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Co
“I was only considering your welfare. Surely you’re not in any condition to play a major golf tournament. Proceeding with this could only lead to… severe embarrassment.”
“And what is that supposed to mean?”
“I’ve seen the scores from the par three, Mr. Cross. Your performance was hardly… Masters caliber, and we can’t realistically expect it to improve after all you’ve been through today. I think the wisest course would be for you to excuse yourself from the competition.”
Co
Artemus Te
“I’m not dropping out.”
“Don’t force us to become antagonistic,” Spenser said. “I’m sure it’s clear to you by now that… we don’t want you here. You’re just… not the Masters type.”
“The Masters type? What is that?”
“We have remarked previously on your unacceptable behavior.”
“Now wait just a minute. I did as you asked. I dressed in your silly Sears clothes.”
From the back corner, Derwood made a loud throat-clearing noise. He jerked his head toward Co
Spenser took the cue. “There’s still the matter of your, um, hair style.”
“I read the PGA rules and the Augusta National regulations. None of them prohibit a shaved head.”
“It’s hardly orthodox.”
“Says who? Lots of the pros are bald.”
“It’s not the same thing.”
“You can’t toss me out. I didn’t break a rule.”
“The haircut is simply one example. Your attitude is what we find offensive.”
“What are you-the attitude police? What makes you think you can tell me what attitude to have? If I haven’t broken a rule, you haven’t got anything on me.”
“We’ve given you a graceful out. Show some sense for a change. Take it.”
“I will not quit the tournament. And you won’t throw me out, either.”
“You think we can’t?” Te
Co
“Think of what you’re saying!” Spenser implored. “You would dishonor John’s memory.”
“Is that a fact?” Co
Spenser looked as if someone had slugged him with a tire iron. “Why-John-what?”
“You heard me. He was in your office, late at night. He was meeting you, wasn’t he?”
“I-He-”
“Spit it out, Spenser. Why did you meet John? Were the two of you having a disagreement, perhaps? Maybe you were trying to push John around, too? And maybe he didn’t like it?”
Spenser took a step backward. “I’m afraid I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“You deny it?”
“I certainly do. John McCree was not in my office last night. Neither was I, for that matter.” Spenser’s eyes darted from one end of the room to the other, as if checking to make sure his colleagues believed him. “It’s all a lie. Something this scoundrel cooked up to confuse the issues.”
Co
And what possible reason could Ed have to lie?
11
Thursday
Thursday was the first day of the actual Masters tournament. Co
As always, the press was present in force. Reporters were everywhere, looking for inside tips, news, and gossip about the players and the game. Co
And of what? A golf tournament. Co
It was a beautiful morning; the azaleas were in bloom and the air was thick with the scent of tea olive. The greens were bright and vibrant-trimmed to perfection. Even the roughs were-well, not very rough. Just “second cut” once a year. This really was, Co
Co
After that ceremony was completed, an assistant tournament director assigned numbers to each of the players. Last year’s champion was always 1; Jack Nicklaus was always 86, commemorating the year he won the last and most extraordinary of his six Masters titles.
Fitz brought Co
“Ha ha,” Co
Co
“Glad we got to tee-off early,” Freddy said, as the group gathered. “I got a million things to do. This weddin’ is drivin’ me crazy.”
Co
“Oh, yeah. They’ve been here for days. They’re not so bad. I’d rather be with them than with that nimrod my daughter’s marryin’.”
“I thought you were happy about the marriage.”
“I’m happy about the fact of a marriage. I think my new son-in-law is worthless. Never played a round of golf in his life-can you believe it? Doesn’t know a bogey from a booger.”
“Fate plays cruel tricks sometimes,” Co
Freddy continued to rattle on about the cost of the wedding, the caterers, the country club, the wedding gown. Co
“How’d the feature spot turn out?” Co
“Fabulous, fabulous. Didn’t you see it? Oh-“ He covered his hand with his mouth. “Of course not. You weren’t watching television last night. Look, I’m sorry-”
“It’s all right. Really. Think it’ll run again?”