[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]

 He s gone. He shrugged out of his ninja jacket, and covered Hemmi s shoulders.
 How is she?
 Bad, but I think we ve got the bleeding under control. From across campus, the
party let out. Kids hopped up on sugar and dancing and free time broke the spell of fear
that held us. Oddly dressed, our least likely heroes came scampering along the
walkway, sending that evil back into the night.
Walking down the sidewalk, Chuck arrived, his beard a black scarf around his
neck and his walkie talkie in hand.  Ambulance is on its way, Max.
Hemmi helped me to stand, my ass cramping, each step a misery. Max was aptly
seeing to Laura, comforting Hemmi and encouraging me.  Let s go. Finn, no
complaining.
Exactly as he intended, I smiled against all odds and Hemmi gave a tear-choked
laugh.  Don t be a wuss, Mr. Finn.
* * * *
 Tell me what you remember. Trooper Gervase, Smithfield s resident trooper,
questioned me. He was distractingly handsome and unerringly professional. I d known
him for years; I had actually been handcuffed by him once, which had seemed titillating
at the time.
I had four stitches in the meat of my butt where, low in the curve of the left cheek,
they d twisted and dug that damn arrow free with a teaspoon. At least it felt that way.
I d been given a tetanus shot and some painkillers and was discharged without my
underwear.
Evan joined us as we stood talking in the stark, grubby waiting room. He shook
hands with Tony and took a seat.
Cover Me
I declined a chair.
 We left the dance early and walked back toward the dorm. Hemmi tripped on his
hem&  I stopped. That seemed funny to me. Ironic. Maybe it was the painkillers?  I fell
forward. I guess he jerked Laura into the crossfire. I hit the ground right behind them. I
didn t see anything else.
Laura was struck twice more before Max and Hemmi had carried her to safety. Her
injuries were sobering. Although the arrow in her shoulder was mostly superficial, the
others required surgery. Tears to her ligaments, her tendons, a punctured lung she d
been blessed that the arrow hadn t pierced her aorta, a major organ or her heart. She
was recovering but would remain hospitalized for a few days. It was frightening and
confusing.
Those arrows had been well-placed.
My idiotic costume, tattered and discarded, may have saved my life.
 Any idea of who would attack you?
 Well, Max was hired to protect one of my students, Hemmingway Sparks. Tony
nodded, evidently having come from the scene and been brought up to speed. I
wondered how those two got along. They were so similar. Relaxed from the codeine,
my mind was wandering. I focused carefully on my answers. I wasn t used to the effects
of narcotics. I rarely even took a Motrin unless I d been plowed by Max.
 Mike, I m certain those arrows were intended for you. You know that, right?
I concentrated on Tony s words.  It had occurred to me although I can t imagine
why I would be a target.
I remembered the tie pin.
 Do any of the students carry a grudge against you? Maybe a former student or a
staff member?
 No, not really. At least not to my knowledge. I teach drama and creative writing.
It s not like I inspire a lot of hatred.
Evan snorted.
 Are you involved with anyone on campus?
 Uh. Not really. We all knew what that meant. I flushed and Evan sighed.
L.B. Gregg
Tony gave me a smile.  Mike, can you think of anyone who would have reason to
harm you?
I thought back to the string of meaningless encounters I d had over the years.  No.
Never.
 Any idea who d do this to Laura?
 Hemmi fell. This is supposed to be the stalker, Colton. I can t imagine anyone
else doing something so deranged. I think she was hit accidentally.
 Maybe the first time but getting shot three times isn t accidental.
He was right.
 Or without skill. They must have used a specialized bow, Evan added.  You
don t have an archery team, do you?
 No. Weapons of any kind aren t permitted. No hunting knives or paint ball guns.
Nothing. Not even sling shots.
Tony s radio squawked and he moved to turn down the volume.  This is the third
events in two days. They re related. Can you think of any reason all three of you were
targeted? Because Max wasn t.
 The only thing the three of us have in common is outdoor club, the school, the
play they both have leads they re in my advisee group it s all related to Dalton.
 I agree. I spoke with your friend Max.
I glanced at Evan, who rolled his eyes.
 He called for a dorm search almost before the ambulances were loaded. We
searched the campus. The shooter appears to have been on the roof of the science
building. We ll know more at daybreak.
 So it had to be someone who knows the campus well and has access to the
buildings.
 He hasn t ruled out the California stalker, but this all points to a person in the
school community.
Fatigue made me slump a bit.  I just can t imagine one of our kids doing this.
Tony went on.  The only things of interest he found in the dorm were a few
incidents of alcohol possession.
Cover Me
 I hope he confiscated everything.
Tony had circles under his dark eyes and he looked as tired as I felt. His gaze was
determined.  Mike, if you think of anything, I want you to call me.
Call him? I blinked away any innuendo. The guy was involved and I was high on
codeine.  Yes. Of course, Tony. I ll be more coherent tomorrow. I ll call you.
It was late, I was hurt, and for the first time since I d had my wisdom teeth yanked
as a freshman, I was stoned out of my gourd.
When I returned to the dorm, my ass numb, the codeine tablets warming me from
the pit of my belly, Max was waiting, cross-legged on the floor outside my door. He was
visibly exhausted. He also looked irritated, or perhaps worried. I couldn t tell. I came
haltingly up the stairs, the shot of Novocaine beginning to wear off and my stitches
pulling.
Max drew himself up as I fumbled around, unable to insert my key into the lock. [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]