A quick note: This is a fairly short chapter. Sorry about that, but it was a natural stopping point before the next part. Which, if all goes well, should be up by the end of the weekend. Thanks for being so patient.

Chapter 20

Jerry hung up the phone slowly while the things Steven had told him whirled through his brain like a windstorm. His worst fears were confirmed - well, nearly confirmed since Steven's information was only preliminary. How had the man gotten to coach a kid's soccer team if he had even a hint of a criminal record?

"What's going on?" Kim's voice interrupted his thoughts, and she moved into his arms, wrapping her arms loosely about his waist. Her expression said that she wasn't entirely sure that she appreciated he and Steve's newfound brotherhood.

He returned the embrace distractedly, his mind whirling with the possibilities. Steven hadn't given him the particulars, only told him that he'd found something and that they should be careful.

"Jerry?" Kim pulled him from his thoughts, her expression no longer one of half-hearted irritation. He saw the growing hint of concern and realized that he was making things that longer he waited to tell her what Steve had said. He wasn't sure how she was going to take it.

"Did you know that Ray Santucci has a criminal record?" He just put the question out there. There weren't a lot of ways to sugar coat something like that.

"What? Are you sure?" She leaned back a bit more, but stayed within the circle of his arms. He could tell she hadn't expected to hear that.

"Of course -- " Jerry began, not having considered that she'd question something that had so obviously come from her own brother. But then he caught himself, remembering that Steven had only had a preliminary look so far. "Well, mostly sure. Steve ran a check, but he's gotta look at some other things, too to make sure."

Kim moved back and leaned against the counter. "What if mostly sure turns out wrong? He'd never have been made a coach if he had a record."

"Maybe he forged it or something," Jerry shrugged. "You can do all sorts of things on the Internet these days. All I know is that the man seems suspicious to me. It all fits." Why was she defending this guy, he was hardly reliable?

Kim shook her head. "I can't believe this. You and Steve, the most paranoid brother known to womankind, have gotten together and decided this guy is a villain. Based on what? Don't you need evidence? And besides, Steven knows how I feel about him pulling these kind of stunts."

"This isn't a stunt." Jerry raised his hands in surrender on that point. Obviously there was some police issue between she and Steve. He had other things worrying him, like protecting the children. "But that doesn't even matter. I think we should ask him not to come to the final game. Tell him we don’t need him, whatever. Maybe even fire him for missing so many games."

"Jerry, we can't do that. At least not until you're sure."

"I am already sure."

Kim eyed him for a moment and looked as if she would say something, then changed her mind. "Maybe it would be better if I just talked to him instead. That way we'd have this all settled."

Jerry wasn't sure he was entirely taken with that idea. If they asked Ray point blank if he had a record, the worse that could happen is that he said yes. Then they would have grounds to ask him not to come back. "Let's call him."

"Okay."