Split Second (Sean King & Michelle Maxwell 1)

“Political science with a special emphasis on federal election laws, although his personal interest was radical political theory.” Michelle looked at him in surprise.

He explained. “After Ritter was killed, I made it my business to get a Ph.D. in Arnold Ramsey.” He glanced at Michelle. “You drop a guy, the least you can do is take the time to learn about him.”

“That sounds a little callous, Sean.”

“It’s not meant to. I just wanted to know why a seemingly reputable college professor would kill a nut of a candidate who had no chance to win anyway and sacrifice his life in the process.”

“I would think that would have been checked out pretty thoroughly.”

“Not as thoroughly as if it had been a real bona fide candidate. Besides, I think everybody just wanted to get the whole mess over with.”

“And the official investigation concluded that Ramsey acted alone.”

“Based on what we’ve found, they apparently concluded incorrectly.” He stared out the window. “I don’t know, though, it’s been a long time. I’m not sure we’re going to find anything useful here.”

“Well, we are here, so let’s give it our best shot. We might spot something everybody else missed. Just like you did with the blue hydrangea.”

“But we also might find out something that might be better left undiscovered.”

“I don’t ever think that’s a good thing.”

“You’re always for the truth coming out?”

“Aren’t you?”

King shrugged. “I’m a lawyer. Go ask a real human being.”

They were directed from one person and one department to another until they found themselves sitting in the office of Thornton Jorst. He was medium height, trim, and appeared to be in his early fifties. A pair of thick eyeglasses and pale complexion gave him a very professorial air. He’d been a friend and colleague of the late Arnold Ramsey.

Jorst sat behind a cluttered desk piled high with opened books, reams of manuscript pages and a laptop symbolically covered with very low-tech legal pads and colored pens. The shelves that covered the walls of his office seemed to sag under the weight of the impressively thick works collected there. King was staring at the diplomas on the wall when Jorst held up a cigarette. “Do you mind? A professor’s inner sanctum is one of the few places left where one can actually light up.”

King and Michelle both nodded their assent.

“I was surprised to hear that the two of you were here asking about Arnold.”

“We normally call ahead and make official appointments,” said King.

“But we were in the area and decided the opportunity was too good to pass up,” added Michelle.

“I’m sorry, I didn’t get your names?”

“I’m Michelle Stewart and this is Tom Baxter.”

Jorst eyed King. “Pardon me for saying so, but you look very familiar.”

King smiled. “Everybody says that. I’ve just got that kind of average face.”

Michelle said, “That’s funny, I was going to say that I recognized you from somewhere, Dr. Jorst, but I just don’t remember where.”

“I’m on TV locally a fair amount, especially now with the elections drawing close,” said Jorst quickly. “I like my anonymity, but having one’s fifteen minutes of fame every now and then is good for the ego.” He cleared his throat and said, “I understand that you’re doing a documentary of some sort on Arnold?”

Michelle sat back and took on the air of a scholar herself. “Not just him, but on politically motivated assassinations in general, but with a special emphasis. The hypothesis is that there are quite marked distinctions between people who target politicians. Some do so because of pure mental imbalance or a perceived personal grievance against the target. And others strike because of deep philosophical beliefs, or even because they believe themselves to be doing good. They might even regard killing an elected official or candidate as an act of patriotism.”

“And you want my opinion on which of these categories Arnold fell into?”

“Being a friend and colleague, you’ve doubtlessly given the matter a great deal of thought,” said King.

Jorst eyed him keenly through the wisps of smoke. “Well, I can’t say the issue of what drove Arnold to become an assassin hasn’t intrigued me over the years. However, I can’t claim he fits neatly into any ideological or motivational box either.”