He patted Guy on the shoulder and trotted off to his car in the parking area.
As Guy steered the bike out of the parking lot and onto the lake road, I chewed on the insulting way Stanford denigrated my research. As if reading my mind, Guy reached back and gave my leg an affectionate rub. “Is the little woman still mad about Dr. Stanford’s comments?”
We both broke into laughter.
“Odd though,” Guy said, after a while.
“Hmm?” I propped my chin on his leather-clad shoulder.
“A day or two of untreated effluent from a faulty treatment system shouldn’t produce a fish kill. Takes a while.”
“Something else going on, do you think?”
“Maybe, but I’m no expert. That’s Stanford’s purview.”
“And what did you think of him?”
“Handsome devil. Strong handshake. Did I catch an undercurrent of tension between the two of you, I mean, even before the student interns discussion? His attack on you seemed unprovoked.”
I laughed. “I had his “little woman” in one of my women’s studies classes. Stanford may be worried there were lasting effects.”
“What’s she like?”
“I really don’t know her well, aside from that one class. She’s finishing her doctorate at Syracuse in water resources. I guess you could say he served as her mentor.” I stopped talking and sighed into his shoulder.
“Something else bothering you?”
“They got together when she was enrolled in one of his classes. I recently heard rumors on campus he’s been seeing another of his students. What is it with these guys?” I pounded my fist into Guy’s arm.
“Hey, interfering with the driver. I’ll have to stop and teach you better motorcycle manners.” He slowed the bike.
“Oh, please do. I need reminding every now and then.”
Guy pulled onto a side road leading to the water’s edge. There was no dead fish odor here, only the smell of wet ground near the shoreline and the sound of frogs calling through the mist on the lake.
He dug a blanket out of the saddlebags and spread it on the ground. We lay side by side gazing up into the night sky.
“No stars tonight. I think it’s going to rain, so we’d best begin with my motorcycle manners lesson right now.”
“Okay, here are the rules. Never, ever bite the driver on his neck.”
“You mean, like this?” I took a tiny nip on his neck.
“No, I mean more like this.” Guy returned the favor.
The lessons would have continued well into the night had it not been for the crack of thunder overhead.
“Oh, oh. Like I said, it’s going to rain.”
The wind began to pick up and a bolt of lightning turned the night into day.
“Let’s ride.” Guy grabbed the blanket off the ground, shook it, and reached for my hand.
We made it to the bike when the first raindrops hit. The trees began to bend in the wind.
“This could drop some limbs on the road.” I had to shout into Guy’s ear to be heard over the noise of the wind.
The storm intensified as the winds gusted, then lightning flashes struck just beyond the bends ahead and a deluge of giant raindrops pummeled us. As large and powerful as the bike was, the gusts treated it like a toy, shaking the machine and pushing it from side to side down the road. My fingers gripped Guy’s leather jacket.
Open to the elements of nature, I felt as fragile as a glass ornament on a Christmas bough under attack by a playful cat. But there was nothing playful about this storm, and I worried we wouldn’t make it home without the powerful blasts sweeping us off the road and throwing us sideways down the asphalt.
“Hang on!” Guy yelled at me, as if I would be foolish enough to let go for one second. Lightning hit a limb that slammed to the ground just after we passed under the maple tree it was once part of. Ahead of us, the lights of the motorcycle illuminated a road littered with tree branches. Guy maneuvered around them, downshifting to make the sharp turns required to avoid the leafy debris, and speeding up once we were beyond the obstruction.
We pulled into my driveway just as another gust shook the trees surrounding us. A lightning strike lit up my yard revealing a lawn covered with branches, leaves and an overturned barbecue grill. We made a dash for the door.
“Wow, that was some storm, and it came up so quickly.” He shook his head and the water trapped in his hair flew across the kitchen.
“Let me get some towels.” I dashed up the stairs and grabbed an armful of bath towels from the linen closet. “This is just the beginning of the storm season here. We usually get a few tornadoes, too.” I threw a towel to him.
“This is silly. You’re shivering, and we really need to get out of these clothes and into something warm. The storm seems to be passing. I think we’re safe enough.” He produced his lop-sided grin and nodded toward the stairs.
“Might as well use up all of the warm water again. You’re awfully hard on the electric bills.”
“Would you prefer a cold shower in the name of economy then?”
“No.” My teeth were chattering.
We showered and got out just before the water turned tepid, so that we wouldn’t get chilled again. By the time we finished, the rain slowed and only a few drops continued to fall as the lightning retreated beyond the hills, and the winds died. I made coffee, and we carried our cups upstairs and opened the French doors in my bedroom. Arms entwined, we stood in the doorway and took in the view of the lake below.
Gentler breezes blew in through the screen, sweeping away the clouds and revealing a bright moon, enough light to see each other’s eyes. Guy’s were dark and filled with passion. He reached out to touch my cheek.
“How was that for a ride?”
“Do you usually provide this much drama in a girl’s life?”
“This is just the beginning.” He kissed my lips and led me to the bed.
