Three-Point Play Read Online Free PDF

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    If I run , Cody wondered, what will happen? Will one of those guys grab me, or will they let me go by? Maybe they’ll slow down Death Metal Dude if he sprints after me .
    The sound of a clearing throat yanked Cody from his thoughts. “Cody Martin,” the man in the Death Metal shirt said evenly. “We need to talk. I’m Gary Weitz. Gabe Weitz’s big brother.”
    Cody felt fear envelop him like a fog . So that’s where I’ve seen that face before . Gary’s face isn’t as fat as his brother’s, but those cold eyes—there’s definitely a family resemblance .
    One of the Broncos fans shoved the other out the door, leaving Cody alone with a guy whose shirt proclaimed “Death.”

    â€œWhat do you want with me?” Cody was surprised at the anger in his voice. He had meant to sound meek, sympathetic.
    â€œLike I said,” Gary Weitz explained, his tone still eerily calm, “we need to talk.”
    â€œLook,” Cody said, “my dad is here at the mall and I was supposed to meet up with him a while ago. He’s going to be looking for me.”
    Weitz smiled. “This won’t take long.”
    Cody swallowed what little saliva remained in his mouth. “Those guys who were in here—they saw us. They saw your face. If anything happens—”
    The smile again. “I don’t care what they saw. It doesn’t matter.”
    Cody willed himself to look into those cold eyes. “I’m not afraid of you,” he said. Helpful hint , he scolded himself, next time you tell someone you’re not afraid of him, try to do it without your voice shaking .
    â€œI think you are afraid,” Weitz said. “You’re sweating.”
    â€œI’m sweating because you chased me all over the whole stinkin’ mall.”
    â€œYeah, but athlete sweat and fear sweat have distinct aromas. You’re a jock. You should know that. And I smell fear.”
    Just keep talking, big man , Cody thought. The longer we talk, the better the chances someone else will come in. Maybe even Dad .
    But Weitz was reaching for him. Cody stepped back, banging into the stall door. “Cody,” Weitz said. “I’m not going to hurt you.”
    Cody cocked his head and narrowed his eyes suspiciously. “Yeah? You mighta told me that right up front, then.”
    Another smile. “I have to admit—I was enjoying watching you squirm. See, sometimes I find myself wanting to blame you for what happened.”
    â€œYou gotta be kidding me!” Again, Cody’s own anger shocked him. “Your brother attacked me, and that’s what started the whole thing. I don’t know what he told you, but all I did was let a door close behind me one time after basketball practice. And for that, he goes Extreme Wrestling on me and slams me into the door, then tosses me in the snow. Later on, he chucks beer bottles at me and Pork Chop, then chases me and another one of my friends, and, finally, tries to run me down with his truck! I never talked trash to him. Never flipped him off. Nothing. Look, I am sorry about what happened to your brother. But what happened— that’s on him, not me.”
    Weitz dipped his head. “I know.”
    Cody felt his head shaking in bewilderment. “Then why did you come after me?”
    â€œI wasn’t coming after you, not like you’re thinking. I just need to tell you something. And ask you one question.” Weitz’s arms were folded defiantly across his chest. He let them drop to his sides.
    â€œI’m listening,” Cody said.
    Weitz cleared his throat. “Gabe wasn’t trying to run you down,” he said. “Not really.”
    â€œHe coulda fooled me!”
    The elder Weitz sighed wearily. “He was just trying to scare you. Look, he was my brother, and I know he had a mean streak. It’s kinda my fault, I think. I picked on him, harassed him