Page 87 of The Big Puck

The grin splits my face and I laugh.

“How did you know?”

It’s her turn to laugh.

* * *

On the morning of my pie-in-the-sky game against the Brawlers, the knowledge that we will win fills every cell in my body. And with that undefeatable attitude, I call Gavonza’s silent partner, Stonewell to set up a meeting. Naturally he’s surprised, but I tell him it’ll be worth his while if he can carve me out some time.

I offer to drive to Boston, but he insists on meeting me in Portsmouth since he was coming up for the game later anyway. We meet at my favorite hole in the wall pub in a part of town where I know Gavonza won’t be and where no one is going to look twice at me even if they do recognize me. Mostly because they’re too blurry-eyed from day drinking.

“I haven’t been to a place that smells like stale beer in a very long time,” Stonewell says as he puts a hand out to shake mine wearing a suit expensive enough looking so I wouldn’t recognize the designer. I nod and he sits across from me in the booth.

“You were cryptic and intriguing on the purpose of our meeting, Coach. It’s all right if I call you coach, right?”

“Call me whatever you like. You own me lock, stock and barrel.”

His laugh activates the crinkles at the corners of his brown eyes and I breathe easier, knowing he’s a decent person, the kind I can trust and I wonder not for the first time how he got tangled up with Gavonza in this deal.

“I’ll put you out of your misery. I wanted to talk to you about your partnership with Gavonza.”

“I can understand why. He’s made it clear he doesn’t want to extend your contract, but I’m the silent partner, so I can’t do anything—”

“About the terms of your partnership agreement—”

“Highly classified.” He tries a smile, but he’s getting wary.

“According to the terms, there are conditions to his share of ownership because you put up 50% of the money. Performance requirements such as a minimum profit, promotional contracts and a provision requiring participation in charitable and benefit events and donations.” I stop because his mouth hangs open for a beat and when he closes it, he’s frowning.

He rubs his chin. “How would you know that?”

“Does it matter?” I don’t wait for his answer as I plow on to the good part. “I might have some dirt on Gavonza that would interest you.”

“Spill it. What do you have?” He doesn’t seem surprised. I tell him.

“Let’s suppose Gavonza never gave the money to a charity that was meant to benefit by it, and further suppose he instead added the money from a certain gala charity event to bolster the bottom line of the Whalers organization instead. I have a legal opinion that says he’s not only breached your contract, but he’s broken the law by essentially defrauding the benefit donors.”

“Timing matters. He has until the official end of the season to provide the audited financials. Can I ask what kind of proof you have?”

“How about a second set of books.”

He blows out a whistle. “We have to wait, if we want nail him—and I’m assuming we do.”

“I like that you’re on my team, Stonewell. I wasn’t sure you would be. You make a good point about waiting, but that’s not exactly ideal.

“Don’t get me wrong. I’d love a way to squeeze him out as soon as possible. He’s not who I thought he was. No wonder he was in a rush to do a deal. My team didn’t have a chance to fully vet him. It turns out his construction business is shadier than the black forest.”

“How did you ever get mixed up with him and why?” I can’t resist asking.

“He came to me. He had an in with the NHL, some insider spy type and in retrospect, that should have been my first clue that he was less than a desirable business partner. But he knew all about the bids and how to make sure we had the winning one for one of the new franchises. All I had to do was put up sixty percent of the money for a fifty percent ownership as a silent partner and agree to install him as CEO and general manager. I thought we had a good partnership agreement, went to extra lengths to include accountability requirements.” He huffs out a breath. “What now? What are you going to do?”

“I’m going to win tonight’s game. And then I’m going to have a discussion with him about my new contract terms.”

“Hell, I’d like to be a fly on the wall for that discussion.”

“I was hoping you would join us. My agent, who is an attorney, will be there, his daughter Tina who was instrumental in assisting with our research, will be there and a couple of other members of my team.”

“You’re going to blow it all wide open aren’t you.”