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Chapter 21
March, 1999
Emma knew she had
to have a conversation with Lizzy, but she couldn't do it over
the phone. So she had her friend over to the house. The earliest
they could get together was on a Saturday night. After a grilled
chicken salad, the girls retreated to Emma's bedroom.
They sat on the
bed, Lizzy wondering at her friend's agitated demeanor. Emma
was wringing her hands while talking about inconsequential topics.
It was driving Lizzy nuts, as Em had been antsy all evening.
"Emma,"
she said as she reached out to quiet her hands. "You obviously
have something to tell me." She gave her friend a comforting
smile. "Why don't you just tell me what it is?"
There was a flash
of guilt on Emma's face.
"It can't be
all that bad," Lizzy teased.
"Yes, it is."
Lizzy started. Finally,
Emma threw up her hands.
"Lizzy, I know
what happened to Marianne. Oh, Lizzy, we were so wrong!"
~*~*~
Lizzy slammed the
door of her dorm room and threw herself on her bed, scaring Marianne.
"Lizzy? What's
wrong?" Her roommate could not answer, her body shaking
as she wept. Mari could only sit next to her, stroking her shoulder.
Finally, Lizzy gained control of her tears, and haltingly repeated
what Emma had just shared with her.
"Lizzy, please
don't be so upset. I understand. I do! Yes, you made a mistake,
but you meant well. You were lied to. What is this really all
about?"
Lizzy couldn't answer
Mari's question, as her attention was drawn to her Riptide beanie.
Obeying an impulse she could barely understand, she took the
doll into her trembling hands, and her fingers began caressing
it. She remembered how surprised she was when William gave it
to her. Surprised and…pleased.
Memories, well submerged,
came flooding back to her.
The warmth of
a summer's night on the AI porch. The smell of pecan waffles.
The rattle of a streetcar as she walked along St. Charles Avenue.
The fear she felt when a friend used his body to shield a little
girl from harm. The satisfying warmth of good coffee and better
conversation. Dancing to the sounds of a blues band. A movie
and pizza. The thrill and excitement of a cold December afternoon.
A lonely bed in Lafayette. An accidental kiss that sent shivers
down her spine.
All these lovely
memories and only one common denominator.
William Darcy.
"Lizzy?"
Lizzy began shaking
her head. "Oh my god…oh my god…" She gripped
the beanie in her fist so tightly that Mari was certain it would
burst.
"Lizzy, what
is it?" Marianne cried, before recoiling from the raw pain
in her friend's face.
"Mari, what
have I done?! I love him!"
~*~*~
It was amazing that
Lizzy could drive her Civic in a straight line, as her mind was
jumbled with stabbing regret and self-incrimination. She was
able to navigate the early Sunday morning traffic on I-10 past
the airport safely before opening it up on the Bonnet Carré
Spillway. At Laplace, she turned north on I-55 and traveled the
next twenty-two miles on the elevated roadway fifty feet above
the cypress swamps that separated Lake Ponchartrain from Lake
Maurepas. She reached ground level again just south of Ponchatoula,
the Strawberry Capital of Louisiana, but that was not her destination.
It lay some dozen miles further north, in Hammond.
She took the University
Avenue exit off I-55 inside of Tangipahoa Parish's largest city.
Five minutes later, she pulled into the parking lot of a small
apartment building. Her eyes looked for one sight -Jane's car.
Luckily, Lizzy was able to park near it. She made her way to
her sister's second-floor apartment and rang the doorbell. A
minute later, it was answered by a disheveled blonde, one hand
holding a rose-colored robe closed tightly against her neck.
"Lizzy? What
are you doing here?" Jane asked.
"May I come
in?"
"It's…it's
not a good time-Lizzy, what's wrong? You've been crying!"
She pulled the door wide open to allow the brunette entry.
"I've been
such a fool! I hope you understand…I needed to talk to you."
They made their way to the kitchen. Jane cleared the plates and
wine glasses from the table, and the two sat down.
"Oh, Jane,
what am I going to do?"
"Lizzy what's
troubling you? What is so urgent that you couldn't call first?
Oh, my god!… Is it Mom or Dad?"
"No, no. Everybody
at home is fine, as far as I know. I didn't call because I needed
to see you. I…guess I didn't think it through first. Oh,
Jane! I haven't been thinking well at all lately!"
