Chapter 16 - THE BELTThe championship belt felt heavier than Cole expected.
Cameras surrounded him.
Reporters shouted questions.
"COLE! DID YOU PREDICT THE SEVENTH?"
"COLE! HOW DOES IT FEEL?"
"DARIUS SAYS HE WANTS A REMATCH!"
Cole barely heard them.
He was watching Roman.
Two men in suits approached Roman's section.
Not police uniforms.
Investigators.
Maya stood near the tunnel speaking with another official.
Roman noticed her.
Then looked at Cole.
And smiled.
That smile ruined the victory.
Because it said this wasn't over.
In the locker room, Cole finally asked Maya.
"Victor?"
"Alive."
Cole sat upright.
"Where?"
"Hospital."
"What happened?"
"Anonymous call gave police a location twenty minutes into the fight."
"Roman?"
"Maybe."
"Why release him?"
Maya looked troubled.
"Victor says he arranged it."
Cole frowned.
"What?"
"He had insurance too."
Victor had copied portions of Roman's financial records weeks earlier.
He didn't trust himself to deliver them safely, so he scheduled encrypted material to be sent automatically to multiple recipients if he failed to cancel the release by the opening bell.
Federal authorities.
State investigators.
Two journalists.
Maya.
"He never told us?"
"He didn't trust us."
Cole laughed bitterly.
"At least he's consistent."
Maya sat beside him.
"The material isn't complete, but it's enough to trigger serious investigations."
"And Roman?"
"Being questioned."
"Arrested?"
"Not yet."
Cole's celebration dimmed.
Maya noticed.
"This isn't television, Cole. Nobody walks into an arena, sees a spreadsheet, and puts handcuffs on a guy for twenty years."
"I know."
"Good."
She smiled.
"You did your job."
"I punched somebody."
"You did it remarkably well."
Cole looked at her.
For the first time all night, they were alone emotionally even though people moved around them.
"You watched?"
"Every round."
"Worried?"
"Annoyed."
"That's not what I asked."
Maya looked at his swollen eye.
"I was terrified."
Cole's smile disappeared.
"I'm sorry."
She touched his uninjured cheek.
"Stop apologizing and stay alive long enough for it to mean something."
The moment lasted one second too long.
Then Ray entered.
"Champ."
Cole stood.
Ray hugged him.
No speeches.
They didn't need one.
Later, as Cole walked toward the medical room, security stopped someone in the hallway.
Roman.
Two investigators stood with him.
He wasn't cuffed.
Roman looked at the championship belt over Cole's shoulder.
"Congratulations."
Cole stopped.
"Did you enjoy Round Seven?"
Roman smiled.
"You think this changes anything?"
"It changed your bets."
Roman laughed quietly.
"Money comes back."
"Reputation doesn't."
The smile faded slightly.
Cole stepped closer.
"Nobody owns me."
Roman lowered his voice.
"You still don't understand what your brother discovered."
Cole stared.
Roman leaned toward him.
"You think I was the top?"
Then investigators moved Roman away.
May you like
Cole watched him disappear down the corridor.
For the first time since winning the championship, he felt cold.
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