estify concerning his
experience as an attorney with handwriting evidence. Also, I've ruled
most of Trenchant's testimony and that of her witnesses hearsay. That
cuts out a lot of potentially damaging information.

"Did you know, John, that those two guys who brought the complaint
against her in the first place had plagiarized several textbooks as
well as Trenchant's stuff and that both the dean and Lyle Stone knew
about it?"

"Penny ante stuff, Henry. Everybody copies material for their courses.
That's why every department has a copying machine."

"Well this sure sounded serious. They photographed a whole atlas and
presented it to their class as their own work."

"So? It's just Trenchant's word, isn't it? Who's going to believe she
isn't just indulging in sour grapes?"

"The whole panel, that's who. That stupid son of a bitch, Ian,
admitted to it."

"Don't worry so, Henry. Surely you can explain that away as a
misstatement on his part. He can just say that he didn't understand
the question and...."

"I've already done that with the panel but I can't keep up forever
explaining away every boner they pull. I've got to call Lyle back to
testify again and the panel wants to hear from one of his faculty, Ann
Biggot, and from Jimbo as well."

"What can I do to help you, Henry."

"Get on their asses, please, John. Those dilettantes in the medical
school just made a very poor showing. They weren't prepared
or.... would you believe, John, that Lyle couldn't even remember how
many SmurFFs he was given and the dean contradicted a vital part of his
testimony. Both Ian and Randy stunk. Please, lower the boom on Lyle
and the others slated to testify tomorrow. They have got to do their
homework."

"I'll get right on it, Henry. Don't worry now. Just remember that we
can keep everyone--reporters, local, state and federal--out of our
business simply by claiming academic privilege. There is nothing we
can't explain away. Nothing we can't make disappear if we need to."

"OK, John, and thanks."

"Right. Good evening, Henry."

Henry hung up the phone and stretched. Strange, he thought, sniffing
the air experimentally, I don't smell anything cooking. Wonder if
we're going out for dinner. For that matter, I wonder where Kate is,
haven't heard her moving around. Oh, well, she's probably in the back
yard.

Resigning himself to the distinct possibility that he would have to get
ready for another night ou