Chapter Four
Ford
I met Jackson outside the bar and waited while he made kissing noises into his phone.
"Sorry, I haven't seen Alice all day," he said. He dropped his phone into his pocket and opened the swinging door of the bar.
I patted my friend's shoulder as I went inside. "That's alright, 'cause you're buying."
We both stopped immediately inside the door and scanned the room for students. Landsman College was in the midst of a smaller outlying town, and the chances of running into students was high everywhere I went. Normally, it was fine, fun even, but tonight I wanted to drink.
Seeing only a few quiet couples and scattered regulars, Jackson and I found seats at the bar. The standing lamps mixed in amongst the shelves of booze was almost the only light in the place. Weak lightbulbs encased in dusty, red, glass shades hung over us with barely enough glow to light a bowl of peanuts.
I felt the knots in my shoulders finally start to loosen. "Beer and a shot," I ordered.
Jackson handed the bartender his credit card and ordered a beer. "Was the blind date really that bad?" he asked.
The bartender chuckled as he moved over to the taps. I caught his sympathetic glance and nodded. "What made me think going on any date in front of students was a good idea?" I wondered.
"Alice thought she was fun, might break you out of your perpetual bad mood," Jackson said.
"Since when is fun discussing the details of a pet iguana's eating habits?" I picked up the beer the bartender passed me and took a long, grateful gulp. "At full volume in the middle of an art opening?"
"I thought she was at least pretty." Jackson clacked his pint glass against mine.
"Yes, in a bright, cartoonish sort of way. She didn't let me get a single word in between the iguana, her bathroom grout, and plans to host a karaoke Christmas."
My friend choked on his beer. "Yeah, Alice warned me that Tara was really into karaoke. I just figured you wanted the fun of meeting someone knew. I didn't think you'd be singing duets or anything."
"Singing duets?" The thought was horrifying. The openly laughing bartender poured us both a shot of whiskey.
I knocked it back neat and smiled. "Did I tell you Dean Dunkirk's daughter saved me? She had questions about class and suggested I meet with all the journalism students before they left."
Jackson gave me a curious, sideways glance. "Saved you from a blind date?"
"Not like that," I shook my head. Why had I told Jackson about Clarity? "Besides, I thought you liked to be up on campus gossip. She's dating the star quarterback."
Jackson breathed a sigh of relief and started talking football. All I could think about was Clarity smiling up at that young jock. Adam was tall, with black hair and blue eyes. Was that Clarity's type? I ran a hand through my own wild, black hair and scowled.
"I know what's bothering you," Jackson said.
I took another long sip of beer. "I doubt it."
"You want to get back into journalism. You never wanted to leave. And now your department head is breathing down your neck, you took on the student paper to appease her, and it's only made you miss the real thing."
"Macken doesn't bother me," I said.
"God, how can she not? I'm not even in your department, and that woman frightens me." Jackson leaned his elbows on the bar. "She's had you on unofficial probation since you started. Doesn't that drive you insane?"
I ground my teeth and finished half my beer. "You and I both know I deserve to be on probation."
"One accidental indiscretion your first year does not make you the scourge of the School of Journalism. There was no complaint, no proof, and it was a one-time thing. Macken needs to find a new hobby," Jackson said.
It was more than once. Just one unforgivable week. I crushed a peanut against the polished wood of the bar. "At least we have a winning football team this year. Not that I think the sun shines out our quarterback's ass. He's good, but too showy, and it's gonna cost the team. The star running back, Carl, on the other hand. He's got his head on straight."
Jackson swiveled on his bar stool to study my face. "Not a fan of the quarterback, huh? I've got him in class, and he's a good guy."
I snorted, thinking about the special considerations college football players thought came with their talent. "Wait 'till you try to give him an honest grade."
"Better a football player than the Dean of Students' daughter. No wonder you're not into the flow of the semester yet. It has to be hard thinking the dean is getting the lowdown on your class every day."
