Chapter 22

           OnMonday,September17,thedayofthehearing,asthewriterwalkeddownthecorridorofAITandsawBillywaitingforhim,hecouldtellbytheknowingsmile,theclear-eyedlookandnod,thatitwastheTeacher.Theygrippedeachothershands.

           "Goodtoseeyou,"thewritersaid."Itsbeenalongwhile.""Alotsbeengoingon."

           "LetstalkprivatelybeforeGoldsberryandThompsongethere."

           Theysteppedintoasmallconferenceroom,andtheTeachertoldthewriteroftheshooting,ofunfusing,ofAllenleasinganewsportscarsothathecouldtakeoffforLexingtontobetreatedbyDr.Wilburassoonasthejudgereversedtheguiltyplea.

           "Who’sbeentalkingtome,pretendingtobeyouinthelastmonthwhileyouweregone?"

           "ItwasAllen,"hesaid."I’msorry.Arthurknewyou’dbehurttofindoutthatI’dunfused.Normallyhewouldnothaveconcernedhimselfwithaperson’semotions.Icanonlyassumehereactedlikethatbecausehisjudgmentwasimpairedbytheshockoftheshooting."

           TheytalkeduntilGoldsberryandThompsonarrived,andthentheyalldrovetotheFairfieldCountycourthouseinLancaster.

           GoldsberryandThompsonhadprovidedthecourtwithdepositionsfromDrs.