第38部分(第7/7 頁)

nerves　needed。　But　her　mouth　was　very　dry。　〃If　I　could　have　some　water；

that　would　be　fine。〃

Moments　later；　when　she　had　her　water　and　a　seat　on　one　side　of　the　long

table；　a　man　from　the　other　group　approached　her。　〃We'll　be　ready　to

start　soon；　Mrs。　Boulton。　My　client　should　be　here　momentarily。〃

Terrence　Carpenter；　who　sat　on　her　left；　leaned　in　when　the　man　left。

〃That　was　Peter　Simmons；　counsel　for　SEAA。　He'll　be　deposing　you。　He'll

introduce　you　to　the　others；　but　I　believe　the　tall　dark　fellow　is　the

attorney　for　Jet…Star　Aircraft；　the　manufacturer；　and　the　man　with　him

must　be　its　president。〃

Anne　nodded　and　took　a　sip　of　water。　She　wasn't　sure　she　could　do　this。

It　had　been　bad　enough　in　the　instant　when　they　had　looked　at　her。　She

had　felt　like　the　guilty　party；　rather　than　the　one　who　had　been

wronged。

A　professional…looking　woman　entered　the　room；　whispered　something　to

Peter　Simmons；　then　left；　closing　the　door　behind　her。

Simmons　cleared　his　throat；　〃Ladies　and　gentlemen；　let's　begin。　My

client　is　delayed　and　will　join　us　shortly。〃

The　others　took　their　seats。　Formal　introductions　were　made；　ending　with

the　stenographer；　who　would　be　making　transcripts　of　the　meeting。　She

was　the　one　who　put　Anne　under　oath。

The　next　fifteen　minutes　passed　harmlessly　enough。　Peter　Simmons　posed

questions；　Anne　answered　them。　It　was　much　as　she　had　been　told　to

expect；　straightforward　questio