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isn’t he here?”
    I saw Harriet’s hand tighten around the paper she was holding, but I don’t know if anyone else sensed her disquiet.
    “Lowell Needler was a good friend of Professor Newmark and he was greatly distressed to learn of his death,” she said, laying the paper on the table in front of her and smoothing out the wrinkles as she spoke. “He asked me to express his regrets at not coming to speak with all of you. In addition to his personal grief, he is also grappling with the logistical burden of planning how Schoolman will address the damage from the tornado, meeting with various departments, and working to ensure that the college returns to normal as quickly as possible.”
    I wondered why Harriet felt it necessary to cover up for President Needler. It was curious that he was not on campus, but there could be many practical reasons why he wasn’t on hand. I had the impression that it wasn’t so much his absence that embarrassed Harriet as the fact that she didn’t know where he’d gone. Still, why not let him take the consequences? Anytime I’d ever seen someone try to stonewall the press, it invariably backfired. If President Needler wasn’t where he was supposed to be, he would have to explain eventually.
    “Dr. Bennett,” a reporter shouted before Harriet could make a graceful exit, “we heard the college’s emergency warning system was out of order. Do you think that contributed to the injuries and to Professor Newmark’s death?”
    Harriet blanched, but quickly regained her equilibrium. “On the contrary,” she said, “Professor Newmark cautioned another of our professors to take cover because of the impending storm, so he was certainly aware of the potential danger. We did have difficulty with the alarm signal initially, but we don’t rely on one warning system alone. We have backup emergency systems in place. They were activated. Everyone was alerted well in advance of the storm. Plus, the primary alert system did come on before the tornado hit the campus. All in all, I’d say the college did an exemplary job of protecting its students and staff.”
    “Dr. Bennett, what are the other warning systems?”
    “Dr. Bennett, is the college still in financial trouble? Where will the money come from to make the repairs?”
    “Dr. Bennett, is Schoolman making plans to upgrade its buildings in light of the damages?”
    “Dr. Bennett, can the school stay open while repairs take place?”
    The shouts came from around the room. I knew Harriet was impatient to get back to Kammerer House, but she admirably stayed to answer the questions.
    While Harriet dealt with the press, I left the cafeteria and wandered down the hall to get a drink of water. As I leaned over the fountain, I saw movement in the nearby stairwell to my right. I looked up to see a figure disappear up the stairs. I’d glimpsed him for only a second, but I was certain I’d recognized the tall stature and distinctive mane of white hair of President Lowell Needler.
    The stairwell was empty by the time I stepped inside. I climbed to the second floor and opened the doorway to the hall to see him rounding a comer. A moment later I heard a door slam. Was the college president just returning to his office now, for the first time since the tornado? Did he know a press conference was taking place? Harriet had been making excuses for him all afternoon, but was he even aware of what had occurred on campus? If he wasn’t, his appearance downstairs would be shocking for him and humiliating for her.
    I’m not sure why I followed the president to his comer office, but I did. His whereabouts certainly weren’t any of my business. I barely knew the man, my only direct contact with him having occurred when Harriet introduced me to him in his office, at a welcoming ceremony, and a few chance encounters lasting seconds. His absence in the midst of a devastating storm was Harriet’s problem. I thought of my dear friend back in Cabot Cove, Dr.