“Coach was in a foul mood today,” said Tony as he and three teammates left the locker room.
“Yeah, his wife must be holding out on him or something to make him that nasty,” said Tiquan, shaking his head.
“Wow, look at this!” said LaShawn. “Some idiot left his keys in this Audi.”
LaShawn opened the door. “Ummm, leather interior.” He sat in the driver’s seat, put his hands on the steering wheel, and turned on the engine.
“What are you doin’?” said Tony.
“Let’s fuck this guy’s mind up. We’ll take it to the other side of the parking lot. It’s on the way to the cafeteria.”
Tony got in the shotgun seat. Antonio Carter and Tiquan Williams sat in the back. LaShawn gunned the car, and it fishtailed, spat gravel, then pitched to the left as they accelerated away.
“Take it easy,” said Tony.
LaShawn drove across the lot, but instead of parking, he left the lot.
“I thought we were just going across the lot,” said Tony.
“Let’s see what she can do,” and pushed the accelerator to the floor. Tires screeched, and smoke engulfed the car as they went zero to sixty in a few seconds.
“This car has all wheel drive. Let’s head to a back road,” said LaShawn.
“I thought we were just going to park a little away from where the guy left it,” said Tony, his hand on the dash as LaShawn took a curve hard.
“We will as soon as we test this baby out,” said LaShawn white knuckling the steering wheel. He pushed the accelerator hard as they began a turn, and the force crushed them to the right as the car struggled to hold the line. He pushed the car even harder into the next turn, and they brushed against bushes and chewed-up grass on the shoulder of the road. He pressed the car hard up a hill so steep, they couldn’t see the other side. They became airborne as they crested the hill, and the car bottomed out when they landed before springing right back into action.
“Whoa,” yelled Antonio. “I think I left my lunch on the other side of that hill.”
“I think we ought to head back to campus before the owner realizes his car is missing,” said Tony..
LaShwan nodded and turned the car around. When he saw a fairly empty shopping mallparking lot, he pulled in.
“Watch this.”
He began a 360-degree donut, and the car spun, spewing rubber and smoke. LaShawn left his foot on the accelerator too long, and the car slid out of control, smacking sideways into a light pole. Shaken up, they got out of the car on the passenger side because the driver’s side was crushed against the pole.
Tony glanced around, getting his bearings. “Anyone hurt? LaShawn, you okay?”
His teammate nodded, examining a scratch on the back of his hand. “Yeah, man. I don’t know how, given all that”—he gestured at the crumpled driver’s door—“but I’m fine, just a little scraped up. You?”
“Just a couple bruises,” Tony said, rubbing his elbow. “I don’t think anyone saw the crash. I know a tow truck driver who—”
The unmistakable wail of a police siren rose in the distance, drawing closer with each passing moment.
“Let’s get out of here,” said LaShawn, taking a stride.
Tony grabbed LaShawn’s arm. “Don’t run from an accident. We’ll be okay.”
A police car arrived, and two patrolmen exited their vehicle, strutting toward the athletes, hands on their holsters.
Tony’s teammates looked down at the ground, eyes racing back and forth.
“Which one of you was the driver?”
The other three looked at LaShawn.
“License and registration.”
LaShawn eyed the police officer. “My wallet is in my back pocket. So, you know that you are asking me for my wallet, and I am reaching into my back pocket for my wallet. Are we all clear on that?”
“Which pocket?” asked one of the police.
“My right rear pocket,” replied LaShawn.
“Put your hands in the air and keep them there,” replied the officer as he circled behind LaShawn.
“Cover me,” he said to the other officer, who pulled out his revolver. The first officer reached into LaShawn’s pocket, pulled out his wallet, and examined the license.
“The registration is in the glove compartment. Is it all right with you, officer, if I enter the car to get the registration?” asked Tony.
“Just keep your hands where I can see them at all times,” he replied, accompanying Tony to the car. Tony searched the glove compartment and produced the registration.
