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

head again. “Given what high profile people they both were, you’d think that they would have known better.”

“Do you think this is why Professor Keefer didn’t get promoted to the dean’s office, and then lost the chair’s position on top of that?”

“That’s seems very likely, yes. I suspect that Jonathan was about to become an embarrassment to the university…and, Jacques Davidos does not suffer fools lightly.”

“Did you like them…Professor Siemens and Professor Keefer?”

She pushed her glasses up on her nose with her middle finger. “Not particularly. I must admit that I didn’t like Nelda’s politics OR her view of universities. And Jonathan…Jonathan was like Cassius…he had that lean and hungry look.”

Jillian asked, “And wasn’t the rest of the quote something about such men being dangerous? Do you think Professor Keefer could have had anything to do with the murder?”

“Kudos. You do know your Shakespeare. Well, to modify another famous quote, “there are more things in heaven and earth, Detective Sergeant Warne…” She tapered off and smiled. “Seriously, I have no idea.”

As the interview wound down, she asked Jillian to keep her apprised as much as was allowed to do. She added, “This has been a severe blow to the English Department…and really, to the entire university.”

Downstairs, Jillian found Grace Wilson at her desk. She stood and said, “Allow me to walk you out, Detective Sergeant Warne.”

Once outside, Jillian said, “Thank you again, Grace, for setting that up. It’s important that I got to meet her, and I know she wanted a briefing.” She shook here head. “But, what a tough way to begin a new job.”

“Indeed…but, she is up to it.”

“From what you said earlier, I take it that you are pleased that she will be the chair.”

“I am. First, she has excellent academic credentials and is will be much better administrator than Jonathan.”

“What’s her background?”

“Well, for starters, she’s a Cavalier.” When Jillian gestured that she didn’t understand, Grace continued, “A Cavalier…that’s the nickname for the University of Virginia.” She beamed.

“If I’m not mistaken, that’s your alma mater, Grace?”

“Yes, good memory. Of course, I took a BA and Naomi has a PhD. She does have impeccable credentials, though. Her dissertation addressed movie adaptations of Shakespeare.”

“I thought those were Shakespearian posters in her office.”

“Yes, they are. After graduation, Naomi took a position in the English Department at the University of California in Santa Cruz. I know that she had other offers, but went there, in part, because of Shakespeare, Santa Cruz. UCSC is known for its summer theater series: Shakespeare outdoors, in the woods. She conducted research there, then later, shifted her focus to the Oregon Shakespeare Festival in Ashland. They’re known for alternative casting, “

“Like how do you mean?”

“Did you notice the poster in Naomi’s office, the one featuring a black actor?”

“Yes. At first, I thought he was Othello, but then, he was holding the skull. Poor Yorick’s skull? Was he playing Hamlet?”

“He was playing Hamlet. Another poster was of a Latinx actress playing Julius Caesar. Ashland is known for that…for upending racial and gender stereotypes in their productions. Anyway, Naomi moved through the ranks at Santa Cruz, including a promotion to Full Professor. ASU hired her four years ago.”

“So, besides being from your alma mater, why else do you like Professor del Valle?”

“She’s a straight shooter. She’s very professional, but nice, too. And, being from Virginia myself, I think it’s great that she’s a Shakespeare scholar.”

“Why?”

“When I was growing up, we had books in my house. Not everyone did. But even in homes where there weren’t many books, there were almost always three: The Holy Bible; The Sears Catalog; and The Collected Works of William Shakespeare. I think it’s just appropriate that an English Department would have as its chair a Shakespearian scholar. But, I’m also serious, Jillian, about the fact that she’ll be a good administrator, and right now, given Nelda’s murder, we need the stability.”

“This is obviously bad timing…first Professor Siemens’ murder, and now a change of chair. How do you think the faculty will take this?”

“That noise that you hear in there,” she pointed to the front door and cupped her ear, “that’s the sound of power and alliances realigning.” She chuckled. “There are lots of novels written about English Departments. We aren’t as weird as they portray us, but…still…fact is sometimes stranger than fiction.”

She smiled, then grew serious. “Even so, Naomi is the RIGHT woman for the job. I must say, though…I can’t help but feeling just a little sorry for Jonathan. He went from top of the hill to the scrap heap. I know, given his conduct, maybe he deserves it, but still…it’s a long way to fall. He’s already gone for the day…too embarrassed, I imagine, to stick around.”

“Will he have to leave his office?”

“The movers come after 5pm today.”

“Wow, that’s fast.”

“Yes, it is.”

Back at HQ—another hot walk across campus—Wes’ office was empty. Jillian found a postit on her desk. “Got in to see the Chief at 16:00. We can talk when I’m back, W.” It was 4:45pm.

Jillian opened her IPAD, logged-on, and assembled the notes from her interview with ZZ into an orderly format. It was good to organize them so they’d make sense days from now. Organizing also helped her think about ZZ’s comments. She’d found the same thing in her ASU days, even as an undergrad…organizing helped her study. She was most interested in ZZ’s take on Professor Keefer.

Next, she logged-in to the desk top and did a quick Google search of Raymond Williams. Jillian was fairly certain that she’d never encountered him in any classes, although now, seeing him through the lens of ZZ’s observations, she understood why he was important. He’d died in 1988 and a foundation named for him was active in supporting adult education. She even pulled-up Williams’ review of Orwell’s 1984, and smiled about the ’traveling light’ criticism, and ZZ’s use of that about Professor Keefer’s work. Then, she laughed out loud when she remembered that ZZ had called him a weasel.

She stepped away from