"Clarity's not like that." I put my beer down too sharply. "She's hard-working and ultra-focused. Too focused, actually. Dean Dunkirk keeps hinting that he wants her to break out of her career track and try a few other things before graduating."
"Hmm," Jackson said, considering me. "Maybe she should try out my creative writing elective. I'll let you suggest it if you want to score points with the dean."
"Somebody's got to do something about this music," I stood up. "Order me another beer, will ya? I'm going to go stock the jukebox with something good."
"Sure. Two beers and shots for a bad date sounds about right."
I left Jackson chatting with the bartender and made my way across the bar to the jukebox. It stood just outside the hallway to the restrooms, and I was relieved to see the pop playlist was almost over. I selected a few blues pieces and slipped something a little harder in between. My mood was definitely darker than the upbeat chorus that was currently repeating.
"Ford Bauer, what a surprise! Wasn't sure I'd ever see you again."
The hairs on the back of my neck bristled. "Barton," I bit out.
Wesley Barton sauntered down the hallway from the restroom and held out a hand for me to shake. I crossed my arms and looked the disgustingly wealthy entrepreneur over. The suit was Italian, custom-made, and his shoes flashed with a high polish. Despite his husky build and his salt and pepper hair, Barton was attractive. His jovial smile had the women that passed us to the bathroom fluttering their eyelashes.
I imagined punching him in the face and almost returned his smile. "Slumming it?" I asked.
"Meeting a friend. He's got connections up at Landsman College. Maybe you know him? Michael Tailor?" Barton nodded towards one of the tables in the front window. "How about you join us, and I buy you a drink?"
"Back off, Barton." I stepped forward and made him rock back on his heels. "We both know you deserve to be in jail, and you would be if you didn't have my editor in your pocket."
"Former editor," he reminded me. "And I don't think it counts as 'in my pocket' when I own the entire media outlet."
"If you're going to censor stories and only present the facts that you approve, then it should be called entertainment, not media."
Barton slapped me on the shoulder. "Don't be so sore just because we killed your story. I gave you a chance to stay. You could have found other stories to cover and kept your career. Who knew you'd tuck tail right away and run for a cushy academic job?"
I knocked Barton's hand away. "You forced me out. You used all your money and connections to make the facts disappear, and then you sent that shark of a lawyer to warn me about libel."
"To warn you, yes." Barton tried to step around me. "It was your decision to leave Wire Communications."
"What choice did I have?" The volume of my voice was edging up past the jukebox music. "I'm a journalist. I can't work at a place that kills the facts to protect its own."
"You were a journalist. From what I hear, you're now a professor. That can't be all bad. In fact, I met a Landsman College student the other day. Patrick Dunkirk's daughter."
"Clarity?" My throat closed around her name.
Barton nodded with a reptilian smile. "She's interested in journalism internships. Quite ambitious, oh, and beautiful. I can't feel bad about where you ended up when the students at Landsman look like her." Barton kissed his fingertips.
I grabbed his hand and crushed it in my palm. "I know you think you're untouchable, but I'm ready to get my hands dirty."
"Whoa, hey, sorry for the misunderstanding. We were just leaving." Jackson grabbed me by both shoulders and yanked me away from the rich man.
I jerked free of my friend and tried to get back into Barton's smug face. Jackson dodged in front of me. "Move, we're not done."
"We're leaving," Jackson said.
For a lanky English professor, my friend was deceptively strong. I could have taken him out with one, well-placed punch, but he knew I wouldn't, so he shoved me towards the door with impunity.
"Nice to see you, professor," Barton called.
The bar door swung shut behind us, and Jackson let out a tight breath. "What in the hell was all that about?"
I paced up and down the sidewalk. "That? That slimy worm of a man is Wesley Barton, owner of Wire Communications."
"The man you tried to take down?" Jackson asked.
"The man that discredited me and forced me to leave journalism." Something snapped, and I lunged for the door.