“Your license says you’re LaShawn Freeman, but the car belongs to Ira Stein. Radio for backup,” he said to his partner. He turned to the athletes and said, “Line up, facing the car, and put your hands on the roof.” Another police car arrived in a few minutes, and a crowd began to gather. LaShawn looked at Tony.
“We’re fucked.”
A call came back saying that the car had been stolen. The officer with the gun ordered the four to spread their legs while the second officer patted them down. As the second officer got to LaShawn, he said, “Wait a minute. LaShawn Freeman, UConn’s running back?”
“That’s right.”
“And you’re Tony Colucci.”
“That’s right,” said Tony, smiling.
“And you two guys are on the team too, right?”
Tiquan and Antonio nodded.
He turned to the other officer and said, “Relax, put your gun away. These guys play for UConn.” He looked at the gathering crowd and said, “Let’s take them down to the station and straighten this out there.”
***
Waiting in an interrogation room, LaShawn whispered to Tony. “I’m screwed, man. If I get a conviction, I lose my scholarship. I lose everything.”
“Stay cool,” replied Tony.
“That’s easy for you to say. I don’t have much to fall back on if I lose this.”
“Just follow my lead,” said Tony.
The two officers entered the room and introduced themselves as Officers Clark and Spinelli. Spinelli said, “So tell us what happened.”
“We borrowed a car from a friend and lost control going around a corner,” said Tony. “We’re very sorry, and we’ll pay for the damage.”
“We did a trace and found that the car belongs to Ira Stein. Are you and Ira Stein good buddies?” asked Officer Spinelli.
“Yeah man, me and Ira go way back,” said LaShawn.
“You’re good friends with a fifty-two-year-old ophthalmologist from Cheshire, Connecticut?”
LaShawn swallowed hard, but before he could respond, the door opened. A buzz cut officer walked in and said, “Aaron Stein is here. He’s Ira Stein’s son and a student at UConn. His father gave him the car to use at school. You want me to take a statement, or do you want to do it?”
“No, I’ll do it,” said Spinelli, who left the room while the other four athletes sat with Officer Clark.
“That was a great game last week. I love the draw play you scored on to seal the game, LaShawn.”
“Thanks,” replied LaShawn, looking at the table.
“How do things look for this Saturday?”
LaShawn looked up. “Good, I think. It kind of depends on what happens here, doesn’t it?”
Officer Spinelli entered the room. “Mr. Stein says he’s never met you, and he never lent you his car. Do you want to change your statement, Mr. Freeman?”
Tony beat LaShawn to the answer. “We met Aaron at a party a few weeks ago. And you know, officer, there are a lot of parties at UConn, and some people imbibe a little too much and have memory problems. Perhaps if you brought him in, we could help him remember.”
“That’s a good idea,” said Officer Clark.
“Intimidating a witness is not a good idea,” snapped Spinelli.
“Officer Spinelli,” said Tony. “We’re not out to intimidate anyone. We just want to make your job easier. I think if we can get together and talk things through, you’ll see this was just a miscommunication. No big deal.”
“Relax, Spinelli. You and I will be right here to make sure that no one is intimidated,” said Clark, who left.
Spinelli turned to Tony. “I know what you’re trying to do, Colucci. You jocks think you can do anything and get away with it.”
“What’s the matter, Spinelli? Some Pop Warner bully steal your lunch money in third grade, and now this is your chance to get even?”
“Fuck you, Colucci.”
The door opened, and Officer Clark brought Aaron Stein into the room.
“Mr. Stein,” began Officer Clark, “Do you know these men?”
Stein’s eyes darted around the room, and he shifted side to side. He took a deep breath, raised his arm, and pointed with a shaking hand. “That’s LaShawn Freeman and Tony Colucci, and I’m not sure who the other two are.”
“So you know them?”
“No, I know who they are because they’re on the football team, but I’ve never met them before.”
“And did you lend Mr. Freeman your car?”
“No.”
“That settles it,” said Spinelli. “We’re going to book them with grand theft auto.”
LaShawn started to protest, but Tony interrupted, saying, “I’d like to ask you something. Aaron. Do you fully understand what you’re doing here?”
