Trial by Fury Read Online Free Page A

sixty-four-year-old woman. “The studies vary, but suffice it to say it’s an unacceptable percentage of women, whether we’re talking inappropriate contact or violent rape. The problem is a lot of those incidents take place in off-campus housing, so the stats are murky. Are you specifically asking about what happens on campus?”
    “I’m looking for the number of sexual assaults that fall under the jurisdiction of a typical university’s police force.”
    She nonchalantly studied her nails as she answered. “That varies too. I don’t know about typical universities, but Emory reported twenty-six sexual assaults last year. Harwood had four.”
    It constantly amazed her how Gloria was able to keep so much information at the ready. Besides her knowledge, she’d have a unique perspective on this potential case as a loyal alum of Harwood who’d taught in their women’s studies department for over thirty years.
    “That’s a helluva difference. What do you think is behind it?”
    “Hmm…both Southern Ivy, enrollment about the same.” The so-called Southern Ivy schools also included the likes of Duke, Vanderbilt and Tulane, all prestigious and private. “Harwood may have better security, but my guess is it’s tied to their policies prohibiting alcohol parties on campus. And strict enforcement. That’s the largest category, you know. Sexual assault while incapacitated. Some of those date-rape drugs are easier to buy than a bag of M&Ms. Apparently they’re pretty easy to hide in a party drink. But if you don’t have alcohol parties, you don’t have party drinks.”
    Except Hayley’s rape had taken place at an alcohol-fueled party on campus, and Celia was adamant she’d been drugged.
    “Some schools use their honor court, which is made up of fellow students. Harwood does that, I think, as long as it’s not a violent incident. Students can be suspended or even expelled, depending on the circumstances.”
    “Hunh…I wonder if they consider it violent if the victim’s unconscious and can’t fight back.” It was a rhetorical question, as it was clear Harwood didn’t even consider what happened to Hayley an assault. “Is it possible some schools don’t take reports as seriously? Maybe their numbers are deflated by their refusal to prosecute.”
    “Well of course,” Gloria answered with a huff, as if even an idiot knew that. “It’s an out-and-out conflict of interest to ask colleges to report their own rape statistics. If parents knew what the real numbers were, they’d never let their daughters go to school there.”
    Theo took no pleasure from sharing Celia’s story, plus the details Hank had discovered about what appeared to be a deliberate coverup. By the time she’d gotten through the narrative, Gloria was mournfully silent, no doubt stewing about the actions of the institution where she’d spent more than half her life.
    “I have a video of the assault…it’s pretty graphic. There’s no way anyone could look at this and call it consensual.” She swung the laptop around and clicked it to play.
    When the clip ended, Gloria sprang from her chair and started to pace, as if ready to spring into action. “That’s one of the most horrendous things I’ve ever seen. What kind of person films a rape like it’s a souvenir?”
    “Someone who ought to be in jail.”
    “We need to take this straight to Earl Gupton. He’s a friend of mine, you know. One of the kindest, most honest men I’ve ever met. I’ll make an appointment for us. If anyone can get to the bottom of this, it’s Earl.”
    “Forget Gupton. I’ve also got him on tape blowing it off. Worse than that, he and Norman Tuttle—and Sonya Walsh too—practically threatened Dr. Perone’s job if the allegations got repeated. If I had to guess, I’d say they wanted this buried because those guys were basketball players. The rape happened right before the NCAA tournament.”
    Gloria scrunched her nose with obvious distaste at the