Bryce
The Second Semester
Chapter 32 - Confrontation
Matters seemed to be coming to a head as far as the threat from Cory Blaine and Harry Dwyer was concerned. On Monday afternoon, Bryce received by fax a letter from his father on office stationery outlining the legal ramifications of sending threats through electronic media, and distributing defamatory and calumnious statements. Following Curtis’ practice, Bryce made several copies and secreted them so that not all would be destroyed if Cory went on a rampage.
That evening, another conclave took place among the supporters of Curtis, with the same guys as were present the previous Tuesday in attendance. Curtis reviewed where they were at present. He also noted with some satisfaction that he had encountered Harry Dwyer at the fraternity house, and Harry seemed very edgy and also confused, even hinting that Curtis had something important to tell him. Curtis played dumb, and gave Harry the impression that he knew of nothing significant they had to talk about. He was pleased to see Harry looking not only confused, but also worried. Cory had not been around for the past few days, so Curtis was unable to comment on his state of mind.
Jack Datillo mentioned that he and Cory shared a class in common. Both were in pre-law curricula, but Jack with an undergraduate major in history, Cory in business. He reported that, like Harry, Cory seemed confused, but rather than being worried, he seemed angry.
“Here’s to more confusion of the enemy!” Curtis proclaimed, and held up his beer. All the others replied to the toast with “hear, hear!”
Much of the discussion from this point on was a review of the situation, and planning what to do next. Curtis was pleased to inform his supporters that the analysis of the e-mail and of Cory’s computer by Hunter Matthews proved beyond reasonable doubt that the threat had come from that source. Then, Justin’s analysis of the video itself, assisted by copies of the original films obtained by Hunter and Damon, also proved that the video sent him was a pastiche compiled from four different scenes recorded in Curtis’ room at the fraternity house during the Valentine’s Day party. Justin took a bow here. Finally, Curtis shared with the others the letter from Winslow & Winslow, LLLC, Attorneys-at-Law, and signed by Sterling M. Winslow, Sr., outlining the legal ramifications of defamation of character, blackmail, and related offenses. Curtis noted that if the threats led to attempted suicide, the threatener could also be arraigned for attempted homicide, but he did not intend to go that far. This led to several suggestions that he do so in order to really put Blaine and Dwyer on the defensive. Curtis declined, however, to pursue the matter to that extent. This entire debate was carried on tongue in cheek, in a spirit of elation in the belief that they definitely had their opponents in an untenable position.
It was agreed that absolutely nothing would be even hinted to Blaine and Dwyer before the fraternity meeting the following evening. Let them sweat it out as long as possible. A suggestion that the confrontation be delayed beyond that, however, was rejected. Curtis took seriously the comment by Bryce that, even if they could prove the video a fake, if Blaine sent it out as threatened it would do irreparable damage to his reputation, and, by extension, to that of the fraternity. Consequently, all agreed that the confrontation between Curtis and Cory would take place the next evening. Curtis would make a statement at the meeting, but not mention Cory or Harry by name. Then, after the meeting, those two would be corralled into a one-on-one confrontation with Curtis. There was considerable discussion about who would be present at that more private meeting. Everyone wanted to be a part, but too many people might lead to unwanted consequences. Finally, it was agreed that, in addition to Curtis himself, Justin and Bryce would be present, with Tom acting as referee.
Another matter of discussion was whether everything should be brought out at the fraternity meeting. All of them were confident that, if they did so, Blaine and Dwyer would be proven to be the sources of a dishonorable attempt to blackmail Curtis. But what would be the consequences? There would be demands to see the video, of course. That might come up anyway, but it would be better if they could get through the evening without that. If Cory and Harry were pushed too far, and publically exposed, they might feel that they had nothing to lose by distributing the offending video. The goal should be to obtain their copies of the original tapes, as well as their copy of the offending video, and an agreement never even to mention it again. That would serve the purpose of diverting the challenge to Curtis’ candidacy for the fraternity presidency, while maintaining some degree of civility within the fraternity, avoiding a messy and divisive public conflict. Of course, if the opponents refused to cooperate even in the face of all the evidence, and continued to threaten, even to carry out their threats, then further steps would have to be taken at the following meeting. Everyone hoped that would not eventuate.
