Chapter 16

Boston, Philadelphia, Charlotte, and the rest of the twenty cities on the east coast leg of the Barrier Riff tour all melted into one continuous concert for Don. They finished one show, packed up and slept as the headed for the next venue. During the afternoon, while the roadies set up the stage, Don was on the phone with Morty and Ted Hargrove. Morty and Ted were trying to get an out of court settlement negotiated.

"John can have the rights to every song he wrote or sang," Don said. "But his claims to 'Lost Without You', 'Love's Sweet Pain', and the songs on the first album are bullshit."

Hailey watched him from across the bus. Tonight's show in Atlanta was to be the last on the tour. Don had been distracted for most of the east coast swing. The music was beginning to suffer. She heard it last night in Miami. Don missed a whole verse in 'Love's Sweet Pain'.

"Give him the income for producing the albums, Ted. He did do some of that. We all did. But if that will get him off the rights to MY songs, do it. Okay. I'll be back in Central City in two days. See if we can get John and his people into a conference room and let's get this settled."

Don closed the phone and leaned back in the seat. This legal stuff was getting to him. He had no energy. He was tired again and before he knew it he was asleep.

"He's doing too much, Stix," Hailey said as she watched Don stalking around the arena, talking on the cell phone again.

Stix nodded.

"The music is suffering."

"Yeah, Axe missed a verse last night," Bass chimed in.

"I'll see what I can do," Stix said. "But I don't think it will do any good."

"Let me take a shot, Stix," Hailey said, nervously.

"Are you sure?" Bass asked.

"Don't mess things up between the two of you, Hailey," Stix said softly, putting his hand on her shoulder. "I saw that kiss at New Year's. I'll talk to him."

"Thanks, Stix, but I want to do this. If it messes things up, then they were already messed up and I just wasn't seeing it. We need to have fun tonight. You two go grab some dinner."

Both Stix and Bass looked hard at her, but Hailey held her ground. Finally, they wandered off in search of the perfect fried chicken dinner.

"I'm telling you it has to be that way, Morty," Don said as Hailey walked up beside him. "Two more minutes, Hailey," Don said covering the mouthpiece.

"Say good bye, Don."

"What?"

Hailey reached up and covered his hand with hers. "Say good bye to Morty, Don. Either you end the call or I will."

Don ended the call and the turned on Hailey. "What the hell was that all about, Hailey? That call was important. You have no right..."

"That call was not important. Not tonight. Tomorrow, maybe, but not tonight. The MUSIC is important tonight, Don. This is our LAST show. We need you there tonight. Not half there, not worrying about what John is doing. We need you on stage with us tonight. You weren't there last night, but you WILL be there tonight if I have to take that damn phone and smash it."

"What the..."

"Save the self-righteous act, Don. I may not be a permanent member of the band, but the show reflects on me too. And last night reflected badly on all of us. Last night we were the Barrier Riff that John predicted we would be. We were out of sync. We missed notes, hell, you missed an entire verse. It can't happen again. I won't stand for it."

"Just who the..."

"Shut up, Don. This is for your own good. Give me the cell phone, go get on the bus, put the seat back and take a nap. I'll wake you in time for the show."

Don started to say something, but stopped when he saw the determination in her eyes. With an exaggerated sigh, he handed her the cell phone and walked off toward the bus.

"Hey, Axe," Bass yelled as he saw his band mate head toward the bus.

Don frowned but stopped.

"Stix found the best place for fried chicken, want to join us?" Bass asked as Stix drove up in a cab.

"Why not?" Don replied.

The ride to the restaurant was quiet. Luckily, the restaurant wasn't far from the arena and they were quickly seated. Stix and Bass could both see that Don was annoyed. They waited patiently for the storm that was plainly on the horizon.

"Just who the hell does she think she is telling me to get off the cell phone and go rest? Who is the leader of this chicken outfit any way? I am. The show last night was fine. I mean, sure it wasn't our best, but it was fine. Wasn't it?"

"It was schlock, Axe," Bass said.

Don stared at him surprised. Then he turned to Stix.

"Well some of us were fine, but the guitar player pretty much sucked, Axe," Stix said.

Don stared at his two friends. Stix and Bass smiled. They had boxed him into the middle of the booth. He couldn't get out without at least one of them moving.

"Oh, come on, it wasn't that bad."

"If my friend Axe Woodson had heard that guy, he'd have fired his ass," Stix said sternly.

"Et tu, Brute?" Don frowned.

"Seriously, Axe. You gotta stop. This lawsuit bullshit can wait one more day. We need you there tonight, not just the guitar. We need Axe Woodson, leader of Barrier Riff."

Don looked back and forth between his friends. The waitress came and took their order. The meal even showed up before he said anything. Charlie and Wes chatted about life back in Central City while they waited and ate.

Don finished his entrée and pushed the plate back to the middle of the table. "I'm going to walk back to the arena, Charlie. Take care of my tab please."

Stix nodded and let his friend out of the booth. Bass looked worried, but Stix smiled. "He's fine, Bass. We just set some ugly truths before him. Give him time to think. Flip you for the check?"

"You're on."

The crew was in the middle of the sound check when Hailey returned to the arena. She didn't see Don on the bus and she was worried that she would find him talking on the phone with Morty and Ted. He wasn't in the arena. He was, but she couldn't see him as he sat in the stands in the back on the second level.

"Ms. Marshall, can you help us get the level set?" the sound engineer asked when he saw her arrive.