"Whoa, not tonight," Jackson groaned as he pushed me back. "That conversation is over."
"My whole career is over because of him. Right now, he should be rotting in jail while I polish a journalism award. The only reason it all turned out like this is because he's rich." I stalked up and down the sidewalk again and wished Barton would try to leave the bar.
Jackson held out his skinny arms and tried to corral me towards my apartment. "I'm not sure you can regain your professional or personal integrity by caving his face in."
The burst of laughter surprised us both. "You're right, but, god, it would feel good." My shoulders slumped. Slowly, all the reasons I needed to keep my job came flooding back into my conscience.
Jackson slapped me on the back as we walked away. "Remember, I've seen you fight before. You're lethal. My wife's a great lawyer, but even she couldn't get you out of assault with a deadly weapon. And I really like sleeping in my bed."
"Alice would make you sleep on the couch for getting into a bar fight?" I asked with a chuckle. "Fine, then for your sake, I won't go back and put my fist through his nose."
"See? What are friends for?" Jackson grinned and stopped next to his car. "Need a lift?"
"Nah, I gotta walk this off. My place isn't that far if I cut across campus," I said.
"As long as you keep walking." Jackson gave me a mock salute and drove home to his new wife.
The steep walk uphill to Landsman College cleared my head, and by the time I looked up, I was far off course. Music pumped from the row of old Victorians along the last side street before campus. The sorority and fraternity houses were always lively on the weekend, but my stomach sank as I saw which house was overflowing with a party.
The majority of Landsman jocks were Kappa Sig, and I remembered overhearing that Clarity had a date with the quarterback that night. I was still confused over why she would accept a date with a jock. Sure, he was good-looking and popular, but neither of those were important factors to Clarity. I thought she was more interested in debating current events and discussing world news. It was hard to imagine her having fun at a keg party.
I walked closer just in case she realized her mistake and was trying to leave the party.
"Psst, Bauer. Over here."
The whispered voice was hidden in the deep shadows of an oak tree. "Dean Dunkirk?" I asked, shuffling through the dry leaves to join him.
"I know, I know, this looks a little crazy," he said.
"Isn't it your job to monitor student activities on campus?"
Dean Dunkirk gave my shoulder a squeeze. "Exactly. Just doing my job. It has nothing to do with the fact that my daughter is in there with a football player."
I chuckled even as the same thought sent a stabbing pain through my chest. "You don't think her last name alone keeps her safe?"
"Clarity can take care of herself. She'll kill me if she knows I'm checking up on her. But, dammit, I'm her father, and she's my only daughter, and..."
"You don't have to explain it to me. What's the plan, captain?" I asked.
Dunkirk leaned gratefully on my shoulder. "We're going in. I drop in on the fraternities regularly, so it won't be too weird."
"Unless Clarity sees you."
"That's where you come in," Dean Dunkirk said. "I'll distract the frat boys, you check on Clarity. Once you see that all's well, we leave. Easy, right?"
"Easy," I agreed. "And not weird at all."
It would only be weird if there was something between Clarity and I, like a stolen moment in the treetops that kept playing over and over in my head. I shook off the tempting memory and followed the Dean of Students across the lawn to the frat party.
"D.O.S. in the house!" The student calls from the front yard were friendly, but also a warning to the partiers inside. They neglected to account for the volume of the music, but it was a good try, anyway.
Dean Dunkirk stopped on the front porch to shake some hands and say hello. I plastered a neutral smile on my face and strode up and down the porch, peering in the front windows of the old Victorian. There was a beer keg by the front staircase and another one in the corner of the dining room. Laser lights swept across the dancing crowd in the living room, and a small, terrible student band knocked out the coolest guitar riffs they could manage. The house was crowded, but the party was under control.
I couldn't see Clarity anywhere.
The dean caught up to me and chuckled as two students leapt off the porch and disappeared in a puff of suspiciously sweet smoke. "That smell takes me back. Shhh, don't tell the kids," he said with an easy-going grin.
