E VA N M A N D E R Y
Chapter 18 ***
A
T THE FAR-LEF T END of the Planation Estates driving range, David
jerry-rigged an instrument of torture. Along the ground, he set pair of clubs, pointed in parallel to the Phase Three clubhouse in
the distance. About a yard in front of the clubs, he twisted an upright broken shaft into the ground. For the pièce de résistance, he clipped a five-iron to a nylon strap that attached to a blue Kevlar vest. David gestured for Billy to duck his head so that he could place this macabre “training aid” around Billy’s neck. The range was deserted. Seniors didn’t care much for practice. Nevertheless, he looked up and down the practice area self-consciously. The boy was understandably reluctant to don a device that could only have been designed by a sadist. “Seriously?” “Seriously.” “What does it do?” “It connects the club to your chest so that you’re forced to hit the ball with your body instead of your hands.” “How can I hit a ball without my hands?” “You promised to trust me completely. That was the deal.” Billy sighed in surrender. It was true. That was the deal he’d made 193