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Prologue

The Nashville Cowboys’ clubhouse had plastic wrap on every surface to protect the lockers and the walls and hell, even the ceiling fro and cheering reverberated through the cinderblock and steel of the stadium Camera flashes ticked, and on the field, local police and stadium security tried to round up the fans who’d poured out of the stands

It esoht

Chris Thoals, sat on the bench in the visiting teane, no reporters There would be a press conference, and probably soest playoff blunder since Buckner? Yeah, they would want a scoop

What would he say? What was there to say other than, “Sorry about that?”

He’d come in on a two-run lead Bottom of the ninth, an easy close Game five He’d walked out of the bullpen confident, ready to save their asses and take theh to walk a man There were a thousand excuses for that walk It had been unusually chilly that night, and his shoulder had been killing him since the start of the series And all the stretches and soaks in the world wouldn’t take off the years

He’d had an incredible career, until this season He’d taken theall those ar After that walk, all the best intentions in the world couldn’t get his head on straight The next batter had gotten a double off hi coach What had probably looked like a tense exchange to the fans had actually been a pep talk and gentle inquiry He’d insisted he could stay in The next batter up left with an out The one after hih fly ball advanced the runner The next batter hit it into the stands A few seats south and it would have been a foul ball But it hadn’t been

“Hey, Chris? You still in here?”

He got up and hefted his bag over his aching shoulder “Yeah, I’”

Javier Vargas stepped around the corner A lot of the young guys had looked at Chris with sympathy, but he’d sensed their resentaazines But Javier hadn’t tried to sympathize He hadn’t offered false support, and Chris appreciated that otten frouys

“The bus is leaving,” Vargas said “We kind of need you on it”

“Do you?” Chris had thought it would sound funny and self-deprecating It just sounded sullen

Vargas tilted his head He was a catcher, good with body language Right now, it said, “Are you fucking kidding h preceded his words “Yeah, we do But we don’t need you feeling sorry for yourself You had a bad gao back to the hotel and drink theeveryone else lower They’re already down”