sharp-tongued jurist. But the real interest around the nation was in how Crandall’s replacement would vote in Tucker v. University of South Carolina , the most highly anticipated civil rights case in a generation.
Westfall returned to his chair. “So you were only allowed to nominate a bachelor? Please , Mr. President, you’re blaming yourself for nothing.”
“I guess you’re right.” Jackson rubbed his tired eyes. “I guess risk just comes with the territory. But that doesn’t make me worry any less about Professor McDonald’s health.”
The Oval Office became surprisingly quiet. Usually there was a constant hum of activity in the nation’s most important room. Now it felt like a church on a Monday.
Finally, Westfall said, “I don’t mean to sound insensitive, Mr. President, but have you thought about a replacement for Professor McDonald … you know, in case he doesn’t make it?”
Jackson’s jaw tightened like that of the squirrel who had managed to pry the acorn free. “I refuse to think about that, Jim. Professor McDonald will pull through. I know he will. I just know it… .”
CHAPTER 22
Kelsi Shelton could barely concentrate on the lecture. She never had cared much for Corporate Tax, but that wasn’t the reason she was having trouble paying attention on this particular morning. She was worried about Professor McDonald.
Kelsi still would have been waiting at the hospital if it hadn’t been for her mother. Brian Neal, the Secret Service agent assigned to protect McDonald, hadn’t been able to convince the strong-willed young woman to make the two-hour drive back to Charlottesville, and the doctors and nurses hadn’t been able to convince her, either. But after a tear-filled conversation with her mother in the wee hours of the morning, Kelsi had decided to return to school. “It’ll help take your mind off him for a while,” Kelsi’s mother had said. “Besides, there’s nothing you can do for him at the hospital. You’re a lawyer, not a doctor, and it’s up to the doctors and nurses now.”
Kelsi wasn’t a lawyer yet , but she understood her mother’s point. She drove back to Charlottesville and arrived just in time for her nine o’clock Corporate Tax class.
“We’ll pick up here next time,” the tax professor said.
Kelsi had no idea where “here” was. The entire class had passed in a blur.
Sue Plant, Kelsi’s best friend since their first year at law school, realized that Kelsi was lost. She said, “He wants us to re-read the double taxation of dividends material.”
Kelsi blushed. “Thanks, Sue.” She tossed her casebook and statutory supplement into the daypack that seemed to accompany her everywhere she went. “I’m a bit out of it this morning. I didn’t get enough sleep. Who am I kidding? I didn’t get any sleep.”
Sue switched off her laptop. She snapped the screen shut and returned the computer to its carrying case. “Any more news about Professor McDonald?”
The assassination attempt on the life of Professor Peter McDonald was about all anyone could talk about at UVA law school at the moment. After all, Professor McDonald was one of UVA’s own. In fact, the dean had considered canceling classes for the day, and perhaps for the week, but he had decided against it because he wanted to try to maintain as much of a sense of normalcy in the law building as he possibly could. However, he had scheduled a meeting with the faculty, staff, and students for 10:00A . M. Kelsi and Sue were on their way to the meeting now that Corporate Tax was done for the day.
CHAPTER 23
“No drinks in the library.”
Clay Smith twisted in his seat, and his eyes met the eyes of an elderly woman pushing a cart full of law books. “Sorry,” he said to her. He got out of his chair, walked to the end of the row of library carrels, drained the remnants of a Sprite, and tossed the soda can into the wastebasket.
He stopped for a minute and glanced out the
Westfall returned to his chair. “So you were only allowed to nominate a bachelor? Please , Mr. President, you’re blaming yourself for nothing.”
“I guess you’re right.” Jackson rubbed his tired eyes. “I guess risk just comes with the territory. But that doesn’t make me worry any less about Professor McDonald’s health.”
The Oval Office became surprisingly quiet. Usually there was a constant hum of activity in the nation’s most important room. Now it felt like a church on a Monday.
Finally, Westfall said, “I don’t mean to sound insensitive, Mr. President, but have you thought about a replacement for Professor McDonald … you know, in case he doesn’t make it?”
Jackson’s jaw tightened like that of the squirrel who had managed to pry the acorn free. “I refuse to think about that, Jim. Professor McDonald will pull through. I know he will. I just know it… .”
CHAPTER 22
Kelsi Shelton could barely concentrate on the lecture. She never had cared much for Corporate Tax, but that wasn’t the reason she was having trouble paying attention on this particular morning. She was worried about Professor McDonald.
Kelsi still would have been waiting at the hospital if it hadn’t been for her mother. Brian Neal, the Secret Service agent assigned to protect McDonald, hadn’t been able to convince the strong-willed young woman to make the two-hour drive back to Charlottesville, and the doctors and nurses hadn’t been able to convince her, either. But after a tear-filled conversation with her mother in the wee hours of the morning, Kelsi had decided to return to school. “It’ll help take your mind off him for a while,” Kelsi’s mother had said. “Besides, there’s nothing you can do for him at the hospital. You’re a lawyer, not a doctor, and it’s up to the doctors and nurses now.”
Kelsi wasn’t a lawyer yet , but she understood her mother’s point. She drove back to Charlottesville and arrived just in time for her nine o’clock Corporate Tax class.
“We’ll pick up here next time,” the tax professor said.
Kelsi had no idea where “here” was. The entire class had passed in a blur.
Sue Plant, Kelsi’s best friend since their first year at law school, realized that Kelsi was lost. She said, “He wants us to re-read the double taxation of dividends material.”
Kelsi blushed. “Thanks, Sue.” She tossed her casebook and statutory supplement into the daypack that seemed to accompany her everywhere she went. “I’m a bit out of it this morning. I didn’t get enough sleep. Who am I kidding? I didn’t get any sleep.”
Sue switched off her laptop. She snapped the screen shut and returned the computer to its carrying case. “Any more news about Professor McDonald?”
The assassination attempt on the life of Professor Peter McDonald was about all anyone could talk about at UVA law school at the moment. After all, Professor McDonald was one of UVA’s own. In fact, the dean had considered canceling classes for the day, and perhaps for the week, but he had decided against it because he wanted to try to maintain as much of a sense of normalcy in the law building as he possibly could. However, he had scheduled a meeting with the faculty, staff, and students for 10:00A . M. Kelsi and Sue were on their way to the meeting now that Corporate Tax was done for the day.
CHAPTER 23
“No drinks in the library.”
Clay Smith twisted in his seat, and his eyes met the eyes of an elderly woman pushing a cart full of law books. “Sorry,” he said to her. He got out of his chair, walked to the end of the row of library carrels, drained the remnants of a Sprite, and tossed the soda can into the wastebasket.
He stopped for a minute and glanced out the
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