Tenure Track (13 page)

Pop psychologists would certainly trace the lawyer’s viciousness in divorce court to the experiences of her first marriage. She herself would admit that for the first few years of her career, every victory felt like an opportunity to skewer her good-for-nothing, no-child-support-paying, nowhere-to-be-found ex-husband. Every one of her clients was Kathy Evans, the good little Church of Christ girl whose six-month marriage to sexy bad boy Darryl Taylor had left her with little more than a broken heart, a baby girl, and a determination to succeed despite youthful bad choices.

That marriage, as well as her legal experience, had taught Katherine that romantic love did not conquer all and, more often than not, turned to hatred. She had made a much better choice in her second union, selecting an older, very wealthy land developer and politician whose lust for success well-matched her own. Political power proved to be much more satisfying that the lust of physical desire.

Still, there were moments when Katherine longed for a return of that innocent teenage girl who had once loved a boy so passionately that they created a new life under a sky ablaze with Fourth of July fireworks. Inwardly, she hoped that someday Mandy would be able to feel that same sense of passion with her first great love, though hopefully using better birth control methods.

So she had felt a special sadness when, while routinely checking her daughter’s Web page, she realized that Mandy had had her heart broken by an older college professor. Recognizing her cub under attack, the mother tigress sprang into defense mode, ready to rip apart the one who threatened her young. Katherine may not have been able to attend many school functions or read many bedtime stories to her daughter over the years, but now she had the chance to defend her child in the jungle she knew best.
Lewis Burns had better hang on tight to his shorts.

As she did in her divorce cases, the lawyer mentally sized up her competition across the table. The rotund, sweaty man had the cheerful, overly friendly countenance of a professional pencil pusher who hoped to just say the right thing and make everyone happy.
I’ll eat him for lunch.
The older, distinguished-looking woman was clearly more of a thinker, reminiscent of some favorite law professors and judges who liked to ponder all facts and theories before rendering a verdict. The only problem with the thinkers was that they often viewed cases a bit too abstractly, as if every human was a character in a hypothetical scenario rather than a feeling person in a real situation.
I’ll have to appeal to this one as a fellow member of the female species.

Gary tried to open the conversation with some friendly chit-chat before asking them to state their concerns, as if hearing them for the first time. He directed the appeal to Mandy, who sat slumped back in her chair, head down slightly. Katherine answered for her daughter, while pulling some official-looking documents out of her briefcase.

She began her opening statement: “Our concern
is that this university has a policy prohibiting faculty from having sexual relations with students and that one Lewis Burns, an assistant professor in the History Department, has violated this policy by having sexual relations with one Amanda Rose Taylor, a junior government major. Furthermore, in the course of his seduction, Mr. Burns violated state liquor laws by serving alcohol to a minor in that he plied Miss Taylor with wine and beer when she was barely 20 years of age. These occasions are listed in our written affidavit, along with other accounts of Mr. Burns’s sexual harassment of Miss Taylor while she was in his employ as a research assistant. The evidence includes suggestive e-mails and text messages, copies of which are attached.” She tossed two copies of the official-looking document towards Gary and Jane.

“
W-well, we’ll need to read through these thoroughly, of course,” Gary stammered. “But I assure you there will be a thorough investigation of the matter.”

“
I should hope so,” came the cool, judicial response. At this point, the prudent thing to do upon being presented with a formal complaint would have been to end the meeting and let the university’s lawyers handle the situation. But something told Jane that perhaps this matter could be handled another way. Maybe it was Mandy’s seeming lack of enthusiasm for the process. Perhaps it was because the girl reminded her so much of Dana.
How would I feel if this was my daughter? . . . I don’t trust that coach.

Reacting more like a mother than an administrator, Jane tried to ignore the formidable attorney in front of her and let her eyes fall on Mandy, who still had the demeanor of someone who would rather be anywhere other than in this room. “Beyond the school looking into the accusations, what exactly do you hope to accomplish with this complaint?” Dr. Roardan asked.

Once again, Katherine answered for her daughter. “At the very least, we would hope that the university would follow through by enforcing its own policies. We believe that faculty who prey on young students do not belong on a university campus, especially a
public
university.”

Ignoring the subtle hint of political fall-out, Jane continued to direct her questions to Mandy. “So you’d like us to fire Dr. Burns, is that it?”

“
Now, now, ladies,” Gary interjected. “Let’s not be hasty here. Mrs. Benedict, our policies on the issue of fraternization between faculty and students are very new, so we’ll have to see how the ethics committee chooses to handle—.”

“
But you do have policies against sexual harassment of employees, do you not?” she noted. “Not to mention state and federal laws. Ms. Taylor was an employee of Dr. Burns. I’m still considering the option of filing an EEOC complaint, and possibly state charges of serving alcohol to a minor. The only reason I haven’t gone to the press is to save my daughter the embarrassment.”

Jane finally broke her gaze away from Mandy. “Embarrassment? Have you seen your child’s Web page?”

“
Yes, that’s how I found out about this whole sordid incident,” Katherine explained, watching her daughter shift nervously in her chair. “That photo alone should be all the evidence you need to prove how Lewis Burns took away my daughter’s innocence and destroyed her soul!”

“
Geez, Mom, you’re not giving a summation,” Mandy muttered.

“
Not yet.” Katherine steeled her eyes at Gary.

“
J-jane,” Dean Piglet pleaded gently.

“
I’m not trying to be difficult here. I’m just trying to understand what Mrs. Benedict is saying.” Jane directed her comments toward Katherine. “It sounds to me like you might be willing to let the matter drop if we just fire Dr. Burns.”

“
That would be a good start,” Katherine admitted.

