Page 5 of Through the Five-Hole
“That’s right, but about six months ago, Colton Fox was traded to the Vancouver Dominators.Prior to that move, he’d been cleaning up his act, and everything was going okay, until the very end of last season.”
I sat there watching as Kerry pulled out another folder and placed it down in front of me.I opened the folder to see a picture of Colton and a beautiful woman in front of a house, both of them looking toward the camera.I shuffled to the next page, and that was when I saw the first article.Could it be true?Evans Girl leaving him for the new Bad Boy of the team.Then I flipped to the next article.Vancouver Dominator’s Bad Boy at it Again, Colton Fox arrested for assault, charges pending, Once a Player always a Player, hockey’s notorious bad boy at it again.
“Did he beat her?”I questioned, wondering where the assault charge was coming from.
“Nope, he attacked the paparazzi that were outside his home.Apparently, the woman pictured here not only works for the team but is also involved in a serious relationship with Knox Evans, another Dominator.”
“Are these two involved with one another?”I asked.
“Nope.When I spoke with the PR team, they said Lorelai Anderson was taking Colton home after a night out with the team.She’d walked with him to the door to make sure he was okay getting in the house, and that was when the reporters approached.Colton apparently didn’t want them there and told them to leave, and they started asking him questions about the two of them, probing for information.I guess Miss Anderson tried to take control of the situation and told them to leave, but they refused.They requested an interview, and when Fox refused, they threatened they were going to slander her all over the paper.They began taking pictures of the two of them together, and that was when Colton flew off the handle, attacking the photographer, breaking his camera, and then he turned on the reporter.The photographer had his nose broken but crawled away and called the police.The reporter wasn’t as lucky—broken hand, broken arm.”
I sat back in the chair and skimmed through the second article while Kerry continued.
“Basically, Mr.Fox’s agent has hired this firm to help clean up his image.”
I placed the articles back on her desk and looked at Kerry.“How are we supposed to do that?”
“I’m glad you asked.While Mr.Fox has had a lot of issues in the past with gambling and relationships, the team he was with prior to the Dominators forced him to go to Gamblers Anonymous, which cleaned up a pile of the relationship issues.However, the anger issues are another matter.The headlines keep coming as well, stating that Fox and Miss.Anderson are in fact involved.The most recent one being pictures of Mr.Fox leaving her office after physio treatment for a bit of back injury he suffered while in the gym, and any other images they have their hands on where the two of them are near one another.That needs to stop.”
“That part is simple.I’ve got my media contacts, but I am not sure what I am supposed to do about the other, unless Mr.Fox agrees to go to anger management.”
“I’m glad you asked.Mr.Fox’s agent and the PR team for the Dominators have agreed that he would take part in anger management, which he just completed.They have also hired us to introduce to the media and the world the secret girlfriend of Mr.Colton Fox.”
“Ah, gotcha.So, you want me to find someone to fill that position, let it play out for a while, build up Mr.Fox’s reputation in public, and then quietly end things between the two of them in the spotlight.It’s doable.I mean, everyone loves a love story.I’m just trying to think of who I’d get to play the part.”
I picked up my coffee mug and took a mouthful of coffee, making a couple of notes in my book as I thought about which girl I could use.There was Vicki.I hadn’t used her in one of my cases in a while, or I could always call Violet.She was always up for a challenge, and she normally only worked on low-profile cases, ones that weren’t involved with the media, normally private, office-related issues with CEOs.
“Exactly.I want the world to see them together.I want the world to see the real Mr.Colton Fox, but I don’t want you to hire someone.”
Kerry paused as I finished my notes.
“What?”I said as I looked up from my notebook, waiting for her to continue.“I need to hire someone if I am going to be successful,” I reminded her.“Unless he already has a girlfriend and you just want me to oversee the events they participate in, maybe arrange some interviews or some charity work.Events and dinners are always a good option as well.”
“Emma, there is no girlfriend.We aren’t using one of our girls.I’ve decided that I am putting you in charge of this case – only you.That means you are to move in with Mr.Fox, attend games, events, and the like while helping to clean up his image.You are to play his other half.”
The room stilled as I looked at her.I could have cut the air in the room with a knife.
“I’m sorry, but I thought I heard you say you wanted me to move in with Mr.Fox.”I chuckled.
“That’s correct.Mr.Fox has just completed his suspension and will start playing at the season’s opener.He has appearances to make, interviews, charity dinners and the like.The first one being Saturday in three weeks.The goal is to have his reputation cleaned and repaired by the end of the year.If not by then, before the playoffs.”
“Kerry, while I’m flattered that you want me to handle this, and I don’t have any issues doing so, my job is to organize and oversee these sorts of situations, not to actually be a part of them.”
“I understand that, but you have to understand.This is for a dear friend of mine, and I need you to step up and take full control.Plus, with Mr.Fox being in the spotlight, it needs to be a woman we’ve never used before.We deal with a lot of high-end clients, and most of the girls we hire are in the public eye—they won’t work for this case.”
“That was why I thought of Violet.”
“No, Violet won’t do.She isn’t the type of girl that could handle this.You are, and that is why I trust only you.So, that being said, you will fly out in three weeks.You will arrive in Vancouver at approximately eleven.Someone from the Dominators will be at the airport to pick you up to take you to the arena, and the PR team will take it from there, as will you.”
Kerry pulled out an envelope, passing it to me, which I opened to see a plane ticket in my name to Vancouver.
“How long do you figure I’ll be gone?”I questioned.
“As long as it takes but count on at least until December.Possibly that timeline could extend.I’ve heard that Mr.Fox can be a little difficult.”
I nodded, getting up from the chair I was sitting on.There was no use in trying to get my way.I knew Kerry had already decided.
“May I take these?”I asked, nodding to the folders on the desktop.“I just want to look things over, to form my plan of attack.Also, get an idea of what it is I’m walking into.”