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And it would be difficult to transfer a sum like that to someone else without having to explain to the government what it was for.”
    â€œWhat if you told this guy to piss up a rope?”
    â€œThen maybe he goes to the press, like he’s threatening to do.”
    â€œWe’d lose more in gate receipts, advertising and broadcast revenues than he’s asking for,” Heather said. “This season we’re getting $300,000 per half-inning on those rotating ads behind home plate. If this becomes public, who’s going to pay us those kinds of prices?”
    â€œThen it sounds like it would be cheaper to pay him.”
    â€œWe didn’t bring you out here to advise us to pay off an extortionist,” Heather said.
    â€œI haven’t advised you to do anything.”
    Sam was starting to feel irritated that Heather kept making premature assumptions, like the smartest kid in class trying to get one step ahead of the teacher.
    â€œWe’re just talking through the scenarios here,” Sam said. “Now, let’s say, for the sake of argument, that you give this Babe his $50,000,000. If the Series really was fixed, a payoff won’t change that. Somebody will still know what really happened—maybe a lot of somebodies.”
    Kenwood sighed and got up to pour himself a drink. He asked Heather if she wanted anything. She declined with a little sideways wave of her hand. There was a casual familiarity between them that transcended the standard boss-employee relationship.
    â€œWhat I really want is for this to go away,” Kenwood said. He returned to the couch. “Everything’s good now. For the first time in four generations, this franchise doesn’t feel as though some sort of hex is hanging over it. We brought optimism back to Boston.”
    â€œSome people say you’ve become a little arrogant.”
    â€œIf so, we’ve earned it. But everything we’ve done will be ruined if this gets out.”
    No one said it, but the thought hung in the air among the three of them: That “we” was really an “I.” If this scandal broke, no more Lucky Louie. His days as a hero would be over.
    â€œWhat do you want me to do?” Sam said.
    â€œFind out who sent this note. Find out if it’s true. If it is, I guess we’ll have to face up to that somehow. But if it isn’t, I want proof, and I want this guy in jail. Quietly, if possible.”
    â€œIt’s tough to prove a negative. I can’t prove to you that I didn’t read a magazine on the flight out here.”
    â€œBut millions of people watched that World Series,” Heather said. “No one was paying attention to you on the plane.”
    â€œYou’d be surprised. I caught several admiring glances from the flight attendants. Most of them were women.”
    Heather shook her head and looked away.
    â€œWho else have you talked to?” Sam asked Kenwood.
    â€œThe only people who know about this letter are sitting here now. And my wife, Katherine. Paul, my driver, has heard some of my phone conversations, so he knows something is up, but he hasn’t seen the extortion note.”
    â€œYour club president and general manager don’t know about this?”
    â€œNo.”
    â€œSo why did you tell Ms. Canby here?”
    Heather squared her shoulders and assumed a convincingly offended expression.
    â€œI tell her everything about my business,” Kenwood said. “I couldn’t run it without her. She’s a graduate of Harvard Business School. Don’t be put off by her legs, Sam.”
    â€œNever crossed my mind.”
    â€œI couldn’t keep this completely to myself. I needed to be able to talk to someone I can trust.”
    â€œBesides Mrs. Kenwood?”
    Kenwood nodded.
    â€œSomeone who knows this business as well as I do. Someone who works here every day and knows how much this could hurt us.”
    â€œMr. Kenwood and I