Transcript of phone call placed by Cooper Lamb to a private number
COOPER LAMB: Good news, not-yet-fully-grown humans. I’ve decided to ignore professional ethics and totally hook you up with some Eagles autographs. Don’t worry, I’ll get those first, because I’ve got some tough questions to ask, and I’m probably going to have to be put in traction when I leave this stadium. If you don’t know what traction means, look it up. Preferably using Google Images, because it will freak you out.
ARIEL LAMB: Sir, this is a Wendy’s.
LAMB: Nice one, daughter! Now quit blabbering so I can get to work.
ARIEL: Do you have Lupe with you?
LAMB: Please. Would I ever leave home without my secret weapon?
Excerpt from Cooper Lamb’s interview with Eagles receiver Lee McCoy
LEE McCOY: Cute dog, man. They just let you bring him back here? What the heck is he, anyway?
COOPER LAMB: Lupe here is a Rhodesian ridgeback. But never mind him for the moment. I’m here to talk about Archie.
McCOY: My brother!
LAMB: So you two were close?
McCOY: Dude. C’mon. Are you serious? Were we close? How can you ask me that? I would die for that man.
LAMB: Looks like he beat you to it.
McCOY: I’m sorry?
LAMB: Nothing. Did Archie ever talk about threats against him or his family? You know, overeager fans stalking him, anything like that?
McCOY: We get that all the time. I mean, when you’re a public figure, it comes with the job. I don’t expect you to understand, but it’s a real pain in the ass.
LAMB: I’m sure. Have you received threats?
McCOY: Well…no. I don’t think anybody is crazy enough to come at me, you know what I mean?
LAMB: Yeah, I know what you mean.
McCOY: Can I, uh, give your dog a treat?
LAMB: Depends. Can I have an autograph for my kid?
[Cooper Lamb’s handwritten annotation: McCoy—a lot of bluster, but not much to back it up. All bark, no bite.]
Excerpt from Cooper Lamb’s interview with Eagles center Bobby Devaux
COOPER LAMB: You played center at Notre Dame, right? I was a huge fan.
BOBBY DEVAUX: Wait up. Who do you work for again?
LAMB: I’m just doing a little routine background work for Francine’s lawyers.
DEVAUX: Yeah, you can drop all that routine stuff with me. Not a damn thing routine about this case and you know it. This city is losing its damn mind.
LAMB: Then help me out here. Who should I be talking to? Did Archie have any stalkers, any enemies? What are the police missing?
DEVAUX: I’d be curious to hear what you’ve found so far. You’re working for Frannie’s lawyers, so I guess you want to take some of the attention away from her.
LAMB: You think she deserves the attention?
DEVAUX: Of course not. I love Frannie. I just don’t know what you want from me.
LAMB: Look, I’m just starting out here, and I was hoping you could help.
DEVAUX: Don’t detectives always try to figure out who’d benefit the most from someone’s death? Also, people might take you more seriously if you didn’t bring your [expletive] dog.
LAMB: I suppose an autograph is out of the question.
[Cooper Lamb’s handwritten annotation: Devaux—guarded. Probably a cat lover. Also kind of a dick.]
Excerpt from Cooper Lamb’s interview with backup quarterback Terry Mortelite
COOPER LAMB: I’ll bet you wish this was all happening under different circumstances.
TERRY MORTELITE: Well, sure, but don’t worry. We’re gonna win this thing for Archie!
LAMB: I mean, you must have dreamed about this day—being the starting quarterback! That has to be a career high, right?
MORTELITE: Look, I’m just gonna give everything I have for Archie and Frannie.
LAMB: Were you two close?
MORTELITE: No, but I’d like to be. I mean, especially now. She must be lonely. I haven’t reached out to her yet, but it’s a weird time and—
LAMB: I meant you and Archie, but sure, let’s keep going down this road. If Francine were here right now, what would you tell her?
MORTELITE: I just want to make her proud. If you talk to her, will you tell her that for me?
[Cooper Lamb’s handwritten annotation: Mortelite—had the most to gain, clearly has the hots for Francine. Too obvious.]
Excerpt from Cooper Lamb’s interview with tight end Jimmy Tua
COOPER LAMB: I’m really sorry for your loss. Everybody is telling me how close you were to Archie. To the entire Hughes family, for that matter.
JIMMY TUA: Yeah, thanks. I still can’t believe it’s real. Feel like I’m walking around in a dream these days. The world’s worst dream.
LAMB: Since you were all so tight, I wanted to talk to you about the gossip flying around about Francine.
TUA: (Angry) What gossip?
LAMB: Everyone always points a finger at the spouse.
TUA: Someone points a finger at that beautiful woman and I’ll snap it off and make ’im eat it, you feel me?
LAMB: Easy, my friend. I’m on her side!
[Cooper Lamb’s handwritten annotation: Tua—big guy. Built like a side of beef. AVOID BEING PUNCHED BY THIS MAN. Unlike the other players, Tua seems truly close with the Hughes family. Especially Francine.]