We also were working on eye-hand coordination. I was already good at it, being the athlete that I was. Connor felt, and I agreed, that even a slight improvement could make a difference. In baseball, there were a lot of very good players. Just a few percentage points batting separated the ones that made it from the ones that didn’t. Baseball was filled with explosive moments and hitting was one of them. If I could see a pitch and have my hands react accordingly just a little better, I would see a difference at the plate.
He was impressed with my forearm, wrist, and hand strength. I’d shown him my Bo staff and explained how it had helped me. Connor was a smart guy when it came to improving the human body, and I noticed him file that away. He also approved of the weighted vest Bo Harrington had given me.
I felt that Connor had been a great addition and well worth the money the boosters had paid to have him come help us.
After Connor was done with us, I looked at Wolf and just said, “Tim.” Wolf got a big grin on his face and followed me over to where Tim was lying on a bench-press seat. We ambled over to him and stood on each side, me with my water bottle and Wolf with a towel over his shoulder.
“Here he is, our workout prodigy. Finally, someone who understands our secret to success,” I said.
Wolf nodded sagely.
“Yes, the girls all think he’s smoking-hot now. What did they say the other day? Now I remember: ‘he’s so buff!’” Wolf said, putting his hands on his cheeks and batting his eyes.
I had to smirk at that. Tim, even on his most social days, was almost terminally shy around girls.
“We can’t have him stealing all our girls!”
With that, I upended my water bottle to douse him as completely as possible. Wolf and I laughed hysterically as he chased us all the way to the locker room. I was sure he would get his revenge at some point.
◊◊◊
At lunch, Pam sat down next to me. She looked like hell.
“Don’t say anything; this is all your fault,” she complained.
Tracy sat on her other side and gave me a dirty look. I was smart enough not to fall into this trap. If I asked what was wrong, I was sure to get an earful. Instead, I scooted my chair away from Pam, causing her to give me a look that said I was about to die. I smiled and patted my lap.
“What?” Pam hissed.
“Give me your feet,” I said.
She turned her chair and put them in my lap. I took off her shoes and socks and began to massage them. You would have thought she was Duke when you gave him a belly rub. Pam let out a low moan that frankly sounded naughty. I guess I wasn’t surprised when Mrs. Comer, my English Lit teacher who had pulled lunch duty, suddenly appeared.
“What are you doing?” she asked.
I found a particularly sore spot, and Pam jerked, but I dug in to make it better.
“Oh,” Mrs. Comer said. “When I was pregnant, my feet hurt all the time towards the end. That, and my back.”
“What helped with your back?” Pam asked.
“I had my husband rub it with one of the analgesic gels that goes on cold and then heats up. I also had him rub my tummy with cream to help prevent stretch marks.”
“Did it help?” Pam asked.
“I think so. I know I slept better,” Mrs. Comer said. “All right, I’ll leave you to it.”
I tried to stop to eat my lunch, but Pam complained, so Tracy fed me while I worked on Pam’s feet. I felt like a fool but dared the guys to say something. For Pam, I was willing to look silly. The girls around the table looked at me like I was Prince Charming.
◊◊◊
Close to bedtime, I got into my car and drove to the drugstore. I bought what I needed and knocked on Pam’s front door. Lacy answered.
“It’s awful late, don’t you think,” she said, blocking the doorway.
I opened my bag and showed her what I had. She just smiled and let me in. I grabbed a towel out of the linen closet and lightly knocked on Pam’s bedroom door.
“It’s open.”
I entered, and she looked at me warily.
“What are you doing here?” she asked.
“I thought I might help you get to sleep,” I said, showing her the cream and analgesic gel.
“You didn’t have to do that.”
“Of course I did. Get undressed and put this towel down,” I said.
I had her lay on her side and gave her back a massage.
“Oh gawd, you have magic hands. I think that was how you got me this way to begin with,” she teased.
“I think it was you who seduced me to give me good memories at the lake,” I shot back.
She suddenly sat up.
“I have to pee,” she said and ran to her bathroom.
Angie had constantly been peeing when she was pregnant because the baby pushed against her bladder. When Pam came out, I went in and washed my hands to get the analgesic gel off them. I came back and opened the cream. Pam read the label.
“Tummy butter? What, do you plan to baste me like a turkey?” she asked.
“This was what the lady at the store told me to get,” I said to defend myself.
I rubbed it on her tummy and sides and then smiled.
“She said I should also put it on your breasts.”
“I bet she did,” Pam said but took off her bra.
I took extra care to make sure they wouldn’t be marred. When she began to breathe hard, I gave her my best lecherous look.
“Why can’t I refuse you?” she asked.
“Because you’re mine.”
I swear that wasn’t my intention when I came over. I also hadn’t planned to fall asleep at Pam’s house, but that’s what happened.
◊◊◊
Chapter 22 – Do You Know Who I Am? Wednesday March 16
When Peggy and I came back from our run, Dad showed me the paper. There was a picture of Brandon Rigby on the front page. A small smile crept onto my face as I began to read.
Police reported yesterday that they have arrested Brandon Rigby, a local resident, on charges of sexual assault. Police stated that on Friday they had executed a warrant to search Rigby’s home. The search revealed a black leather journal in which he had written a list of women’s names, one of twenty such books found there.
The police said the journal documents multiple women in a ‘very systematic way.’ Each entry in the book detailed how Rigby met a woman, what he liked about her, and what he wanted to do with her, according to police. A police spokesperson said some entries in the book included the notation ‘kill.’ Other entries mention various sexual acts, and some list specific date-rape drugs. It is unclear how many women’s names were in the book. It is also not known whether the other 19 journals include similar entries.
Police explained that investigators had revisited a number of unresolved ‘cold case’ complaints of sexual assault. They have found a pattern to these assaults, one that points to several suspects. One of those suspects is Rigby; police have declined to name any others. This discovery has prompted them to reopen these investigations. Police further stated that several women have come forward with new information about incidents involving Rigby. The review of the material in Rigby’s journals is expected to add to the list of charges against him.
Police officials declined to discuss how many sexual assaults they are investigating.
Rigby has denied all allegations against him.
His attorney, Thomas Fox, said Rigby has been cooperating with authorities.
I stopped reading for a moment and grinned at my parents.