Page 37 of A Rose of Steel
“The A&M coach and the Mighty Max guy, then it makes sense that they wanted to shut Bumper up.”
“How does that make sense?”
“He turned A&M down sure enough, but what if there’s an FBI sting operation taking place, he would’ve been the star witness.”
“So they wanted to eliminate anyone who could testify against them?”
“That’s what I’m thinking.”
“I guess that could be right if it were true that they offered Bumper money.”
“That Shane Blanchard asked me about setting up a scholarship to be given each year to outstanding football players who are juniors.”
“A scholarship is not a bribe. It has to be earned,” I said.
“It could be a front. And it could be them trying to get me on their side so I won’t be suspicious. Like giving me cases of that blue slime.”
“I don’t know,” I said. “That doesn’t make me think anything out of the ordinary.”
“Does this make you think anything out of the ordinary?” she said, and moved closer to me. “He told me that he wanted me to be their ‘supporter.’ He said as the lead booster member I could play a part in his recruitment efforts.”
“Shane Blanchard said that?”
“Yep. Sure did.”
“That sounds a little suspicious, I guess.”
“See,” she said and nodded.
“Did he tell you how you were supposed to help?”
“Not yet. But now that he’s on our radar we can get him to talk.”
“He’s not on my radar,” I said.
“Why not?” she asked.
“Do you think anyone was actually offered money?”
“LaJay Reid goes to Texas A&M,” she said and raised an eyebrow.
“He does?”
“He does. That’s the other person I’m thinking is wrapped up in this thing,” she said. “And, up until a week before he committed, everyone thought he was going to Arizona.”
“Did he get money?”
“He got a new car for graduation. A big, shiny new truck.”
“So maybe you should put him on your list,” I said and glanced over at her. “He sure did have the opportunity to do it.”
“He is on my list. I just told you he is the other person I was trying to tell you about when we were at the community center,” she said. “And, in case you haven’t noticed, he’s got a thing for Jorianne.”
“I did notice him seeing to her when we were waiting on the ambulance,” I said. “But I didn’t think it was strange. He and Bumper were best friends, only natural he’d see to her.”
“If they were best friends, why wasn’t he Bumper’s best man?”
“Ahh, good question,” I said, nodding. “Why wasn’t he indeed?”
