hat sounds reasonable, but I don't remember exactly what month it
was."

"Was it before or after the problems that you had with publishers
regarding copyright infractions in the radiology course.... the year I
was not in it?"

Henry felt as of he had been punched in the stomach and the gasp of
surprise escaping from his lips was audible to everyone in the room.
Before any of the panel could react, Trenchant held up her hand in a
gesture universally representing STOP. "Let him answer the question,"
she insisted.

My God, the bitch has pinned him and I can't think what to do to stop
this. Come on, Ian, deny knowing anything about what she's asking.
Think what you're saying. Henry started to sweat.

Ian seemed oblivious to the tense atmosphere. "Before or after? Jeez,
I don't remember."

"Was it right around that time, perhaps?"

"I really don't remember. The copyright infractions happened last
fall--actually during the first week of classes. So I don't remember
for sure, but I think Randy came to me after that with these SmurFFs."

Good lord, the asshole is admitting to plagiarism. Henry found his
tongue finally. "The reason we are here has to do with these 'suspect'
evaluations and irrelevant matter should be left out," he protested
with a warning look at Ian.

Interesting, thought Diana. It's OK to bring in anything that is
derogatory or even believed to be derogatory about me and my casting
spells on the students, but anything about their admitted dishonesty is
verboten. Beam me up, Scotty....

She turned her attention back to Ian. "Just a few more questions. You
have said that Randy picked these evaluations out, and I see no date on
them. Do you have any idea of the year they refer to?"

"I assume that they were the SmurFFs that he had received recently.
But I'm not sure. We just keep them all in one pile."

"Now, usually after the students have handed in their SmurFFs is it not
correct that you are given yours and the course critiques and you keep
them unless Lyle wants the secretaries to summarize them for the dean?"

"Right."

"That is all I need to ask. Thank you."

There was a short break while Henry dismissed Ian and called the panel
into a whispering huddle with him. Looking up, he addressed Janet and
Diana, almost as an afterthought. "You need not leave the room, we
will be finished in a few minutes."

I've got to set these people straight after what has just gone down, he