Aaron looked at the other four students and stammered, “Don’t threaten me. You’re the bad guys here, not me.”
“Whoa, slow down, Aaron. No one’s threatening you,” said Tony. “In fact, I’m trying to protect you.”
“Protect me? The four of you are staring at me like you want to kill me.”
“No, Aaron, we’re just concerned about you. We have a big game coming up this weekend. If the four of us get benched, we could lose the game. It could get very ugly if people blamed you for the loss. If you sign a statement that says we stole your car, we get suspended for this game, and perhaps for the rest of the season. We go from a winning team to a losing team. You become the most hated person on campus. People throw bricks through your windows, paint horrible things on your house and car, girls won’t go out with you, and you have no friends. The accident is reported to your insurance company, and your car insurance rates go up. Your father is upset with you. The four of us have criminal records, which could negatively impact us for the rest of our lives.”
Tony put his arm on Aaron’s shoulder and lowered his voice like he was about to share something important. “Or you could say that LaShawn could borrow your car sometime, and you didn’t realize that he had done so. The car wasn’t stolen. It was just a case of miscommunication. I’ve got a buddy in New Haven who does incredible bodywork, and we’ll pay for the repair. We get to play Saturday and the rest of the season, and nobody hates you. The accident doesn’t get reported, and your insurance rates don’t go up. Your car looks as good as new. Your father doesn’t get angry at you. It’s a win-win for everybody,”
Aaron rubbed the back of his neck. “I don’t know.”
“Do you go to the games, Aaron?” Tony asked.
“Sometimes.”
“Well, you know, Aaron, we have VIP seats for recruits and important people who come to the games. I’m sure we can get two for you this Saturday. You have a girlfriend?”
“No, not really.”
“Well, we could get one of those for you too this weekend.”
“Yeah?” said Aaron, his eyes brightening.
“So, Aaron, you seem like a smart guy, and you’ve got two choices. Which one do you think is best for you and everyone in this room?”
“Wait a minute, you can’t do this to him,” Spinelli blurted out.
“Maybe things will be better for everyone if we just let them work it out,” replied Clark, glaring at Spinelli. “No crime means we have a low crime rate, no paperwork to fill out, no lost time for a court appearance. Let him decide what he wants to do.”
Spinelli said nothing, but his eyes shot fire.
Aaron took a deep breath and exhaled. “Okay. What you’re saying makes sense. My father, the insurance… I’ll sign a statement that you borrowed the car, and you’ll repair the car?”
“As good as new,” said Tony.
“I get tickets for the game?”
“They’ll be under my name at the box office.”
“And the date?”
“Do you want blonde, brunette, redhead, white, black, Asian, Latina?”
“Brunette, preferably Jewish.”
“Done,” said Tony, smiling as he offered his hand. “I’ve got just the girl for you. Her name is Stephanie. She’s from Long Island, and if you like stiletto heels and tight leather pants, you’re gonna love Stephanie.”
Aaron shook Tony’s hand. “I think I like her already, but will she like me?”
“That I can’t guarantee, Aaron. But you’ll be driving an Audi A4 in impeccable condition, so that’s a really good start. What you do after that is up to you. I’m sure you’ll do fine.”
Aaron grinned.
“How about you, Officer Clark? You want to come to Saturday’s game?”
“You bet!”
“Are you married and have kids?”
“Married with two boys.”
“There will be four tickets for you at the box office under LaShawn’s name.” He turned and looked at LaShawn, who nodded his approval.
“And you, Officer Spinelli?”
He glared and left the room, slamming the door behind him.
“Aaron, do you have your phone on you?”
“Yes.”
“Would you like some pictures?”
“Yeah, that would be great.”
Officer Clark took photos of Aaron with the four athletes, and they walked out of the room, chatting like old friends.
LaShawn leaned into Tony and whispered, “Thank you. I’m indebted forever. There are times when people like me don’t survive police stops.”
“It’s screwed up that’s the case in America, but I’m glad I could help. That’s what best friends do,” said Tony.