The Cruiserweight (26 page)

“What’s wrong?” Patrick asked.

“I couldn’t get Karen on the phone. Dude, she
always picks up and if the snow storms in her area are as bad as
they’re forecasting, I doubt she’d risk leaving the
house.”

“It’s late in her time zone. She could be
sleeping.”

“Her land line voice mail didn’t pick up, and
her cell’s disconnected. I just got hold of Kyra, so maybe she’ll
have better luck trying. Pat, I’m not liking the sound of any of
this at all.”

CHAPTER 43

“What the hell happened?” Brett asked when
Karen answered her phone the following Wednesday. “Kyra and I were
going nuts trying to contact you.”

“I love you too,” she replied. “I had to
evacuate my apartment and go to a warm shelter after the electric
went off. I just came home last night after the workers had the
power turned back on.”

“I’m sorry if I snapped at you, baby. I heard
about the snow storms hitting the East Coast and worried about you.
Why is your cell disconnected?”

“Some freak got hold of my number and I kept
getting a bunch of weird calls. Most were hang-ups, but enough for
me to get my cell phone number changed. Thank goodness my land line
is a private number, and I’ve only given it to a few trusted
people. I left my new number on your instant messenger account, and
guessing it didn’t go through.”

“I haven’t been on my computer this past week.
Been busy as hell preparing for my shows. I’m glad you’re
okay.”

“I hate winter. Have a pen handy? I’ll give you
my new cell number.”

“I can stow you away to bring back to Orlando,”
he kidded, grabbing a pen off a side table. “Go ahead with the
number.”

Karen relayed her new number. “Orlando sounds
tempting. Everything around here has been a mess since Friday
night. I can‘t go to work because of the bad road conditions, and
we’re still under a state of emergency. Thank God for the Internet
network Mr. Sullivan had set up for the staff, or I’d never get any
work done.”

“How is the print edition getting out if your
office is closed?”

“There’s a temporary stop on the paper and
subscribers have either the option of getting credit toward
renewals, or subscribing to website premium content at half price.
Only the site is being updated on a regular basis until everything
is up and running. Aren’t you supposed to be heading to New
York?”

“I’m leaving tonight. Lucky for me, I planned
ahead to stay there an extra day just in case my flight ended up
being delayed. I’m not concerned about returning since I’m not
scheduled for a TV taping in Orlando until Tuesday, but I do want
to be on schedule for New York’s show.”

“From what I’ve seen, New York wasn’t hit as
hard with the storms as Pennsylvania, but it was a good idea for
you to plan an extra day.”

“Yeah, going to be nice to get back to one of
the early roots of my career.”

“That appearance is getting a lot of press so
far. Eddie was supposed to cover it, but with the storms, he had to
cancel his plans.”

“That sucks. He and I could’ve hung out after
the show.”

“I know, the shitty weather screwed up
everything. He’s not very disappointed since there’s a chance he
could come to Orlando to cover a TV taping in the near
future.”

“Awesome! I’d dig that. Hey, how’s your book
progressing?”

“Would you believe I’m almost finished? There’s
some editing to do, but it looks as if I’m going to meet my goal
for having it out early spring.”

“You’re reserved me a copy, right?”

“Of course, and one for Patrick, so he doesn’t
steal yours.”

“Guess I’m not the only one who plans ahead.
Listen, I need to finish packing and head to the airport, but I
wanted to check in to make sure you were okay. Thanks again for
your new cell number.”

“Leave me a message when you get to New York if
I don’t pick up the phone. I have this week’s editorial to finish,
and then I’m going to work out, so I’ll have both of my phones
turned off for awhile.”

“At least I’ve been warned this time. Have a
good time. I’ll talk to you once I reach New York.”

CHAPTER 44

The Superstar Grapplers’ show in New York City
opened with a meeting between Brett and his scheduled opponent,
Robby Powers. He arrived to the ring to his theme music from
Orlando Wrestling to a tremendous reception that included streamers
raining down on him. The audience was thrilled to see Brett back in
the promotion where he began his wrestling career. “Welcome back!
Welcome back! Welcome back!” they chanted, the sound overflowing
the venue.

Powers dominated for a few minutes with chops,
suplexes and the rest of the typical arsenal for which he was
known. “Welcome back, short shit,” he muttered to Brett when
their backs were turned to the crowd.

“Isn’t over yet, ass wipe,” Brett said with a
laugh. He and Powers knew each other for several years, but their
match was the first time the pair faced each other as
opponents.

From there, Brett got the heat on Powers
outside of the ring after playing the cowardly heel, and took over
with his ‘punch and kick’ offense. Powers made his comeback on the
outside of the ring by pummeling Brett, who seemed to take it in
stride and returned each of Powers‘ blows. “Is that the best you
can do, Robby? I didn’t come here to get tickled.”

“Tickle? I’ll show you
tickle
,” Powers
replied as the two contenders returned inside the ring. Brett got
the upper hand on Powers, resulting in several near falls, before
Powers won the match with a clean pin after a butterfly
backbreaker.

When their match ended, Powers shook Brett’s
hand and gave him the spotlight “Great match, man. It was an honor
to wrestle you.”

“Same to you, Roddy. Good luck on your
championship match next month.”

As Powers made his exit, the fans began to
serenade Brett with chants. “Thank you, Kerrigan! Thank you,
Kerrigan! Thank you, Kerrigan!”

“Damn match was too short,” Brett said when he
reached the locker room. “I wish they would’ve given me and Robby
more time.”

Someone ambushed him, grabbing him in a bear
hug from behind. He was ready to attack his assailant when the
unidentified person planted a wet kiss on his cheek. “Brett,
baby!”

