Page 72 of Dump and Chase

I hadn’t intended not to include him, but I had no idea what kind of involvement he wanted. “We should probably have a talk about this. Figure things out. Before I go home for Christmas because I want to finalize plans with my mom for her trip out when I’m there.”

He nodded, tapping his finger on the steering wheel. “I could probably see if someone is renting another condo in the building. Maybe selling. I would like to be close to you and the baby as much as I can. I know I haven’t said it, but Tang, but I want us to be as close to a family as possible.”

So he did get it. That problem was solved. “Okay, I’m good with that. I think it would be great to have you nearby.”

“I’ll start putting feelers out about a place in the building. But I’d like to be in the condo until you have the baby. Is that all right? I’ll sleep on the sofa if I have to.”

The fact he had to ask made me sad. “It’s totally all right.”

We talked about decorating the nursery and he asked how set I was on a design. I really didn’t care as long as we kept it gender-neutral. He came up with the idea of hiring someone to do it all. That he’d get them in once I’d gone back home with the baby, and once his season was over, he’d come back to Minneapolis too.

“I promised to be a dad for our kid and I meant it.”

I knew he did. “I want you as involved as you want to be.”

That seemed to satisfy him, and I was satisfied too.

* * *

Coach Fontaine didn’t call meetings with the training staff often, so when he did, we knew it was serious. Allan, Jim, and I were huddled around his small desk as Coach Fontaine tapped a pen on his desk.

“We have a problem and his name is Chris Dube. It has come to my attention that he’s been seeking painkillers for some ailments he has but refuses to be forthcoming on those ailments. Dr. Warren told him in no uncertain terms that he would not prescribe them. Dube got very upset and punched a hole in the doctor’s door.”

“Holy shit,” Allan muttered.

“Chris was sent home to cool off pending an investigation. Do the three of you have anything to add?”

Jim cleared his throat. “He came to me. He wanted me to tell Warren to prescribe him the pills for back pain. I told him he needed to be examined for that to happen, but he refused to talk to Allan or Tangi. He thought he could pressure me to do it.”

So Jim hadn’t reported Dube. I didn’t blame him based on Dube’s history.

“Anyone else have any interaction with Dube about painkillers?”

Allan and I shook our heads.

“We’ll see how this investigation goes.”

I raised my hand, and Coach Fontaine nodded for me to speak. “Given this act of violence, wouldn’t that warrant being released from the team? Were the authorities called? I’m not sure any of us would feel comfortable working with Dube in the future.”

Fontaine pursed his lips. “We’re taking this seriously. That’s all I’m going to say right now.”

I hated his answer, and when Jim and I returned to our office, he shut the door.

“They won’t do anything,” he said. “He’ll be back. They need him until they find another enforcer to replace him.”

“But that’s irresponsible. He’s dangerous and unpredictable.”

Jim looked sad. “That’s why Fontaine asked what he did. They’re trying to find a way out of this.”

I didn’t like it, and I told Ethan everything that went down when I got home. He was making quesadillas, which he knew I loved. The more chicken and cheese the better.

“He punched a hole through Warren’s door,” I said spooning a dollop of sour cream and then salsa on my quesadilla wedge. “He should be thrown off the team, not welcomed back.”

“I don’t like it either,” Ethan said. “Especially with you pregnant. Jim is five foot nothing. He can’t protect you.”

“I’m not worried about me. Dube doesn’t give me the time of day. I’m worried about Jim and the other Ravens. The guy should be in jail.”

Ethan sat next to me with his usual dinner and one lonely wedge of a quesadilla. “I hate to burst your bubble, Tang, but you have no idea how much shit gets swept under the rug. We’d be here for hours if I told you all the stories. My advice is to steer clear of Dube when he comes back.”

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