Death of the Ayn Rand Scholar

by Gray Cavender

  “Yeah, well, like I told you, my plan was to do phone interviews with the two guys Susan Moser said were the Professor’s former lovers…while you were interviewing your former professor…Ian Naremore. By the way, I take it that he didn’t confess during your interview…?”

  When Jillian just shook her head, Wes continued, “No…OK, so we’ll need to continue with our investigation then,” he gave a deadpan smile. “Anyway, I called Bradley…he’s the lawyer…and it was basically what Moser told us. But, Professor Carlton Spann…that was a whole other ball game. It took less than thirty seconds to know that their relationship didn’t end like Moser said it ended. He told me he’d ended the relationship AND because of something she did.”

  “Really…what?”

  “Well, he gave me a quick overview over the phone…enough to know that I wanted to interview him in person…you know, to see him up close and personal. You know what, let me run get my notes.”

  “Wes, we can go back to the office…”

  “No, no, you’re all set-up here…I just want to grab my notes to be sure I don’t leave anything out…be right back, Jilly.”

  While Wes was gone, Jillian looked again at the entry on Ayn Rand…mainly at her photo on the right side of the screen. She thought about the other two photos…one in each of the Professor’s offices. She’d just closed the Ayn Rand site when Wes returned.

  He was excited and talking even as he closed the door and took a chair. “So, first things first…all the biographical stuff Susan Moser told us about Carl Spann…that’s all correct. Also, I’d say he’s about Professor Siemens’ age…maybe a year or two older…” he made a wavy hand motion.

  “Anyway, according to him, the trouble came when he had this idea an about ASU/community partnership—this is right up his alley…if you remember what Moser said about his specialty. And from how he saw it, it he’d had a very original idea…which is why he ran by Professor Siemens…he wanted her opinion…and because they were seeing each other.”

  As Wes told this story, he occasionally referred to his notes. He had developed his own system of shorthand, largely unintelligible to anyone but him…except now and then you could see, more clearly spelled-out, direct quotes…complete with quotation marks. Jillian could see his note pad, and it made her smile…she’d forgotten about his notes. She used to tell Wes that he should switch to an IPAD because you can type faster than you can write. He had tried to show her how to decipher them…with absolutely no success…except for the quotes.

  “So, he said she asked him a lot of questions, but he didn’t think anything about it…just figured she was trying to help him hone his idea. Until…next thing he knows, he sees an interview with Professor Siemens in The Republic where she lays out her innovative idea for ASU/community partnerships. And get this, she doesn’t mention him…at all. From talking with him, I had the sense that he was as mad that she didn’t give him any credit as that she stole his idea.“

  “And so that’s why he broke-up with her?”

  “That’s what he said.” Wes referred to his notes again. “He told me the problem was that, after this, he didn’t trust her anymore…said you needed trust to maintain a relationship…but that she was too competitive. He told me that he’d had that kind of competitive relationship with his wife—who is also a professor—which is why they broke-up.”

  “Wow, so…did you have a sense that Professor Spann had it in for her so much that…you know? Did he say…has he seen her lately?”

  Wes smiled, “Good question, Jilly. And yes, he saw her at a meeting week-before-last. He said everything was cordial enough…” Wes glanced at his notes again, “…but he added that she…Professor Siemens…still didn’t get it.”

  Jillian was quiet, taking it all in. Then, “So what do you think, Wes?“

  He worried his lip, then said, “I’d characterize what Professor Spann was describing not so much a grudge as…I don’t know…resignation, maybe. The thing is…Spann’s feelings about her…against her, I should say…I think they are ongoing.”

  “Enough so that maybe he did this…?”

  “I don’t know, Jilly. Except I do know this…their relationship did not end in the way that Susan Moser told us. Now, maybe she didn’t know herself…or maybe she did…and just didn’t tell is the truth…”

  “Any idea which…?”

  Wes just shook his head “no.” He was quiet for a few seconds, then said, “OK, your turn…tell me about your interview with Professor Naremore.”