Tuesday was a tense period of waiting. Bryce attempted to alleviate the tension somewhat by working out especially hard that morning, and also by being especially active during his karate class that afternoon. It didn’t help much. As the brothers of Sigma Alpha Tau gathered on the evening of March 23rd, there was a palpable tension in the air. With so many individuals expecting something, pro and con, at this meeting, that expectation was somehow transferred to the very atmosphere around them. Tom Blankenship, feeling the need for special precaution, warned the Sergeant-at-Arms to be alert, and appointed two of the heftier brothers to act as his assistants for this meeting.
Tom carefully kept the meeting on an even keel, following the agenda and Robert’s Rules of Order more carefully than usual, in order to prevent any challenge to the validity of the decisions taken at that meeting from having grounds for appeal, either to the parent national organization or to the University administration. He insisted on formal motions, seconds, and votes on even minor procedural matters. In consequence of this approach, tension continued to build. Even brothers who were not connected to the challenge to Curtis’ candidacy felt the electricity in the air, and on a couple of totally unrelated issues, tempers flared. Under the rubric of “Unfinished Business” the brothers had to deal with the preparations for the party scheduled for the coming Friday. All the requisite permissions had been obtained, and they were following the same procedures as at most previous parties as far as provision of food and drink and as far as security measures were concerned. There were always a few brothers who were designated to carry out specific jobs, such as collecting the entrance fee from non-members, but also turning away obviously inappropriate would-be attendees, whether on account of age, or non-student status, or being already inebriated or high. That could lead to conflict, so there were also brothers appointed to act as enforcers, just as at this business meeting. Technically, they were the staff of the Sergeant-at-Arms. There were several well-developed brothers who were members of various athletic teams who tended to be chosen for these roles, as their very presence was often enough to resolve any conflict. Although all the arrangements for Friday were in line with what had been done in the past, the tense atmosphere at the meeting led to some unexpected disagreements and harsh words.
All this was mere preliminary to the main event as far as Curtis and his supporters were concerned. When “Unfinished Business” was finally concluded, and they moved on to “New Business” on the agenda, the tension built. Cory and Harry clearly picked up on all this, and seemed to think it presaged their triumph and Curtis’ announcement of his withdrawal from the race for next year’s presidency. Cory, in particular, had a smarmy smirk plastered across his face as Curtis asked for the floor.
“Brothers, a situation has arisen with respect to my previously announced candidacy for the presidency which necessitates a public announcement at this time,” Curtis began. “As you all know, I announced my candidacy at the beginning of the semester, as is customary. Since then, many of you have encouraged me along these lines, but not all. Some brothers evidently would rather see someone else in that office next year. That, of course, is the right of every brother. You are free to support any qualified brother, and I certainly have no intention of holding it against anyone who feels someone else is more qualified than I. There are, however, limits.
“Brothers, we have certain traditions in Sigma Alpha Tau which I hold very dear. Among them is the tradition of maintaining a certain level of civility and fraternity in all our disagreements, including contested elections. It is this tradition which allows us to continue to call each other ‘brother,’ and to work together for the common good once a vote is taken, and the issue resolved, whether it is something as minor as the number of beers to purchase for the party, or as significant as the election of a president.
“I very much regret to inform you that this tradition has been broken in the present contest for the presidency.”
That statement resulted in considerable turmoil among the brothers. Everyone knew that the only other announced candidate was Harry Dwyer, so attention focused on him. There were questions posed to the assembly at large without recognition by the chair, and a general hubbub. Tom pounded the table with his gavel repeatedly in an effort to restore order. Finally, he turned to a brother named Philip Cecil, who was a theatre major, and who had a particularly loud and carrying voice. Cecil stood and shouted, “Everybody shut up!” at the top of his lungs. That brought most extraneous talk to a halt, and Tom was able to regain control.
“Brothers, Curtis still has the floor. Please have the courtesy of allowing him to finish his statement,” Tom insisted.
“Thank you, Tom. Brothers, there is very little remaining to be said,” Curtis continued once he again had the attention of the assembly. “On the Monday after spring break, I received by e-mail a threat that a defamatory message would be sent to all of you, to the University administration, and to the ‘old boys’ if I did not withdraw from candidacy for president. We need not go into the specifics of this threat. Suffice it to say, I now have evidence that it was manufactured, is false in its import, and was sent by a specific individual. With this evidence, I am able to emulate the stance of the Duke of Wellington when he was threatened similarly with defamatory blackmail in the early nineteenth century. I’m staying the course, publish and be damned!”
