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“I’m not paying to talk to you,” Hebert said. “This is my building. I don’t care who you think you are. You are not-”
Joe clamped his left hand down on Herbert’s right shoulder.
Herbert stopped talking and looked at Joe.
I thought I saw Herbert’s knees start to shake.
Bethany looked at me, her eyes wider than I ever saw them before.
I pictured Joe beating up Herbert.
I mean, it would have been really cool to see.
But it would have screwed me big time.
Not to mention Joe would not be back on the ice anytime soon.
Ever.
At all.
Joe…
It was just a few seconds of silence, but it felt like hours.
“Herbert,” Joe said. “That’s your name?”
“Yes.”
“You want to go to a hockey game?”
“What’s the catch?”
“No catch at all. I can get you some tickets. Free.”
“Free tickets? Okay. I’m listening.”
“I’m serious. I appreciate a fan. The thing is… I have to talk to Anna. So I can calm down a little and get back on the ice. That okay with you?”
“Oh, I get it,” Herbert said. “You know, I used to be quite the fighter when I was younger.”
“Really?”
“Oh, yeah. Big time. I was a boxer. I was going to go pro.”
No you weren’t,I thought to myself.
“I’ll make it so you get some tickets. Sound good?”
“Yes,” Herbert said. He looked at me. “But we’re not done talking.”
Joe squeezed Herbert’s shoulder a little tighter.
Herbert winced.
Then Joe let go of Herbert and walked toward me.
Bethany moved in front of Herbert, giving Joe and I a second of privacy.
