Death of the Ayn Rand Scholar: Mystery

by Gray Cavender

  Once Jillian made her decision—she decided to do it—Wes offered a number of tips about surviving the academy. Because she was a grad student, he always referred to these as Police Academy 101. He also introduced her to other detectives. Some enjoyed a lot of dark humor about what she was facing, but others offered helpful advice, including comments about specific instructors. Several grad student peers seriously suggested that she change research topics and do an ethnography on “doing the police academy.” Jillian mentioned this to Carolyn who made a face and said, “Really?”

  After Jillian graduated from the academy, Chief McCaslin invited her to come by her office to officially welcome her to the Tempe PD…now as a sworn officer, a detective. She did mention her recollection of Jillian’s last visit. The Chief then did Jillian a favor: she said that eventually, after a break-in period in property crimes, she’d assigned her to work with Wes Webb in Homicide. Thus began a mentorship and a friendship.

  The pizza was great and, better yet, there was plenty for leftovers.

  After dinner and clean-up, Jillian went to her office, switched on the IPAD, and googled tapestries. Several sites listed vendors, but she skipped these and went to directly to a Wiki entry, which contained more than she wanted to know about how tapestries were made, and what made them unusual...they were ‘weft-facing,’ which meant that their threads were hidden, and they were mainly from France and Belgium…apparently the ones from Brussels, the Flemish tapestries, were primo. She scrolled quickly through this info, and also through discussions of wool, linen, and cotton materials, although Jillian looked away from her screen and tried to recall the one behind President Davidos’ desk. ”Definitely not linen…wool…maybe,” she thought.

  Then, back to her screen. Tapestries were considered to be textile art, and some exhibited symbols or emblems. She minimized this site and googled the Templars. There was a long historical entry, which Jillian scanned, noting key info that jumped-out at her, like when she was a grad student reading a long assignment. “OK, they were involved in The Crusades…they enjoyed prestige and immense wealth…till things turned sour, and then they were tortured and burned at the stake…their order disbanded 1312…whereupon the entered the more powerful realm of myth and legend.”

  Jillian looked away from the screen again, first at the wall, then down at the floor, and thought, “The seriously old guy guarding the Holy Gail in Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade…wasn’t he a knight who’d lived since The Crusades…maybe he was supposed to be a Templar, too…so, yes, myth and legend…and Indy.”

  Next, Jillian opened a couple of the tapestry vendor sites. Some cost less than $100, but other went into the thousands. She looked for Templar tapestries, and found two…one which featured a capital ‘T’, and the another with a lower-case ‘t,’ which was more of a squared-off cross…and like the one on the knight in President Davidos’ office. She wondered what his tapestry symbolized…if anything.

  Next, she pulled up a Wikipedia entry on Ayn Rand. She planned to read for 30 minutes. The entry that she accessed had the usual organization, e.g., an intro, material on her early life, details about her work, and so on. The familiar organization made it easier to read, although it was still long. The intro included discussions of objectivism and laizzez-faire capitalism, which made Jillian happy because this material squared with her class notes.

  There were other interesting tidbits, for instance, that Rand was one of those ‘anti-communism in Hollywood’ critics, as Dad said. She even was a ‘friendly witness’ at the House Un-American Activities Committee…the McCarthy Hearings. On the other hand, Rand was pro-abortion and against the Vietnam War. Jillian stopped and thought about these various political positions. She read on she noted that Rand was popular among conservatives AND libertarians, and today both sorts of ‘think tanks’ embraced her ideas.

  She died in 1982, but still was the darling of the Regan Administration. Jillian wondered if Rand had met Ronald Reagan during those anti-communist Hollywood days. Hadn’t he started his political career back then by railing against the threat of communists in Hollywood? She remembered that from some class.

  So, conservative politicians and economists still referenced her. Jillian thought of what the student, Carla Nagel, had said about her dad buying her a car if she’d write her honors thesis on Ayn Rand. She also recalled seeing current members of Congress on the news invoking Rand usually when supporting some law that would roll back regulations in the banking and the financial sectors.

  Back to the entry. Jillian read a bit further and then involuntarily pulled back from her screen when she saw that Rand had apparently thought it was OK for the Europeans colonists to take land from the American Indians. “Jeez.”

  She took more notes from in the section on Rand’s novels and films. So, she was a best-selling novelist, and one of her films, Fountainhead, was made into a film in 1949. Rand also was critical of Hollywood films that she thought depicted U.S. corporations in a negative light. Jillian assumed that this position had to do with her view that the people in the movie industry were communists.

  She skimmed a section of critical reviews of Rand’s novels. The takeaway here was that her novels were best sellers, but not critically acclaimed. The critics characterized her fiction as a vehicle for her economic and philosophical ideas. This reminded Jillian of what Professor Gilroy said about Rand’s novels.

  As she read on, Jillian nodded and vocalized, “Hmm.” There was a biopic called The Passion of Ayn Rand, starring Dame Helen Mirren. “Cool,” she thought. Mirren starred in Prime Suspect, the series analyzed by that British cultural studies scholar in Carolyn’s anthology. She’d see if she could stream Fountainhead and the Helen Mirren movie.