Jane held her hand.
"All right, tell me about it."
And she did. Elizabeth
unburdened herself by repeating everything she had learned in
the last few days from Emma and Marianne. "I was wrong,
Jane. Completely wrong. Everything Wickham told me was a lie.
And I believed it all! Me - I've always prided myself on my intelligence
and discernment. Greg Wickham played me like he owned me. I've
caused so many people so much trouble. All my friends…how
could I do that to them?"
Jane squeezed her
hand. "I'm sure you didn't mean to hurt them. You weren't
trying to do anything but uncover what happened to Marianne."
"But I went
off half-cocked because I let my anger and pride get the best
of me. And now William…" her voice trailed off.
"What about
William?"
Lizzy started crying
again. "Jane…I think I love him."
Jane's eyes grew
wide. "When did this happen?"
"I don't know!
I…I was so shocked when he confronted me that I…I said
some things…terrible things. I didn't mean them. But I felt
so disappointed in him. I was angry and hurt, and I wanted to
hurt him.
"But later,
I couldn't get how he looked at me out of my head. That desperate
look when he said he loved me, and he didn't want to see me again.
It took me weeks to realize that I couldn't bear it. That's when
I knew…that's when I realized why I was so angry, so disappointed
in him. It was because I loved him! I couldn't believe he would
keep something from me, that he wouldn't trust me."
"Oh, my. Then…then
why did you say the things you said about him and his father
in the article?"
She lowered her
head. "I didn't - Justin added that in."
"What? He added
something to your article?"
"Jane, wait
- you don't understand. As my editor, he has the right to do
that, especially since he was there at the house."
Jane and Lizzy sat
quietly until the younger woman's tears stopped. "Have you
talked to William yet?"
"No. I don't
know what to say."
"Tell him the
truth," Jane urged.
"He's so angry.
What if he won't listen? What if he won't take my call?"
"Hey, Jane,
you got any more shampoo?" a male voice came from behind
them.
Lizzy whipped around
and beheld a half-naked Chuck Bingley. He had strolled out of
Jane's bedroom with a towel around his waist. He froze in place,
like something from a French farce, when he realized that they
had company. Lizzy, her eyes as wide as saucers, turned to her
red-faced sister.
"I told
you it was a bad time," Jane murmured.
"Umm…hello,
Lizzy," managed Chuck. "I…I guess…umm…I'm
gonna get dressed now, all right?" Without waiting for a
response, he fled back into the bedroom.
Lizzy turned to
Jane. "How long has…?"
Calmly, Jane said,
"Charles and I have been dating since Mardi Gras. He comes
up here most weekends."
"Oh, Jane!
I'm so…so…sorry…ha ha ha…!" All the
tension in the room was broken by Lizzy's slightly hysterical
laugher. It was only a moment before she was joined by her sister.
The two held hands as they laughed until they cried.
They had begun to
catch their breath, when they were rejoined by an abashed Chuck.
One look at him and the two girls were lost to laughter again.
They quieted down when Chuck joined them at the table.
"Sorry, Chuck,"
Jane said as she gave him a kiss on the cheek.
"That's all
right - I must have looked like a raving lunatic." His smile
disappeared as he greeted Elizabeth politely.
Lizzy stared at
the table. "Chuck, I know you won't believe this, and I
wouldn't blame you if you never talked to me again, but I was
so wrong about you and Alpha Iota, and I am SO sorry about this.
About everything…" She began crying again.
Chuck let her cry
for a moment before quietly saying her name. After he said it
a second time, Lizzy raised her eyes. Instead of anger, she saw
only seriousness. "Why?" was his only question.
Lizzy gulped. "Because
I was lied to. And I believed it."
He lightly sighed.
"Tell me, Lizzy. Tell me everything."
And so she did.
For fifteen minutes, Elizabeth told him everything she had told
Jane. Once she was done, Chuck stood up and paced about the room,
running his hands though his hair. After a minute, he spoke.
"Aww, Lizzy…aww,
crap! What do we do now?"
"You…you
believe me?"
"Of course,
I believe you. I only wish…aw, why go into that, huh?"
He sat down and allowed Jane to take one of his hands in hers.
"What are you going to do?"
"I'm going
to write a retraction."
