Page 17 of Counter Attack

“Nathan Aaron Landry! If you hadn’t cheated, I would have been valedictorian of our graduating class in high school. That—”

“Cheat? Me? You’re crazy. My GPA was half a point higher than yours. So how do you figure I cheated?”

“It was only higher because you took shortcuts and easy subjects our senior year. I took chemistry and physics while you took health and PE.” Valedictorian of Pearl Springs High School would have looked good on her resume and might have swayed the powers-that-be at Irvine to accept her application.

“I took physics in the tenth grade. And I worked my rear off taking extra classes. So don’t tell me I cheated.”

No way did he take physics as a sophomore. Even though they hadn’t started dating until their senior year, surely she would have remembered that. When she looked up, his jaw was set, and all his face needed to burst into flame was a lighter.

“Are you telling me that you broke up with me because I beat you out for valedictorian?”

The hard edge of his voice scraped her heart. “No.” It wasn’t a total lie. “We were going in different directions. And it was for the best. You ended up being content to stay in Russell County and work for my grandfather before you took the Pearl Springs chief job, and I want something bigger.”

Why had she brought up something that happened almost twenty years ago, anyway? And if he took physics before their senior year, that meant she’d been totally off base all these years. “Did you really take physics in the tenth grade?” Even to her own ears, her voice sounded small.

“Have I ever lied to you?”

“No.” How could she have gotten it so wrong? She flinched at the answer her conscience gave her—she’d wanted the honor of being valedictorian. Whether or not she got it had nothing to do with not being accepted at UC Irvine. That had been on her and no one else. “Let’s talk about something else.”

“No. I want to know why you’re still mad about me being valedictorian.”

She sighed. “I’m not mad, I promise ... it’s just that Dad dying that year and then losing out to you and not getting into the university I wanted was all mixed up in my head.”

“Your senior year was tough.” His voice was softer. “But you went to a great criminal justice school, maybe the best there is now. And it sure worked out better for you to be near your grandparents.”

“I know.”

Nathan stopped, and with a jolt, Alex realized they were atPearl Springs’ one traffic light. She glanced to the left and could just barely see the roof of the high school they’d just discussed.

“Are you hungry?” Nathan nodded toward the building to his left. “The lunch rush is over at the diner, if you’d like a burger.”

He’d never been one to hold a grudge. Her mouth watered. After a week of hospital food, one of Pete Harrel’s thick, juicy hamburgers sounded like heaven. She told him so, and he turned left and parked at the Corner Diner.

“You sure you feel up to going in?”

“I’ll be fine. Pete’s burgers don’t taste as good unless you’re there.”

Nathan came around and opened her door. She took his arm when he offered it. “Thanks. And I’m sorry about earlier. I know you weren’t the reason I didn’t make the cut for Irvine.”

11

Alexis leaned on Nathan’s arm, her gait measured as they approached Pete Harrel’s Corner Diner. He couldn’t believe she’d thought he’d cheated all those years ago. At least maybe now she realized he hadn’t. Nathan grabbed the door and held it open for her. Once inside, the harsh fluorescent lighting highlighted the dark rings under her eyes and the pasty color of her skin.

She wasn’t up to this. “You okay?” he asked softly.

“No, but point me toward the nearest booth.” She took a breath and winced. “I am not giving in to this.”

He half supported Alexis and guided her to a red booth, where she eased onto the cracked vinyl seat and rested her head against the back. After a minute, she sat up straighter and looked around. “Oh my. This place hasn’t changed since...”

“Before we were born?”

“Yeah.” She caught her breath. “Ethel is still working? She has to be past seventy.”

Nathan looked up in time to see Pete’s wife scurrying toward them. He chuckled. “Couldn’t tell it by me.”

The older lady took out her pad. “The usual for my favoritepolice chief? Hamburger, medium well, mustard, pickles, and onion, and no fries?”

“Yes, ma’am.”

---