On the phone that night, Marvin and Priscilla talked about events.

"You did the right thing, dear, by winning your game. Don't get caught up in whatever's going on. You're better than that," Priscilla said.

"Uh, yeah, but I'm kinda scared," Marvin replied, "I mean ... I like just got outta the hospital and stuff."

"I once heard someone say that the definition of 'courage' is being afraid and still doing the right thing. That's you, Marvin ... you have courage. And don't worry, I can hire a security detail to look after you if you wish."

"Nah," Marvin said, "I don't think the mob or whoever it is would try the same stunt twice. Kinda too obvious."

"Maybe, maybe not. But you're my husband and I'll be the one to decide if you need a security team."

"More like my boss," Marvin muttered, although, perhaps for the best, Priscilla didn't hear him.

# # #

Marvin won his game the next night and the Doublejumpers swept the series as the oddsmakers had predicted. The team had a day off after coming home, before their next series with the Baltimore Breeches.

The off day, though, merely meant that the Doublejumpers didn't plan an evening match. There was still afternoon practice; Coach Baba Dudut didn't believe in the team having too much leisure and ran drills and scrimmages at every opportunity. It was towards the end of practice that Coach asked Marvin to come to his office.

"Sit down," Coach said as Marvin entered, indicating a chair on the opposite side of Coach's desk. Coach's tone was noticeably less sharp with Marvin than usual, and Marvin picked up on it right away.

Somewhat surprised, Marvin took the proferred seat. "Wassup, Coach?" he asked cautiously.

"Oh, I just wanted to go over something with you, is all," Coach said.

"Uh, sure ... " Marvin answered.

"Well, you see, you've been telling me some kind of odd things that you've observed, and you also told me about this supposed visit from Cliff Arachnida, the National Checker League Deputy Commissioner."

"It ain't 'supposed', Coach, he really did ... "

"Oh, sure, sure I believe you. Certainly I do. It's just a little ... oh, never mind, let's just say 'disturbing' is all."

"You ain't kiddin'," Marvin said.

"Well, you also mentioned some issues with fifth board substitutions and lost matches. Now, I don't let players question my decisions or put me in a bad light. But I will admit to a couple of surprises in those matches. And then you mentioned a couple of other similar things happening around the league."

"Just tryin' to bring stuff up, Coach, when, you know ... "

"Oh I get it, Marvin," Coach interrupted, "but I had to think for a while. It's really easy to get paranoid and jump to conclusions. A lot of trouble can come from false accusations."

Marvin sat upright. "I ain't accusin' nobody of nothin'," he said, "but I sorta thought I oughta tell you and stuff ... "

"Yes, yes, I get it ... and 'stuff'," Coach said, "and I think we can do something about it, without you risking another attack."

Now, Coach had never said or even suggested that the attack on Marvin had anything to do with the strange events in the NCL and on the Doublejumper team. But after the visit from Cliff, who said Marvin won too much, and Coach's reaction saying Marvin needed to look out for himself and maybe not win the second game against Kansas City, the conclusion was obvious ... Coach was definitely connecting the dots for Marvin, even if unintentionally.

"So anyhow," Coach went on, "after you won that game that you were, um, advised to lose, at least according to your story, I wondered just how safe you were ... assuming everything you said is true, which I've taken as a working assumption, at least until I learn otherwise."

If this is a vote of confidence, Marvin thought, it's a pretty weak one. But before Marvin could say anything, Coach continued, "Anyhow, I've taken some action."

"Action?"

"Right. I've been in touch with the FBI to alert them to a possible connection among all these events. Now, the Detroit police didn't get anywhere with your assault and they've already moved on, without trying to put two and two together. But the FBI is quite interested. So I've set up a meeting with them."

"You're going to meet with them?"

"No, Marvin, you are. You can give them the whole story and let them ask questions. I think it's the best way to get to the bottom of this."

Coach steepled his fingers, paused for a moment, and looked Marvin straight in the eyes.

"Unless, of course, you want to change your story." Coach smiled. The smile was neither warm nor friendly.

"No, I ain't gonna change nothing," Marvin said, clearly on the verge of anger. "I told the truth and that's the honest truth--- I mean, about telling the truth."

"And stuff," Coach concluded. "Well, look, given events, you might be at risk. Maybe one of the mobs is involved and is keeping an eye on you. If they saw you go to the FBI offices they might want to ... shall we say ... put a stop to anything further, if you get my meaning."

Marvin did. "So what then?" he asked.

"There's a place outside of town where you're to meet. It will look like you just went for a drive in the country and stopped at an inn for ... well, a beer or something."

"But I don't drink and drive."