  And, that was that. Only four minutes over her 30-minute time limit. So now she knew a lot more about Ayn Rand…and, she laughed, “about tapestries and Templars, too.” She wondered if any of this new info would help her figure out who killed Professor Siemens…and why.

  She glanced at her watch then hurried into the living room and turned on the TV to watch the 10 o’clock news. She rarely watched TV news, but, Wes had texted earlier that he knew she’d be at judo class and would have missed the news at 6 pm. He added that the press conference went well, and suggested that she should check out the later newscast. She did.

  It was a longish story for TV news, mainly because it contained a lot of info about Professor Siemens AND extended coverage of the press conference. She didn’t see Wes anywhere on camera, but knew that he’d been in the room. Mainly, Jillian was impressed that their two chiefs could say so little—there wasn’t much they could say—but look so good saying it.

  CHAPTER 9

  Jillian dropped her purse and her IPAD case on the desk and turned toward her office door…she was going to say good morning to Wes…but, her cell phone rang and a text came through, literally both at the same time. She answered the call…it was Grace Wilson asking about coffee later in the afternoon. Jillian suggested the café in the Hayden Library.

  The text was from Mom, reminding her of dinner tonight. She and Dad would stop by at 6:30; their reservation was for 7pm. Jillian texted back, “K.”

  She walked over to the coffee station, poured a cup and held the carafe up toward Wes in his office. He nodded “yes” so she walked over to his office and topped-up his Springsteen mug. He nodded his appreciation, then said, “Go ahead, Jilly, make my day…tell me that your phone call was the perp calling to confess.”

  “Absolutely, Detective Sergeant Webb. And get this…it was President Davidos himself…he said it was for the good of the ASU community.”

  Wes didn’t miss a beat, “For the good of the ASU community…now, was this the murder or the confession?”

  Jillian laughed, returned the carafe, and then took a seat in Wes’ office.

  “You laugh,” Wes said, “but it’s my understanding that Davidos is indeed c
alling…my chief, your chief…and, when he’s not calling, his minions are.”

  “We were there yesterday.” She took a sip and said, “Guess he wants results…as if we don’t.”

  “You got it. I think the real issue is the media coverage of the Professor’s murder. I’m thinking this isn’t a good recruitment tool for prospective students OR their parents.”

  “He really made me nervous yesterday, Wes. Do you think these calls are somehow directed at me?”

  “I don’t think so…remember, he called my chief, too. I think he’s just one of those guys who wants results, not explanations. And, speaking of media, did you have a chance to catch the press conference?

  “I did…the 10 o’clock news…thanks for reminding me, by the way.”

  “No worries…so, what’d you think?”

  “They looked great…especially since we don’t have all that much…yet.”

  “Well, they’re pros.”

  She nodded, then said, “But, we’re still a big story on NPR.”

  “Front page of the paper, too.”

  “I’d hoped that maybe having that news conference would give us a break from all the media coverage.”

  “Never does…if anything, their news conference became its own story…last night and then in all the morning new outlets, and the paper, too.”

  “I guess you’re right.” She was quiet, then said, “Actually that call was from Grace Wilson, the admin woman in the English Department. We’re doing coffee later, unless you have something else.”

  “Sure…good idea, but I do have something for us…this morning.”

  Jillian put her coffee cup on Wes’ desk. “OK…”

  “We’re upstairs in 15…”

  “What is it?”

  “The Chief said some sort of a rally is being planned for tomorrow…on the ASU campus…some combo of conservative groups…they’re protesting Professor Siemens’ murder.”

  “I don’t understand…”

  “Neither do I…guess we’ll find out…”

  Chief McCaslin wasn’t alone. Al Rosas, Jillian’s chief, was there and so was John Hawley, their contact person for President Davidos. His presence got Jillian’s attention.

  There were no offers of coffee, no intros…everyone knew everyone…so it was immediately down to business.

  Hawley spoke first. “President Davidos wanted us all to get together…off camps…away from the media.”

  Everyone was seated and, given Hawley’s preface, they were attentive, and leery.

  Hawley continued. “ASU has had a formal request to permit a rally on campus tomorrow…we’d heard rumblings of this, but…here it is.” He displayed a letter…it was less than a page long.

  “For the sake of brevity, I’ll summarize the letter and the situation.” He paused, “OK, the situation first. The conservative media, and here I’m referring to Fox News, talk radio, blogs and all the rest…it’s been non-stop coverage. They’re claiming that Professor Siemens’ murder is another instance of a far-left university attempting to silence conservative voices.” He paused again, looked back to the letter, “And, they’re requesting permission to hold a rally on campus tomorrow, hosted by Miller Sterling.” He exhaled, as if winded or exasperated.

  Wes shook his head and exhaled, too. “Oh man, trouble follows that guy like apples follow John Chapman.”

  Jillian asked, “Who is he?”

  “John Chapman, you know, Johnny Appleseed.”

  “I know Johnny Appleseed, I mean who’s Miller Sterling?”

  The exchange between Wes and Jillian released a pent-up tension in the room, and everyone laughed… outright guffaws…short barks of laughter. Wes and Jillian looked at each other, then they were laughing, too. From that point on, although still down to business, everyone was more relaxed.

