasn’t in lawyer mode, ran to her room to pack. She wanted to get back to Chicago tonight. She’d called an Uber, so Dad and I thanked her for her help and said goodbye.
Jiro and Hana were at the house, so I asked them if they wanted to have dinner with us. They’d played tourist today and shared some of the fun places they’d gone to.
After dinner, I stepped into my room and called Brook. She noticed I wasn’t in just shorts and a t-shirt.
“Where are you going?”
“Zak is having a party at his house,” I said and explained that the cast of my J-drama wanted to go to another party.
She reminded me of what happened at the last party at Zak’s.
“I don’t plan on that kind of drama, but there is something I need to tell you. Adrienne invited our housekeeper.”
Brook looked at me curiously.
“Why would that be a problem?”
“Let me send you a video,” I said and emailed it to her.
Brook watched it without comment. When it finished, she shook her head.
“What is Adrienne thinking? Why would she do that to you?”
“I know, right? The poor girl,” I said, trying to play it off.
“You really are a ‘stupid boy,’ aren’t you?”
“I have my moments,” I said as I tried to flirt.
“I seriously can’t leave you alone for two weeks, can I?”
“Wait! I’ve been good,” I said defensively.
“I know you have,” she said and then changed the subject. “Why am I meeting with Lexi tomorrow?”
“I have no idea. Why is she there?” I wondered.
“Apparently, she met with Caryn today, and I’m having lunch with her tomorrow.”
