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

She smiled when she remembered the conversation she and Wes had on the matter. It was later, sometime after Jillian and Brian had called it quits, and she was Wes’ partner by then. When Wes asked why they’d broken-up, Jillian told him that she didn’t want the confusion of having so many Brian’s in her life. Wes’ son was named Brian. He just shook his head.

Jillian was not by nature a loner. She’d dated in college, of course, but her studious nature seemed to get in the way of any long-term romance. And, she dated after she started working in Research. However, it was about that time that things started getting complicated. When she’d go out with a civilian, things were fine until she said she worked at the PD…even as a civilian employee. Once that information was conveyed, that was that. It was the opposite when she went out with a cop. She’d been out with two guys, both very nice, but they were off-put when they learned that she was getting her masters at ASU. It wasn’t just police officers. She recalled going out several times with one guy—he was a partner with his dad in a successful home remodeling business—who she didn’t tell that she was getting her MS degree. She realized that was a problem in its own right.

That was why the thing with Brian had been nice. But, nice just wasn’t enough.

Back at HQ, Jillian went into the women’s room, splashed cold water on her face and patted dry with a paper towel. She looked in the mirror. Sure, sometimes she worried that she didn’t fit-in anymore: too police(ish) for civilians; too grad student(ish) for cops…whatever, she still wasn’t interested in Peter Voss. She smiled at herself.

Jillian left the restroom and headed to Wes’ office. He was on the phone. She didn’t want to hover so she started to leave, but he motioned for her to stay. Then, into the phone, he said, “OK, Tamir, please consider this to be my respectful prod for you folks to do the hurry-up.” He glanced up at Jillian and his eyes twinkled. “Thank you much,” he said and hung up.

Then, to Jillian he said, “I had another hurry-up from the Chief…course, you know her…what she actually she said was ‘please hurry, Wes, they’re breathing down my neck on this one…the mayor, President Davidos, the media.’ So, I was trying to light a fire under the techy guys and gals who are working on the Professor’s electronic toys.”

Jillian said, “And we just had the meeting with the Chief and the others. Guess it’s about that time, but anyway, I’m sorry.”

“No worries…comes with the territory. How about you and Ms. Wilson…just a nice visit or anything that might help us catch a killer?”

“A little of both. From what Grace said, they’re experiencing the usual aftermath…read trauma…over in the English Department. Although, she did mention a small tidbit...two, actually.” Jillian paused for effect and Wes perked-up.

“Well, first of all, we can add another name to the list of people who didn’t like Professor Siemens…Professor Billy Gilroy.”

“Gilroy…he’s the one who made those comments in the hallway about there being a lot of opposition to hiring the Professor…and you already interviewed him, right?“

“Yes, and like I told you, he said more about that opposition during the interview…and admitted that he was a part of that opposition…for several reasons. Her position was imposed on the English Department, which he didn’t like, and he didn’t think they needed a professor who studied Ayn Rand.”

“Yeah, I remember. Well, when you interviewed him, did you sense anything…did you think we should consider him to be a suspect? And, what did Ms. Wilson say that’d made you mention him?”

“I didn’t say anything about it to you after the interview, but I didn’t much like him…he was a little condescending. But, as for Grace Wilson, she said that he and Professor Siemens had a run-in at a faculty meeting last month. From what she said, Professor Siemens had seriously humiliated him. She also said that Professor Gilroy was quick to have his feelings hurt.”

“Did she think he was the kind of guy who’d hold a grudge? I mean, was she telling you this info because she suspected him?”

“No…in the first place, I asked her if she thought he held a grudge against the Professor. She said she didn’t think so…actually, she told me the story about their run-in as an example of someone who was respectful of…the deceased, even though she’d insulted him.”

“Still…” Wes was quiet for a few seconds, obviously thinking. He shrugged, but then frowned. “You said there were two tidbits…”

“Yes, I did. So, tidbit number two…apparently, Professor Keefer is being promoted…to an Associate Dean position.”

Wes perked-up. “What’s your take on this, Jilly? Internal coincidence or something else? There are coincidences, but then sometimes there’s cause and effect. What did Ms. Wilson make of it?”

“According to Grace, Professor Siemens and Professor Keefer had a ‘one hand washes the other’ relationship.”

“What about personally…any hint of a romantic relationship?”

“She didn’t really say….so I guess it was mainly business.”

“I wonder if they could have been in competition for the promotion.”

“I asked Grace that, and she didn’t seem to think so. She actually told me that Professor Siemens had contacts in high places, and that they may have greased the wheels for his promotion.”

Wes nodded, then said, “Give me a second,” and dug-out the notes of his interview with Professor Keefer. He read and looked up, read and looked up. Jillian knew he was mentally replaying the interview.

He laid the notes down, shook his head, and said, “Nothing notable here, business or professional. Did Ms. Wilson say when news about his promotion came down?”

“Last week. She said that Professor Keefer told her himself...actually, she described him as ‘crowing’ about it.”

Wes, tapping fingers to mouth, was quiet. Then, he looked up at Jillian and raised his eyebrows.

She asked, “Do we re-interview him?”

“I’m thinking yes…Professor Keefer AND Professor Gilroy. You