Chapter Five: The Thirty-Two-Million Substitute

Costaro wrote a figure in the margin: ten percent. “Of my next transfer, for Northport's academy. Agree, and I go.” Lin made the demands harsher: thirty-two million fixed, paid within twenty-four hours; another three million if River Crown won the title; ten percent of Costaro's future fee; and permission for him to play Northport's weekend cup tie. River Crown refused the last point. Lin anonymously gave a finance reporter the payment schedules from the other bids. Two hours later, afraid of being beaten to the player, River Crown signed everything. Costaro wore Northport colors one final time that weekend. He scored once and assisted twice. When substituted, twenty-one thousand people stood in silence, then shouted his name.