Page 9 (1/2)

It took a few calls, a little waiting, a fewto finally meet my next interview

I met Ricardo Cortez at the Hard Rock Hotel’s massive, central bar, where we sat across from each other and nursed our drinks Mine hite wine His was a beer Both of our glasses were s won and lost Mostly lost

"You were the referee for the Baker/Marquez fight," I said

He looked down into his beer I suspected he often looked down into his beer for answers That I quickly ascertained he was an alcoholic no longer surprisedneed and addiction to the stuff did surprise me

It was alhts

Alo, Hanner had toldother minds - and not just those closest to me And not just read

Manipulate

Jesus

For now, I didn’t want to think aboutanother’s mind - hell, it was all I could do to exist comfortably in my own

Finally, Ricardo looked up fro have you been a referee?"

"Eight years"

"Have you ever refereed a bout where a fighter was killed?"

Ricardo was a strong-looking Hispanic hat appeared to be the beginning of a tattoo under the right sleeve of his jacket It looked like a snake tail In fact, I was certain it was a rattle We were ain, the bar was so expansive that it was hard to tell where it ended and where it started Nearby, a woman jumped up and down at the nickel slot machine I think she’d just won a shitload of nickels

Ricardo ignored the excited woman Instead, he lifted his beer to his lips, and while he was guzzling he gestured for the waiter for another Yeah, he was an alcoholic

When he finally pulled away, he said, "That was my first death"

"Hard on you?"

"What do you think?"

"I’ it was a shitty day for everyone"

"Yup"

The waitress set another beer before him, and Ricardo picked it up instantly

I said, "Do you blame yourself for his death?"

"No one else to bla?"

Ricardo shook his head "It was ets to that point"

"Except it was a fluke punch Everyone agrees Most people think the fight was pretty even up to that point"

"No, it wasn’t"

I blinked This was new inforators loved new inforator was onto so I liked that

"How so?" I asked

Ricardo rubbed his face and I saw the scarring on his own knuckles Ah, he had been a fighter himself In fact, now I could see that his nose had undoubtedly been broken a few tihter Probably why he went into reffing fights instead of participating in the was easier on the nose