  They remained in the interrogation room, and for the next several minutes, she updated Wes on what she’d been doing. Jillian didn’t underplay her take on the interview with Professor Naremore—she described in detail the ‘feud’ that he and Professor Siemens had, including that there were hard feelings between them —but she didn’t share everything, like what he’d said about it being a good thing that she was dead.

  Wes nodded now and then and asked a couple of questions. When they’d finished vetting the interview, he said, “Tough, isn’t it…interviewing someone you know…and respect…for something that’s so bad.” This was a statement more than a question.

  Jillian nodded “yes,” then said, “I know people sometimes have sides that they don’t always show in public…but, Wes, I just don’t think Professor Naremore would have murdered someone, even someone he seriously disliked.”

  “Well, you know him best…and that counts for a lot in my book,” he said and smile, then added, “Let’s hope you’re right.”

  He flipped through his note pad, found the page he was looking for, and gave her Peter Voss’ update on the Professor’s car and their canvas at her condo…mostly what he’d told Jillian earlier.

  Jillian said, “Let’s go back to Eduardo’s office and I’ll use the ASU webpages…we can print photos of all the relevant players. Officer Voss and his team can show the photos and ask if anyone has seen any of these guys.”

  “Good idea, but let’s not limit this to guys. Print a photo of Susan Moser, too.”

  “Are you thinking that…?”

  “Like I said, there are some discrepancies in terms of what she said about how Spann’s relationship ended with the Professor. Really, though, at this stage, I’m not thinking much of anything. I’m trying to collect info...what you academic types would call data.”

  She smiled again and said, “OK.”

  On the way to his desk, Wes said, “Oh, and before I forget, the Chief asked me to come by her office—this was right after I got back from my interview with Professor Spann, and before I found you googling folks in an interrogation room.” He smiled. “I had to wade through a news crew that was camped-out in front of her office…there was another one outside in front of the building.”

  “l saw the ones out front…I think they’re the same group we dodged over on campus.”

  “Really…good eye. Anyway, the Chief told me that in addition to whatever else we’d scheduled tomorrow, we’ll be having another interesting meeting…” he paused for affect…”with ASU President Jacques Davidos.”

  “Wow! And why…?”

  “This is a high-profile case……not only has an ASU professor been murdered…ON the campus, she’s a highly visible professor.”

  “I know...” Jillian added, “…even her Wiki page said that she’s controversial.”

  “There you go. Or I should say, there we go…which, of course, explains the media coverage. Anyway, I’m supposed to call President Davidos’ assistant,’ he glanced at his wristwatch, “…in about twenty minutes, and make an appointment for tomorrow…as early as possible. The Chief said that Davidos himself had called her and requested the meeting. Although from what she said, I don’t know that ‘requested’ is the correct word…if you get my meaning…”

  “I understand, although I’m afraid that we might have to work around a meeting that I h
ave to attend: tomorrow morning at nine…the Campus Sexual Harassment Task Force. When I was walking back from my interview with Professor Naremore, I had a text saying that we’re on tomorrow morning. I figure that the meeting will last maybe an hour and a half. It’s in ASU Foundation Building, so I’ll be around. I assume that the President’s office is there.”

  “That’s what the Chief said. Anyway, when I call the assistant, I’ll say we are unavailable during your meeting…the Chief said that we’re both to go to meet with Davidos. And, I know that your task force is important. How many of you are on it?”

  “Let’s see…in addition to me, there’s Ersula Tenney from Tempe PD, a woman from ASU’s legal office—she’s obviously a lawyer—a professor who’s in ASU’s Faculty Senate, another guy from ASU’s PR office, a professor from Women and Gender Studies—I’ve actually had a class with her—and a student rep—she’s a member of the national organization that created such a stir about all this…you know, that universities weren’t doing enough.

  “Oh yeah, I remember. I’d been following these stories mainly in the sports pages…you know, allegations about college athletes essentially getting a ‘pass’ on their bad behavior…rape, harassment, whatever. But then, the stories moved up to the front page, and went national. That’s when the part emerged about universities covering it up, or at the least or not taking it seriously. That’s also when you start to see claims that the police weren’t following-up.”