Chapter 6
I was on my hands and knees when Guy patted my backside and waved goodbye. Where was that damn dress? Ah, here. I grabbed the knit, sleeveless shift off the floor of my closet, shook it free of its wrinkles and slipped it over my head. A little lipstick, a mug of coffee to take with me in the car, and I was off to pick up Annie on the way to President Talbot’s funeral being held on campus at the student center. I waved at Guy when I passed the construction site. He waved and winked back. Loved that wink.
Cars filled the parking lot closest to the student center. A campus security officer signaled me to an area farther down the road. As Annie and I left the car, we ran into Rudolf Pruitt and his secretary on their way into the funeral.
I nodded briefly at him and his secretary Nancy. No wife accompanying him to this important ceremony?
“Sara couldn’t make it today?” My voice sounded innocent, but Pruitt probably knew better.
For many years Pruitt engaged in an on-and-off relationship with Nancy. Meantime he couldn’t seem to divorce or permanently leave his wife, Sara. Nancy grabbed his arm and jerked him after her as she hurried into the center.
“You’re so mean to the two of them.” Annie held her hand over her mouth and tried to suppress a chuckle. “I think Sara kicked him out of the house. She told me Nancy could have him.”
“I should send her a congratulations card.”
“Shhh.” Annie put her finger to her mouth. “A little respect here. Be quiet so I can hear what others are gossiping about.”
“Good thinking.” We entered and took seats toward the rear of the room.
I looked around the crowded auditorium, usually reserved for rock bands or comedy acts. Today the venue was different. Those in attendance included most of the staff and faculty of the college, a smattering of students, mostly those in student government, numerous local, regional, and state political people and a representative from the state college office.
Of all of those in attendance today, I was most impressed with the number of faculty from this campus. As
much as they disliked Talbot, no one wanted to miss his funeral. It was a gathering of the curious and the gossipmongers.
Many individuals spoke at the service. Having performed the onerous task of praising an unworthy colleague, these speakers sought to insure like praise when their time came. There was hardly a wet eye in the place.
The minister announced there would be a gathering at the president’s residence. Feeling slightly bilious following the service, probably because my stomach reacts poorly to situations where the only food offered is a buffet of lies, I was in need of something to settle the butterflies. Snooping might do it.
At the residence, I was about to grab for some pasty white stuff on a round of bread from the buffet table, when I spied President Talbot’s wife, and the chase was on. Stomach ache forgotten, I made my way over to her. Her first name was Penelope, but she was known to her close friends as “Bunny” for all the years she and her husband lived in Onondaga Falls. She was anything but cuddly. A tall, ruddy faced woman, she adorned her large earlobes with small dangle earrings and spit curls over each ear. I wondered if she thought these baubles made her look more feminine.
“Mrs. Talbot, you have my sympathies. Such a shock. I suppose it’s too soon to think of the future and what your plans will be?” I took her hand in mine.
“Well, the college council has been very nice to let me stay on in the house for an indefinite period of time. Of course, I’ll have to vacate by the time a permanent president is appointed. I think I’ll take a few months to decide. I never had my own career, you know. Talbot’s work always came first, and that’s as it should be.”
“Oh, but I thought you were a realtor several years back. Didn’t you sell some of the condos on the lake?” I knew she did.
Bunny brought her hand up to her spit curls, pressing them against her cheeks. Her hands must have been damp because the patting of her hair caused it to unroll and the curls began to look more like sideburns. Her eyes darted around the room,
“Yes, but that was just a brief time, and Talbot thought it might be perceived as a conflict of interest, especially if a new staff or faculty member were to use me as their agent. So I gave up my license. I must circulate now.” Bunny raced off to talk with others in the room.
“Boy, she left in a hurry.” Annie handed me a plate of food. ”What did you say to run her off like that?”
“I merely was talking about her future plans and mentioned her work in real estate. Wasn’t there some flap about that around the time you came here?”
“Was there. All new faculty were directed to Mrs. Talbot and strong-armed by President Talbot to use his wife as their real estate agent. Remember that dump I rented when I first came into town? Bunny found that for me.”
“She try to get you to buy into the condo project?”
“She sure did. She wanted me to purchase on the basis of some plans that were drawn up. They weren’t scheduled to begin construction for over a year. Meantime my money was going to be tied up in a place I couldn’t move into for years.” Annie shook her head.
I smiled, remembering what happened.. “The college council finally took Talbot to one side and “encouraged” him to remove his wife as a recommended realtor to new faculty and staff. I guess my bringing up her past work made her uncomfortable.”
“Laura, dear. Thanks so much for lunch the other day.” Jeanette appeared at my side.
“You’re entirely welcome. You looked like you could use a break. That mob scene in the office must have continued on for the rest of the day.” I scanned the room for a moment. “Say, isn’t that Stanford’s wife, Tiffany or Melissa or… Bethany, that’s it.”
Annie nodded. “That’s her. I understand she’s back from the university and is looking to do some research for her dissertation at the Biological Field Station.”
