Read Tartarus: Kingdom Wars II for Free Online

up, boys. We have an exclusive in the president’s office.”
    At that moment Sue Ling came toward us, her face expressionless.
    “There she is now!” Jana said cheerily.
    Sue didn’t acknowledge Jana. She walked up to me. “Grant, the professor would like to talk to you.”
    “Should I wait here?” Jana asked.
    “What?” Sue turned on Jana with fire in her eyes.
    “The exclusive,” Jana said, taken aback.
    “You don’t have the proper credentials,” Sue replied. “The exclusive was offered to a friend.”
    Turning her back, Sue walked away.
    “You can’t be serious,” Jana replied. “I was just doing my job.”
    Sue turned back. “Grant, are you coming?”
    Jana touched my arm, holding me back. “Grant is having coffee with me.”
    All of a sudden the proverbial rock and a hard place looked like the setting for a vacation retreat.
    “Please don’t do this, ladies,” I said.
    “The professor’s waiting,” Sue replied.
    Jana intertwined her arm with mine. “Bruno’s? Or would you prefer a coffeehouse?”
    “Sue, would it be possible for me to meet with the professor this afternoon?”
    Her reply was an icy stare.
    “Jana,” I pleaded. “How about lunch? You can pick the restaurant.”
    She released me and stepped away. “I see—”
    “It’s just that this is really important. Future of the world important.”
    “Can I quote you on that, Mr. Austin?” Jana said.
    Sue interceded for me. “You do and our friendship’s over.”
    “What friendship?” Jana replied, pivoting on her heel. “Come on, boys. Let’s get out of here.”

    “Sue, wait for me!”
    I’d lingered to make a final—unsuccessful—appeal to Jana, then had to run to catch up with Sue, who was propelled by a full head of steam.
    “Don’t you think you’re overreacting a bit?” I said. “Jana’s been your friend for a long time.”
    Without slowing down, Sue said, “She always has to have her way, no matter who it hurts. Everything’s always about her.”
    “All I’m saying is that under the circumstances you should cut each other a little slack.”
    “A little slack?” Sue exclaimed. “She was out of line at the press conference and you know it.”
    While I was no stranger to Sue Ling’s verbal jabs, I’d never seen her this upset. We walked the remainder of the distance to the president’s office in silence.

    Jana stormed across the parking lot like a tornado in search of a trailer park. Ostermann and the cameraman had to step lively to keep up with her.
    Why is Sue Ling acting like this? Of all people, she should understand.
    Jana yanked open the passenger door of the news van. She paused, glancing back at the campus. Ostermann climbed behind the wheel on the driver’s side. The cameraman slid the side door open and loaded his equipment.
    Jana slammed her door shut. “We’re not done here.”
    With determined strides she reversed course. Ostermann and the cameraman exchanged glances. The cameraman shrugged and pulled out his equipment again.
    At the top of the steps linking the parking lot to the campus there was a sign.
    A DMINISTRATION B UILDING
    An arrow pointed left. Jana turned right toward the heart of the campus.
    The hallways could have been any small college in America between classes. Students strolled purposefully, but not hurriedly, to their next class. Clusters of friends formed, talking, shifting, and reshifting their textbooks as they walked.
    Outside a classroom two girls huddled close together, their foreheads nearly touching. Suddenly a head popped up as though she’d sniffed an approaching threat. She turned in Jana’s direction. Her eyes lit with recognition. She said something to her friend.
    The girls looked Jana over as she drew closer, starting with her shoes and working their way up to her makeup and hair.
    They reminded Jana of herself and Sue a decade ago at San Diego State. On any other day Jana would have viewed a cluster of coeds as a prime source of information.