Read Chapter 1 of Truth Conquers All

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Professor Whit Filmore stood outside the boardroom at the university waiting for proceedings of his fate to begin. He looked out to the Thatcher Building where his office had been for the past six years. With all of the complaints Anna’s mother, Jenna Upton, had brought against him, the scar it would leave on his honorable teaching career would be hard to fade.

Despite he and Anna solving the rapist case and all of the other attention and charity he had given the university, the members of the university board had no intention of letting anyone blemish the school’s reputation. To them, it didn’t matter how much he had given, including proceeds from one of his books, as well as his participation in fundraising events. Not when it came to an accusation of sexual misconduct.

It didn’t even matter how much evidence they lacked.

All of a sudden, the doors opened behind him, and Jenna Upton strutted into the building with her entourage, four men and one stern-faced woman, none of whom seemed to know how misfortunate they were to know her.

Jenna’s red dress and tall red heels weren’t the only things that made her look like the devil’s mistress. The scowl she gave Whit was delivered with a burning hatred as she and her team swaggered toward the boardroom. Two of the men accompanying her opened the doors and she walked in ahead of them like she was their queen.

Whit was determined not to let it rattle him. The truth would come out. It always did.

After they made their show, Professor Weston, a man Whit at one time thought he could count on, stood in the doorway. His white hair was sleek, his suit impeccably crisp, but his mouth was twisted in a scowl of disgust. “They’re ready for you.” The man barely looked Whit in the eyes as if even speaking to him had been a task too great.

“Well, Weston, what are my chances?” Whit didn’t expect an answer, nor did he require one. He just liked to fuck with people now and then. “Go on, Duke. Blink twice if I’m out. I can take it.” He knew that all decisions had been made, and the man must already know exactly what they were going to do since they were bringing him and Jenna in together.

But Duke Weston kept a stoic expression as he led Whit back into the boardroom. The university board members sat at the oval table, where Jenna had taken a seat amongst them. Her team stood behind her as a show of solidarity and because there weren’t enough chairs.

As Whit walked over to the seat across from her, the mood in the room suddenly changed. Jenna glared at him with a gleam in her eyes as if she were happy to see him in such an outnumbered situation. She had certainly done her best over the past two weeks to get the best of him. But Whit wasn’t going down without a fight.

He exchanged glances with the three men and two women at the table before him, along with Dean Proctor.

Proctor didn’t look his usual charming self and kept his expressions unreadable. “Mr. Whitmore, as you know, with accusations such as these against you and your own admittance that they are factual, we cannot let you complete the year as long as Miss Anna Upton is still a student.”

“I did no such thing,” he said before clearing his throat.

Dean Proctor looked confused. “I beg your pardon. Are you now trying to deny the accusations against you?”

“Yes and no. You said I have admitted the accusations are factual. I have not. I explained the truth to you, and yet, you ignored it. In fact, there is more evidence that nothing happened, including your statement from Miss Anna Upton. I was told you had her statement, but I’m sure you’ve also chosen to ignore it.”

“Just for clarification, you did admit that you and Miss Upton had shared a motel room in Dallas. In fact, Miss Upton admitted that as well.”

“Of course, we did. It was the only room available when we got there, and it had two beds, which we occupied separately. I’m sure if you’d like to speak with Anna, she can clarify everything for you if you still don’t get the picture. We have never had any romantic intentions for each other, and the trip was purely professional.”

“We’ve already spoken to Miss Upton enough on the matter,” said Professor Higgins, whose plump, sausage-like fingers tapped her notepad. She looked up at him with her crooked lipstick and powder-caked cheeks. “She is not the one at fault here.”

Whit knew the woman hated him. She had always had a problem with him since he had gotten a book deal. “She told you nothing happened, didn’t she? And in fact, she hasn’t ever formed a complaint against me. So why are we still here?”

Mrs. Higgins’s eyes narrowed. “Mr. Filmore, you fail to see the level of inappropriateness concerning your suspension. It doesn’t look good for a professor of your caliber to fraternize with your students, no matter their age or willingness. Parents such as Mrs. Upton, a well-respected attorney, have a valid concern when someone who is supposed to be a mentor takes advantage. Or when they see something even approaching the appearance of impropriety.”

Boy, Jenna was good. She had said something to make them shake in their boots, but with the whole Me Too movement, it wasn’t a tough thing to do. “I can assure you I have never taken advantage of Miss Upton. And I have no intention of ever doing so. I’m shaping her future.”

“He’s ruining it,” Jenna mumbled.

“It might not be the future her mother wants for her, but is it right that I should be the one she takes that frustration out on? The real problem is between Ms. Upton and her daughter, not me and Anna.”

“Is it not true,” continued Mrs. Higgins, “that you convinced Miss Upton not to go to school, and in fact, you have kept her out of her classes and put her behind in her studies more than once this year for special work purposes?”

