Death of the Ayn Rand Scholar by Gray Cavender (classic literature list txt) 📕

you buy the ‘getting back together’ thing? There was nothing in any of the communication traffic that we saw to indicate anything like that, at least on HER part.”

“Well, he admitted to being unsure about it. He said they were just talking…in person, not on email…which I guess…again…makes it more plausible.”

Wes just nodded. The traffic light at University turned green as they approached, and there was another crowd crossing in both directions.

They were both quiet as they crossed University, and for then a few seconds more. Jillian broke the silence.

“So, he laid out all these disclaimers…they’re just talking, it’s a big commitment…all that. And, OK, those disclaimers make his comments seem…reasonable, but, I still have one big reservation: Miriam Moser.”

They continued walking but now faced one another. “The Skysong woman,” Wes said.

“Her Skysong good friend…who said that Professor Siemens wasn’t interested in being monogamous. Remember, that’s what ended their relationship in the first place…Roberts wanted it, but Professor Siemens didn’t.”

“Well, Roberts said that she was getting tired of playing the field…that could be possible…”

“Yes, or maybe it was just wishful thinking on his part.“

He gave a non-comital nod. Then, “So the other big reveal is that Ian Naremore authored THE article that everyone’s talking about…at least, according to Professor Roberts. Thoughts?”

Jillian had been Wes’ partner for long enough that she was used to this. He’d ask her opinion about an interview or a piece of evidence, but then interact with her as she answered. It wasn’t that she was just a sounding board…it was just his way. Once she’d gotten used to it…the interruptions, the back-and-fort…she engaged it, too. This interactive style made them better partners…definitely more successful partners.

“Well, first of all, it answers the question of what the Professor was writing to Professor Naremore about. Remember her email just says ‘I know what you did’ but then doesn’t actually say what ‘it’ was. Now we know.”

“Man, this is a lot of attention to an article…I mean, it’s just an article…right?”

“These are people who deal in words, Wes. The nuances of language are everything to them. And apparently it’s a really big deal that the article was going to appear in The Chronicle. I’ve never actually read The Chronicle…or even seen it, but, I know that for professors it’s…well, they’re always referencing it.”

Wes chewed his lower lip, then said, “I have to say…this thing with Naremore, it’s the closest thing we’ve seen to an actual motive. Threats back and forth, anger, the real deal. You know the man, Jilly…what do you think?”

Jillian was quiet again as they crossed 5th. Once across, she said, “I’m trying to think about this objectively, which is hard. I’ve had Professor Naremore in class…two classes. He was a member of my undergrad honors committee…and of my masters committee.”

She thought more, then said, “He’s very opinionated...very sure that his opinions are correct and that other opinions are basically wrong. And I know that he and Professor Siemens were academic enemies…he told me that himself. They really went after each other in print in academic publications. And again, for these people, how you critique another professor, especially if it’s in print…that is serious business.”

As they entered the building, Jillian said, “I’ve heard stories about professors not speaking to each other…ever again…over something that happened years before.”

In the elevator, Wes punched the button and said, “I guess you can see this article as Naremore doubling-down on her. And, from what you’re saying, publishing it in The Chronicle,” he shook his head in mock emphasis, “is the ultimate insult. He threatens and she responds…she threatens and he responds. It’s like the academic equivalent of two drunks arguing in a bar during the Super Bowl. You know, pool cues start swinging and then the guns come out…and somebody ends up dead or dying. Jilly, would your Professor Naremore back down or would he, as The Eagles say, take it to the limit?”

The elevator door opened. “OK, he’s aggressive…intellectually, that’s for sure. And from what I read about him back when he played college tennis, he’s aggressive in sports competition, too. But still, Wes, I can’t imagine that Ian Naremore would violently beat someone to death.”

Jillian was quiet after she said this. Wes was quiet, too. Finally, she took a deep breath and said, almost to herself, “I don’t know if it’s that I don’t believe he’d kill her, or that I don’t want to believe he would.”

CHAPTER 14

Jillian and Wes left the Tempe PD in time to arrive five minutes early at President Davidos’ office. Hawley, the aide, told them the President was on a phone call—long distance, he volunteered—and asked them to have a seat in the outer office. He got each of them a bottle of water.

President Davidos opened his office door about seven minutes late and invited them in. Everyone sat in the same seats as before.

He got right to it. “I understand that you have new information in your investigation. I trust this is good news…I hope to have this resolved soon,” he said, and looked at each of them. “The reason for the delay just now is that I was taking a call from a parent, who is also a donor…a rather significant donor…who is worried about his daughter’s safety at ASU. This is the fifth such call since the media picked-up the story. Let me reiterate that I want to have this situation resolved VERY soon,” he said, and again looked at each of them.

Jillian nodded, and spoke first as she and Wes had planned. “Yes, we now have the forensic results of Professor Siemens’ electronic devices. We wanted to chat with you about some of our discoveries. We did want to say, though, that the forensics information essentially reinforces other information that we’ve learned through interviews.”

“Understood,” he answered.

Jillian continued. “President Davidos, one interesting point that we’ve learned is about an affair between the Professor Siemens and Professor Jonathan Keefer. We also learned that Professor Keefer had been slated for a promotion to the