"Good. Will
the newspaper print it?"
Lizzy blinked; she
had not thought of anything beyond the retraction. "I…I
don't see why not."
Chuck gave Lizzy
a lop-sided grin. "Hah. I'll believe it when I see it. Them
printing your retraction, I mean. For whatever it's worth, Lizzy,
I forgive you." He reached for her across the table.
Lizzy grasped his
hand. "Oh, Chuck, you're too good."
"But, I can't
say the same for the chapter, you understand."
"They probably
hate me."
"Lizzy, I can't
lie to you. Some do." He cut himself off, before he said
anything about the legal expenses involved. It turned out he
didn't need to.
"I can't image
how much money you guys - or your families - must have laid out
for lawyers," said Lizzy sadly. Chuck only nodded. "Oh,
Chuck, how about you? I wish I could reimburse you…"
"Don't worry,
Lizzy, I'm cool."
"But, you can't
afford a lawyer!"
"I didn't have
to. Mr. Darcy took care of me."
Lizzy's hand went
to her mouth. "William's father? He paid for your attorney?"
"More than
that - his legal team represented me."
"I can't understand
how you believed that stuff about Mr. Darcy," said Jane.
"He's a wonderful, kind man."
Lizzy was surprised
at Jane's defense of William's father. "You sound like you
know him. When did you meet Mr. Darcy?"
"Why, in January,
when he visited his daughter. That's when I met William."
"WHAT? Visited
his daughter? What are you talking about? You've known William
since January? Why didn't you tell me?"
"Didn't I tell
you? Miss Darcy was in East Jefferson over New Years, and I was
assigned to her room. That's when I met them." She frowned.
"I was sure I told you."
"New Years…"
she recalled William leaving Memphis abruptly. "Was she
sick New Years Eve?"
"Yes - emergency
appendectomy."
Lizzy covered her
eyes. "Oh, I am SUCH a fool. That's why William flew back
from Memphis! And I thought he just ditched us. I immediately
thought the worst of him. How despicable of me!"
"Lizzy,"
said Chuck kindly, "Will can be pretty closed-mouthed when
it comes to his family. Some of us didn't know about Gina until
after we got back."
Lizzy turned to
him. "It doesn't matter! I'm supposed to have some discernment!
Now, it seems I don't have a clue! I don't know myself at all."
Jane took her hand.
"Is there anything we can do?"
"No, Jane.
This is a mess I have to fix by myself." She turned again
to Chuck. "Chuck, I will never forget what you've said to
me. I want you to know that I'll make this up to you, if it's
the last thing I ever do. Now, I've got to get to work."
~*~*~
Chris parked his
Silverado in the parking lot of the riverside park behind Audubon
Zoo and walked towards the slim figure sitting in the grass halfway
down the riverbank. He got very close before speaking.
"Hello, Marianne."
Mari turned to him,
a slight smile on her lips. "Hi, Chris."
"May I join
you?" She nodded, and he took a seat, not too close to her.
"I'm glad we could get together. It's been hard to get in
touch with you."
She looked out at
the moving water. "We've changed our phone number twice.
The first time, right after Mardi Gras. We had to change it again
when somebody from the university leaked it to the press, and
we started getting calls from reporters."
"Aw, that's
cold."
She shrugged. "I
think it bothered Lizzy the most. She's pretty disillusioned.
Everything she'd believed in has turned ugly."
Chris looked searchingly
at her. "That's very generous of you, considering everything,
Mari."
"She's my friend.
She explained why she did what she did. In her mind, she was
trying to help." She turned to Chris. "I know it's
been tough on you guys, but…but can you, maybe, forgive
Lizzy?"
"I won't know
until I talk to her. But Mari, I asked to see you to find out
how you're doing, not Lizzy."
Mari looked out
at the river again. "Good. I'm good."
"Marianne…"
Mari half turned
to him, her eyes on his knees. "No, really. I've been talking
to someone. Touro set me up with a counselor. She's helping me
see that some victims never remember anything and that it really
is a blessing that I don't remember. We're talking it through,
and I'm gonna be okay."
"No repressed
memory exercises?"
"No, she said
that could cause more harm than good."
"Good. She
sounds like she knows her stuff. And school?"
Mari looked down.