“I would call it more of an independent study opportunity. Anna has a bright future ahead in law enforcement. And what she truly desires for her future is to be a detective. I’ve let her go along on a few of my cases as my assistant, which she has been hired to be, to give her a little field experience. I find that learning by example is important.”

“I’m curious, Mr. Filmore. Have you given your other students that same attention?” Dr. Finch had been quiet so far, but Whit was prepared for his question.

“Anna is special,” said Whit, drawing a few looks from the others in the room. “She’s got a strong knack for solving crimes that most of her peers don’t, and I’m just helping her find her way. She’s actually very passionate about becoming a detective.” As soon as he used the word passionate, he wished he’d chosen another word, especially when Jenna gave him a hard look.

She leaned forward and pounded her fist against the table. “Only because you have filled her head with nonsensical stories about intuition and meditation. You’re seducing her mind and filling her head with daydreams. You’ve extinguished every bit of convincing I’ve done in my daughter’s best interest in becoming a lawyer, a career that she would surely have a leg up for her future, and turned her against all sensible thinking.”

Dean Proctor gave her a stiff look. “Mrs. Upton, we’ve heard your side of things, and we’ve asked you not to address Mr. Filmore directly during this meeting. If you continue with outbursts, I’m afraid we will have to ask you to leave.”

“Honestly, I think it should be allowed,” said Professor Higgins.

Whit rolled his eyes. “You would, Martha, especially after Ms. Upton got your daughter a huge settlement on her most recent divorce. Is that why you’re here to make sure I’m properly raked over the coals, or do you just love a good wiener roast?”

The woman’s mouth gaped. “I beg your pardon. This is nothing personal, and my daughter’s marital issues are not on trial here.”

“Oh? Is this a trial? I wasn’t aware. I thought we were having a nice discussion about my friendship with Jenna Upton’s adult daughter, who happens to be employed as my assistant on top of being my student aid.”

Proctor cleared his throat and wiped his forehead. “Let’s get back to that, shall we?”

Whit could feel his frustration growing. “I’m only suggesting her influence on a few of the board members might make things unfair. This is a witch hunt, and you know it.”

“And I might agree with you if we didn’t have other complaints from concerned parents,” Mr. Proctor said as Mrs. Higgins marked something down on her notepad.

She glanced up at him with a smug expression. “We have several signed statements from disapproving parents.”

“Well, I can swear on my own child that I haven’t spent the night with anyone else’s daughters.”

Dr. Finch chuckled until Martha Higgins pegged him with a furious scowl. “You’re a disgusting man,” she said with a sharp tongue. “That type of humor and lack of respect might be allowed in your fantasy forums, but it is not going to be tolerated here today, sir.”

Proctor rapped his fist on the table. “It’s the current situation they had the most trouble with. Let’s not blow this out of proportion or turn the discussion vile, but yes, there have been other parents calling to express their outrage that you were allowed to take a student to another state and share a room with her without any repercussions. With her being your assistant, some of them feel as though you might form a habit of using your power of mentorship to lure other young girls.”

“Lure young girls? As I already said, Anna is not a young girl. She is a young woman and perfectly capable of going on a business trip with her boss. And the only reason you have any other complaints is that they were solicited by Ms. Upton. Perhaps I should ask some of you to consider my loyalty to the school if you cannot believe I am a man of good intentions. I have proved it many times over during my time here.”

Dean Proctor sighed. “I’m afraid our university can’t afford the scandal that often follows your good intentions, Mr. Filmore.”

“No, but you certainly benefitted from Anna and me finding that rapist at your request. And I’m pretty sure if I hadn’t drawn so much attention to the criminology department, you wouldn’t have half of the students’ interest.”

“That might be true,” said Dean Proctor. “Which is why we wanted to have a fair and impartial discussion now that we have reached some decisions for both you and Anna Upton.”

“Without her present?” said Whit, shaking his head at the unfairness of it all. “I can’t wait to hear them.”

Dean Proctor cocked an eyebrow as he put on his glasses and read over the paper on the table before him. “It is our decision to allow you to continue your place within the criminology department as long as you do not return until after Anna Upton’s graduation. I hear she’s graduating in a short time, so we have taken that into consideration as well.”

Whit realized that they had already worked with Jenna behind his back. “You mean I’m not to have any contact with her?”

“It’s preferred,” said her mother, giving him a grin of satisfaction. “Any contact with her won’t bode well for your future here.”

“But,” interrupted Dean Proctor, “we’re not going to put such strict limitations that are not within our power, considering Miss Upton’s age of consent. But I do hope you understand that your behavior is under scrutiny. If we see anything inappropriate going on or if more complaints are filed against you for similar behavior or anything that could be misconstrued as such, we’ll be forced to take action and remove you from your position.”

“I see,” Whit said with a breathy laugh, despite the lack of humor.

