The Professor (McMurtrie and Drake Legal Thrillers #1)(20)
Tom still remained silent. He would hear it all before he commented.
“Condition number one,” Jameson continued. “You will work under a zero tolerance policy. One more incident in any way similar to the Rick Drake altercation and you will be terminated immediately.” Jameson paused, looking at Tom, who glared back.
“Condition number two. You will be supervised by another member of the faculty during your classes and during trial team practices and tournaments. Bill Stewart, the other Evidence professor, has volunteered for the job and he will begin his surveillance effective tomorrow.”
Tom almost laughed. He and Bill Stewart had a hate-hate relationship, which Jameson knew because Tom had told him. So much I’ve told him...
“Condition three. You will sign the apology that Dean Lambert provided you on Monday and tender it to this Board before we leave this meeting today.” Jameson paused. “The Board met last night to discuss this plan, and it passed by majority vote. If you do not agree to work under these conditions, then it will have no choice but to terminate you.”
“Last night?” Tom asked, his voice incredulous. The words felt like acid on his tongue. “Before or after you judged our mock trial?”
Jameson poured himself a glass of water and took a sip, not answering the question. The Board members sat stoically in their seats. Tom ran his eyes down the table, and only one of them met his gaze. William Rufus Cole. The oldest member of the Board looked at him with sad, angry eyes and slowly stood. “There’s something I want to say,” Rufus said, his voice gruff.
Jameson smiled. “By all means, Rufus.”
“I think the Professor is entitled to know that not everyone here agrees with this decision.” Rufus Cole paused, and cleared his throat. “The vote of the Board was five to four. I was one of the four. It should be noted that the five Board members who voted for this decision have all been added within the last two years, and are not as familiar with the Professor’s vast accomplishments as the rest of us are.” He walked down the table and put his arm around Tom. “Let the record reflect, Dean Lambert, and let it be recorded in the minutes of this Board meeting that William Rufus Cole from Choctaw County, Alabama thinks that the Board’s action today is an unadulterated, unmitigated, goddamn disgrace. This man has given his whole life for this school. He played for Coach Bryant’s 1961 National Champions. None of you people remember that team, but I do. That team was the Bear’s first national champion. The defense that Tom played on gave up twenty-five points. For the whole year. That team made not just the school, but the whole state proud.” Rufus squeezed Tom’s shoulder. “Then, when the Man asked him to come build a trial program and teach Evidence, what did he do? He came. And he won three national championships and wrote the goddamn book on Evidence in this state.”
“Please watch your language, Rufus,” Jameson said, a thin smile covering his face.
Rufus pointed his finger at Jameson, and it trembled with anger. “You... you f*cking Judas. You of all people should be standing by Tom on this, Jameson. You wouldn’t be half the trial lawyer you are if wasn’t for the Professor.”
“Rufus, my first and only loyalty in this matter is to my client, the University of Alabama. My client asked for a recommendation, and I have given it.” Jameson turned his gaze to Tom. “So what’ll it be, Professor? You’ve heard the conditions. Will you agree to abide by them?”
“Don’t do it, Tom.” Rufus said, his voice shaky and tired, having given out from the effort. He was now talking to and looking at only Tom. “I’m sorry.”
“It’s OK, Rufus,” Tom said, patting his old friend on the arm. Then, he turned to Tyler, forcing himself to remain calm.
“You mentioned something besides the altercation with Drake. A ‘personal’ matter. What does that involve?”
“It’s bullshit, Tom,” Rufus blurted. “Complete–”
“Rufus Cole,” Dean Lambert said, standing and glaring at Rufus. “You have been warned twice. You can address this Board appropriately or you can leave.”
“Don’t threaten me, you sonofa–” Rufus started to walk towards the Dean, but Tom grabbed him by the arm and whispered in his ear. “Just sit down, Rufus. I appreciate the gesture, but it’s not helping. OK?”
Rufus looked at him with pleading eyes, then nodded and took his seat. Tom turned back to Jameson, who was now standing.
“The personal matter involves a relationship you have with one of your students that the Board believes is inappropriate. According to the Dean, he saw you holding hands with one of your female interns on Monday and–” Tyler opened a file folder in front of him and slid an envelope down the table “–and we also have these.”
Tom looked inside the envelope and couldn’t believe his eyes. Dawn Murphy’s smiling face was caught in close-up as Tom walked her down the sidewalk with his arm around her. The next one showed her wet T-shirt. In the last two, Dawn’s body leaned into Tom’s and her hand was on his shoulder, but their faces were blocked by the umbrella, making it appear like they were in some type of romantic embrace.
“You had me followed?” Tom looked up at the Dean, whose eyes shifted to Jameson.
“Well... yes,” the Dean said. “After observing you holding hands with Ms Murphy on Monday, the Board was advised by our attorney to conduct surveillance on you. I think the photographs show the wisdom in Mr Tyler’s advice.”