Death of the Ayn Rand Scholar by Gray Cavender (red scrolls of magic TXT) 📗

she chewed a bite of salad that Jillian had shared. “Honestly, though, there were times when I really did care…when my client was in the right. And it is exciting to win…especially if it’s a big judgement for your client. I mean, I am a lawyer.”

“I just wondered about coming to ASU. I assume it was a pay cut.”

“That’s for sure. But no, the reason I came to ASU was so that I could have a life. So that I could create a life,” she smiled and patted to her tummy.

“Zack and I wanted to have kids and that’s hard when the name of the game is billable hours. I mean, look at this,” she said and pointed to her large smart phone on the table beside her plate. “I still set my phone out when I’m eating, in case a client calls. There were even protocols about how to handle this, about what to say if a client calls while you’re eating. But you do have to answer the phone.”

“You mean ASU requires that?”

“No, it’s just habit from my days at Bentley and Wafford. My point is that being a lawyer in a private firm is a serious business…seriously big business. Which is why I left. It’s hard to work 70 hours a week and also have kids. Of course, ASU is a big client, too, and there’ll probably be times that I have to defend ASU when I think we’re in the wrong…or at least not in what I’d view as being on the right side. But, if you’re a lawyer, you loyalty is to your client.”

“So, if President Davidos was involved…” Jillian asked and tilted her head.

“Actually, that a very good example. No, I…our office represents ASU. And while ordinarily that would most definitely include President Davidos, he’d have to hire his own counsel if you charged him with murder.” She grimaced, then added, “That’s what a lot of people don’t realize…you know, for example if they try to bring some complaint to us because they think that ASU is in the wrong, and that we’ll help them. Doesn’t work that way. Our client—right or wrong—is ASU.”

“So, what about the Sexual Assault Task Force?”

“That’s good news. This is one of those situations when my client, ASU, is trying to do the right thing. So I can be happy about being loyal to the client. It’s also why ASU has assembled such a high-minded task force.”

They toasted.

“But seriously, Jillian, your answers did impress me back during that interview. You made it clear that you’ll do your job as a detective, but that you do think about these other important things.”

“Well, thanks.”

“I do have one more question, though—and this is about Professor Siemens’ grievance…her not-quite-yet-a grievance.”

“OK, shoot.”

“What would you like our office to do…proceed…or stand down?”

“For now, stand down. Whatever else is going on here…this is part of a murder investigation.”

As they hugged their goodbyes on the sidewalk outside Postinos, Jillian made it a point to smile and congratulate Sarah again on her pregnancy. She didn’t want the information about the incident with Professor Naremore to distract from her exciting good news.

Sarah headed back toward her parking structure at the Foundation Building, and Jillian walked in the opposite direction. Within 20 yards after they parted, she dictated a text to Wes. “You busy?” She kept walking.

“I’m always busy,” Wes answered even before she’d reached 5th, and included a smiley emoji. “What’s up? Call me.”

He answered on the first ring. After she recounted Sarah’s information about the incident at the University Curriculum Committee meeting, he said, “Man oh man…how do you spell motive?” Then, after a couple of seconds of silence, added, “Sorry, Jilly…you OK?”

“It bothers me, Wes, but yes, sure. I’m almost to the Tempe Transportation Center, catching a bus home…and while I wait, I’ll call the committee chair—his name’s Sylvester—and the staffer—Disis. But first, I want to try to reach Professor LeJohns…he’s the guy who convinced Professor Naremore to leave the meeting.”

“You have their phone numbers?”

“Their ASU numbers, yes.”

“Do this, Jilly, text me whether you reach them or not…they could be gone for the day. If you don’t reach them, I’ll get their home numbers and give all of them a buzz. I can touch base, but mainly, I’ll try to set-up interviews with them tomorrow…let’s try to wedge them in before our meet with Naremore. Text me when you get home and I’ll let you know what’s what. Sound like a plan?”

“Sounds good, Wes.”

Jillian called the three ASU numbers while she waited for a Jupiter at the Tempe Transportation Center. As Wes had predicted, she got three voice mails. She texted Wes to let him know.

As she waited for the bus, she thought of what Wes had said: “motive.” It was definitely that.

When she was on the bus and headed home, she reviewed the notes she had taken with Sarah—three times—and then returned to her earlier interview with Professor Naremore, and reread it…twice. She stared at his chilling words about being glad that Professor Siemens was dead.

She wondered how Professor Siemens had known that Professor Naremore’s would be appearing at the committee meeting, and how she’d come by a copy of his proposal. Sarah had said the committee chair was an Accounting professor… ”which means he’s a business prof,” Jillian thought, “so maybe he gave her a heads-up about Professor Naremore’s proposal AND also a copy of it…that would explain why she was so prepared.” Obviously, they’d ask him about that.

She grimaced because now, they’d also have a new line of questions for Professor Naremore. She dreaded it…dreaded the implications of it.

Once home, Jillian hurried through her ‘getting home’ rituals. She figured that, by now, Wes would have located the home phones and called Sylvester, Disis, and LeJohns. She texted him though, just to be sure…she didn’t want to interrupt Wes if he was on the phone with one of them.

He quickly called and as soon as she answered, “Hi Wes,” he said, “OK, here’s what I