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“All right. Let’s get going. The longer we wait, the more stressed I’ll get. I’m ready,” Ruby says, and we head on down to the SUV that’s waiting for us in front of the apartment building.
We’re quiet on the ride over to the university. Ruby winces when we arrive and she sees how many news outlets are there. The administration is being pissy and wouldn’t provide her with a way to sneak in the back anonymously. I think they want her rattled. They don’t want her to be able to make her case, because it makes them look bad.
Well, it’s a little late for them to worry about damage control.
There are hundreds of people standing on the steps. A lot of them, both men and women, are holding up signs that say, We believe the victims! and Nass Out! and, of course, variations on Nass-hole.
I don’t see a single sign in support of Professor Nass.
Ruby reaches for the car door handle. “Hold on. I have a gift for you.” I reach into my jacket with a flourish. “I found out something last night,” I say. “I didn’t have time to get it to you before this morning, but do you know why Professor Nass left his last university years ago?”
Ruby’s eyes widen.
“Please tell me it’s something good.”
I break out in a triumphant grin. “It’s something great. Three students said that he initiated an affair with them, and two others complained about unwanted approaches. One of the students had a nervous breakdown and had to withdraw from the school. She wouldn’t testify against him. Then the other two were afraid to say anything. Rumor is that he was just allowed to resign quietly, because the university was afraid they’d get sued if the news came out.”
My mother gasps. “That motherfucker!”
“Mom!” I stare at her.
“What? I’ll wash my mouth out with soap when I get home.” She shrugs. “Well, mouthwash. Also, I promise never to use such language around my grandchildren.”
“Grandchildren?” Rowan’s eyes are saucer-wide. “Ruby? Paxton? Am I going to be an auntie?” She looks over at Mason. “We need to go shopping!”
“Not yet,” I say in exasperation. “Ignore my mother, please. She’s delusional.”
“So do we have proof of what the professor did at the previous school?” Ruby asks me.
“Close enough.” I hold up the papers in my hand, the ones I just pulled from my jacket. “What I have here are signed affidavits that were faxed to my private investigator this morning.”
“What private investigator?” She gives me a puzzled look.
“The one I hired but didn’t tell you about because I didn’t want to add to your stress. I wanted to wait until I had good news.” I grin at her.
I hand the papers to Ruby, and she and her sister look through them. “I also printed out a statement that was just published on the college newspaper’s website, in which the administration apologizes for their handling of this matter and says it will be opening a new investigation immediately.”
“And you waited till right now to give it to me, because you knew it would be the exact right time to bolster my confidence.” Ruby grins back at me.
“Did it work?”
She leans in and kisses me on the cheek.
“I swear, Ruby, if you don’t marry him, I will.” Rowan flashes me a grateful grin. “Thank you for knowing exactly what my sister needed.”
“Hey!” Mason protests. “I’ll fight him for you. Duel to the death.”
“Or you guys could both just whip it out and see whose is longer,” Rowan suggests dryly.
“Mine,” Mason and I say at the same time.
Ruby opens the car door. We all climb out, and I hold her hand as we walk up the steps. “No comment at this time!” Rowan calls out as the reporters press around us and shout questions.
A lone angry man waves a sign at Ruby and shouts, “The professor is the real victim.” He’s immediately booed down by the crowd.
When we get inside, we find Ruby’s lawyer, Kandace Lewis, waiting for us in front of the conference room. So are Marie, the other four female students, and their families, several of whom have also hired lawyers.
Ruby hands her lawyer the paperwork I gave her, and the two of them step aside for a quick chat. Then they wave the other victims and their families over. Several security officers hold back the reporters. They all look very interested. There’s a lot of hand-waving and conversation that’s not quite loud enough to overhear, but I can tell that this is going to really help their case.