"That's not so good. Nobody's supposed to know it was me
in those stories, but…they know." She sighed. "Some
people stare, as if I've grown a third eye. Some people won't
even look at me, as if I'm going to accuse them of something.
Others actually come up and congratulate me, as if I've
done some great thing for women's rights. They think they're
'showing solidarity' with me, I suppose. It's stupid. Mostly,
people avoid me, even my fellow choir members. It's like they
don't know what to say to me, so they stay away and say nothing."
Chris frowned. "It
sounds lonely, Mari."
"It is."
"I'm really
sorry."
"Thank you,
Chris." She looked at him. "And you? How are you doing?"
"I'm fine.
Being in medical school has put a buffer between me and all the
crazy stuff."
Mari nodded. The
two then talked about how their classes were going, before settling
down to watch the busy river. Chris tried not to look at the
lady beside him, for his feelings were far from calm. He had
fallen in love with Marianne and had been royally torn up about
what had happened to her. The first few weeks had been a constant
struggle between what he wanted to do - destroy John Waguespack
and, later, Greg Wickham - and what he should do - give
Mari space and time to deal with what had happened to her. He
knew from Emma that Mari had been getting help. It was the hardest
thing in the world to step back and allow the healing process
to proceed without interference or additional baggage.
The two were content
to sit quietly in the sun, enjoying the fragrance of freshly-cut
grass and clover, as the freighters and tugboats sailed up and
down the Big Muddy, an occasional ship's horn interrupting the
sounds of nature and ships' engines.
Marianne abruptly
broke the silence. "Chris, how is William?"
Chris leaned back
on one elbow. "Not good. He's angry and hurt. I've never
seen him like this." He shook his head. "I know that
sounds trite, after everything that's happened to you…"
"Chris, please
don't say that. What about Will?"
"It's like
something in him died, Mari. A light has gone out in him."
Mari drew up her
knees to rest her chin as she hugged her shins. "Lizzy hurt
him that bad?"
"Yeah."
"She loves
him, you know."
"Yeah, I figured
that out during our trip to Lafayette. Will must've felt the
same, 'cause otherwise he wouldn't have felt so betrayed."
She turned to him.
"Will loves her?"
"Yeah, well,
he did."
"And now?"
He shook his head.
"I don't know if he hates her now, or hates himself for
caring. Whatever it is, it's bad."
Tears flowed down
Marianne's lovely face. "What a disaster! They should be
together."
Chris looked out
at the river. "That ship has sailed."
Mari stared at Chris,
hardly believing what she had heard. A giggle escaped from her
pursed lips, which was answered by a sardonic grin on his face.
"Sorry - bad joke."
Mari reached out,
smiling. "No, it's okay. What else can we do? We either
laugh or cry. I prefer laughing. Thank you, Chris - you've been
a good friend." At Chris's frown she asked, "What's
wrong?"
"Nothing."
"No, really,
tell me."
He looked deeply
into her eyes, trying to judge her vulnerability, before turning
away. "Now's not a good time for you, Mari. We'll talk some
other time." He sighed. "But I am your friend, and
I always will be." Mari gasped, realizing what he had left
unsaid. She looked away, and he attempted to console her. "Mari,
I'm sorry. I shouldn't have said that. Don't let that bother
you, please."
"It doesn't,
Chris. I'm glad you told me," she managed. "I…I'm
just surprised. I had no idea."
"Mari, I'm
sorry."
"I can't handle
something like that, now."
"I know, I
know. I just want to help. Be here for you. I'm not expecting
anything else."
"That's not
fair to you."
"This is not
about me. Don't worry about me. I know what I'm doing."
"Do you? These
are your feelings we're talking about."
"The risk is
on me. Please don't concern yourself about that. No matter what,
you're important to me - as a friend. I want you to get better.
Trust me, that's all I want."
"That's all
you want for now. Is that enough?"
"If I'm truly
your friend, it will be."
She looked at him,
her eyes watery. "If…if I could feel more for you,
I would. You believe that, don't you?"
He nodded sadly.
"If friendship's all we ever have together, that's enough
for me."
She nodded and turned
to the side. Together they watched the sunset.
~*~*~
Two days later in
the offices of the Loyola VOICE, Justin looked at the
copy Lizzy just handed him. "What's this?"
"It's my follow-up
on the Alpha Iota story."
"Follow-up?
