Read Online Flynn's World by Gregory McDonald - Free Book Online Page B

such respect for all those people he mentioned! He didn’t put anyone down! Though I think he likes some better than others.”
    “Objectivity, it’s called.”
    “Flynn, what are we doing here?”
    “With Professor Loveson?”
    “Yeah.”
    “A person or persons unknown may be threatening Professor Loveson.”
    “Threatening his life?”
    “I’m not sure. Assaulting his well-being, his peace of mind, anyway.”
    Grover’s jaw tightened. His eyes flashed. “That fine old gentleman?”
    “That ‘fine old gentleman’ is not cooperating with us at all, at all.”
    “Is it true you found a kid with his head nailed to a tree?”
    “Yes. His ear nailed to a tree.”
    “What’s that got to do with the professor?”
    “Nothing. I just wanted to know what he thought about it. I wanted to open him up a bit, to us.”
    “It wasn’t one of your kids, was it?”
    “You’d love that, wouldn’t you?”
    Was this the first time Flynn ever saw Grover smile? “I wouldn’t mind.”
    “Sergeant, I have a full schedule of appointments here today, beginning with lunch with the dean. Why don’t you go do whatever, to prepare for the Policepersons’ Ball? I’ll find my own way back to the office.”
    “Lucky bastards.” Grover glared at the young people milling around in front of the building. “Do they get to feel this buzz in the head all the time? It’s a pleasure!” He turned his glare on Flynn. “If anyone, anyone at all, touches one hair on that great man’s head, I’ll tie him naked in a sack of tomcats and throw him in the Charles River!”
    Flynn finally said, “That’s the idea.”
    “Isn’t education a foine thing?” In the Harvard Faculty Club dining room Flynn pronounced his brogue. “Sure, everyone should be exposed to it at least once.”
    Across the table from him, Dean Wincomb put boredom rather than humor in his eyes. “Are you a university man yourself, Flynn?”
    “I can only claim to a short seminary training.”
    “Why did you leave?”
    “I suspected certainty stunts growth.”
    The dean’s eyes changed to appreciation.
    Then the dean said, “Would you like to try the horse meat?”
    “I pray I’ve eaten my last horse. And dog. And snake. And broccoli.” Viciously, he rolled the R.
    The dean ordered lamb chops; Flynn, a venison stew.
    “The President’s office asked me to lunch with you today. I have no idea why. Of course we did meet last night, at my house.”
    “We did not meet,” Flynn said. “I met no one at your house last night but Professor Louis Loveson. I had to introduce myself to him.”
    “Yes. Well . . . Therefore I’m guessing you wish to talk to me about Professor Louis Loveson.”
    The venison stew was brought well before the lamb chops. “Dean, is there reason here for anyone, or any group of people, to be threatening Professor Loveson?”
    “‘Threatening’ him! Good God, no. You don’t mean to tell me . . . Actually threatening him?”
    “We’re not sure.”
    “Is that why we’re having lunch? The President thinks someone might actually be threatening Louis Loveson? Really threatening him? Why would anyone do that?”
    “Money is a motive for many crimes. So is position. Prestige. Career advancement.”
    “Not in a university, Flynn! I think you can trust us to be a little more . . .”
    “A little more what?”
    “Trust us to keep a schooled perspective on such things as greed, ambition.”
    Flynn tilted his head. “You say that with a straight face?”
    The chops were served.
    The stew had cooled.
    “I was engaged in no conversation at your house last evening, Dean, except, briefly, with Professor Loveson. Would you list for me the topics of conversation you had with those with whom you did speak?”
    “Well . . . Well . . .” A blue tinge came into the dean’s face. “Well, no! I won’t.”
    “Did you speak on intellectual matters?”
    “Of course.”
    “Of students?”
    “Surely.”
    “Of new writings?”
    “We must