Chapter 2 — The Chess Tournament
The Grand Hawthorne Hotel was hosting the annual Riverton Senior Chess Championship.
George had played chess competitively when Rachel was young.
Then life became busy.
Work.
Family.
Years passed.
He stopped entering tournaments.
This weekend was supposed to be his return.
Rachel had driven him there herself.
He had won his first game that morning.
During the break before round two, George sat at Table 14 drinking coffee.
His hearing aid began producing a faint feedback whistle.
He removed it.
Placed it beside his scorebook.
Then went to the restroom.
When he returned, it was gone.
He searched under the table.
Checked his pockets.
Asked nearby players.
Nothing.
Because round two was beginning, George reluctantly played without it.
He could barely understand the tournament announcements.
He asked his opponent to repeat things several times.
Afterward, Rachel arrived and helped him search again.
That search led to the front desk.
And now the hearing aid was sitting inside a hotel evidence bag.
Rachel asked Natalie:
“Who is the tournament director?”
“Colin Mercer.”
Rachel knew the name.
Colin had been moving around the ballroom all morning.
Clipboard.
Dark suit.
Constantly checking boards.
“Why would he tell you to hold a medical device?”
Natalie looked uncomfortable.
“He said there was a rules question.”
George read Rachel’s lips badly.
“Rules?”
Rachel typed the explanation into her phone and showed him.
George’s expression changed instantly.
He wrote back:
WHAT RULE?
Natalie finally answered.
“Someone reported that it might be an electronic communication device.”
Rachel stared at her.
“It’s a hearing aid.”
Natalie nodded.
“I know that now.”
“You knew it when you bagged it.”
Natalie looked away.
Then George held out his hand.
Rachel gave him the hearing aid.
He placed it back in his ear.
Adjusted the volume.
The room slowly returned.
Then George looked directly at Natalie.
“Now I can hear you.”
He pointed toward the ballroom.
“Bring me Colin Mercer.”