Xavier settled down at his desk for his last class of the day around 3:00 p.m. He was extremely anxious as he knew he would be let out by 4:30 p.m.; which gave him time to get back to the residence hall, have a shower and a shave, get dressed, call a taxi and be at the restaurant by 5:30 p.m. Xavier wanted to get there a little early in case Norman was waiting at the bar. Just as class was about to start his classmates quieted down as the Professor entered the room. As Proffesor Edmundson was about to close the door and lock out any tardy students, a pretty young girl of eighteen named Ashley ran in quickly. She was out of breath for she had run all the way up the stairs, down the long hall. Panting, trying to catch her breath, Ashley had a great look of excitement about her as she stood at the front of the class and informed them all "I just heard on the radio." pant, pause, pant "They've just arrested a man for Teddy's murder!"
Xavier went ice cold as he heard the students give up a cheer, for Teddy was well liked on campus and his former class mates breathed a sigh of relief. Xavier heard someone ask her "Who was it?"
"Some bloke out of Soho, he ran a locksmith shop, he's called Norman Pierce."
Norman Pierce.., echoed through his brain, as Xavier experienced an uncomfortable numbness creeping through every fiber of his being. He had a ringing in his ears and the people around him seemed to be talking and moving in slow motion. They went on saying things like 'that bastard is just lucky England doesn't have the Death Penalty!'
"If he had killed him in France they would give him the guillotine!"
"No, they don't do that anymore! The French government abolished the guillotine in 1973! Isn't that right professor?"
"You are correct!" he replied.
"No way! They used to behead people just a few years back?" a girl asked incredulous.
"Well, it wasn't out in the open, just a small enclosed courtyard, a couple of guards I suppose."
"Xavier?" the girl to his left turned and touched his hand "You alright?" Xavier shook his head no. "Aw, that's right, you and Teddy took some of the same classes together, you dated his sister Olivia last Summer." she said with great compassion.
Xavier cleared his throat trying not to have a stroke and he stammered "I.., I am.., his parents must be so relieved." here Xavier managed to stand though his legs felt like they were made of jelly. He gathered his books and went over to his professor's desk. "Professor Edmundson, may I be excused, I would like to go and phone Olivia, Teddy's sister, if that is alright by you."
"Of course laddy, with all our condolences to you and his family. I know you and Teddy were close." Professor Edmundson said shaking Xavier's hand showing great kindness to him, even the girls all came round giving him sweet hugs and kisses on the cheek. Oh, if they only the truth, the horrible, terrible truth, Xavier thought. He hurried out of the building in a panic, the blood pulsing with a rush of blood in his ears. God Damn it! he screamed in his head. Xavier did not know what to do as he found himself wandering around campus consumed by the terrible fear that he too would be called into question over the murder. Xavier was in a state of shock and dread. The next thing Xavier knew he had left campus, at some point, and he found himself in a telephone booth about a mile or so from his dorm room. He picked up the receiver and told the operator he needed to make an international collect call to his sister, Felina, in Argentina.
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