Wild Justice | Page 6

to be available during the hearing in the
waiting room. This is just for appearance, for extra insurance. Things
have a way of getting screwed up where she's concerned."
Hoping to reopen the informative flood gates with a smattering of
devil's advocate, Jonathan observed slyly, "You know, Henry, her
personnel file was rather impressive. She appeared to have been an
capable technician, an excellent teacher and received high performance
evaluations. No complaints for being late or absent from work, no
reports of drink or drugs. . ."
Again the VP became agitated. This time he grabbed his cup and went
to the coffee maker. "She gets people stirred up. That's where problems
arise from--those unexpected, unknown sources. No administrator can

prepare for those kind of events. For instance, a few years ago a student
under her influence embarrassed Jimbo Jones--he was NERD chair
before Lyle--and put the department in an uproar. . ."
Jimbo Jones, chairman, six NERD faculty members and two graduate
student Teaching Assistants occupied the conference room at the
weekly departmental meeting.
Over the general murmuring and grumbling of a discontented faculty,
Peter, the departmental mouth said, "We ought to get a higher
percentage raise, Jimbo. Every year you tell us the same thing. Times
are tough, the legislature won't spring for a decent appropriation. The
dean can't. . ."
"I know that and I've been thinking how I could cut the roster and have
a little more to share among the rest of us. If you agree, I think it's time
we let Diana Trenchant go. Last year I had to give her a whopping raise
while the rest of us had to settle for the usual 3%, and Ted at the
Affirmative Action Office says we've got to give her more again this
year and then still more until she catches up to or surpasses Fred's
paycheck.
"Of course, it means that you will have to share Fred, our only other
technician, do your own research or get a grant and hire your own
technician."
Most of the people in the room moved uncomfortably in their chairs
looking down at the floor or out the window. Looking anywhere but at
each other or Jimbo.
"It's settled then, we let her go?" Jimbo broke the silence. "No one
opposes? All right then, it's. . .
"I don't know too much about these things," came a hesitant voice from
the back of the group. Everyone turned around to look at the young
graduate student, Holly Preston, who had spoken.
In a voice getting stronger all the time, she continued, "As I say, I don't

know much about this, but I thought when someone was fired that there
had to be cause. That is, that they were not doing their job properly or
whatever.
"Since I've been in the department, I have been impressed with Diana
Trenchant's hard work and knowledge. I've gone to her often for help.
What reason will you give for firing her, Dr. Jones?"
A taut silence descended upon the room like a malignant fog. Then, an
angry, red-faced Jimbo Jones glared at Holly, declared the action tabled
and adjourned the meeting. The NERD faculty Judas goats shuffled out
sheepishly, having been well and truly sheared by a lamb.

Chapter 2
VP Henry Tarbuck closed the file folder then shifted his bulk to place it
on a nearby table. His expensive chair started to groan in protest then as
if remembering how much it cost, only murmured quietly. "We must be
careful that this hearing gives all the appearances of being completely
fair, especially after the disaster in Lyle's office."
Jonathan leaned forward and deposited his now empty cup on the stand
beside him. "Yes, I heard about Lyle bungling that one. First he yelled
at her so loudly that the secretaries in the outer office left in
embarrassment and then was stupid enough to tell her in front of
witnesses that the hearing panel was only a formality and that she
would be terminated anyway."
The VP shrugged, obviously irritated. "Admittedly, he pushed too hard.
It came as a shock to him that she would refuse his demand that she
resign. He lost his cool and tried to bully her into it. He's new to this,
taking over as he did such a relatively short time ago from Jimbo."
"Well it does appear that he had problems with her. I do see that she
appears to have a propensity for causing discomfort, but other women,
and men too for that matter, have been troublesome. Why the excessive

anger toward her?"
"First off, Jonathan, the anger is not excessive, it is justified," Henry
retorted testily. "Yes, we've had critics, annoying critics, but when we
offered them some redress, they were grateful. She, on the other hand,