With that, Curtis sat down, but the assembly broke out in raucous speech, even more unbridled than before. Questions flew at Curtis, and at the assembly in general, about the nature of the threat, about the nature of the evidence mentioned by Curtis, and even about the source of the threat, although almost everyone assumed the threat came from Dwyer and Blaine. Those two were inundated with questions as well. Harry seemed stunned by this development, standing at his place with his mouth agape, not responding to the torrents of questions directed towards him. Cory, on the other hand, began shouting abuse at Curtis.
“How dare you talk about the traditions of the fraternity, when you have so blatantly violated them by allowing the dregs of society to pollute our membership!” he screeched at Curtis. “You’re filling the house with perverts and niggers. You’re a cocksucking degenerate! You’re a disgrace to your race and to the traditions of SAT!”
Tom attempted to call Cory out of order for abusing another brother, but the turmoil was so great that no one was paying attention to his attempts to restore order this time. Even another call for order from Cecil was fruitless. At that, Jack Datillo moved that the meeting be adjourned. The motion was seconded by DuBois Kennedy, and passed, with most of the brothers not bothering to vote, so busy were they in yelling at each other. Tom instructed Terry Hoffman, the Secretary, to record that the motion to adjourn passed even though the majority of brothers ignored the chair and continued to shout at each other. He chuckled that this would make interesting reading of the minutes at the next meeting.
Tom then instructed Kurt Bordenkircher, the Sergeant-at-Arms, to carry out the instructions given him before the meeting. Kurt and his deputies then rounded up Cory Blaine and Harry Dwyer, and pushed them into a side room, where they were joined by Tom, Curtis, Justin, and Bryce, as agreed upon the previous evening. Kurt then stationed himself outside the door to prevent interruptions.
Harry still seemed totally stunned by the unexpected turn of events. He allowed himself to be guided into the room without objecting, repeating as a kind of mantra, “What’s going on? What’s going on?”
Cory, however, continued to protest vociferously and violently, and had to be frog marched into the room, still shouting abuse. “This is an outrage! This is kidnaping! I’ll sue you! I’ll see all of you in court! I’ll see you expelled from the University! You can’t treat me like this! Get your nigger hands off me!” That was directed at one of the assistants to the Sergeant-at-Arms, who was black. When the door was closed, Cory turned to Bryce, and began to abuse him. “You! I might have known you would be at the core of this shit! This is just the kind of high handed attack on respectable people to be expected from disgusting perverts!” And so it went for several minutes, until Tom simply told Cory to shut up.
“You had better listen to what Curtis has to say, or you may find yourself in deep trouble,” Tom informed him.
“Me in trouble! Ha! I’ll see all you purveyors of filth and degeneracy into hell!” Cory yelled.
Seeing that they were getting nowhere, and could not even confront Cory with the evidence against him, Tom looked frustrated, but Curtis acted decisively. He hit Cory squarely on the jaw. Cory staggered back, silent at last, looking as stunned as Harry.
“Now that I have your attention,” Curtis said, “let me lay it on the line, Cory. I got your filthy video, but you’re not as clever as you think.”
“Video? What video? I don’t know what you’re talking about,” an only partly subdued Cory protested. “I’ll see you in court for that unprovoked attack on me.”
Curtis chose to ignore that statement, and continued with his prepared remarks. “You’re wrong, Cory. I have had the e-mail I received examined by an expert, and can prove in court if necessary that it came from your computer. I have also had your amateurly concocted video analyzed by another expert, and can prove, frame by frame, just where you have spliced it together from four original scenes.”
“You’re full of shit! There is no way you could have any such evidence! I did a very careful job on that video,” Cory exclaimed, forgetting his claim that he knew nothing about a video. “You lower types can rely on nothing but brute force. You’re filth! You’re a pollution on society! You’re responsible for the decline of the country! You’re traitors to the white race! It’s the Anglo-Saxon race which made this country the dominant force in the world, and it’s the dilution of the Anglo-Saxon ascendancy which had led to our decline. You’re guilty of the equivalent of treason for supporting this mongrelization of our society!”
“Cory, that’s about as stupid a position as I’ve ever heard,” Bryce stated.
“You! You pervert! You would never have been admitted to decent society before the decline set in. It was the misguided attempt to incorporate the fringe elements into the ascendancy that led to accepting deviants and perverts like you into formerly respectable institutions like this fraternity!”
“You’re full of shit. Are you going to listen to reason, or are you just going to spew forth nonsense?” Justin said. “I can show you exactly what you did with that video.”
“You’re another example of degeneracy!” Cory yelled. “It’s allowing lesser races, like the Mediterranean and Eastern European types, into positions of influence which led to the spread of disgusting habits such as Bryce’s even among the advanced races. It’s all connected. It’s all part of a conspiracy against the master race! The Nazis had it right! You perverts and degenerates are worth nothing more than to provide fuel for the furnaces!”
