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Hartley Braithwaite's collateral duty as a sports impresario was getting off to a mixed start. On the one hand, things looked promising for their swimmer, Gary Lollar, and the runner Cheryl Ford. On the other hand, he'd had conflicting and none too good news about Ana Darcy, the law firm's wild card for their medal hopes.
The partners had been telling those who asked that they were pleased with the athletes they were sponsoring and expected they would have a good chance of success, which was true enough as far as it went. They stressed that the bottom line was promoting excellence and good will in the world, and that was true too.
Yet that by itself wasn't "sufficient," to Braithwaite's legal mind. Good will had its place, but for the investment his law firm was making, and for his involvement in that investment on behalf of his partners, he deeply wanted a more tangible return.
"Dr. Hashmi, the nationally-known sports physician, has said he can find nothing organically wrong with Ms. Darcy," he reported to them. "He told me she had requested some dietary supplements—enzymes, herbs, or similar substances which he deemed harmless—and that he was fortunately able to obtain these for her speedily. He would not vouch for their efficacy. However, the fact that Ms. Darcy seemed grateful may be return enough on their modest cost."
Coach Haskin told him she was training harder than ever, and was in good spirits. There was nothing more to be asked, and, after all, Braithwaite was not one to butt in. Realistically, all he could do was watch, wait, and hope for the best, along with the other partners.
