Page 19 of Inferno

Chapter 6

Prissy was livid.

Half an hour ago, she’d been on her way out the door to meet with Rose Cohen’s auxiliary league when Manning’s high school principal called to inform her that Manning had gotten into a fight with another student.

She’d rushed right over to Coronado High. Upon her arrival, she’d found her son sprawled in a chair across from Principal Henderson’s desk, an ice pack pressed to his left eye. When he saw Prissy, a look of dread had crossed his face before his expression turned sullen.

Seething with fury, Prissy listened with forced composure as the principal explained to her what had happened that morning. “According to other students who witnessed the fight,” Henderson said at the end of his account, “Manning threw the first punch.”

Prissy glanced sharply at her son. “Is that true?”

Lowering the ice pack from his face, Manning mumbled, “Yeah.”

“What?Why did you do that?”

Manning fell mutinously silent, glaring down at his sneakers.

“I asked you a question,” Prissy snapped. “Why did you start the fight?”

Her son scowled. “I didn’t start it. I finished it.”

Taken aback by his brash response, Prissy shot a glance at Principal Henderson. The man was frowning, his eyes narrowed with disapproval.

Striving for patience—and resisting the maternal instinct to fuss over her son’s swelling eye—Prissy prodded, “So you threw the first punch, but you didn’t start the fight?”

“No, ma’am.”

When Manning stubbornly offered no more, it took everything Prissy had not to reach over and smack him upside his head.

“I certainly share your frustration, Dr. Wolf,” Principal Henderson interjected. “None of the eyewitnesses saw what actually led to the altercation, or so they claim. The other boy and his friends aren’t cooperating, and neither is Manning.”

“Whereisthe other student?” Prissy asked. “I’d like to meet with him and his parents to get to the bottom of this incident.”

Principal Henderson grimaced. “I’m afraid that won’t be possible today. Rory had to be taken to the hospital. His, ah, nose may be broken.”

Prissy gasped, whipping her head around to stare incredulously at Manning. She couldn’t believe that her own child had sent another student to the hospital.The hospital!

“What on earth has gotten into you?” she demanded furiously.

Manning slumped lower in his chair, radiating teenage rebellion and resentment.

Principal Henderson cleared his throat, drawing Prissy’s angry gaze back to him. “Because Manning violated our no-fighting policy, I’m afraid I have no choice but to suspend him for three days.” The man wore a pained expression. “I’m sorry, Dr. Wolf. I wish I could offer an alternative—”

“Oh, no,” Prissy interrupted, holding up a hand. “You havenothingto apologize for, Mr. Henderson. My son broke the rules, so he has to suffer the consequences of his actions. Believe me, he knows better than to expect preferential treatment just because I’m the superintendent.”

Principal Henderson looked immensely relieved, and Prissy knew why. Her predecessor had been known to hold grudges, retaliating against anyone she evensuspectedof opposing her. Principal Henderson undoubtedly feared that Prissy would find a way to punish him for suspending her son. But right now, the only one who needed to fear her wrath was Manning.

“Since this was his second offense,” Principal Henderson volunteered, “Rory Kerrigan will be suspended for six days.”

Prissy arched a brow.“A repeat offender?”

“You could say that.” Principal Henderson glanced at Manning, wry humor tugging at his lips. “But after today, I think it’s safe to assume that Rory will choose his battles more wisely.”

Prissy didn’t share the principal’s amusement. Turning to her son, she said sternly, “Do you have something to say to Principal Henderson?”

With obvious reluctance, Manning looked at the principal and mumbled dutifully, “I’m sorry for—”

“Sit up,” Prissy snapped.