“I think we’ve heard more than enough of your twisted nonsense,” Bryce said through gritted teeth. “Here’s a copy of a statement from my father, a lawyer, indicating what’s in store for you if you don’t back down. We’re talking jail time, Blaine, so just shove the rhetoric and get real.”
“You can’t intimidate me!” Cory did not sound quite so confident, however.
“We’re not talking intimidation. We’re talking making up for a threatened injustice,” Tom stated. “Either you turn over to me all copies of those videos, including both the originals and your pasted together version, or you go to jail. You have two hours beginning now to carry out this demand. Oh, and just in case you get the idea of spreading your filth around, while we’ve been listening to your version of the social ills of the nation, we’ve had your cable disconnected. You can download the videos and erase them from your computer, but you no longer have e-mail access.”
Cory screeched in frustration. He spewed forth a series of insults, including abuse of gays and non-Anglo-Saxons in about equal measure. He even managed to insert a comment about superstitious papists. Cory seems to have adopted all the prejudices of the past five or six hundred years.
At this point, Harry Dwyer stepped up for the first time since they entered the room. “Look, guys, I just wanted to be president. I didn’t know Cory was crazy. I’ll do whatever you want. You can have my copy of the video.”
“Harry, we also want a signed statement that you will not spread false statements about Curtis or anyone else,” Tom said.
“Fine. No problem. I’m withdrawing from the race. I want nothing more to do with Cory or his schemes,” Harry agreed. “I’ll even sign something that says he sent that video, because I was there when he did it.”
Cory screamed, “You stupid blockheaded Irishman! I should have known better than to pick you! You’re no better than the scum we were trying to eliminate.”
At that, Harry socked Cory in the face, much harder than Curtis had done previously, and Cory collapsed.
“Harry, sign this statement we prepared beforehand, promising not to spread false stories about Curtis or anyone else, then Justin will go with you to your room and see to it that anything along these lines on your computer is erased permanently,” Tom instructed him.
Harry eagerly signed, and left with Justin.
As they left, it was obvious that quite a few brothers remained in the assembly room, milling around, waiting to see the outcome of the conference in the side room. Curtis called on Damon, DuBois, Jack, and Terry, the other members of the caucus who had been meeting for the past week. When all of them were in the room with Cory, who was sitting in a chair nursing his jaw and mumbling imprecations, Curtis assessed the situation.
“A couple of minutes ago, Harry opted out, and called Cory crazy. I think maybe he’s literally correct. But I don’t think we’re going to get any cooperation from Cory, no matter what kind of evidence we have, and no matter what kind of legal action we threaten. For those of you who just came in, Justin has gone with Harry to retrieve anything he has, and to permanently erase all evidence of that video, and anything else about me, from Harry’s computer. When Justin gets back, I suggest that we have him do the same with Cory’s computer, whether or not we can get him to sign anything.”
“Will that solve the problem?” Jack asked.
“Only part of it,” Curtis replied. “If we are thorough, and make certain we get everything on that computer, at least he won’t be able to spread things around. He can still talk, and be an obnoxious ass.”
“And let’s not forget,” Tom insisted, “this not only benefits Curtis, but the entire fraternity. Cory seems to think something like smearing Curtis will leave him in charge of the fraternity just like it was in nineteen twenty something or another, but in my opinion if he did follow through with his threat to spread it all over the place, it would result in SAT simply being dissolved. We’d never recover.”
From his place in the corner, Cory muttered, “It’d be worth it. Cleanse the whole campus. Cleanse the whole country of the filth.”
“Shut up, Cory,” Bryce demanded.
“You and Uncle Connie. Butt fuckers! Filth! Perverts!” Cory screeched, but he shut up when Jack approached looking ominous.
Curtis resumed his assessment of the situation. “As I said, Harry called Cory crazy, and maybe he’s right. But, even if we can’t get any kind of promise from him not to spread his filth around, if we clear out his computer, and check his apartment to make sure he doesn’t have anything more stashed around anywhere, we can prevent his hatred from having too much impact on me, or on the fraternity. It’s probably illegal, as it involves breaking into Cory’s apartment and destroying his property. Anybody have a problem with that?”
“With what?” Damon said, playing dumb. “I don’t know anything about breaking in or destroying property, do you? I never heard of such a thing. Surely, no brother of SAT would do such a thing.”
