Decker took this in and said, “I played ball against a guy in college. Best pure football player I’ve ever gone up against. He was a running back at the University of Texas, and every time we played them the guy killed us. He was a finalist for the Heisman his junior year, and he would have easily won it his senior year.”
“What happened? Did he go pro early? What’s his name? If he was that good, I probably heard of him. I follow stuff like that.”
“He never played a down of pro football.”
“Why? If he was that good.”
“He got framed for murder and spent twenty years in prison. Over half of that time was on death row.”
Tyler gaped. “Holy shit!”
“His innocence was finally established and he was released. He got a big payment from the government for what they did to him, and he’s now married and living a wonderful life in California.”
“He deserved it.”
“He never got to realize his dream of going pro, of being maybe one of the best of all time. But my point is, Tyler, no matter how bad it ever gets, it can also get better.”
“I…I guess if things turned out okay for him, they could turn out okay for me.”
“And, remember, you have a lot of money coming your way,” pointed out White.
“I don’t care about that. I don’t even want it.”
White said, “But your mother wanted you to have it. And it won’t be coming for quite a few years, so make no decisions until then. You can start that business that Decker told me you talked about. Or you can give it away to worthy causes. The choice will beyours.”
Decker gave Tyler one of his cards. “And let me know where you land for college. I know more about football than most people. I’d be happy to help you any way I can. And not just with football, but anything, or you just want to shoot the shit. Call me, anytime, anywhere.”
“Really?”
“We husky football guys have to stick together.”
Tyler slipped the card into his pocket. “My dad told me what you did for him. How you managed things for…me. So nobody would…the police…would leave me alone.”
“You didn’t ask for any of this. And what you did, or didn’t do, under those circumstances? Well, I don’t know that I would’ve handled it any differently, particularly at your age. So what right do I have to judge you?”
“Thanks for that, Mr. Decker.”
“Call me Amos. All my friends do.”
This drew a surprised look from White.
Decker put out his hand, but Tyler bypassed that and hugged him. Decker could feel the young man squeezing him with all his strength, even as he trembled like a frightened child. Like Decker was the only thing keeping him tethered to reality.
Decker closed his eyes, and in his mind he was holding his daughter after a bout of night terrors. Holding her tight, saying soothing things into her ear. Making her feel safe. And Decker felt himself starting to tremble, and then his eyes filled with tears as he hugged the young, frightened teenager as tightly as he could.
After Tyler left, Decker just stood there, while White, her gaze averted, waited with him.
Finally, Decker picked up his bag and lumbered off to the security gate, wiping at his face.
White followed silently.
Chapter97
T?HEY BOARDED THE PLANE ANDflew back to DC. Right before they landed White got an email.
“Uh-oh.”
“What?”