He turned around and saw the familiar face of
Brent Dillard. “What the fuck? I thought you were training down in
Florida.”

“I have a few days off, and when I heard you
and Robby Powers had a match this weekend, I had to make the trip.
Kick ass job, by the way.”

“Yeah, a whole seven minutes before Robby
plowed me to the mat. So how is the newest phase of your
career?”

“Can’t complain. Did you hear they cast me as
one of the developmental guys on the new
Future Stars
TV
program? Wallace Rome’s going to be my mentor. Cool,
huh?”

“Yeah, I heard about that show. Wally Rome? I
trained with him after you and I left the academy. One couldn’t
have a better guy as a mentor. I’m warning you, though; the guy is
a stiff fighter who throws some hard punches.”

“So I heard. I’ll tell him you said
hello.”

“Nice thing is that you’re getting some TV
exposure while you’re training,” Brett said.

“Too bad they gave me such a generic name,
though.”

“They changed your name?”

“Donald Brent. Have you heard anything more
stupid in your whole life? I guess they want to own the rights to
my character or some shit.”

“The powers that be could’ve done worse. At
least they didn’t insist on you wearing some weird costume or clown
makeup. I’m glad I got to keep my own name during my time in that
company.”

“You insisted.”

“Yeah. The beginning of seven-year
hell.”

“But you liked the travel and meeting fans,
right?”

“About the only things I
did
enjoy. The
money wasn’t bad, either, but damn, the bullshit I had to deal with
to earn a paycheck. Never again, man.”

“You were a rebel.”

Brett grinned. “You noticed?”

“I don’t know someone for almost eleven years
without learning a thing or two.”

"Brent, you’re an awesome dude who’s going
places. I could’ve molded my attitude to what other people wanted,
but I didn‘t. I like being rebellious. On the other hand, you have
a clean lifestyle and no problems with authority. I think that‘s
one reason they chose you to work with Wally on
Future
Superstars.
You’re open to new ideas and being molded. Me, what
people see is what they get.”

“Which is why you’re happier in Orlando
Wrestling and doing independent shows on the side.”

“Stephanie Cross gives her talent much more
freedom to do other projects as long as they aren’t on live
television. Competition thing, you know.”

“It still would’ve been cool for us as a tag
team.”

“You would’ve been the surprise partner, except
they never cared enough to materialize the story idea. We’ve both
moved forward, and I’m not a guy who dwells on the past. Lucky for
me, I’m in a position to be able to wrestle according to my own
vision. Wrestle in
real
matches, Brent, not a bunch of
two-minute bullshit because someone either didn’t like the whole
pot issue, or they couldn’t find anything decent for me to
do.”

“You’ll go back someday, won’t you?”

“Hell no! They couldn’t pay me enough.” Brett
grinned again. “Want to join me in the shower?”

“Love you, man, but not
that
much. How
about getting together for a few beers and more reminiscing
instead?”

“You’re on! Meet you outside in about fifteen
minutes.”

CHAPTER 45

Brett‘s phone rang while he and Dillard were
having drinks. He shook his head after recognizing the incoming
call‘s number. “Pat, what do you want?” he asked. “This better be
important.”

“Why, you getting laid? I thought Karen wasn‘t
coming to that show.”

“Fucking funny. Dillard paid me a surprise
visit. We’re having drinks and catching up. What’s going on that
you had to call at one-thirty in the morning?”

“Only ten-thirty here. Anyway, remember that
show where we’re tagging in a couple of weeks?”

“How can I forget? I’ll have to deal with your
smelly armpits and loud farts the whole weekend before I go back to
Orlando.”

“Like you never tore a few lethal ones out of
your own ass, Kerrigan. Getting back to the purpose of my call, the
bigwigs at Wrestling International scheduled a seminar they‘re
holding the day before our show, and chose you and me as guest
speakers.”

The news caught Brett‘s full attention. “No
shit? You didn’t have anything to do with it, did you?”

“Not at all, but I guess someone liked us
enough to make the suggestion. What do you think?”

“Sounds like fun. What are we supposed to
do?”

“How’s this? ‘Charismatic young superstars
Brett Kerrigan and Patrick Sanchez-Garcia will lead a sit-down
seminar designed for already trained independent pro wrestlers. The
veteran grapplers will give advice, share their experiences and
evaluating talent as part of the seminar, as well as sitting down
for an extensive question and answer session.’ Doesn‘t sound too
hard, huh?”

“You should do well, as much as you like to run
your mouth.”

“Come on, dude, this is serious
stuff.”

“I was just messing with your head. Seminar
with indy wrestlers? It‘s going to be a blast.”

“People who are attending have to pay
twenty-five bucks a head to get in, and seating is limited. We
should look into getting more public speaking gigs.”

“Maybe you should, since you’re a more
appealing guy. I’m too busy with the wrestling side. Hey, did you
hear? Dillard’s cast as one of the developmental wrestlers on
Future Stars
.”

“Oh, yeah, I think I read about that on one of
those wrestling sites. Give him my congrats and I hope he doesn’t
get fucked over the way you and I were.”

“I think he’ll great and have few, if any,
problems. Meanwhile, I need to get back to my drinking buddy for
the night, and I will pass on your message.”

“Thanks. By the way, you got an email from
Kyra.”

“What the hell were you doing in my
email?”

“You didn’t change your password before moving
to Orlando. I kind of
…
checked it out of habit.
Nothing incriminating, just wants you to call her before next
week.”

“Thanks, and stay the fuck out of my email. I’m
able to check it more often.”

“Okay, okay. Go back to your boozing, and if I
don’t get in touch before the next show, have a good time in
Pittsburgh. Give Karen a big, wet smooch for me.”