I laughed. "Whatever you say, captain, sir."
"That's right, I always forget you were in the army." He straightened his shoulders. "You've got the look."
I brushed a hand across my wild hair. "Not so much anymore."
The dean shook his head. "Nah, it's there. That toughness. Good thing, too, in case I need an enforcer."
I followed him in the front door and laughed again. Dean Dunkirk didn't need an enforcer. Only a few students here and there slipped away. Most shook his hand or smiled and waved. A few even offered him a beer. He was very, very good at his job.
"We're keeping it under control, sir," the star running back, Carl, informed Dean Dunkirk. "IDs have been checked, and we're ready to cut off anyone that can't handle their liquor."
The dean clapped an approving hand on Carl's shoulder. "Know your limits. Always good advice."
"I prefer the motto 'Stupidity will be punished,'" I said and stepped up to a particularly red-eyed student.
"I've got him, sir," Carl said and helped his stoned friend outside for some fresh air.
"What do we do if we actually see drugs?" I asked.
Dean Dunkirk leaned in so the curious students couldn't hear. "That's not what we're looking for, remember? How about we fan out, cover more ground?"
"Yes, sir," I said. It was impossible not to like Dean Dunkirk.
I was thankful when the dean dove into the dancing crowd in the living room. I turned from the gut churning music and headed through the dining room. A keg stand stopped as soon as my feet crossed the threshold.
"Professor Bauer?" A slim brunette student blinked big eyes up at me. "You party?"
I raised an eyebrow at her and hoped I looked aloof. "I owe the Dean of Students a favor, so here I am on chaperone duty."
"Ropes course, man!" A tall, red-headed football player whacked me on the back. "Prof here killed the ropes course. He's a beast! I thought professors wore tweed to hide their skinny arms, but Prof Bauer's got pythons, man."
I shrugged him off and kept moving. "Keep that in mind, and don't let all of this get out of control."
"Aye, aye, Professor Bauer!"
I paused by the keg just to make the students slow down. It was entertaining to see them beeline across the dining room towards the keg, see me, and make abrupt turns. More than one student crashed into another as they tried to change directions. It was a good vantage point, but I still couldn't see Clarity anywhere.
Dean Dunkirk extricated himself from the dance floor and waved me over to the foot of the staircase. "I don't see her anywhere. Any luck?"
"None at all, sir," I said.
"Good lord, those girls are ogling you. I heard you blew the students minds by mastering the ropes course," he said.
"Your daughter was the real star," I told him. "You should have seen her; she was fearless."
"Clarity did the ropes course?" Dean Dunkirk looked surprised. Then he scrubbed his chin. "That wasn't quite what I was thinking when I told her to try new things."
I laughed. "You meant for her to try out creative writing or maybe a modern dance class, didn't you?"
The dean looked up at me with worried eyes. "We have to find her."
I would have laughed again if I didn't share his sentiment. The party was tame, but Clarity did seem to be hell-bent on breaking out of her shell. Why else would she have accepted a date from the star quarterback? The memory still stung. She'd done it right in front of me.
"I'll take the kitchen," I said.
"I'll go around and check the backyard. Meet you out there," Clarity's father said.
A few students recognized me and cleared out as I headed down the narrow hallway to the kitchen. That’s when she appeared. My stomach dropped like a bucket into an empty well.
"Libby," I said.
"What are you doing here? We're not getting back together." Libby Blackwell tossed her bleached-blonde hair.
"We were never together." I stopped dead in the hallway. Libby wouldn't move, and there was no way I was going to try to squeeze around her.
"You know, even ex-boyfriends can be nice," Libby slurred. She stalked down the narrow hallway. "Don't you want to be nice to me, Professor Bauer?"
She swayed on spiky high heels and then threw herself into my arms. The sickly sweet smell of rum erupted from her giggle.
"You need to find your friends," I told her. "It's time for you to go home and sober up."
