My God, Henry screamed to himself, why do I let her go on with this?
Well, of course, it's because those women are listening and look
interested so I don't dare cut her own testimony off too often. They
were not happy with the way Frank was badgering her and I didn't want
to alienate them any further. Aloud, he said, "Does the panel have any
more questions?" Getting no response, the chair called a short recess.

When Diana entered the waiting room, her witnesses gathered around,
full of support and questions. "All in all, it went pretty well," she
told them. "The real victory was getting out of there without
throttling Frank Anuse. He asks question after question always
discounting your answer. He doesn't come right out and say you're
lying but it is implied in his manner.

"The rest of the panel aren't bad. Esther gets a little mixed up in
what she wants to say at times and is a bit hard to understand, but she
appears to be trying to be fair. I think the other two women on the
panel are more sympathetic toward me now.

"It isn't much fun, but you shouldn't be in there very long, so that's
some compensation."

"They were at you for a long time," Sarah's voice quavered ever so
slightly.

"Yes, but I'm their designated criminal. I really don't think they
will treat you badly, but if they do, get up and walk out. I mean
that, it goes for all of you," Trenchant said firmly.

"There's the summons. Go in there and give 'em hell, Andrea. It's
party time," said Helen, patting them both on the back as they left
for the hearing room.

Chapter 17

Andrea Stern was barely sworn when Esther demanded, "are you a medical
student?"

Then, suddenly realizing that she had spoken out of turn since it was
Diana's prerogative to question her witnesses first, she apologized.

Trenchant immediately asked Andrea to give her name and occupation for
the record. Replying to further questions, Andrea testified that she
had known Diana for many years and had rented a room in her house for
six of them. She attested to the overall integrity of Trenchant.
Boldly, mincing no words, she fixed the panel with a friendly smile and
continued.

"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
hig