What the hell? This looks like a retraction!"
"If a clarification
of the facts of the story changes the original story, then I
guess it could be called a retraction."
"I can't run
this!"
"Why not?"
"It makes us
look like idiots!"
"Don't we have
a responsibility to tell the truth?"
"Yeah, but…Lizzy!
I ain't running this 'til I talk to Jennings!"
~*~*~
An hour later, Dr.
Jennings had finished reading Lizzy's new story. She looked up,
and her expression was not friendly. "You stand by the facts
in this story, Elizabeth?" she asked in a dangerous voice.
"Yes, ma'am.
Since writing my original story, it's come to light that one
of my sources had been, to put it mildly, dishonest with me."
"That's this
Wickham person?"
"Yes, ma'am.
I've learned that he's a felon, and not associated with either
Tulane or Alpha Iota. He lied to me, Professor."
"But the cover-up…"
"Pardon me,
but cover-up of what? The Picayune says there is no physical
evidence of an assault. The only thing we know is that John Waguespack
carried an unconscious female out of the AI House while his guest,
Greg Wickham, got into a scuffle with William Darcy. All of this
in front of a dozen witnesses. We don't know what caused the
female's condition, and we must assume that the AI members are
innocent of inappropriate behavior until proven otherwise. The
AIs were not forthcoming with us, but they do have a right not
to speak to the press."
"You know this
throws your original story into question."
"If that's
the case, so be it."
"Who got to
you? The Darcys?" asked Justin.
Elizabeth became
furious, but tried to hold her temper. "I'm sorry to disappoint
you, Justin, but no one 'got to me.' I'm reporting the facts."
Her cold tone left no doubt how she felt about his accusation.
"His
facts," Justin retorted.
Lizzy didn't back
down. "The facts, Justin. There's no other way to
look at this." No matter how much you want to. "Besides,
William Darcy hates the very air I breathe."
"This might
make it up to him," Dr. Jennings suggested.
Lizzy looked at
her mentor in amazement. "I can't believe you said that."
Jennings tried to
stare down Elizabeth and failed. She turned to Justin. "Take
this and draw up something for this week's VOICE…"
She was cut off by Lizzy clearing her throat. "Yes?"
"I'm requesting
you print that verbatim, Professor," Lizzy said.
"That's an
editorial decision, Elizabeth."
"I only ask,
because I've sent a copy of that to Mr. Rank at the Picayune,
and I don't want to embarrass the VOICE."
"You…you
sent this?" Jennings' face darkened. "You…bitch!
How dare you embarrass me!"
Lizzy was shocked.
"Embarrass you? I'm sorry, ma'am, but this isn't about you.
Innocent people have been harmed, and I'm trying to do right
by them…"
"Bullshit!
You're covering your ass! You got the story wrong, and you're
trying to save yourself from a libel suit from the Darcys! I
spent a lot of my credibility with the Picayune for this
story and this is how you repay me? Making a fool out of me?"
She tossed the story back at Elizabeth. "All right, Miss
Boudreaux, we'll run your retraction, but don't bother coming
to my class any longer this semester! You're flunked."
Elizabeth was shaken
at the venomous attack, and even Justin was taken aback.
"You…you're
going to fail me, based on one assignment? That's not fair!"
"Get out of
here, Boudreaux. You're fired from the VOICE."
"All right,
I'll withdraw from the course…"
"I won't sign
the withdrawal form. You're toast."
"But, you can't!
I'll lose my scholarship!"
"Tough. You
should have thought of that before writing fake stories."
Lizzy grew dizzy
over the unfairness of Dr. Jennings's charges. "I'll…I'll
go to the dean…"
"That's your
right, but see if it does you any good. Get out of my sight."
Elizabeth turned and left the room without a response. Jennings
turned to Justin. "You have anything to say about this?"
"No, ma'am,"
Justin managed. He needed the credits in Jennings's course to
finish his degree, and he wasn't going to blow his graduation.
~*~*~
Chris walked into
William's bedroom the next day. "Will! Take a look at this!"
He handed his sleepy roommate the morning Picayune. "Lizzy's
recanting her story! Isn't that great?"
Will scanned the
story before putting it aside, his stoic expression never changing.
"Will, aren't
you happy about this?"
