Scandalous (13 page)

“So you’ve made a formal complaint to the college authorities and to the physics faculty?”

“Yes.” Sasha’s eyes wandered over the lawyer’s office. It looked more like a five-star hotel suite than a place of work, all antique armoires and cashmere-covered cushions. No wonder with the fees he charged. All around the room, silver-framed photographs of his ridiculously photogenic family beamed perfect smiles at her. They looked like a toothpaste advertisement.

“And their response was…?”

“They’ve taken it under advisement.”

Don Miller lost his temper. “Look, Mr. Farley. We’ve been through all this. You know what happened. You’ve seen Sasha’s evidence, her research files. The university’s doing nothing. What we want to know is, can
you
help us?”

The lawyer sighed. “I’d like to, Mr. Miller. It does appear that Sasha has been very poorly treated by this chap. But the problem is, from what I’ve seen so far, it’s going to come down to a case of Sasha’s word against his.”

I told you so.

“What you really need are witnesses.” He turned to Sasha. “Was there anyone other than Dexter who observed you developing this theory? Anyone who could prove that you came up with it first? We’d need dates.”

Sasha immediately thought of Harold Grier. “There was one person. But I don’t know if he’d want to get involved.”

“Convince him,” said the lawyer. “That’s the best advice I can give you.”

Fat chance
, thought Sasha.

“This is very bad for the college, Dexter.
Very
bad.” Anthony Greville, St. Michael’s master, stated the obvious. “In a few weeks the girl’s going to
be
here, beginning her third year. We’ll be overrun with reporters and cameramen. The Porters’ Lodge is already overwhelmed with calls from the tabloids.”

“I know, Master. And I’m truly sorry, believe me. But Sasha’s the one stirring this up in the media, not me. I think we need to keep sight of the bigger picture here. My theory could change the very nature of our understanding of the universe. It’s huge.
Huge.
If we don’t let this scandal overshadow it, it could bring immense cachet to the college. Just think what an incredible fundraising tool that could be.”

Anthony Greville thought about it. St. Michael’s, as ever, was in dire need of new funds. The chapel was not going to reroof
itself. Trinity and St. John’s were both swimming in money, but the smaller St. Michael’s had always had to make do and mend.
Perhaps Dexter’s theory could change all that? If one tiresome, sexmad undergraduate doesn’t ruin it for all of us.

“What would you have me do, Theo? I can’t expel her and keep you here. How would that look? Especially since she’s still claiming you stole her work.”

“Call an emergency session of the Regent House. You can chair it. Let the university decide whose theory this is.”

“What good will that do?”

“It will put an end to all this once and for all. But on
your
terms. If, God forbid, the congregation rules against me, I’ll resign and go back to America. If they don’t, then you’re free to expel Sasha. She’ll be out of St. Michael’s, out of Cambridge, out of all our lives.”

“I’d just like her out of
The News of the
bloody
World
,” grumbled the master.

“Once the case is closed the press will lose interest,” Theo assured him. “Especially when they start to realize just how seismic this theory is. If the college and the faculty back me, we can kill this thing. We want the same things, Master.”

“Absolutely not.” Margaret Haines was livid. “Why the hell should I lie for that asshole?”

“My dear Margaret. Is such fragrant language really necessary?” The master sat at his desk, radiating pomposity. “No one is asking you to lie. Merely to focus on the matter in hand and not encourage the Regent House to be distracted by, shall we say, the more
salacious
elements of this whole, sorry affair.”

“You mean the fact that Dexter’s been boning his students, in clear violation of the university’s code of ethics? Sasha Miller wasn’t the first, you know.”

“Be that as it may, this theory of Professor Dexter’s could prove extremely important. And not just to the scientific world. To the
college
.”

Anthony Greville said this last as if it brooked all further conversation on the matter. Margaret Haines disagreed.

“And what if it really was this young girl’s work? Have you considered that? What if she’s telling the truth and Dexter ripped
her
off?”

“You can’t honestly believe that.”

“Can’t I? Why not? We already know Dexter’s a liar with the morals of an alley cat and the discretion of a town crier.”

“She’s an undergraduate.”

“Yes, and by all accounts a brilliant one. Unlike your friend Professor Dexter. No, Master. I won’t be silenced on this. We should be backing the girl.”

Anthony Greville’s eyes narrowed. He’d always lusted after Margaret Haines. He liked her feistiness and her sharp wit and the way her bosom jiggled underneath her sweater when she got agitated, as she was now. But if she threatened the reputation of St. Michael’s, he would have no compunction in getting rid of her.

