Las Vegas Gold by Jim Newell

real friend I ever had. Thanks.” His eyes were moist as he walked out of the office.
    Molly’s first call was to the team’s Security Chief to arrange for close surveillance. She only said there had been threats. Then she called her father and got him out of a business meeting. “Sorry Dad. We’ve got an emergency. I need to talk to you and Larry and a good criminal lawyer. Call the best one you know. We’ll meet in your office here at the stadium this evening, some time after this afternoon’s game. I’ll arrange to have dinner sent up there…. No, I can’t tell you what it’s all about until then. Sorry.” She hung up and made the same arrangement with Larry, refusing to give him any information, either.
    Her next visit was with Kenny Boyce. “Kenny, I’ll be in uniform for the game, but my head is going to be elsewhere. You’re going to be making the decisions.”
    â€œYou got problems?”
    â€œOne. Big one. That’s all I can tell you.”
    â€œOne guess. O’Hara.”
    â€œYou got it in one, but I didn’t tell you.”
    Las Vegas won the afternoon game 8-2, sweeping the Oakland A’s and now standing undefeated in six games, with two straight sweeps of the teams expected to be fighting for the division lead in the AL west. The media were incredulous in their reports and comments about the great job the Malones and Larry Henderson had done in assembling such a powerhouse expansion club. They also noted this was the first game of the young season the Gold had not played under protest. Molly waited until the reporters, players and coaches had almost all left the clubhouse before making her way upstairs to her father’s office. The others were already there. Mike introduced her to George Halverson, a distinguished looking man in his fifties, tall enough without being overpowering, who offered a firm handshake and said nothing but the usual greetings.
    â€œWell, Molly, what’s so drastic on your mind?” Mike went right to the point of the meeting, his usual style in conducting business.
    â€œIt’s complicated. That’s why I asked you to be here, Mr. Halverson.”
    â€œGeorge.”
    â€œGeorge. We have what I believe is a criminal matter on our hands, but I’m not sure exactly what it is, who is involved and how much we are involved. Certainly Major League baseball either is or will be involved. If you and Larry do not wish to be involved, Dad, then tell me now and Mr., uh, George and I will move to my office and discuss it together.”
    â€œWhy wouldn’t we want to be involved?”
    â€œLarry, there’s a possibility if you are in the know, and the worst scenario comes to be the truth, both you and I and somebody else could be banned from baseball for life.”
    â€œThat’s pretty heavy, Molly,” Mike Malone rumbled. “But you’re my daughter, and I’m in it—whatever ‘ it ’ is—as deep as you are.”
    â€œAnd I’m part of this organization, and have been since the beginning. Count me in, also.” Larry Henderson reached over and shook hands with Molly.
    â€œOkay, then. Brace yourselves.” And Molly told the tale much as Tabby had told it to her. “There’s an ethical, a moral and a legal problem here, it seems to me. I have already got Sam Blackwell setting a security guard on Tabby and on his apartment, whether he’s home or not. And that’s the end of my tale.”
    Silence left the room as quiet as a cemetery at midnight. Before anyone could speak, their dinner arrived, and the waiter set things up in front of the picture window looking out over the playing field, then quietly left the room. The four left their seats and sat around the table and began to eat, nobody having yet spoken.
    George Halverson broke the silence. “I guess it’s up to me to begin,” he said, smiling thinly at no one