“Your suspension will carry through the summer, and we feel this is a fair and minimal punishment, of which Ms. Upton agreed. I think it’s most generous.” Proctor gave Jenna a kind look.

“Oh, yeah, she’s generous,” mumbled Whit.

Proctor continued as if he didn’t hear it. “If you decide to return in the fall, which we would welcome at that time, you will do so with the understanding that you are unable to hire or work closely with any female assistants or aides who are students and under the age of twenty-six years old.”

Whit couldn’t believe they were going to put such restrictions on him. They were treating him as if he were a criminal of the worst kind. As if he were some pedophile who had molested a young student.

Mrs. Higgins gave Dean Proctor a curt look. “That’s not everything we agreed on.”

Whit wanted to sink in his seat from exhaustion but kept his head held high as the dean continued. “You will also remain on probation for no less than two years. At which time, we will reevaluate your behavior. But I would strongly recommend you show us you’ve learned from your missteps.”

“Seriously? Are you going to put me on probation and keep me under a microscope? I can’t imagine how eager that will make me about coming to work. I suppose I’m to ignore every female student who speaks to me. Perhaps I should pretend they do not exist?”

“Don’t be so dramatic,” said Mrs. Higgins. “If teaching is your true passion as you’ve claimed it is in your lectures, I’m sure these small precautions will not be a problem.”

Jenna spoke up. “I thought it was the best compromise considering I could have asked for your job. You should be thanking me for agreeing to give you a second chance.”

“I’m sorry,” said Proctor. “But we have to make sure our parents are as comfortable as the students. They are the ones who are paying tuition.”

Whit belly-laughed at the insinuation. “For someone who claims to know what’s going on, you don’t even know that Anna pays her own tuition,” he said. “I’m sure if you looked into things, you’d see Anna is more than capable of taking care of herself, and her mother only hinders her. You might care to know the only person your beloved divorce attorney didn’t get a good settlement for was herself. Perhaps that is what makes her such a bitter woman, eager to fight tooth and nail against anyone who might come between her and her daughter’s money.”

There was a pause of silence as Jenna stared a hole through him. He had really pushed her to the edge, but it wasn’t enough for him.

Before he could deliver another word, Proctor cleared his throat. “I think we’ve said all that needs to be said, Mr. Filmore. I’ll need your decision as soon as possible.”

Whit wasn’t going to give them an answer. Instead, he just shrugged it off. “I’ll think about it.” Why convenience them at all when they had done so little to defend him?

“Very well then,” said Proctor. “As long as we understand what the stipulations are, I think that’s all for today. Do you gentlemen or Mrs. Higgins have anything further to add?”

No one said a word. But all looked very pleased with the outcome.

Whit rose to his feet. “I trust you have put Professor Morgan as my replacement?” The man had been doing the job while he was busy solving cases, so it was the most logical choice.

Dean Proctor nodded. “Yes, of course. At least until we hear what you’re going to do. I’d like to know something in a few days if you don’t mind.”

Whit threw a glance at Jenna and shook his head when she held her chin up high. If she wasn’t a woman, he might have felt the urge to punch her in her teeth. Instead, without a word or looking back, he left the room.

He ducked into the nearest bathroom and went to the sink, where he stood to catch his breath. His anger was trying to get the best of him, and he needed to calm down before he marched back in and told them to take his job and stick it up their collective asses. He looked up in the mirror and studied his reflection.

That was that. His teaching days were over as far as he was concerned. He was not even able to defend himself against Jenna and her poison. He was the kook, the crazy man on TV who talked about UFOs and aliens and the power of intuition and energy.

The last thing the university needed was a scandal, and with Jenna around, he’d certainly be a good target. No sense in things getting worse. He couldn’t do that to Anna. She had a big future ahead, and if everything that happened with the rapist taught him anything, it was that she was more than capable of becoming a great detective.

He just wished he’d been there sooner to help her with Hector. Maybe he was bad for her, after all?

But then he thought of Jenna and knew no one was worse for Anna than her mother.

He washed his hands and splashed a bit of cold water on his face to calm down. By the time he went back to the hallway, he could see the dean walking with the other professors out the door, but they had left someone behind. Jenna stood alone by the doors, and for a moment, Whit thought she was waiting on him.

None of her entourage was around, but she had one hand to her ear holding her phone. “I told you I would send it! Stop bothering me! It’s not a good time!”

Whit approached slowly, so as not to startle her, as she continued to raise her voice. “I’ve already sent you enough! When will you stop? Hello? Hello?” She looked at the phone and gripped it tightly in her palm as she let out a growl of frustration. “Dammit!”

She must have realized her voice had gotten louder because she spun around to see if she was alone. Upon meeting Whit’s face, she sneered. “What the hell are you looking at?”

Whit decided that was too easy and walked past her and headed to the Thatcher building.

He wasn’t sure what was troubling the woman, but he was fairly sure she was having a worse morning than he was.