“But Jorge isn’t why I called,” Steve told him. “It’s about the charity bike race. You heard we lost our corporate sponsor.”
“That’s what happens when the CEO steals the pension fund and runs off with his secretary.”
“Apparently.” Steve sounded frustrated. “You know these races happen all over the country and normally I wouldn’t bother you, but this is different. The proceeds go to support medical research for juvenile diabetes and my sister’s kid has it, so it’s personal. I saw your town was asking for more information, and I figured you were behind that. I wanted to talk to you personally, to do what you could to get them to say yes. Everything is in place. We have a lot of great riders lined up. You’d get to see a lot of friends. And Jorge will be racing, so it would save you a trip. Hell, we’d even let you enter if you wanted to stage a comeback. You were always the best, Josh. No reason to think that’s changed.”
Josh felt as if someone had slugged him in the gut. “I, ah, haven’t been training,” he said, knowing his night rides had kept him in decent shape but nowhere near ready to compete. Assuming he ever could. Hell, at this point, just the thought of it had him shaking like a little girl.
“There’s time,” Steve told him. “You know what to do. If you’re interested. You retired too early, Josh. I know you were shaken by what happened to Frank, but walking away didn’t bring him back.”
“Always the coach.”
“I try. Can you help with the race?”
Josh had been wrestling with his demons for two years now. So far they’d won every round. Maybe it was time for a little payback.
Before he could come up with an easy list of why this was a massive mistake, he said, “I know a few people in town. I can make the race happen.”
“That’s great. I owe you. Anything, Josh. I mean it.” Steve paused. “Are you going to ride?”
No. He couldn’t ride with a five-year-old on a bike with training wheels. There was no way he was ready. If he said yes, he would only humiliate himself in front of the best riders in the sport. Word would spread and everyone would know he was a frightened, broken loser. Not much of a legacy.
“Josh?”
Dammit it all to hell, he thought and held the phone so tightly, he was surprised it didn’t snap. “Sure,” he said, hoping he sounded casual instead of terrified. “I’ll ride.”
CHAPTER TEN
“OBVIOUSLY THE MISSING money is our primary concern,” Marsha said from her place at the head of the table. “I had an unpleasant call from the governor this morning. It’s not an experience I want to repeat.” She sighed. “I’m not blaming you, Robert, I’m just frustrated.”
“So am I,” he said. “You’ve hired an auditor. She’ll be here next week. In the meantime, we’ve already begun our own investigation. Three quarters of a million dollars is a lot of money to lose.”
Charity heard the worry in his voice and understood the cause. He was the treasurer and the money had gone missing on his watch. He had to be frantic. She wished she could help, but her accounting expertise was limited to a single class she’d taken in college and barely passed. Math wasn’t exactly her thing.
The morning meeting had started right on time, with several items on the agenda. Charity enjoyed the review of everything going on in the world that was Fool’s Gold. Normally the items were discussed in order, but for the past thirty minutes, Pia had been squirming in her seat.
Charity tried not to stare, but it was difficult to ignore Pia’s eager expression and tapping foot.
Marsha made a few notes on the pad in front of her, then glanced at Pia. “I assume you’re not trying to tell me you have to go to the bathroom?”
“No.”
“Then why don’t you tell us what is obviously the most exciting news ever.”
Pia grinned. “I can wait my turn.”
“Perhaps, but then you’ll so annoy one of the city council members that she’ll snap and kill you. What is it, Pia?”
Pia cleared her throat. “Remember that bike race that lost its sponsors and had nowhere to go? We’re getting it! I’ve spoken with the committee leaders and they’re very excited about the opportunity to bring their event to our town. The bike race is only one day, but there’s a celebrity golf tournament, as well. We’re talking three, maybe four nights of people staying.”
She paused as the council members started murmuring to each other.
“That’s huge,” Gladys said. “Four nights? We’re talking some major revenue.”
“It’s going to be a logistical nightmare,” Alice said. “I’ll need overtime approval and money to hire a few temporary people to help with crowd control.”
“Get me an estimate,” Marsha told her. “Pia, do you have a full report prepared?”
“I just found out this morning. I’ll have it to you tomorrow. Most of the preliminary work is done. We did that golf tournament last year, so I’ll use that for a blueprint. I’m talking to Josh later, to get a feel for the race.”