“The Senior Common Room are all in agreement. If you go against us on this, Margaret, your position here may become very difficult.”

Margaret Haines looked at the squat, elderly toad sitting opposite her. Her contempt oozed from every pore. “Is that a threat, Anthony?”

“Not at all, my dear. But as master I must think of the good of the entire college. Testifying on young Miss Miller’s behalf would not be in any of our best interest. Including yours. Think about that, Margaret.”

Margaret Haines did speak up for Sasha. But it didn’t help. For one thing, the overwhelmingly male Regent House already knew
that Theo Dexter was an inveterate womanizer who preyed on his prettier students, and they couldn’t have cared less. For another, by the time the Cambridge authorities finally sat down to hear evidence, Ed Gilliam had done such a thorough character assassination of Sasha in the press it was a wonder her own mother was still speaking to her.

“TEENAGE LOLITA WRECKS GENIUS PROFESSOR’S MARRIAGE”

“HOME-WRECKING FANTASIST STALKED DEXTER ‘FOR MONTHS’”

Margaret’s only regret was having to add to poor Theresa Dexter’s anguish by publicly running through the litany of Theo’s student conquests. She needn’t have worried. Theresa didn’t believe a word of it.

“I swear on my life, T, it isn’t true,” said Theo. “Margaret’s always had it in for me, the old battle-ax. She’s jealous of my success. She knows Sasha’s weakened me so she’s moving in for the kill.”

After Margaret’s testimony, the court broke for an hour’s lunch. Not wanting to brave the hordes of press outside, Sasha and her family ate their sandwiches on a bench in the Senate House lobby. None of them spoke. It was pretty clear which way the congregation was leaning.
It’s like the condemned man’s last meal
, thought Sasha.

And then Harold Grier showed up.

Harold took his place on the dais. Anthony Greville, St. Michael’s master, was chairing proceedings. He read out some lines of Latin, and Harold replied.

I’ll be gracious in victory
, thought Sasha.
I’m not interested in fame and glory. All I want is to be allowed to finish my research in peace.

“Professor Grier, you worked as Miss Miller’s laboratory partner at the Cavendish during the Easter term, is that correct?”

“Yes.”

Throughout the proceedings, Sasha had resisted the urge to look at Theo. A few short months ago, just the sight of him across a room would make her heart race. Now his proximity made her physically ill.
He’s so fake. So vain and bland and…empty. What did I ever see in him?
But as Harold Grier began his testimony, she couldn’t resist stealing a triumphant glance.
I’ve got you now, you lying bastard.

Feeling her gaze, Theo turned around. Sasha wasn’t sure what she’d expected. Fear, perhaps, at the prospect of his imminent exposure and disgrace? Guilt? Regret? Instead the look on her one-time lover’s face could only be described as…
pity. That’s odd. Why would he feel sorry for me? He must know what’s coming. He must know Grier’s testimony is going to blow his case out of the water.

Harold Grier was talking. “She was very excited about working with Professor Dexter. She told me she felt inspired by him, and fortunate to have him as a supervisor.”

“And how familiar were you with Miss Miller’s research work?”

“Very familiar. We worked together over a period of weeks. It was an exciting time.”

“You recognized the importance of the work she was doing?”

“Oh yes. Absolutely. And so did she. As I say, she was thrilled Professor Dexter had given her the opportunity to work with him on it. Not many undergraduates would have been given such a chance.”

Sasha cocked her head to one side. Had she misheard him?

Anthony Greville leaned forward eagerly in his seat. “Miss Miller implied to you that the theory was, in fact, Professor Dexter’s? That he had invited her to assist him?”

No!

“Yes. Well, she didn’t imply it. She was quite explicit about it.”

“That’s not true!” Sasha was on her feet, yelling from the gallery. The black-robed figures of the Regent House glared at her as one.

“Sit down please, Miss Miller, or I will have to ask you to leave.”

“But he’s lying! Tell them the truth, Harold, for God’s sake!”

Sue Miller took her daughter’s hand and pulled her physically down into her seat. “It won’t help, love,” she whispered. Sasha sat down.

Harold Grier kept talking, calmly, rationally, convincingly. Every word was a bullet in Sasha’s heart. She was too stunned to take in much of the master’s summing up, but the few words that sank in left no room for doubt…
tragic, unnecessary case…slanderous claims…overwhelming evidence to suggest…confused, troubled young woman…

The black-robed men began filing out. All around Sasha, people were on their feet. She tried to stand up, but her legs had turned to water. Her dad put an arm around her waist. “It’s all right, Sash. Let’s go home.”