Coach looked annoyed. "Okay then, you stopped for a glass of milk and some warm cookies. Whatever. Now, will you do it or will you chicken out at this late stage? Or have you been lying all along?"

Now Marvin was angry again. He stood up. "I ain't no chicken and I ain't no liar," he said forcefully, "and you might be the Coach and stuff but you ain't got no right to say it. Yeah, I'll do it. Lemme know the details."

Marvin turned to go but Coach said, "Hold on there, Marvey-Boy." He took a sheet of paper from his desk and held it out. "Take this. Full instructions. You go after tomorrow night's game."

# # #

Before going home, Marvin read over Coach's instructions. He was to go to a tavern some 20 miles outside of Detroit, out in the country, immediately after his game in the match with Boston, which would probably end by about 10 PM. He was expected at the tavern around 11, where an FBI team would meet with him.

"Should be okay," Marvin thought, but he decided to discuss it with Priscilla when he got home.

Priscilla was also a little unsure, but said, "I think you should go ahead with it. Coach wouldn't set you up with the FBI unless he wanted to see this through."

Now, Marvin and Priscilla knew each other quite well, and Marvin detected something in Priscilla's voice and phrasing. He just couldn't quite put his finger on it, but there was more to what she was saying than she actually let on.

"All right, then," Marvin said, and the discussion ended much more quickly than he had expected it would.

# # #

The next evening came around. Marvin, on first board, was to play the Boston star Billy "Baked Beans" Benjamin. The game began but Marvin, thinking of what lay ahead that night, had some trouble focusing.

The game reached the following position, with Marvin to play. Marvin, not doing so well this evening, was a piece down but might be able to find a draw.

Marvin glanced at his watch. It was already nearly 10 PM. He would have to wrap this up and get going.

So, he quickly made his move.

---

Marvin has a lot on his mind; hopefully you are not yourself in anything like the kind of situation he finds himself in. Then you can focus on the position and see if you can pull off a draw. Give it a try, then click on Read More for the rest of this month's installment and the solution to the problem.

Solution

Marvin played 7-10? and there was a collective gasp from the hometown crowd.

Baked Beans replied with 18-23 and the game went as follows.

10-15 23-26 25-22 26-31 15-11?---A 31-27 11x20 27-24 20x27 32x23 Black Wins.

A---Marvin is desperate; 15-10 would have prolonged the game although it's still a Black win.

Marvin had lost.

"You coulda played 7-11 back there and got a draw," Baked Beans said. Lookit."

Baked Beans quickly showed the White draw.

7-11 16-20 11-15 18-23 25-22 23-27 15-19 (other moves also draw) 27-31 19-23 31-27 22-18 20-24 23-19 32-28 18-22 27-32 22-26 32-27 26-22 etc.; Drawn.

"Somethin' musta been the matter witcha tonight," Baked Beans concluded.

But Marvin had already headed for the locker room.

Marvin wanted to be on time. At least, he thought, there won't be any traffic to speak of this time of night. He sped out of the parking lot and made his way to the Interstate leading south out of town.

He made good time and had no trouble finding the exit. The meeting was set for the Wayward Inn, just off the exit.

Marvin drove off onto the access road. Sure enough, there was a structure that looked like an old tavern or restaurant off to the side, but the funny thing was that there were no lights and as far as he could tell, no cars in the parking lot.

He pulled in. Sure enough, he could make out a sign in the darkness that said 'Wayward Bar and Grill.' But the parking lot was littered with debris and broken glass. Marvin stopped the car and got out. He went up to the door of the seemingly abandoned building, and unsurprisingly found that it was locked.

"Gee," he said, "ain't this odd. What now?"

He quickly found out, for at that moment, three black SUVs tore into the parking lot and sped up to Marvin, their headlights pointing directly at him and catching him in their glare.

"Not this again ... " Marvin said, preparing to make a run for his car, even though he knew he had little chance of making it.

Sure enough, half a dozen men poured out of the cars, flashlights in one hand and 9mm Glock automatics in the other. "FBI! Don't move!" a voice called.

Marvin stopped and stood still. "Ah, good," he said, "I wondered where you guys were ... "

"Hands on your head!" the voice behind one of the flashlights commanded. "On the ground, now!"

"What ... "

"I said on the ground, now!"

At that three of the men reached Marvin and quickly took him to the pavement, flat on his stomach.

"Marvin J. Mavin," one of them said, "you're under arrest for suspicion of conspiracy, wire fraud, mail fraud, corruption, and involvement with a proscribed organization. You have the right to remain silent ... "

Marvin, bewildered and not just a little frightened, indeed remained silent, having no idea what had gone wrong and why he was being arrested.

To be concluded.

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Today's problem was adapted from a Jim Loy composition featured in Bill Salot's Problem Contest #6.