Countdown - Iris Johansen [15]
Jane watched her walk away. Pat was almost as awkward at personal interchanges as Jane was. Strange they shared that reticence when they were so different in other ways. Pat had been caught off guard by Jane’s words at this sensitive moment. It was because of the very sadness of this time that the words had tumbled from Jane’s lips. She had lost one friend, and she wished with all her heart that she’d been able to tell him how much he meant to her. She wasn’t going to make that mistake again.
“Jane.” Paul Donnell was standing beside her, his face pale. “I’m sorry. I didn’t get a chance to talk to you before, but I want you to know how— I can’t tell you how I regret not walking you back to the car that night. I didn’t think— I hope you don’t blame me for—”
“I don’t blame anyone but the bastard who killed Mike. And how could you know it would happen?”
He nodded quickly, jerkily. “That’s right. I couldn’t know, but I still regret— I liked Mike. I never wanted anything to happen to him. I just had to tell you that I—” He turned away. “I just wanted to say I’m sorry.”
She watched him walk away. He was truly upset. Upset enough to disturb that slick facade he usually maintained. Perhaps he and Mike had been closer friends than she’d thought. Or perhaps he did feel guilty for not being there when Mike had needed him. A thought occurred to her. Or perhaps it was—
“Come on, Jane.” Joe was beside her, taking her arm. “I’ll drive you back to the cottage.”
“Okay.” Then she suddenly shook her head. “No, I have to go to the airport. I’m going to say good-bye to Sandra and then go back to school. There’s something I have to do there.”
“Jane, take a few days off. You need—”
“There’s something I have to do.” She turned away. “I’ll be okay, Joe.”
“The hell you will. You’re not okay right now. Look, Sandra’s upset. She doesn’t really blame you. It wouldn’t make sense.”
“She blames me,” she added sadly. “She blames everyone and everything right now. She can’t even stand to look at me. I know she doesn’t want to hurt me. She can’t help it. Her world’s upside down. You and Eve need to comfort her and it’s better if I’m not around.”
“She’s not the only one who needs comforting,” Joe muttered. “You need us, dammit.”
“I have you. You’re always with me.” She tried to smile. “I don’t have to have you in the same room or holding my hand. I believe Sandra does right now. I’ll call you after I get back to my dorm. Okay?”
“No. But I guess it will have to be. You’re not going to give in.” His lips tightened. “But I’m not going to let you go back there unprotected. I’ve hired a security guard to tail you until Manning’s investigation turns up a reason for that attack. He’ll be waiting at your dorm when you get there.”
“I don’t care. If it makes you feel better.”
“You’re damn right it makes me feel better.” He opened the door of the car for her. “No one is going to hurt you.”
It was too late. She was already hurting. She couldn’t erase the image of Mike lying in that car with the blood pouring from his chest, begging her to help him.
She could feel her eyes stinging. Not now. Don’t start crying again now.
The time for tears was over.
Paul.”
Paul Donnell stiffened and turned around as he was climbing the steps to his dorm. “Jane?” He smiled. “What are you doing here? I thought you’d be staying behind in Atlanta. May I help you?”
“I believe you can.” She reached over and opened the passenger door of her car. “Get in.”
His smile faded. “I’m afraid you’ve caught me at a bad time. I’m behind in my homework since I took time out to go to the funeral. Suppose I call you tomorrow.”
“Suppose you get in the car,” she said curtly. “Don’t play games with me, Paul. Do you want to talk to me or do you want to talk to the police?”
“That sounds like a threat. I’ve been upset enough because I lost my friend, and I don’t need—”
“Was he your friend? Do you betray your friends, Paul?”
He moistened his lips. “I don’t know what you mean.”
“Do you want me to explain? Do you want me to get out of this car and shout it so