Page 1 of Breakaway

CHAPTER 1

Turk Banner

Climbing into my SUV, I leave the hospital parking garage and head toward home. It’s been a long day, but the results were worth it. I’m confident the student will play hockey again once he’s healed and completed rehab. There’s been a lot of headway in medicine since I had my injury.

The dash lights up with an inbound call and I hit the accept button on the steering wheel. “Hey Clark, what’s up?”

“You still working?”

“Nah. Headed home.”

“I need to talk to you about something. Can I come over?”

“Give me a few, I need a shower.”

“Have you eaten today?”

I think back over the day. “Nope. Busy day.”

“I’ll pick something up on my way over. See you in an hour.”

My condo buzzer goes off as I pull on my sweatpants. Checking my phone, I see Clark waving a six-pack at the security camera. After letting him into the building, I tug on a T-shirt and meet him at my door.

Holding up the beer and a thermal bag from my favorite steak house he pushes past me and heads to the table. Dread fills my gut as I follow him “Shit, this is going to be serious, isn’t it?”

“Eat first, talk later,” he replies.

Clark and I have been friends since preschool. We tried every sport together until wefound the one. Hockey. It didn’t hurt that his dad had played professionally for fifteen years before retiring and coaching a bunch of kids. Even then, Clark and I had planned to go pro together. Fate had other plans for both of us.

We eat in silence, another indication that whatever this is, it’s weighing heavy on Clark. Pushing my plate aside I take a pull from my beer before asking, “Okay, what’s going on?”

“I did it.”

“Did what?”

“I bought the Buffalo Sirens.”

“My sister’s team?”

“Yeah. And maybe my little sister’s team, if she makes the cut.”

“Wa—how?”

“I started hearing rumors that the asshole who bought them last year was going broke fast due to some bad investments. He had no idea what he was doing from the beginning. He needed to sell asap. I pretty much made him an offer he couldn’t refuse. It went down fast.

“I should qualify, Dad and I bought the team together. He will be more of a silent, behind the scenes partner. He’s going over the roster and making suggestions for potential player changes. Don’t worry, your sister is solid. But I do need a couple things from you.

“I’d like you to be team doctor. Just the first year. You don’t have to travel with us. Just check out the players, give advice and treat any injuries. No one knows the toll the game takes on the body like you.”

I chuff. Yeah, my career was ended by a cheap shot delivered by a showboat teammate.

“One year?”

“That will give us time to find someone you could recommend and to evaluate the players we have. Then you can decide if you want to stay. The team has talent, and I’d love to win this year or at least make the playoffs.”

I laugh. “Lofty goals. You said a couple of things.”

He puts his beer bottle to his lips and frowns when it’s empty. Standing he glances at me. “Want another?”

---