  “Right, which is where the Task Force comes in.”

  “And you were already on it when you were still here at Tempe PD, right?”

  “Yes, Lt. Timms assigned me to it. Then, when I moved over to ASU, Al thought it made for good continuity to keep me on. And Lt. Timms replace me with me Ersula Tenney.”

  “She replaced you on the Task Force and in Research, too?”

  “Yes, she’s very sharp. Her MS is in Geography from ASU, and her specialty is GIS.”

  “I’ve met her…and you’re right, she’s sharp. And she’s a good fit for the Task Force?”

  “She is. She had a double major as an undergrad—Geography AND Women and Gender Studies—so she’s perfect.”

  “OK, so I’ll call the President’s assistant and see when we can get on his calendar. By the way, have you met him…the Prez?”

  “No, we don’t run in the same circles. I have been to a couple of events where he spoke. Sometimes, he seemed pretty intimidating…sometimes, more accessible. But, no, I don’t know him.”

  “OK, so I won’t drop your name.”

  Jillian shook her head and chuckled.

  Jillian was in her office sending ASU webpages to the printer: photos of Ian Naremore, David Roberts, the Business prof, Lucas Seay, the other Business prof, Billy Gilroy, and Susan Moser. She added photos of Professor Spann and Anthony Bradley. She even included a photo of Grace Wilson. Grace seemed to have a not-so-good view of Professor Siemens, too. She would make copies and distribute them to Officer Voss and his group to show the other condo residents, especially those on the Professor’s floor.

  Wes came over a little later and said, “So, we’re on…tomorrow at 1. And it is in the Foundation Building. What do you figure…a five-minute walk?

  “Shouldn’t be more than that.”

  “The assistant said that President Davidos was looking forward to meeting with both of us.”

  “How do you think he knew that there were two of us”?

  “Don’t know…maybe your fame precedes you.”

  “Right,” she said, dismissively.

  “Or, maybe the Chief told him that there were two of us working the case.” He glanced at his watch again. “I’ll text the Chief and give her the scoop on our meeting with Davidos tomorrow…” He paused, looked down and then back to Jillian and said, “I think I should call Professor Siemens’ dad and get his take on all this…and if you don’t mind, I’d like you to be on the line…in about five?”

  Jillian nodded.

  After Wes left, she decided to use the five minutes wisely. She went to her notes from their interview with Professor David Roberts, found the info that she wanted—Professor Siemens’ dad’s name…Howell Siemens. She googled him, first, on his University of Southern California (USC) webpage—he was listed as an Emeritus Professor in the Philosophy Department—and then on his Wiki entry.

  His USC faculty photo looked a little younger than the one she remembered from the solo photo in Professor Siemens’ home office. He received his PhD in Philosophy from the University of Minnesota. Jillian saw that he’d written four books and about thirty articles in law reviews, philosophy journals, and in edited volumes…this from his USC webpage. His Wiki entry described him as being conservative or libertarian in his philosophic perspective, and he was linked to several well-known philosophers who shared this perspective.

  The Personal Life section of the Wiki entry said he’d been married to Sylvia Siemens, a corporate lawyer in LA, and that they were both known for their affiliations with conservative causes. Apparently, his wife had worked for a “Republican-friendly” law firm. The Wiki entry said she’d died of breast cancer seven years ago—what Professor Roberts had said—and he hadn’t remarried.

  Jillian printed a photo of Professor Howell Siemens before she headed to Wes’ office. She dreaded phone calls (or in person interviews) like this.

  Professor Siemens answered on the fourth ring…“Dr. Howell Siemens...”

  “Hello, Dr. Siemens, I’m Detective Sergeant Wes Webb, Tempe Police Department, Homicide Division, and with me on the line is Detective Sergeant Jillian Warne of the Arizona State University Police Department. Is this a good time for us to speak with you?”

