"Just a moment," Jane demanded. "Before we have the next witness, I'd like to ask you a question, Diana. You said earlier that you were not free to call witnesses from your department. Why?"
Trenchant, who was on her way to the door to get her next witness, paused and said, "They asked me not to. They felt it would be impossible for them to testify since they most probably would contradict their chairman."
"You are saying they are afraid to testify?"
"That's correct. Just like you saw Jean was. Her knowledge and belief in me was the only thing that made it possible for her to overcome her fear of losing her position.
"It is much worse for people in my department and for that matter for medical students who have not been allowed to testify. Things can be made very difficult for them."
Esther pursued, "Are you stating that Lyle has discussed this case with the department?"
"Oh, yes. Very definitely. After he accused me, he went in to Ann Biggot's office and told her. My job was offered to two people in the department around the same time. Lyle has told others besides me that this hearing is only a formality. Remember, he's the one that decides the raises."
"What sort of thing could people in your department testify about?"
"They could substantiate what I have said about the negligent, careless way the evaluation process is carried out and how little import is placed on it. They could confirm that the evaluations were often laying around on someone's desk or in the secretaries' office.
"They could explain that the evaluations got mixed together from year to year and unless one happened to be dated, there was no way to separate one year from the next."