Will sighed before
turning to his friend. "I'm glad that the truth is out,
Chris, but this doesn't change anything."
"What do you
mean? This guarantees the end of the police investigation."
"But not the
university's. Chris, I've been doing a lot of thinking. I really
screwed up. I gave the chapter bad advice. Henry was right -
we should've gone to the dean. Now, it's too late."
"That's not
what the lawyers are saying…"
"Screw that!
Dad - and everybody else - have spent way too much money trying
to fix what I did. It's time to end this."
"How are you
going to do that?"
William gave Chris
a meaningful look before reaching for the phone to call his father.
~*~*~
A stunned George
Darcy sat back in his office chair, telephone receiver still
to his ear, as the implications of William's intentions became
clear. "Son, are you sure that this is what you want
to do?"
"Dad, it's
what I have to do."
"But the retraction
in the paper…Wasn't it you that talked sense to Miss Boudreaux?"
There was a pause.
"I haven't talked to her since the first story came out."
"Oh. I thought
you were her source, y'all having been friends and all."
"Were friends,
Dad. Past tense. That's over."
"Will, this
is over, too, now."
"Dad, you
know the university is not finished with us. But I can end it
for good."
"William, listen
to me! Being noble is all fine and good, but there's a point
where such intentions veer into self-pity, and even self-destruction!
Sacrificing yourself for your fraternity…"
"Dad, don't
you see? It's my fault."
"Son, you did
nothing wrong!"
"It was
my bad advice."
"Bad advice
is not the same as doing bad, Son!"
"Dad, you
taught me to be a man, to own up to what I've done. Because of
my bad advice, a lot of money is being spent on lawyers and stuff.
If I can stop it, and help a lot of people put this thing behind
them, why should I not? Wouldn't you do the same in my place?"
Mr. Darcy knew he
was losing this argument. "William, there's a difference
between owning up and shouldering more than your share of the
blame."
"I know,
Dad. I've thought this through, believe me, and this is the right
thing to do."
George Darcy recognized
that tone of voice. He had raised his son to think for himself,
and this was the result. He knew William's mind was made up,
and nothing would turn him from his intended course of action.
He was proud of and afraid for his son at the same time. His
son's iron-clad sense of honor made him an outstanding young
man, but it was also his greatest vulnerability.
Be careful what
you teach your children - they may learn it.
He sighed as he
ran his hand over his face. "All right. I'll call our lawyer
on Monday."
~*~*~
April, 1999
Justice moves slowly
in the hallowed halls of academia. Negotiations between lawyers
were broken off abruptly after a closed-door meeting, and the
university was able to make its judgment. The AIs were finally
called before the dean in April, after Spring Break. Chuck and
Henry represented the chapter. George Katz attended as alumni
advisor, and William Darcy was there, too.
The AIs stood before
the dean's desk. Sitting beside the dean was a representative
of Alpha Iota's National Office. After pleasantries were exchanged,
the officials got down to business.
The dean read from
a statement recounting the events and violations of campus rules.
"Now we are here today, and before I continue, I must thank
Mr. Darcy for the extraordinary cooperation shown by his legal
team," he said to Will. The other AIs looked at their friend
in surprise, but Will did not lose the grim expression on his
face as he acknowledged the complement.
"Gentlemen,
it is the finding of the university that the Tulane Chapter of
Alpha Iota engaged in the following violations of the rules regarding
fraternities. One, having alcoholic or other forbidden substances
on the premises of the fraternity house. We have taken into account
that the chapter was unaware of this violation, but we find that
the chapter should have taken greater care in preventing such
an occurrence by exercising greater control over guests in the
house. Second, that the chapter failed to report the incident
of February 16 to this office in a timely fashion. We have taken
into account the affidavit provided by Mr. Darcy," he held
up a paper, "and have adjusted our decision accordingly.
"Therefore,
it is the decision of the university that the Tulane Chapter
of Alpha Iota be on probation effective immediately for a period
ending no sooner than the end of the 1999-2000 academic year.
Alpha Iota will not be allowed to participate in any rush activities
during this time, will not pledge or initiate any new members
into the fraternity, nor make any formal or informal agreements
to do so after this period of probation is lifted. The only exception
from this last requirement is that the chapter shall be allowed
to initiate the current pledge class. Otherwise, there shall
be no parties or any other events in the house, unless requested
by the fraternity's National Office. Regular meetings of the
fraternity will be allowed.
