Page 184 of Playing By Ear

“I want to apologize, and not just about your job—your current job, I mean.” Stuart patted the doorpost. “I remember where I know you from.”

Jamie took Layla outside, and Stuart sat on the end of the mattress in what must have been an awkward position—not that Perry could tell, as they were more than a few feet apart.

“Firstly,” Stuart said, “Lucy adores you.”

“Really?” Perry couldn’t hold back a smile, though he sensed it was merely manipulation. “I’m usually awkward with children.”

“And she’s usually awkward with adults. She doesn’t like being stared at, so maybe your…”

“Blindness?”

“Aye. Maybe that sets her at ease.” Stuart cleared his throat. “Secondly, I wanted to apologize about the match-fixing incident.”

“Oh.” Perry was surprised at the accuracy of Stuart’s memory. He must’ve been one of dozens of victims and willing accomplices. “You know, that shakedown was the end of my officiating career. I was afraid I’d pay a heavy price for refusing your ‘A-1 opportunity.’”

“Ooft.” Stuart rubbed the back of his neck. “It was a daft time. I was trying to move up in the organization, not to mention impress my girlfriend’s father.”

Those two goals had nicely dovetailed, Perry thought, but maybe he was just being cynical.

“I appreciate the apology,” he said, stopping short of accepting it. Still, he needed to keep the MacKrays onside, so he offered a convenient truth. “Looking back, it seems you did me a good turn.”

“How?”

“I wasn’t fully out when I was a referee. Officials take enough abuse as it is. Quitting gave me the freedom to be myself.”

“Good,” Stuart said after a moment’s hesitation. “Now, about that other thing.” He scratched his head, his fingers rasping over the short, dark strands of hair. “Your current job or whatever you call it.”

“Job.”

“Right. I hope you understand our position. Martin’s illness already makes us vulnerable without this potential blackmail hanging over our heads.”

“There’ll be no blackmail. I’ve worked out a way to neutralize it.” Perry briefed him on his idea for the essay.

“Makes sense,” Stuart said pensively. “Getting out ahead of the scandal, like a politician. I respect that, and I think Martin will too.” He sighed. “For one so ill, he’s got a lot to think about just now. Like what’s best for his family in the long run. Especially wee Lucy. None of us are keen on her becoming part of the business as it is now.”

Perry was relieved to change the subject. “Obviously the process of going legit will be complicated, but it’ll be worth it for Lucy’s sake.” He was probably overstepping. “If that’s what’s decided. It’s not for me to say.”

“Well, you’re part of the family now, so I’m sure you’ve got insights.” Stuart paused. “Though I suppose that depends on how much Jamie’s told you about Belinda’s plans.”

Perry got the sudden sense Stuart was probing him. “Not much.” A safe answer. “Not much at all.”

“Right. Right, right.” Stuart sniffed. “Right.”

“Right.” This conversation needed to end. Perry patted his laptop beside him on the mattress. “I’d better start that piece. I’ll need a few days to write and edit the proposal, and I’ve no idea how long my editors will take to respond. Could be hours or weeks. So if you’re looking for immediate results⁠—”

“No, you’re all right. These bastards cannae hold this secret over our heads if it’s not a secret anymore. If you cannae be embarrassed, there’s nae weakness.”

Stuart seemed awfully unconcerned about the camming now compared to earlier. Maybe Jamie was right: The “blackmail” was merely Stuart’s own machinations, and he’d realized it wasn’t working.

Regardless, Perry wanted out of this man’s presence. “Glad we talked this over.”

“Oh, aye.” Stuart got to his feet. “Believe it or not, that’s how things are usually handled in this industry. A good chat can save a lot of time and effort.”

And lives, Perry thought as Jamie’s brother-in-law slid out of the bedroom and closed the door softly behind him.

Perry opened his laptop and started swiftly typing notes while the ideas were still flowing. He ignored the hunch at the back of his mind, that something about this conversation had been…off, that Stuart had led him into some sort of trap. Later Perry would discuss it with Jamie, but right now he needed singular focus.

After all, this piece could shine a brighter spotlight on him than ever before.