Countdown - Iris Johansen [4]
“Doesn’t matter.” He shook his head mournfully. “I’ll flunk it anyway. I should never have come here. Ron and Sandra were wrong. I can never make it in an Ivy League school.”
“The school would never have accepted you if they didn’t think you could make it. You did fine in high school. This is no different if you work hard enough.” She sighed as she realized she wasn’t getting to him through that haze of alcohol. “We’ll talk later. On your feet.”
“No.”
“Mike.” She bent so that she could stare him directly in the eyes. “I promised Sandra that I’d take care of you. That means not letting you start off your first year like a drunken sot or get thrown in jail for underage drinking. Do I keep my promises?”
He nodded. “But you shouldn’t have promised—I’m not a kid anymore.”
“Then act like it. You have two more minutes before I make you look like the asshole you’re being.”
His eyes widened in alarm and he jerked to his feet. “Damn you, Jane. I’m not—”
“Shut up.” She took his arm and propelled him toward the door. “I’m not feeling very warm toward you right now. I have a final tomorrow and I’ll have to stay up till dawn to make up for this trip to town.”
“Why?” he asked gloomily. “You’d ace it anyway. Some people have it. Some people don’t.”
“That’s bull. And a pretty pitiful excuse for being lazy.”
He shook his head. “Paul and I talked about it. It’s not fair. You’ve got it all. In a few months you’ll graduate with honors and make Eve and Joe proud. I’ll be lucky to make it through at the bottom of my class.”
“Stop blubbering.” She opened the door and pushed him out of the bar. “You won’t even make it through the first term if you don’t shape up.”
“That’s what Paul said.”
“Then you should have paid more attention.” She saw Paul standing on the sidewalk and asked, “Where’s his car parked?”
“Around the corner in the alley. All the parking spots were filled when we got here. Do you need help with him?”
“Not if he can walk,” she said grimly. “I hope you took his car keys away from him.”
“What kind of friend would I be if I didn’t?” He reached in his pocket and handed her the keys. “Do you want me to drive your car back to school?”
She nodded, took her keys out of her purse, and gave them to him. “It’s two blocks down. A tan Toyota Corolla.”
“She worked two jobs and bought it herself.” Mike shook his head. “Amazing, brilliant Jane. She’s the star. Did I tell you that, Paul? Everyone’s proud of Jane. . . .”
“Come on.” She grabbed his arm. “I’ll show you amazing. You’ll be lucky if I don’t deck you before I get you back to the dorm. I’ll see you back at your room, Paul.”
“Right.” He turned on his heel and set off down the street.
“Wonderful Jane . . .”
“Be quiet. I’m not going to let you blame your lack of purpose on me. I’ll help you, but you’re responsible for your life, just as I am for mine.”
“I know that.”
“You don’t know zilch right now. Listen, Mike, we both grew up on the streets, but we were lucky. We’ve been given a chance to climb out.”
“Not smart enough. Paul’s right. . . .”
“You’re all muddled.” The alley was yawning just ahead. Her hand tightened on the key as she pressed the unlock button and pushed him toward his Saturn. “You can’t even remember what—”
Shadow. Leaping forward. Arm raised.
She instinctively pushed Mike aside and ducked.
Pain!
In her shoulder, not her head, where the blow was aimed.
She whirled and kicked him in the belly.
He grunted and bent double.
She kicked him in the groin and listened with fierce satisfaction as he howled in agony. “Bastard.” She took a step toward him. “Can’t you—”
A bullet whistled by her ear.
Mike cried out.
Dear God. She hadn’t seen any gun.
No, her attacker was still doubled over, groaning in pain. Someone else was in the alley.
And Mike was falling to his knees.
Get him out of here.
She opened the door of the Saturn and pushed him onto the passenger seat.
Another shadow running toward her from the end of