Split Second

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."

"Well, maybe if we look at his background and the time period that led up to his action, we might be able to get somewhere," suggested Michelle.

Jorst checked his watch.

"I'm sorry," said Michelle. "Do you have a class?"

"No, actually I'm on sabbatical. Trying to finish a new book. So fire away."

Michelle took out a pen and notebook. "Why don't we start with a little background on Ramsey?" she prompted.

Jorst leaned back in his chair and stared at the ceiling. "Arnold did the hat trick at Berkeley, B.A., M.A., Ph.D. All at the top of his class, by the way. He also somehow found time to participate in protests against the Vietnam War, burn his draft card, march in civil rights demonstrations, attend sit-ins and lie-ins, get arrested, risk his life, all of that. He had by far the best academic credentials of any professor this department has ever employed and quickly achieved tenure here."

"Was he popular with his students?" asked King.

"For the most part, I think he was. More popular than I am with mine." Jorst chuckled. "I'm a far tougher grader than my late, lamented colleague."

"I assume his political leanings were far different than Ritter's?" asked Michelle.

"Ninety-nine percent of America would have fallen into that category, and thank God for that. He was a TV preacher who sucked money out of deluded people all over the country. How could a man like that run for the White House? It made me ashamed of my country."

"Sounds like Ramsey's opinions rubbed off on you," said King.

Jorst coughed and attempted a chuckle. "I certainly agreed with Arnold's assessment of Clyde Ritter as presidential material. However, I differed with him drastically on the proper response to the man's candidacy."

"So Ramsey was vocal about his feelings?"

"Very." Jorst stubbed out his cigarette and immediately lit another. "I remember him stalking around my office and pounding his fist into the palm of his hand and decrying the state of a citizenry that would allow a man like Clyde Ritter to gain purchase in national politics."

"But he had to know that Ritter had no chance of winning."