“
W-well, we have to let our processes play out,” Piglet interjected. “Dr. Burns does have certain rights as a university employee, as I’m sure you know. But I assure you, we will do all we can to investigate the matter thoroughly.”

“
So you have said,” Katherine responded coldly.

“
B-but, these things take time,” he stammered.

“
How much time? I would hope to have some closure before my husband begins the next legislative session in January.” She turned back to Jane. “You may have heard of my husband, Dr. Roardan. State Senator Rick Benedict? He is very upset about this situation. I would hate to see that affect his position on issues of higher education funding.”
There, she brought out the big guns.

Sensing the growing tension in the air, Jane made a motherly appeal. “I understand you’re upset, Mrs. Benedict. I would be too if what you’re accusing Dr. Burns of happened to my daughter.”

Katherine nodded in sisterly sympathy.
Here’s my opening.
She asked, “And what would you want done to the perpetrator?”

Jane smiled knowingly. “Oh, I’d want him strung up by the testicles, for sure. But you know we can’t do that.”

“—
as good as it might feel,” Katherine finished. The two women chuckled, as if sharing an inside joke. In a way, they were. Despite being on opposite sides of the table, the two women respected, and were even beginning to like, one another. In a different context, they might even have become friends. Now they would have to settle for being friendly adversaries. Katherine had long ago learned how to separate friendship from legal confrontation. You never knew when an enemy might be needed as an ally. She had gained many allies by treating a fellow lawyer she had just decimated in court to a nice dinner purchased with the royalties from her victory. This Jane Roardan might make a better than average meal companion.

The tension broken, Jane offered an olive branch. “How about this? Let’s everyone cool off while the university wheels turn. In the meantime, let’s both sides agree to a ceasefire on any actions or commentary beyond the confines of this process.”

“
That’s agreeable. However, I’d like regular updates on the progress of the investigation,” Mrs. Benedict countered.

“
I’m sure we can do that.” Gary nodded in agreement. Jane looked at Mandy. “This also applies to the Internet. Meaning, take that photo off your Web page.”

Katherine looked at her daughter. “Amanda?”

The student finally spoke up. “Yeah, okay, that was Blanca’s idea, anyway; but I can’t do anything about the other stuff that’s out there.”

“
What other stuff?” all three adults asked, almost in unison.

“
Uh, you know how the Web is. Things go viral.” The adults looked at her blankly. “A lotta people’ve probably copied it and sent it to other folks. Then Gus did some stuff for his site. He’s gotten a lotta hits. It’s one of his most popular bits.”

“
Who is Gus?” Jane asked, hoping perhaps it was a new boyfriend who might distract Ms. Taylor from memories of Dr. Burns.

“
A friend a mine,” Mandy explained. “He makes movies about us and posts ‘em on the Web.”

Gary turned three shades of green.
All we need is a reality show version of this mess.

“
Gus Gomez. I’ve given him some legal advice,” Katherine explained. “I’ll look into it.”

Sensing there was little left to say, Gary closed the meeting with more assurances of an in-depth investigation, followed by handshakes all around. Mandy left the same way she had entered, looking morose. Jane could tell that the complaint was more her mother’s idea than hers, but it was difficult to get any sense of the young woman’s true perspective.

So much like Dana.

After witnessing the office confrontation with Lewis and hearing the revelation that Blanca Dejean was behind the Internet photo, Jane and Gary felt it was necessary to reign in Mandy’s friend. Jane asked Sheila Stevens to set up a meeting.

From the moment she entered the room, Jane could tell that Blanca was uncomfortable, though her demeanor was totally different from Mandy’s during their meeting. Whereas Mandy had seemed embarrassed, Blanca emitted righteous anger, her rigid posture and grim face positively seething as she waited for the inquisition. She shook Jane’s hand politely as they introduced themselves, without thawing one bit. If Jane had not known better, she would have thought Blanca was the victim in this soap opera. Dr. Stevens sat quietly behind her desk, content to be an observer, not an active participant, in the discussion.

Jane could tell that there was no need to pussyfoot around with this young woman, so she came right out and asked Blanca what she knew about Mandy Taylor and Lewis Burns. The young woman glanced at Sheila before answering.

“
Mandy Taylor’s one of my roommates, Ma’am,” she answered plainly. “Lewis Burns is a History professor. Mandy worked for him last year.”

Obviously this young woman was not going to be easily forthcoming, but not for the reasons Jane thought. Blanca was not particularly upset about the question. In fact, if she had her way, she would say whatever it took to get Lewis in trouble. After weeks of listening to endless crying, giving countless hugs and sharing limitless amounts of alcohol to console her friend, Blanca wanted to see the man suffer. She indulged in vengeful fantasies of how Mandy’s trio of housemates could kidnap and torture the professor, making him feel as much physical pain as the emotional hurt he had caused their friend. She had even asked her
vodoun
-believing grandmother to put a
gris gris
on him.

But Mandy, frustrated enough by her mother’s interference, had begged her friends not to say anything. Dragging out Lewis’s crucifixion was only prolonging her own pain. So Blanca sat before Jane tight-lipped, even though she was bursting inside to tell what she knew. The only reason she was present was because Dr. Stevens asked her to be. Blanca would do just about anything for the woman who represented everything she hoped to become.

Jane pressed on. “I overheard a conversation between you and Dr. Burns the other day. You don’t seem to like him much, do you?”

“
He just misunderstood somethin’ I said. ‘Thought I was bein’ disrespectful,” she explained.

Blanca
was
frustrated with herself for momentarily forgetting her mentor’s admonition to always exhibit professionalism and decorum, including controlling one’s temper and using crisp, precise language. “When you are with your own, you are free to speak like that,” Dr. Stevens had advised her apprentice after the lounge incident, “but when you are in public, especially in a professional setting, you must reflect a professional countenance.”