“Looks like they’re having a bit of a tiff.” Although I couldn’t hear what they were saying over the din of conversation in the room, I noticed Stanford’s red face and Bethany’s angry body language as she leaned into her husband. As I watched, she spun around and rushed from the room.
“Back in a minute.” I handed my half-finished plate of food to Annie and pursued Bethany out of the door to the front yard.
“Bethany.”
The young woman turned in my direction. “Oh, Dr. Murphy. How nice to see you.” She wiped her eyes with a tissue and waited for me to catch up. “Damn. I seem to have left my car keys home, and I’m not going back in there to ask Will for his. I guess I’ll just walk.”
“Where are you off to? I’m ready to leave this scene anyway. Can I give you a ride?”
“Oh, anywhere. I really just need some time to sort things out a bit.”
“Could you use an ear? We could go for a drive.”
“What I could use is someplace to think.”
“I’ve got just the place, my deck overlooking the lake.” I took her arm and headed her toward my car.
I unlocked the car door and asked Bethany to wait for me while I ran back into the house to tell Annie I was on my way home and to see if she could hitch a ride with someone else. She was busy pretending to listen to Edmond Dewar of the music department drone on and on about a new piece of music he composed. He served as head of the committee on campus to which Annie would be presenting her credentials in the fall for promotion, and she wasn’t missing an opportunity to schmooze with him.
“I’m sure Dr. Dewar can drop me off. We can continue our fascinating discussion of his newest composition. Right, Edmond?”
Annie could really pour on the charm when necessary.
In the car on the way to the house Bethany discussed her work at the university and her hopes that she could complete her dissertation at the Biological Field Station.
“But that could prove difficult now with the problems between Will and me. When I first suggested doing research here, Will seemed interested in the idea, but as the plans were finalized, he became less enthusiastic about my work.”
“What’s the problem with your work?”
Bethany chewed on her bottom lip and looked out the window of the car without replying.
When we arrived at the lake and settled on the deck with some iced tea, Bethany remained silent about her problems with Will. I didn’t push her and turned the conversation to reminiscing about her undergraduate days and the women’s studies course she took from me. In the middle of talking about the course, Bethany set down her glass, cleared her throat and looked me in the face.
“Will had a number of relationships with his students over time. I was just one of the many.” She began to sob.
“Perhaps he did have other relationships, but, you need to remember, he married you.” I patted her shoulder and ran into the house to find tissues.
“I’m okay.” She grabbed a handful of tissues from the box I offered.
“Are these past relationships causing you and Will problems now?” I was puzzled at Bethany’s crying. “I mean that’s over. Surely you and Will have discussed this, right?”
“I feel like such a fool. Oh, we’ve discussed them all right. He said they were past, that he loved me, that he married me, right? I’m just feeling sorry for myself. I apologize for dumping this on you.” She blew her nose, straightened up and took a swallow of her tea. When she looked up again, the despair present on her face a few moments earlier was replaced by a dark look of anger.
“The real problem is that Will is seeing another student.”
So the rumors on campus were true.
“Do you think it’s serious?”
“I really don’t care if it is or not. I’ve told him I want a divorce. My timing is a little off. I broke the news to him at the reception after the president’s funeral, but I really meant it. Maybe he did love me, but I can’t continue in a relationship with a man who can’t keep his hands off his students.”
“I can’t tell you what to do, but I can recommend that you do some more thinking about this. I suggest that
you get some professional counseling around your decision to divorce Will, and I think you need to talk further with Will about this. You’re hurt and angry now. Sleep on it and do some thinking tomorrow.”
“You’re right, I am hurt and angry. I really wish I could do something to hurt him back. I only found out about this new relationship a few days ago, an anonymous phone call, probably from the young woman herself. When I confronted Will about it, he confessed and seemed so contrite, saying he would break it off immediately. I was so mad I told him I could kill him.”
Bethany and I continued our conversation throughout the afternoon. By the time the sun began pouring horizontally through the pine branches overhanging my deck, Bethany had cried and talked herself out.
“How about you stay for dinner and spend the night?”
“I’d really like that. Let me just give Will a call on my cell and tell him I’m staying with a friend for the night. I’m not going to mention your name. Will seems to think you’re an interfering bitch, er, person and there’s no need to bring my selection of friends into our arguments.”
“I’ll just rummage around in my freezer to see what I can defrost for dinner tonight.”
I left her on the deck to make her call, praying that there was something, anything, to eat in my fridge, frozen or not. Just as long as it didn’t have mold on it.
“No one home. I left a message. Can I help?”
“Uh, no. I think you’d be happier on the deck. I’m not a very good cook, so it’s better not to watch.”
For a moment she looked horrified, but she must have caught the twinkle in my eyes. She laughed. “You must cook the way I do. And, another thing.”
“Yep.” I shoved a pound of ground beef into the microwave. “Chili or something, I guess.” We both nodded.
“Call me Beth. I really hate ‘Bethany’. It just doesn’t fit me.”
“Okay, Beth. I always thought Bethany should be reserved for a petite blonde anyway.” I smiled and looked admiringly at the tall, dark-haired young woman who leaned against my kitchen table.
Murder is Academic Page 5