"I think these charges are ludicrous, for two reasons.

One is that when Diana Trenchant has a problem with someone, she marches right up and tells them. She is very forthright and would not do anything devious or underhanded. The second reason is that she has always had a high opinion of academic honesty."

A young woman of exceptional intelligence and ability, Andrea had graduated from Belmont, summa c.u.m laude, with a BA, after completion of a double, self-designed major.

Because of her great love and knowledge of books, she found employment in the library where she soon became indispensable.

There were those at Belmont who recognized and revered exceptional ability and were not threatened by it.

On being questioned as to what she knew about work conditions in NERD, she observed that from what she had heard from Diana, it wasn't a very happy place to work. Directing her answer toward Trenchant, she divulged, "You were not my only source for this information. My aunt works in the department and I heard from both of you enough to form that impression.

"Just last month, my aunt told me that you may have been given an excessive course load in an attempt to break your spirit or drive you out of the department, much in the same way that she was given a very minimum salary increase, in an attempt to get her to move on."

Andrea continued by confirming that the laboratory manual that had been used in the course for two years was indeed written by Diana in her own home, with her own equipment and on her own time.

She, Andrea, had witnessed this and had helped with the proof reading.

Feigning a bored expression that he did not feel, Henry asked if she had any evidence specific to the critiques in question.

"No, nothing specific, except if she were out to discredit someone on the faculty, she would certainly have brains enough to do something effective--not play with SmurFFs,"

Andrea delivered, with a chuckle. Then she continued in a serious, almost censoring tone, "I'm surprised that you actually take this charge seriously. You should have better sense. The whole campus is laughing at you."

As Henry seemed on the verge of apoplexy, a.n.u.se quickly asked who her aunt was.

Andrea looked directly at him and answered, "Dr. Biggot.

She teaches nutrition to the freshman medical students."

Esther wanted to be clear. "Your aunt confirmed in both cases, hers and Trenchant, that this was an underlying way of getting rid of them."

"Exactly. She felt that they were not welcome in the department and that this was a way to encourage them to move on."

"Now, we'll have no more of this," Henry interjected, "we really can't take second hand information here.

I have already warned you people on the panel about this."

"All I did was have her repeat what she'd said already,"

Esther squeaked, "I didn't ask the question."

Henry was not pacified by her remark. More information positive toward Trenchant was being presented then he was willing to hear--or then he wanted the panel to hear.

He turned to Trenchant and said harshly, "your witnesses must address the charge here. Since this witness does not have any information directly relating to that charge, she is excused."

Andrea glanced at Diana who nodded, then smiling brightly, she thanked the panel for listening and left the room.

"Eventually, I will call witness that will speak directly to the charge you refer to. Right now, since you have allowed ma.s.sive testimony against me that had nothing to do with the specific charge you keep referring to, I mean to respond to all of those allegations.

"You wrote me a letter which I have here, saying that the hearing would not be conducted with strict rules.

You stated that I could present anything that I deemed important and that is what I am doing. And, in a much briefer manner than you have presented the evidence against me. I'll remind you that you allowed plenty of hearsay testimony when your witnesses were testifying."

Henry let out an exasperated breath, turned toward the panel and said, "I think we'd better break for lunch and discuss how much of this irrelevant material we are prepared to listen to.

We also will have to consider having Ann Biggot testify and bring Lyle back. We cannot let these unsubstantiated charges stand."

At the word lunch, the stenographer packed up her gear with alacrity and headed out the door closely followed by Trenchant.

No words were exchanged this time, just a mutual groan of relief at their escape.

Chapter 18

Lunch was again catered to the upstairs witnesses' waiting room.

A rather pensive panel gathered around the table to help themselves to sandwiches, fruit, cookies and a beverage.

Henry had the floor and continued to speak while they were getting their food. "There is a limit as to how much of this insignificant twaddle we should allow."

"I agree," Frank a.n.u.se said, firmly. "We should tell her that we will hear no more testimony from these witnesses of hers unless it bears on the specific charge--she did write and submit those evaluations.

The doc.u.ment examiner was certain of it."

"Well, I don't agree," Jane spoke sharply. "I, for one, didn't find that doc.u.ment examiner particularly convincing."

"How can you say that?" a.n.u.se blurted. "She had impeccable credentials.

She's allowed to testify in court. Never been refused, she said.

Mark told us that handwriting is as exact and individual as fingerprints."

"I'm not convinced," returned Jane. "She had no independently researched data on her success vs failure ratio. You heard her say, 'in her opinion,'

she was 100% correct. Bull. n.o.body's perfect."

Glancing at the two other women, Henry observed them nodding their heads in agreement. Trenchant had made some other good points, he thought. She picked up on the lack of original standards and cited that rule in the faculty handbook that forbade an individual's personnel file from being revealed to others without the individual's permission. d.a.m.n the woman.

This hearing was supposed to be a lead pipe cinch and all it had been so far was trouble. I'd better call for Mark to come over and talk to them. Perhaps even have him testify. Mark could say the right things to bring the women around. . .if only he didn't bore them to distraction first.

As he walked toward the phone, he couldn't help but feel a bit chagrined that his own letter had been read back to him--the one he'd sent Trenchant outlining the rules for the hearing. He had meant for it to be intimidating.

Didn't think she'd find anyone who'd dare to testify.

Downstairs, Diana and her witnesses were lolling about in comfort, eating and drinking the results of a MacDonald's run that Roz and Helen had made.

She had been telling them about Lyle's testimony when James suddenly jumped to his feet crying, "say again!"

Repeating herself, Diana asked, "What's the problem."

"No problem. You said he testified that the new evaluation forms were sent up from the dean's office on the tenth of December last year, right? And he found the 'suspect'

evaluations sometime during that same week?"

"That's what he said. What is it, James? You look so excited!"

" Don't you remember? Don't you remember what happened to you Thanksgiving Day last year--the injury to your wrist, your right wrist?

You weren't writing anything until a couple of days before Christmas and even then it was painful for you. You were wearing that wrist support all the time for well over a month."

"My G.o.d, I had forgotten that. Are you sure of the dates?

I just remember the December labs were h.e.l.l because I couldn't do the boards."

"Absolutely. I remember coming back from spending Thanksgiving at home and you were soaking your wrist which was all swollen up and remember, you wore that brace and couldn't write and. . ."

"I remember the wrist brace," cried Jennifer. "You had me write things on the board for you at my lab because you couldn't."