Upstairs, things were gradually getting sorted out. Harried custodians
had removed or stacked most of the student chairs and brought in
plush seats. A phone had been located trailing a long,
snake-like extension cord that stretched out the door and back
along the hall to the office it had been liberated from.
The university caterers had brought in a coffee, tea and Danish
service which was in the process of being depleted by the
administration's witnesses. Henry Tarbuck worked the room,
spreading ersatz charm like a bee pollinating from flower to flower.
Chapter 5
The door to the hallway opened suddenly and Henry strode in.
He looked at Diana Trenchant and gestured toward the hearing room.
"We're ready for you now," he announced with all the smarmy triumph
of an interrogator leading the way to the torture chamber.
The accused stood up. In silence, the seven witnesses
grouped around hugging her and each other. The Vee watched,
disgust thick as mildew around a neglected sauna, covering his face.
Disengaging, Trenchant started for the door.
"Here, take this with you just in case you lose your
perspective and need to find it," urged James.
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