FFs alluded
to as 'suspicious' nor the so-called handwriting standards were ever
authenticated.

According to the testimony she had just heard, each of the so-called
'suspicious' critiques had been discovered when the finder was alone.
Furthermore, Lyle could give no proof that any of the 'suspicious'
SmurFFs he claimed were found, had ever been placed in the return box
provided for the students. In fact, except for the few critiques that
were signed, there was no evidence that any of the nearly two hundred
uncontested critiques relating to the radiology course were even
submitted by the radiology students!

Jane was simply astounded. In all of Lyle's testimony, he had offered
no witnesses or evidence that could confirm his testimony that students
had been manipulated by the accused. Witchcraft was insinuated, but
never proven.

Henry was rapidly becoming unglued. Noting Lyle's declining control
and fearing an incipient outburst, Henry interrupted and declared that
they would now take a lunch break. How could that idiot sit there and
let himself give away that kind of detail on how SmurFFs were handled
in his department? Henry knew that this was having a deleterious
effect on the panel and he knew that he'd better set things straight
while there was still a chance to cover up.

Chapter 10

Lunch was catered in the upstairs witness room as the prosecution,
Henry and the panel, huddled to socialize and discuss the morning
events.

Henry and Frank Anuse excused themselves after the meal and adjourned
to the men's room to plan strategy. "We can't say too much to the
women now with the other witnesses around but when we get back, you
take Esther out somewhere and I'll handle Jane. Annette's no threat,
we'll forget her. Anyhow, explain how all that bullshit about the
chain of custody doesn't have any bearing at all. Everything rests on
the document examiner's evidence. Nothing else counts. Got it?"

"No problem, Henry. I'll set her straight," Anuse said reassuringly.
"Christ, Diana really stuck it to Lyle, didn't she?"

The defense huddled too. They went as a group to the nearby cafeteria.
Everyone took the trouble to keep the conversation light and
encouraging. They were convulsed at the reaction of the court
stenographer which Diana related to them.

"She's probably attended a great many hearings," offered Helen. "What
happens in the cloistered halls of Belmont U. would be a bit foreign