  “As good as any, I suppose. Your colleague who called with the news…yesterday…said a detective would be calling…about the police investigation…she mentioned you by name. She was very thoughtful, by the way.”

  “I know Melissa, and she is a nice person. And yes, Detective Sergeant Warne and I are heading the investigation into your daughter’s death. But let me say, first, that we are very sorry for your loss. Also, Dr. Siemens, I apologize if some of our questions sound intrusive, but I promise that they will help us find who did this. So, if it’s OK, we will begin…and I have you on speaker phone so we both can speak and hear.”

  “Very well.”

  Jillian had placed the photo she’d printed from his USC webpage on the desk so she and Wes could see it…Wes had been looking at the photo when he made the introductions.

  Wes began, “Dr. Siemens, I know your family is from the LA area…”

  “That’s right, Orange County. Perhaps a quick history would be in order, Detective Sergeant Webb. I met Sylvia—Nelda’s mom—at the University of Minnesota. I was working toward my doctorate in Philosophy and she was a law student…we met when I took Jurisprudence course in the law school, a course that she was in. Things…let’s just say…they progressed. Then, after graduation, we moved back to LA. I say ‘back to LA’ although Sylvie was the one who was from here…I’m originally from Minnesota. Anyway, we moved to LA because things were nicely set-up for her here. Her dad was a partner in an established law firm—she’d clerked with them in the summers—and she barely had time to ditch her cap and gown before they’d hired her. Another partner at the firm had been a Philosophy major as an undergrad at USC, and went to law school there, too…so that smoothed the way for me.”

  Jillian said, “Thank you, that helps. Did Professor Siemens have brothers or sisters?”

  “No siblings, no. Sylvie wanted to make partner first, so Nelda didn’t come along till later: I was 37…she was 34. So, Nelda was a ‘one-off.’ We were busy with our careers, and Sylvie wanted no part of the ‘mommy track’ business.”

  Jillian continued, “I know that Professor Siemens went to Wellesley College, then The University of Chicago.”

  “Th
at’s correct. Sylvie had gone to Wellesley and wanted Nelda to go there, as well. From the very beginning, Nelda was always top of her class…no surprise given that her parents were a prof and a successful attorney.” He laughed. “We were perhaps surprised that she majored in English, but, well…that’s worked-out…”

  He tapered-off, and Jillian assumed that the reality of the situation had returned. For some reason, his voice was at a higher pitch than she had expected from his photo…maybe in the tenor range. Sometimes, he sounded clear and authoritative…sometimes, like just now, a little shaky.

  “Dr. Siemens, I saw a picture of Milton Friedman in one of your daughter’s offices…was he her mentor in the MBA program at The University of Chicago?”

  “Not exactly…Friedman had moved on to Stanford by the time Nelda was studying at Chicago…although they did meet…though the Philadelphia Society. That’s an organization, Detective Sergeant Warne, that fosters conservative and libertarian intellectual ideas. Nelda became a member early-on in her MBA studies. Anyway, that’s where she and Friedman met. Later, she did have an intercession course with him—this was an intensive two-week seminar, as I recall—actually it was at Stanford. And based on her performance in that seminar, Friedman agreed to be a guest member of her MBA committee…Nelda’s always been a good networker. I had the sense that Friedman was intrigued that Nelda was working on an MBA while also getting her PhD in English. Plus, I think it was the Rand connection and their libertarian ideas…Rand’s and Nelda’s.”

  Jillian seemed to be on a roll with Dr. Siemens so Wes motioned that she should continue to ask the questions. “We been speaking to her friends and colleagues, and they’ve said that Professor Siemens was single. Is this correct?”

  “That’s correct, yes. Now, when she was a grad student, Nelda was engaged to a young man who was in her MBA program...he was working on his JD/MBA. Sylvie was thinking that Nelda would marry a lawyer…maybe they’d move back to LA. We liked him: he was a nice guy and seemed to love Nelda…and he shared our politics. We thought they were serious.”