CHAPTER 20

THAT’S A BIG SAFE

After seeing the trainers, Caleb headed out of the locker room and upstairs to the administrative offices. “Hi Susan,” he said as he walked in, “I need to see Anni.” “Sure, let me buzz her and make sure she’s in. Beth, is Anni in her office? Caleb is here to see her.”

“Sure, send him on back,” Beth said, and Caleb could hear a smile on her face. “I’ll let Anni know he’s here.”

When he walked in Anni’s office, he was happy to see Beth’s beautiful face, and she seemed excited to see him. He sat down on a chair and leaned toward her. “How you doing? I’ve been so busy the last few days we haven’t had a chance to talk much. This football is crazy, and with classes starting up, whew! By the time I get home at night I’m pooped!”

“I understand,” she said. “This is a very busy time of the year, but I’ve missed talking to you.”

“Maybe it will slow down a bit in the next few weeks and we can go out sometime,” he said with a smile.

“Actually, Caleb,” Beth said, twiddling her thumbs, “I would love for you to go to church with me on Sunday.”

Caleb paused. She hadn’t mentioned anything about being a Christian or going to church or anything like that. “Hmm. Well, we’ll do something sometime for sure, just be patient. Anyway, is Anni busy? I need some help.”

Beth buzzed her and told her, “Caleb Lewis is here to see you.”

“Send him in,” she said.

He walked into her office and shut the door, and she rushed over to greet him with a big kiss. “I’m really missing our playtime together,” she said softly.

“Me too,” Caleb said, hugging her tightly, “and that’s why I came by to see if you wanted to drop by my new apartment after work tonight and see it.”

She replied in a low, seductive voice, “Oh I want see it and much more. You can just plan on me being there at our usual time.”

“Great! And one more thing…I’m running short on cash. What can I do to get some spending money?”

Truth be told, that was a complete lie. He still had most of the $30,000 he brought out to California. And his dad had sold all of Lillie’s property, plus he got money for the apartment that burned down, and he claimed all of her life insurance and all the retirement she had built up over her life. Caleb got every bit of money from Lillie’s estate. Jack had opened five CDs in his name for over $500,000, and put the money in five year CDs compounded daily at a 15% annual interest rate (which was common those days). Jack had told him not to touch that money, ever, and in five years he would have over a million in the bank. Jack was also sending him $400 a month so he could have spending money at college on top of paying the insurance on his Vette. Jack had been saving money for college, not only for Caleb but also for his deceased brother and sister too. He wanted to help him with that money so he could concentrate on his education and football.

If Caleb understood one thing in life, it was that money is power, and more importantly to him, freedom. He never spent much of his money, if ever. He extorted it from people and saved his own. He was pretty tight with his money and had become accustomed to other people giving him theirs.

“Well,” Anni said, “you’re talking to the CAU bank of football players. How much do you need?”

He elbowed her in good humor and said, “Well, I’m pretty special, so how about $10,000?”

“You ARE special,” she laughed, walking over to her safe to open it. He quickly followed her, looking over her shoulder. Anni stood for a second, a little uncomfortable with Caleb seeing the contents of her safe—nobody had ever seen this money, but then again, nobody had ever wanted to see this money.

She turned around and said, “Caleb, please go to the other room. What’s in this safe is private, and I’ve never shown it to anyone.”

Caleb looked into her eyes, cocking his head to one side. “Well, I hope after all we have done that I’m not just anyone,” he chuckled. “And I’m not going to knock you over the head and steal your money Anni, sheez.” The two laughed quietly. “But it’s okay. I guess you don’t really trust me, and I was just curious what was in there anyway, so I’ll go to the other room.”

Deep down inside, Anni did want to show someone else this money. She was proud of it and what it represented—her power in the program. She waited for a minute, watching him leave, then pursed her lips. “Well, I guess it doesn’t matter. You know I have money in the safe, and I do trust you. I guess there’s no harm in it, just turn your head for a minute.” Caleb did as he was told, and while he looked away she dialed in the combination. When she swung the door back, Caleb had to stifle whatever sound he was about to make. He had never seen so friggin’ much money in his life! There were stacks and stacks of $100 bills and stacks and stacks of $10,000 wraps.

“Are you in charge of all this money?” he half-shrieked.

“Yes I am,” she said proudly, “and you’re the first person ever to see it. Pretty impressive, huh?”

“I’ll say!” He shook his head. “Who decides what to do with all this money?”

“Only me, Caleb. It’s only me. I’m the only person who even knows how much money is in here, and there’s no accounting of this money whatsoever.”

“Gosh. How much money do you have in that safe?”

“1.4 million right now, and it just keeps flowing in.” Anni looked back at the money, smiled slightly, and then turned to Caleb. “You’re the only person ever to see this money because I trust you enough not to tell any other football players or EVER mention this money to anyone. You could bring down the entire CAU football program if the NCAA ever found out about this. Caleb, do you promise on your mother’s life never to tell ANYONE what you saw here today?”

He paused for a moment. “Sure, but you do know my mom is dead, don’t you?”

He could immediately see the look of regret in her eyes. “Caleb…I didn’t know. I’m sorry for using that expression. I…well, I just need you to know this money isn’t something that’s talked about to anyone, including players, coaches, or other administrators.”

“I understand,” Caleb said. “I won’t say a word. I promise.”

And Anni believed him. She was so wrapped up in her fantasy with Caleb that she believed he was perfect, that he loved her so much he would never do anything to hurt her. He was a straight-up knight in shining armor.

“So, about that money I asked for…” Caleb ventured.

Anni reached in, grabbed a $10,000 wrap, and handed it to him. “Don’t be silly with that money and go buy something expensive with it,” she told him with a mock slap to his arm. “If you need something expensive, you come through me, and only me, and I will arrange for it. Do you understand?”

“Yes ma’am,” he said, reaching over to kiss her. “I’ll see you tonight.”

On the way out, he told Beth he would try to call her, then he went right back to his apartment. As he left the building, those feelings of this isn’t right, Caleb came rushing over him again. He wanted to turn over a new leaf in life, but man, how could anyone walk away from that much money? It was going to be easy pickings.

Caleb finally knew the power that Anni wielded and intended to milk that bank for all its worth in the next four years. He had her right where he wanted her, and she could do to nothing stop it—the nude pictures of her in his bedroom meant he had proof of her infidelity, so he could destroy her marriage, her job, and even bring down the whole university with what he knew if she didn’t cooperate with whatever he wanted.

Caleb had one thing left to do before he went home—stop by the department store and buy one of those new VHS camcorders.