“I don’t see anything in the minutes about breaking in or destroying, and so if it’s not in the minutes, it didn’t happen,” Terry proclaimed.
This play acting by Damon and Terry relieved the tension, bringing a laugh from the others.
At that point, Justin returned. He handed Curtis a thumb drive. “Here’s everything that was on Harry’s computer. There are some interesting e-mails there, too. I don’t think I missed anything. Harry is seriously worried, and just wants out at this point. He’s also not clever enough to bury anything in secret files.”
“Good. Now, if you’re willing, we want you to do the same kind of job on Cory’s computer. He’s in no condition to cooperate, but we’ll hold him here until you’re finished,” Curtis said.
“Cory’s no computer geek, but I’ll bet he’s savvy enough to know how to hide his files. Remember, Hunter was in his apartment for nearly two hours just copying those videos and checking to make certain that e-mail came from that computer. I’m not even sure I could find everything if Cory is half as smart as he claims,” Justin cautioned the others.
“What do you suggest?” Curtis asked.
“Well, there is one rather drastic solution. I could just take his hard drive. Gut the computer,” Justin replied.
“Considering what he threatened, and considering what we heard tonight, I think a drastic solution is justified. Do it,” Curtis decided.
“And while you’re at it, see whether there’s anything else in that apartment relevant to our situation,” Tom instructed.
“Do you need me to break in again?” Damon asked.
“Probably not,” Curtis said. He walked over to where Cory was seated. “Give me a hand, two of you.”
Justin and DuBois quickly responded.
“Hold him up, and keep his hands away,” Curtis instructed.
Cory screamed, calling DuBois several derogatory names, but Curtis went through his pockets, and retrieved his keys.
“Here. Take these, but be as quick as you can. Damon, we don’t need you to break in, but you did say you spent some time scoping out what was there. Go along with Justin, and check to see whether there’s anything other than the computer stuff we need to confiscate,” Curtis asked.
“Sure,” Damon agreed. “Let’s go, Justin.”
The two guys left. Bryce went out, and told those still milling around beyond the door, “You might as well disperse. Nothing is going to happen for a while yet.” He then went on to collect a sixpack from the refrigerator and brought it back to the room where they were waiting the return of Justin and Damon.
For some time, the six friends and Cory remained in the room, speaking softly to each other, and awaiting the return of the two sent on mission. Bryce even made a second expedition, returning with more beer, and offered one to Cory. Cory looked at him with burning hatred, but refused the beer. He continued to mumble to himself, with the words “Uncle Connie” being heard more than once. No one knew what that was all about. Once, after about a half hour, Cory made an effort to escape, dashing towards the door, but he was prevented from leaving, and returned to his chair and his mumbling.
Tom said to Curtis, “When this is over, I think we need to take Cory to the Counseling Center. Maybe he really is crazy.”
“He sure acts like it. I agree. Once he’s there, they can decide what to do with him,” Curtis replied.
Bryce glanced at his watch. “Nobody will be at the Counseling Center at this hour. I suggest University Hospital until morning.”
“Good thought,” Tom agreed.
After an absence of slightly more than an hour, Justin and Damon returned. Justin held up a black article. “Here’s the heart of Cory’s computer. It’s an empty shell, now. I found two thumb drives which look like they might have relevant stuff as well.”
“And I found these files,” Damon said, tossing several manila folders on the table. “He printed out some of his plans, I guess to discuss them with Harry. There’s also an instruction sheet on splicing videos, and one on using video recorders. I was tempted to confiscate some of his tapes, DVDs, and books which are about some of his pet causes, and there are lots of them, but I figured they’re only peripherally connected to Curtis and the video, so, as much as I wanted to smash them, I was a good boy.”
Bryce hugged his boyfriend. “You and Justin did well.”
“I think that’s all we can do for now, anyway,” Tom declared. “Terry, you and I are officers of the fraternity. In our official capacity, it’s our duty to deliver our unfortunate brother Cory, who had some kind of emotional breakdown this evening, to the emergency ward at the hospital, and ask them to make the contact with the Counseling Center when it opens in the morning.”
“Okay,” Terry agreed, “but I think a couple of other concerned brothers need to come with us, just in case Brother Blaine gets rambunctious.”
“I’ll go,” Jack declared.
“Me, too,” said DuBois.
And so, still mumbling about perverts and Uncle Connie, Cory was led out to Tom’s vehicle, and transported to University Hospital. Everyone else went to their respective beds, as it was now past midnight.