  Wes continued, “So, Sterling is an alt-right guy…he’s at a lot of their rallies...and has invites to speak on college campuses, too. He’s an extremist. Wherever he speaks, he draws crowds of true believers and equally large crowds of protestors…and violence invariably follows. The opposing groups clash…to put it mildly.”

  Jillian asked, “So, is he coming for sure?”

  Hawley quickly answered, “No way. In the first place, this was sprung on us at the last minute. We immediately contacted Chief Rosas and Chief McCaslin, and they agreed…there was no way to mobilize the necessary security for such a rally, much less one with Sterling as keynoter.“

  Hawley looked at the chiefs…both nodded their agreement, and he continued, “Plus, given what followed ASU’s refusal, we’re thinking that the request for a permit to hold a rally was nothing but a set-up.”

  Jillian and Wes leaned forward at the same time. Hawley said, “Sterling immediately notified his followers that ‘free speech is only available to the far left…not moderate conservative voices,’ and I’m quoting there.” He was reading from another page.

  “As if ASU is far-left,” Wes said. “Anything about our investigation?”

  Chief McCaslin answered, “What you’d expect…charges of foot-dragging.”

  Hawley nodded sympathetically, and added, “Given how quickly Sterling’s people got this message out, we assume that it was already written and ready to go…even before he heard our response…all they had to do was hit send.”

  Jillian said, “At least he’s not coming…so the rally’s off?”

  “Not exactly,” Chief McCaslin answered. “From what we’re hearing, something ‘spontaneous’ is being planned,” she laughed and shrugged, “mobilized through social media.”

  Hawley gave an over-sized nod of agreement. “Totally orchestrated. President Davidos and our Public Information Unit are already getting confirmatory requests from media outlets…local and national. And some of these requests, especially from those that are on the conservative side of the spectrum, seem to be orchestrated, too.”

  Wes asked, “When?”

  Chief Rosas answered, “Tomorrow afternoon…at 1:30.“

  Jillian, looking at Hawley and at her Chief, asked, “Will ASU let this happen?”

  Hawley answered, “ASU is always sensitive to First Amendment issues, so, yes, reluctantly…so long as it doesn’t generate any public safety issues. Chief Rosas and Chief McCaslin are coordinating security.”

  The group stayed for another ten minutes. Wes asked some logistical question, and Jillian followed-up on these, in one instance even suggesting a solution to a question that Wes had. Her comment prompted a compliment from Chief McCaslin, who called her ‘Jillian.’

  As the meeting was ending—Hawley had already left and Wes was in an exchange with Chief McCaslin—Chief Rosas followed Jillian out of the room, lowered his eyes to look directly at her, and said, “Don’t be getting any ideas now…about moving back over here. You’re back on campus…where you belong. We both know that, don’t we Detective Sergeant Warne?”

  She couldn’t help but smile. “Yes, Chief…and thank you.”

  Back in Wes’ office, Jillian asked, ‘Why’d we all meet here and not in President Davidos’ office?”

  “I assume the Prez didn’t want ASU to be front and center on this…wanted it to be more of a public safety issue, which makes sense on a lot of fronts. I just don’t want us to get distracted by this rally business…we have an investigation to run. Speaking of which, how’d it go yesterday with your Professor Patek…I should say yours and Linda’s Timms’ professor?

  “Well, my first comment isn’t about our investigation, but it’s still good news. Carolyn told me that Linda has completed a draft of her dissertation…and can defend during spring semester…maybe.”

  Wes smiled and gave a thumbs-up.

  Before Jillian could continue with the details of her meeting with Professor Patek, Officer Peter Voss knocked lightly on Wes’ door and entered the o
ffice, smiling. “Morning Wes, good morning Jillian.”

  After they responded, Voss said, “We had a ‘hit’ with President Davidos’ photo.” Then, mainly to Jillian he said, “So, good work on including his photo in our gallery.” He radiated positive energy, as if she’d somehow broken the case.

  Jillian and Wes both nodded, alert, awaiting more details.

  “I showed the Davidos photo myself, and two of the Professor’s neighbors IDed him. Of course, I’m not sure why they recognized him…maybe from being at the Professor’s, or it could have been some other way. He’s pretty high profile…his picture’s always in in the paper and he’s on TV a lot. I pressed them, and one of them thought he’d seen Davidos visiting, but he may have been reaching, you know to be helpful. Still…maybe it’s something.”

  Wes said, “Thanks Peter.”

  Jillian said, “Yes, we have to keep an open mind on this. By the way, did you have a sense from the one who was most sure…OK, sorta sure…if Davidos was visiting her by himself, or with others?”

  Voss, still eager, said, “Great question, Jillian., and yes, I did ask that. The neighbor thought he’d seen the two of them going into her unit together…just the two of them.”

  Jillian said, “Back in a sec…I want to get my notes from my interview with Professor Carolyn Patek.” She walked the few steps to her office, picked-up her IPAD, and as she turned, realized that Voss standing in the doorway behind her. She was a little surprised. “Yes?”