"In addition,
we require the following steps be taken. Charles Bingley shall
turn over the office of President to the President-Elect, Henry
Tilney, effective immediately. The entire chapter shall take
sensitivity courses on women's issues and campus safety, and
shall 'volunteer' at a local women's shelter, putting in no less
than 25 service hours per member. Mr. Tilney shall make monthly
reports to this office on the progress the chapter is making
on these items. The university shall have full access to the
financial records of the chapter during this probationary period."
At his nod, the
fraternity official then spoke. "The National Office of
Alpha Iota fully supports the findings of the university, and
we concur with the conditions during this probationary period.
The chapter shall be on probation from national. We will be closely
monitoring things and there will be reports to turn in, as well.
We add two other requirements. One, that Alumni Brother, Dr.
George Katz, resigns as alumni advisor to the chapter and agrees
not to seek this position for a period of five years."
George nodded. "I
expected that, and I have my resignation right here."
"Thank you,
Brother George. Second, that Alumni Brother, William Darcy, disassociates
himself from the chapter effective immediately. He shall not
attend any functions of the chapter, official or unofficial,
and shall absent himself from the house grounds for a period
of no less than five years."
The assembled gasped
at this, but Will's stony expression did not change.
The dean looked
at William. "Mr. Darcy, in his affidavit, takes full and
total responsibility for advising the chapter to act as it did
in this matter. He goes on for some length on how he, and he
alone, convinced and bullied the members of the chapter…"
"That's not
true!" cried Chuck.
"Shut up, Charles,"
Will said as he gritted his teeth.
The dean looked
at William. "Mr. Darcy, do you stand by this affidavit?"
"I do, sir.
The fault is mine, and mine alone. I'm ready to face the consequences."
Henry pleaded, "Will,
don't do this." George had a look of horror on his face,
while Chuck shook his head.
Will would not look
at any of them. "Sir, let's get this over with."
The two officials
looked at each other, and shrugged. "It's your funeral,
Mr. Darcy. Very well. William Darcy, due to the poor judgment
and leadership you displayed in this matter, you are hereby dismissed
from Beta Gamma Sigma, the honorary business scholastic fraternity.
You are required to resign your office in student government
immediately. Your grade-point average shall stand and you will
be allowed to participate in graduation, but you will not be
allowed to present the graduate students' remarks at the Freeman
School's graduation."
William had closed
his eyes during the dean's recitation. His friends were visibly
distraught over the sentence. The dean leaned over the desk,
a form in his hand.
"Mr. Darcy,
there is still time to recant."
William opened his
eyes. "No, sir. Where to I sign?"
~*~*~
The patrolman knocked
on the door of the apartment building and cooled his heels until
the manager opened it. "About time you got here," he
said.
"Yeah, well,
we're here now. Let's get it over with. Where's the place?"
The manager retrieved
his keys and the two of them walked up the stairs to the second-floor
apartment. "They're only a month behind on the rent, but
- I don't know, something's funny about this." With the
NOPD as witnesses, the manager opened the apartment. The smell
of rotten food hit them.
"Aw, crap!"
The cop moved in
quickly. The place had obviously been tossed, and uneaten food
was on the kitchen counter. Flies were all over the place. The
officer quickly searched the place.
"Did you know
there was a lady here?"
"Yeah - the
male roommate moved out a couple-three months ago. This bunch
stiffed me?"
The cop looked in
the bathroom. "No - too much girly stuff left here. It looks
like these people were surprised and taken out of here abruptly.
Look at the uncooked chicken over there."
"I don't need
to - it stinks like shit! Thank god the owner built this place
like a tank, or all the neighbors would've been on my ass! How
long have they been gone?"
"At least a
month." What the cop didn't say was that the superiority
of the construction meant he was at least a month too late to
help the missing people. "Any drug activity around here?"
"You kiddin'
me? Shit, I run off junkies all the time 'round here."
The cop shook his
head at the manager's misunderstanding of his question. "No,
I meant in this apartment."
The man scratched
his head. "In here? No, I've never had no trouble from these
folks. That's why I called you."
"Right. I'll
call it in. Give me the tenant's name."
"Ummm…Tommy
Bertram."
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