Dear Readers,
If you haven't already read Chapters 1-6 of this series, I suggest you do so. Otherwise, you're going to miss out on a lot of detail. I appreciate you votes and your comments. RCG
* * *
I drove as fast as I could to the apartment. Debbie was still holding John and sobbing, 'I love you.' John was still unconscious.
I pulled into the complex and Tom said, "Park as close as you can to the door."
I pulled up within a feet of the apartment's front door in a 'No Parking Fire Zone.'
Tom gave Debbie the key and said, "Get the door open and go to the utility room and get the two rolls of gray duct tape off the shelf. I'm going to have to tie him up—when he regains consciousness he'll be a mad man."
Tom looked me in the eyes, "Get inside and call Pete. Tell him I need him ASAP!"
I replied, "Tom, its 3:40 in the morning."
Tom shouted, "Just do it!"
I got out of the truck and ran inside and called Pete.
After fifteen or twenty rings Pete answered a sleepy, "Helllloooo."
I said, "Pete, Tom needs you ASAP at the apartment. Something horrible has happened."
Pete answered very concerned, "Who is this? Is Tom OK?"
I answered, "It's Sue, and yes, Tom is fine, but John isn't—please come as quick as you can."
Pete replied, "On my way."
Tom carried John into the apartment, "Sue, shut and lock the door.
"You and Debbie hold his legs down while I tie them up—we have to move quick."
I locked the door. Debbie and I held John's legs down while Tom tied them up with the duct tape circling John's legs over and over again. John started regaining consciousness.
Tom yelled, "Get back. He'll start throwing hay makers in an attempt to get away. I'll have to knock him out to stop him."
I now understood why Tom tied John's legs up.
John yelled out, "What the fuck—where am I? Who the fuck are you?"
Tom shoved John down on the carpet and held him down as John threw punches at him—hitting Tom with several blows in the back.
Tom shouted, "Bud, this is going to hurt me more than you," as he 'cold cocked' John knocking him unconsciousness. Tom had tears in his eyes as he tied John's hands up.
Debbie screamed, "You didn't hurt him, did you?"
Tom looked at her, "No, he'll be fine—we got to get him some help! Look at his arms—they've been shooting him in the veins!"
There was a banging on the door—it was Coach Pete. I opened the door and Coach Pete quickly came in as I locked the door behind him.
Tom told Pete what had happened and where we found John. Pete said, "You three get the hell out of here and go to the dorms! Leave the apartment keys here. I'll take care of everything from here on."
Debbie was hysterical and cried, "I don't want to leave John."
I grabbed Debbie by the arm, "Sis, we have to go—Pete will take care of him."
I told Tom, "I'll drive—you're too emotional."
We left the complex and headed toward State's athletic dorms. We heard the sirens of the ambulance and then saw the flashing red lights as it sped to the apartment complex.
I pulled into State's athletic dorm parking lot. Tom said, "Y'all get to Jamie and Angie's room—tell'm what happened. We'll figure something out in the morning."
Tom kissed me goodnight or good morning and gave Debbie a big brotherly hug.
I opened the door to Jamie's room and she yelled, "Who's there?"
I laughed, "Who were you expecting?" while I turned on the light.
Jamie looked at Debbie and her swollen red eyes and asked, "What's going on?"
I replied, "Let me go get Angie. You take care of Debbie—okay?"
Jamie answered, "OK."
I beat on Angie's door and she yelled, "Get the fuck out of here—I'm sleeping!"
I laughed, "Hey girl, it's your future teammate. Drag your sweet ass down to Jamie's room—we got a problem!"
Angie asked, "OK. You ain't knocked up are you?"
I laughed, "Not yet anyway—now get down there!"
Angie showed up and I told everyone what happened.
Angie said, "We have to cover Tom. Get everyone together in the dining hall."
I questioned Angie, "Tom didn't do anything wrong, did he? He actually saved John."
Angie replied, "Sweetie this is NCAA shit. That apartment the 'Sugar Daddy' supplied is against the rules. What about all those Sugar Bowl tickets he got for your necklace and formals. No honey, we have to cover his ass!"
Jamie added, "Y'all met us at the Horseshoe when we got back around 10:30 and we stayed there dancing till around midnight or a little after, then we all came back to the dorms—got it?"
I replied, "What about Debbie?"
Angie said, "She had a date with Billy Williams. She likes quarterbacks anyway—doesn't she?"
Debbie finally had something to grin about.
Word traveled fast in the athletic sorority/fraternity community at State and everyone met in the dining hall at 7:00 AM.
Angie told everyone the problem and introduced Debbie to her date Billy Williams—a freshman red shirt quarterback who just happened to be a friend of Tom's.
Tom and I now had 150 alibis. I now realized what Tom meant when he told me 'things will change for you babe—you'll be in the dorm with your teammates.' The athletic community covered each other's backs.
The morning news already had the story. 'State sophomore wrestler, John Williams, was found early this morning in an apartment complex near State's campus. He was unconscious and suffered from an apparent concussion. Mr. Williams was taken to State's University hospital. He had missed State's last two wrestling matches due to an undisclosed medical condition. State officials have scheduled a news conference for this afternoon. No further details are available at this time.'
* * *
Athletic Director Lewis began the news conference, "It is with great sadness to inform the general public that sophomore wrestling sensation, John Williams, has been hospitalized with severe concussions and memory loss. John was apparently hurt last Saturday in his last match against the Tigers. John has been taken to University hospital for further evaluation and treatment."
A young aggressive reporter for the Times Herald asked, "Mr. Lewis are there any indications of alcohol and drug abuse in John Williams condition?"
Lewis replied, "Not to our knowledge."
The reporter wouldn't quit, "Mr. Lewis, please explain how John Williams was found alone in the apartment. It seems someone called 911 for emergency medical assistance at 4:12 in the morning?"
Lewis replied, "I have no idea."
Tom was getting pissed off, and Angie and I told him to "cool down."
The reporter continued to attack, "Mr. Lewis, how did John Williams come into possession of the apartment where he was found?"
Coach Lewis replied, "I'm sorry, but I have no information about that."
An individual from the crowd spoke up, "The apartment had been vacant for several months and Mr. Williams inquired about leasing an apartment. My assistant manager showed Mr. Williams the apartment and Mr. Williams came back and asked to see the apartment a second time. My manager gave him the key and apparently, Mr. Williams had a key made to the apartment. Mr. Williams never leased the apartment."
The reporter asked, "Sir, could you please identify yourself?"
"I'm Manny Perez, I own the apartment complex."
I wondered, 'Is Manny Perez Tom's Sugar Daddy?'
The reporter jumped on Mr. Perez, "Mr. Perez are you a State Athletic booster?"