"You can take me home." She rubbed her cheek against my shoulder.
I took her shoulders with both hands and set her back against the opposite wall of the hallway. "Libby, this isn't okay. It never was. I made a mistake, and I'll be the first to admit it."
"Want me to tell your friend, the Dean of Students?" she asked while batting her eyelashes.
"Tell whomever you want. Like I said, I made a mistake, and I own it." Disgust rolled around in my stomach.
Libby Blackwell was the epitome of a privileged Landsman College student. Her parents had more money than the government of a small country, and she knew it. Libby flubbed her grades, flirted her way through projects, and expected that everything would be fine on the other end.
When I arrived on campus, I was angry. Angry with Wesley Barton for being a crook, angry with a system that served the wealthiest, and angry at myself for not knowing who to trust. Libby was wild, sexy, and an easy way for me to self-sabotage. I never regretted anything more in my life.
The worst part is she always threatened, but never told anyone. My department head, Florence Macken, suspected our brief affair, but no one else knew. A few times a year, I would run into Libby, and she would try to trade sex for silence. I knew I should be the one to approach the Honor Council and be done with the whole sordid affair, but I had tried uncovering the truth once and still felt the burn.
"Hey, Red," I called at the tall football player down the hallway. "Come help us out."
"What's up Prof?" he asked.
"Libby here needs a safe chaperone home. That means you find her friends and get them all home together. You got me? None of the girls go off on their own." I caught him in a stare that made beads of sweat pop out on his strawberry-colored hairline.
"You got it. Operation Gentleman." The football player gathered a giggly Libby under his arm and boomed down the hallway. "Ashley, Farah, time to get your girl home!"
I swore if I couldn't find Clarity, then I would confront Dean Dunkirk with my indiscretion. He would help me face the right consequences and put my mistake-ridden past behind me.
The glimmer of redemption sent me striding down the hallway and into the kitchen, just in time to see Adam try to kiss Clarity. I jumped back into the shadowy hallway and clenched my fists.
"Adam, stop. This was supposed to just be a casual date." I heard Clarity trying to keep her voice light. She pushed the tall quarterback on the chest, but he didn't step back.
"Come on, you can't say you're not attracted to me," Adam leaned in again.
"But I can say ‘no.’ Do I have to say it again?" Clarity asked.
"Uh huh," Adam nodded and reached out to grip her shoulders.
Before I launched myself at the unsuspecting kid, Clarity took care of the overeager football player herself. She hooked a foot around his ankle and gave his chest another hard shove. The shocked quarterback stumbled back and plopped down on his ass.
He laughed and held his hands up in surrender. "Alright, I give. How about you let me walk you home?"
The right hook I had cocked and ready itched to knock him down as soon as he got to his feet, but, again, Clarity took care of it.
"Best stick around here and sober up," she said. Clarity spun on her heel and marched towards me.
I lowered my fist just in time.
"Ford? I mean, Professor Bauer?" She skidded to a halt in the shadowed hallway.
"Your father asked me to check in on the party. He's out in the backyard." I hoped Dean Dunkirk would understand me ratting him out so fast.
If the flashing look in Clarity's green eyes was any indication, then the dean would understand perfectly. I backed up against the wall and left the hallway open for her to pass.
She glanced back over her shoulder where Adam was laughing and giving high-fives to his friends. "Dating is the worst. Especially trying to date college guys."
I let out a breath I didn't know I was holding. "My sister, Liz, says the exact same thing. Which is good, because I told her I would stop paying her rent if she skips class for a boy. She's in med school and better stay focused."
Clarity stepped closer to me. "Is that why you're teaching instead of chasing after big stories? You're supporting your little sister?"
"How about I walk you home?" I said.
She smiled. "Thanks, but, like you said, my father's outside. It was nice of you to help him out."
I nodded and didn't trust myself to say anything else. There was no reason for me to feel so relieved knowing that Clarity had turned down the football player and would be heading home safe.