Thirty one

Dean Phillips appeared unable to recover from the onslaught of words. He pushed his glasses up the bridge of his nose, his gaze turning sharp and resolute. He gave Mr. Ross a penetrating look and asked, "What are you trying to say?"

Mr. Ross seemed to realize that his words were irritating the dean, so he adjusted his harsh expression and addressed the dean more carefully. He said, "I apologize for my rudeness, sir. But honestly, I do not believe that these top scores shown on her examination record sheet can be considered reliable."

He gestured for emphasis, expecting the dean to agree with him, but instead, the dean's expression soured even further. His voice turned harsh and cold as he asked, "Are you insinuating that she cheated and that the council members helped her?"

Mr. Ross's words caught in his throat, and he stammered, "No... I..."

"No, I do not mean that the council helped her cheat. But for all we know, she could have cheated without our knowledge. It's highly suspicio