arding my innocence of your charges."

"We do need to restrict this hearing"

"Dr. Denton has been waiting nearly three hours to give her testimony."

The chair shrugged and muttered under his breath. What would Simon
Murrain advise. I need time to think about it. Aloud he said, "The
committee will recess to discuss this."

Everyone was told to leave the hearing room except the committee. When
they were alone, Henry made it clear. "We must limit this hearing only
to the evidence we presented."

Jane, with grave misgivings concerning her future at Belmont, rose to
the occasion. "I think we need to hear this. We should at least
appear to be giving her a fair hearing."

"She's already had that," snapped back Henry. "This hearing is
expressly for confirming the findings of the first document examiners.
Nothing else."

Anuse, who had watched the others leave the hearing room unexpectedly
sided with Jane and urged caution. "Perhaps we should hear her, Henry.
Those damn reporters are still out there. If we don't let her testify,
it will be the lead story in tomorrow's paper."

"Still there, are they? Bothersome creatures! Well, that puts a
different face on it." He sat for a moment in thought. He'd had his
orders. They were to wind this up fast. "All right. We'll hear that
witness, however, I am declaring this hearing closed as of right now.
Her testimony will appear to be heard by the panel and will be in the
minutes to keep the Attorney General and the press off our backs.

"But make no mistake, any of you." He looked around at all the
committee members, his face stern and his voice threatening, "We meet
tomorrow at nine o'clock right here to sign this report that you have
already seen. I'll redraft it to indicate that we have had this
additional testimony, but essentially, it will read the same. Is that
clear?"

Chapter 34

The hearing resumed.

Dr. Stacy Denton was sworn and Diana thanked her for waiting so long.
"Would you please state your qualifications as an expert witness?"

"Yes, but first I must ask that you waive the privilege of
confidentiality."

"Of course. I absolutely waive the privilege of confidentiality so
that you may respond to my questions and those of the panel."

Stacy then delivered a long list of professional qualifications having
to do both with mental health counseling and organizational consulting.

As she was giving the requested information, Jane