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

Administration, and from what I read, I guess she still is among libertarians and a lot of conservative politicians…I see her quoted all the time.”

As they talked, Wes rose from his desk and nodded with his head for them to head down the hall. He opened an interrogation room and motioned Jillian in first. Once inside, he closed the door and said, “It seemed like maybe we were attracting some attention back there. You know, the walls have ears.”

“I’m sorry, I didn’t notice. What’s up with that?”

“Who knows? Maybe it’s because some of our guys are very conservative themselves. Or, maybe they just want to know more about our case, which is, as we’ve just been discussing, very high profile…and getting more so all the time.” He thought for a second, then continued, “Police are people, too, Jilly…they’re influenced by the media…like everyone else.”

They remained in the interrogation room discussing several ‘what next’ issues on the case, and also the upcoming rally. Finally, Wes said, “I need to run upstairs to check with the Chief…we had a quick confab there at the end of our meeting. She wanted to do some follow-up on logistics, and then brief me on the details.”

“Should I come with you?”

“No, she’ll be in touch with Al…so we’ll know what he’s thinking…and besides…you’re ‘on loan’ to us for the duration, so Chief McCaslin is calling the shots…for both of us. Obviously, Tempe and ASU will have plenty of ‘uniforms’ there for security, and ‘plain clothes,’ too. So, unless she and Al say otherwise, I’m thinking we ought to be there…you know, ‘lurking’ on the somewhere on periphery…just to see who comes to the party.”

“Sounds good.”

“Why don’t you do a little more of your google homework, but do go meet with Ms. Wilson…maybe you’ll learn something that will help…we could use it. Oh yeah, and ask her about the student grievance guy…Paxton.”

Wes left and Jillian returned to her office. She googled Miller Sterling whose entry was a lengthier version of what Wes had said up in the Chief’s office, but he’d hit most of the highlights. Sterling’s photo looked fairly non-descript, but also a bit scary. She wondered if he looked scary because of what she was reading about him. She also wondered what goes on in the mind of someone like that…how could he believe the hateful things that he said.

Jillian glanced at her watch and decided on the spur-of-the moment to pay a quick visit to Lt. Timms. She had the time before her coffee meet with Grace Wilson.

The Research Division, including the intelligence-led policing unit, was in a different wing from the Homicide Division offices. Jillian entered the familiar section…her former ‘workplace home.’ The layout was different from that in Homicide, but there still lots of offices…lots of cubicles. Often, these researchers had computer screens on the left and right of their desk…large computer screens. One long, rectangular glassed-in office had three desks side by side, again, two computers each. Jillian had been at the middle desk. There had been some turnover since her time there, but she still knew many of the people. Ersula had not lonely replaced Jillian, she waved from her former desk. As Jillian smiled and waved back, she thought about her time here…but kept walking.

Linda’s office—a real office, not a cubicle—was around the corner. The first thing you noticed when you entered her office was two oversized computer screens—Linda was almost hidden behind them—and a very large map of Tempe on the wall behind her. The map was busy with crime data info.

Jillian was happy to see Linda. At first, she had worried that Linda would be angry that she left the Research Division, but Linda was genuinely gracious. Maybe it helped that they shared Carolyn Patek as a mentor.

Linda was a tall, willowy woman. Although she was friendly, she wasn’t much given to hugs. She had blondish hair that she wore fairly short. Jillian remembered that she was quickly back to her normal weight after childbirth, but then she always was physically fit. She was 35 years old. Usually, she wore a blouse and pants and sensible shoes…as she did today.

She had an interesting background: BS in engineering at Georgia Tech, MA in religious studies from Yale…and she’d actually been a prison chaplain for a while. Her engineering background gave her math and statistical skills, and she’d taken courses and workshops along the way to enhance her modeling skills. And now, she was working on her PhD in Justice Studies. Linda wasn’t a sworn officer; her lieutenant’s rank was a bureaucratic accommodation to afford her the appropriate authority in the police hierarchy.

“Carolyn told me the good news…a completed draft of the dissertation. That’s awesome, Linda.”

“I’m really excited, although, you know the drill with Carolyn…a draft is just a down payment on more revisions. Still, the end is in sight…finally. So, Jillian, when are you starting YOUR PhD program?”

“Gosh, it makes my palms sweaty just thinking about it. Wes keeps encouraging me, though.”

“Oh, I know…we discuss you and your PhD all the time. Wes is a great believer in education.”

Jillian laughed and shook her head. “For now, I think I have a full plate…I should say Wes and I have a full plate.”

Linda’s smile was replaced by an all business expression. “Everyone here is on edge, and I’m sure it’s the same at ASU in your shop.”

“Yes…and now there’s some sort of protest demonstration planned on campus tomorrow and everyone is worried about that somehow getting out of control.”

“I heard…”

“And, if that wasn’t enough, apparently President Davidos is turning-up the heat on both chiefs.”

Linda shook her head in sympathy. “I know you and Wes have to worry about pressure from ‘on high,’ but if wasn’t for that, we’d all be laughing…it’s like a cop movie, you know, the mayor’s calling the chief, the chief is yelling at the captain…and IT flows downhill.” She shook her head in amazement again. “Anyway, at the risk of sounding like President Davidos, I