He walked into the room first and checked it before he would let me in to unpack.
“I’m installing a few cameras in your room. I’ll have a live feed in my room, and it will record everything in case there’s a he said/she said type of incident.”
“Can we do that? Does Allard need to be told?” I asked.
I’d read about issues with people being secretly taped, especially if anything sexual happened.
“That’s why there’ll be a sign posted on the door, and you’ll need to get anyone who enters to sign this,” Fritz informed me.
I read it, and it informed the signer that both sound and video were being captured, and they agreed to it. It also had a nondisclosure agreement included.
“What’s this all about?” I asked.
“There has been a rash of lawsuits and stories sold to the media involving people with money recently. I talked to Ms. Dixon, and we came up with this as the best plan. She has talked to both the hotel and Baseball USA, and they are aware. I also want you wearing a bodycam at all times when you’re out in public from now on,” Fritz said.
Hmmm. This sounded an awful lot like the ‘in potentially hostile territory’ part of Uncle John’s talks about circles of trust. In that sense, I understood what Fritz was talking about, but still …
“Don’t you think this is a bit much? I mean, I do things in private that I don’t really want anyone else to know about,” I grudgingly admitted.
No teenage boy wants anyone to know what they do alone in their bedroom with access to the Internet.
“I already know what happens. You were at Halle’s long enough that I don’t think you can shock me.”
I felt my face get so hot I thought it might melt. On some level, I realized there were cameras in their home, but I’d made some assumptions that were obviously wrong.
“Don’t worry about it,” Fritz said. “As you might guess, we’re discreet about anything we see or hear. Plus, we’ve all signed nondisclosure agreements. I would never be able to work personal security again if I released information about you.”
“Will I get to see the videos?” I asked as my mind took off in a different direction.
I might want some videos for my personal collection.
“Nope. Not a chance in hell.”
I needed to work on that.
◊◊◊
I took advantage of the pool. The Hampton Inn had a swimming pool on the fourth-floor rooftop. I suspect it was set up that way so people on the higher floors could perv on you. I’d slacked off on exercising for the past two weeks with my trip to Japan and guys’ week. So, I decided a nice long swim was just what was needed. When I was finished, I looked around and smiled. M.E., Dave Gordon’s little sister from the first round of tryouts in North Carolina, was sitting poolside with her best friend, Kelly.
“What brings you ladies to town?” I asked like I was trying to pick them up.
There were two other young women sitting around the pool now. I expect they were confused over why I would be trying to pick up high school girls in one-piece swimsuits when they were wearing bikinis. I’ll admit, those two-piece suits did show off their assets.
“You’re the actor,” one of the other women stated.
M.E. rolled her eyes, and Kelly wouldn’t look at me.
I just nodded to acknowledge the woman’s statement and then sat down next to M.E. without drying off. From my modeling, I was aware of what the water did for my body, and I wanted to tease the two girls. I could see Kelly checking me out from the corner of her eye.
“We were thinking about going out tonight and wondered if you might want to go,” the woman who was chatting me up suggested.
“I’m sorry, but I’m meeting friends for dinner. I missed their wedding while on a film location. When that’s done, I need to get to bed, because there’s a baseball tryout tomorrow that I really want to nail,” I politely explained.
“Why don’t you give me your room number so I can tuck you in?” she tried one last time.
Mr. Happy wanted the big brain to reevaluate my plans. On a trip like this, this girl was just my type: willing. I chuckled at my own bad joke.
“What’s so funny?” she asked, getting upset.
“I was just thinking I don’t even know your name. I suddenly realized how crazy my life has become,” I said, and then sighed. “Look, you seem like a great girl who I’d really enjoy getting to know. How long are you here for?”
“We’re leaving tomorrow,” she said, looking unhappy.
“Meet me for breakfast. We’ll spend some time getting to know each other,” I offered.
“Mercedes.”
“Come again?” I asked.
“That’s my name,” she explained.
M.E. and Kelly decided they’d heard enough and laughed as they walked away. I had to bite my tongue not to laugh with them. Of course, she would have a stripper’s name.
“I’ll meet you in the restaurant at eight, Mercedes. I look forward to getting to know you,” I said and made my own hasty retreat.
Kelly and M.E. were waiting for me at the elevator.
“Where does she dance?” M.E. asked.
“You two be good,” I warned them.
“What time are you meeting her?” she asked.
“And why would I tell you that?” I asked.
“Because you like me and wouldn’t make me sit down there all morning. I’m not missing the fireworks,” M.E. admitted.
“Eight,” I told them as we reached their floor.
I could hear gales of laughter as the door closed.
◊◊◊
When it was time to go meet Bo and Tanya, I got dressed in my Adriano Goldschmied, AG, jeans, with my handmade boots with the zippers up the side. I put on a fitted t-shirt from Abercrombie and my new Yohji Yamamoto ivory-colored jacket that had cartoon graphics under one arm. I looked like I was in New York and a model. It would be interesting to see how the people of Houston would take my outfit.
I came down to find Fritz waiting with the Bentley. I smiled a little smile when Mercedes and her friend saw me as they waited in the cab line.
“Sir, do you need a cab?” the doorman asked.
“I have a ride, thanks,” I said as I walked over to Fritz, who opened the back door, and I slid in.
He was in full livery, with a dark suit and tie.
“Hey, I want you to join us for dinner. I want you to meet Bo,” I said on the drive over.
“I can either wait or sit in the bar,” he suggested.
“No. Bo says the steaks at this place are out of this world. You need to try one.”
“You talked me into it. Did you wear your bodycam?”
“I put on the belt one. Do you have your gun and vest on?” I asked.
“Yes,” he admitted.
“Just checking.”
Dinner was at Pappas Bros. Steakhouse, not far from the hotel. We were early, so they sent us to the bar until Bo showed up. While we waited, I told Fritz how I introduced Bo to his wife.
“If you decide you want to get married, just let me know. I seem to be good at matchmaking.”
People amaze me. You try to help, and they give you looks like that.
Once we were seated, Bo had something to make clear.
“Either you have to buy, or we need to split the check. I can’t buy your dinner,” Bo said.
“It’s on me. I also got you something,” I said and handed the cigars to Tanya and the rum to Bo. “A little something I picked up in Cuba.”
They switched gifts right in front of me. I introduced them to Fritz, and we ordered an appetizer. Another table had this mound of seafood, so I had to order the chilled seafood tower. It came with oysters, shrimp, stone crab claws, and Maine lobsters.
“I saw where Michigan got the okay to hold a camp at Lincoln High,” Bo complained.
“It’s too bad no one else is as good at recruiting as they are. When they do something like that, it makes you realize that they want you to go to their school. The only thing that might be better would be if someone would arrange for me to go see them play in a National Championship Game.”