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13
Co
There were only a handful of people in the bar. The bartender was idle; he had one eye on the television beside the cash register, watching a Braves game. A sport other than golf? Co
A thought occurred. Weren’t bartenders supposed to know more or less… everything? Mouth shut and ears open, weren’t they supposed to pick up all the best gossip? John had been a member of the Club, after all. And Vic, the man currently on duty, had been tending bar here forever-or at least as long as Co
Co
“Ginger ale.” If he was going to be any use to Jodie, he needed to keep a clear head.
The bartender stared at him briefly, then dutifully fixed the drink. Co
Co
Vic shook his head. “Not for an hour or so. I don’t think she’s gone far.”
“Probably just wanted some time alone.”
“No one could blame her for that.”
“How well did you know John?”
Vic eyed him carefully. He seemed surprised by the question. “Not as well as you. Why?”
“Just wondered. I thought I knew him well. But the police keep asking me who might’ve done this and-I don’t have a clue. It’s embarrassing. I feel more like a fraud than a friend.”
“Don’t blame yourself.” Vic picked up a towel and began absently wiping the bar. “You can never tell what might be going on in someone else’s life. Some of the things I hear in the bar… well, you just wouldn’t believe it. Someone could’ve held a big grudge against John and-maybe his own wife didn’t know about it. Maybe John himself didn’t know.”
Co
“ ’Fraid not. Far as I knew, everyone loved John to pieces.”
Something about the way Vic said that didn’t ring quite true to Co
Vic averted his eyes. “I… probably wouldn’t have called him… generous, no.”
“Did John seem different to you lately?”
“Now that you mention it, I did think he seemed a little down of late. Depressed, maybe.”
Co
“But I didn’t think much about it. John’s been having a bad year. He made a big flash when he started out on the tour, but it’s been-what?-two years since he placed in a tournament? This year he hadn’t played at all.”
Co
“And of course, John was serving on the board of directors here at the Club.”
Co
“And I think that’d be enough to depress anyone.” Vic made a sort of snorting sound that was not so much laughter as cynicism.
“What was his position on the board?”
“You’re asking the wrong man. I think he led some kind of finance committee. But I really don’t know.”
Hmm. If Vic didn’t know, Co
“Sorry. No.”
“Pardon me, Vic. I need a word with Mr. Cross.”
Co
“Just what I need,” Co
“Don’t give me any crap, Cross.” In his right hand, Peregino held a baggie filled with sunflower seeds, which he popped in one after another whenever his mouth wasn’t busy talking. “I’m here to deliver a warning. And it’s the last one you’ll get.”
“Did Derwood send you? Or Spenser?”
“I don’t have anything to do with them, Cross. The PGA pays me to uphold the honor and integrity of the tour, and that’s what I intend to do.”
“And maintaining honor and integrity includes hounding me for no good reason?”
“We have standards to maintain.”
“I know all about the PGA’s standards. They didn’t delete the Caucasians-only clause from the PGA Constitution until 1961!”
Co
Co
“Oh, I heard all right. And despite million-to-one odds, you’re the person who found his body. Quite a coincidence, I’d say.”
Co
“I just think it’s very suspicious, that’s all. I wonder if maybe you and John were having a little disagreement.”
Co
“You’ll what? Sue?”
“I’ll knock your stupid empty head into the next county.”
Peregino made a tsking noise. “Violent tendencies. Explosive temper. I think the police will be interested to hear about this. By the way, assaulting a PGA official is a serious rules infraction. One more page for your ever-expanding file.”
Co
“Your behavior. Your dress. Your stylish new haricut.”
“You can’t toss me out of the PGA for those things.”
“That isn’t true, strictly speaking. Don’t forget the image clause.”
“The what?”
“Your agreement with the PGA contains an image clause, just like everyone else’s. If you evince behavior unbecoming to the reputation or image of the PGA, I have the authority to yank your card.”
“That’s a crock of-”
“That’s a fact. And frankly, what I’m observing at the present time is hardly what I’d call model behavior.”
Co
“Remember, Cross-this is your last warning. I’ll be watching you.”
“You watch all you want, you sorry little-“ In the corner of his eye, Co
He raced through the door and met Jodie outside. “Jodie, we need to-”
“Co
“You are? For what?”
“For-you know. Agreeing to look into what happened to John.”
Co
“I was so distraught after I found out what happened. So directionless. I even thought about-“ She paused. “But never mind. The point is-I’m past that now. Thanks to you.”
“Jodie… I think you may have too much confidence in me. I think-”