Chapter 5 - The Coach Finally Asked the Right Question
The bald coach’s name was Rick.
He had trained Dustin for nearly six years.
To him, Dustin was talented.
Difficult sometimes.
Hot-tempered.
But valuable.
A regional champion brought attention to the gym.
Sponsors.
New members.
Money.
Rick looked at me.
“What happened to your daughter?”
I answered:
“Ask Dustin.”
Rick turned.
Dustin shook his head.
“She’s crazy.”
There it was.
Not:
I never touched her.
Not:
Sergeant Miller is lying.
Just:
She’s crazy.
I watched Rick’s expression.
He heard it too.
“What happened?” Rick repeated.
Dustin’s jaw tightened.
“We argued.”
“And?”
“She fell.”
I said nothing.
Dustin looked at me.
“She told you some story and you come charging in here acting tough?”
I still said nothing.
Silence bothered him more than confrontation.
Then he added:
“She always bruises easily.”
One of the fighters by the cage stopped smiling.
Dustin realized too late how that sounded.
Rick stepped between us.
“Enough.”
For the first time since I entered, his voice wasn’t aimed at me.
May you like
It was aimed at Dustin.
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