Chapter 1

2 weeks later

Donna sat in front of the committee for a second time, although she couldn't help but fidget slightly. She had been surprised to get the second suepeana , or for her 'dairy' to be as well. She looked to the man next to her who just put a hand on her shoulder. "It's going to go fine," he said softly, his Australian accent strong in the strain of pulling this together in the last few days as a favor to Clayton Webb.

"I know," she sighed as the committee turned their attention to her.

"Ms. Moss, when you were here a couple of weeks ago you said you didn't have a diary, am I correct?" the committee chairman asked.

"Yes."

"Do you wish to change that statement now?" he asked.

"No."

"Do you understand the possible outcome of not doing so?"

"Yes."

"Mr. Brumby, have you informed your client of the ramifications of perjury?"

"Yes, and she insists she didn't perjure herself," Mic said stiffly.

"Ms. Moss, do you or do you not keep a diary?" Cliff Calley asked pointedly.

"I do not."

"Exactly who are you trying to protect by insisting something that we know is not true?" he challenged.

"I do not keep a diary."

"You're lying."

"Mister Chairman, I don't know how Mr. Calley can be so sure of something like that," Brumby challenged.

"Because I've seen it," Cliff shot back angrily, causing Donna to stiffen. "Oh, G-d, that's what this is about?" she muttered as she put a hand over her mouth.

"Ms. Moss, would you care to elaborate?" the Chairman asked, confused.

"I don't keep a diary. I keep. . .I have a notebook. . . It's. . . it's, it's in this journal that I bought. . ." she shook her head. "I keep it in a nightstand near my bed."

"Near your bed?"

"I write notes about the day in. Things that I have to remember to do. Trivia facts that might be of use at a later time. To do lists. . ."

"You said you keep it near your bed. How would Mr. Calley know that?" another committee member interjected.

Donna couldn't help but blush at that, "Do I. . .Do I have to answer that?"

"Yes."

"It's just. . ." she shook her head. "Oh, G-d, this is so embarrassing."

"Take your time."

"Mr. Calley and I went out a couple of times. I didn't think it would be a problem or anything. I mean, Anisley Hayes set us up. . ." she paused looking down at her hands as she folded and unfolded them, her body shifting in the seat. She really didn't want to have to do this. Say these things. Reveal this much of herself.

"And he was up at your apartment at this time?"

"Not exactly. . ." she paused. "We. . . we agreed not to see each other anymore, but one night. . ." she stopped. "Please, I. . ."

"Ms. Moss, we need to get to the bottom of this."

"We would if she'd stop play acting," Calley muttered as Brumby looked at her panicked expression. "Mister Chairman is this really necessary?"

"I'm afraid it is. Continue please."

"I. . .It had been a long day. . . I'm a lightweight. . .I'd. . .I'd had a little too much to drink while I was waiting for. . .I fell asleep on the couch. I heard knocking and. . . I didn't realize who it was. I thought he was. . ." she shook her head. "I don't remember anything other than going to get the door till I. . .I umm woke up and he was there."

"He who?"

"Mr. Calley."

"Are you saying that you slept with him not knowing who he was?" one of the other committee members asked aghast.

"I. . ." Donna shook her head.

"Give me a break. You knew full well who I was," Cliff countered.

"Ms. Moss, answer the question please."

"I guess so. I mean. . . When I realized what had happened I told him it was a mistake. That it shouldn't have happened. He told me I'd be sorry. I guess this is what he meant," she paused as she wiped at the tears of embarrassment on her face. "I really didn't know he meant the notebook. I didn't mean to lie."

The committee looked at each other as Cliff laughed. "Who were you expecting?"

"I don't see how that matters," Brumby said stiffly.

"She's passing accusations against me. Might as well back it up. Was it Lyman?"

"No," Donna said quickly.

"Then who?"

"I. . ."

"Ms. Moss, it might help to support your story," the Committee Chair advised.

"But it's the truth. I thought he was someone else that night."

"A name please."

Donna looked to Mic who nodded. "Clayton Webb."

"And were you and this Mr. Webb involved?"

"On and off."

"For how long?"

"We've known each other for a couple of years. I don't know exactly how long you'd say we'd actually been involved," Donna replied with a touch of panic in her voice.

"And even though you were expecting him you went out with me a few days earlier?" Cliff pushed.

Donna sighed, knowing where he was trying to go. "I'm not promiscuous if that's what you're trying to say," she said stiffly as she looked away from him and towards the other members of the committee. "Anisley Hayes suggested that I go out with someone. She pushed that I should. Said that it would appear better if I was dating someone. Clay and I. . . with our jobs we never really went out out. That's one of the reasons we were off as many times as we were. Our schedules rarely gelled, and when they did. . . one of us. . . well, neither of us work in jobs where crisises don't come up on a regular basis."

"What do you think Ms. Hayes meant?"

"Excuse me?"

"What would appear better?"

"The amount of hours I worked. She said rumors might start because of how much time I worked with Josh Lyman. I took her advice because I didn't want to cause a scandal. Clay. . . Clay was out of town on business. And she. . . she just kept pushing me to date someone. I figured a couple of dinners wouldn't hurt. Then I found out who he worked for and I put the breaks on."

"Is Mr. Webb aware of what happened that night?"

"Yes."

"His reaction?"

"He was angry. He wanted to. . ." she shook her head.

"Wanted to what?"

"I guess you'd say defend my honor. He didn't like that I had been taken advantage of," Donna sighed, knowing that that much was true. Clay had said it was one of the reasons he thought her committing perjury a second time was an option. Apparently he was a man who had a firm belief in payback.

"And were you?"

"I think so. I really didn't realize. . ." she shook her head and buried it in her hand overwhelmed with the truth of what happened. She had been taken advantage of. Her personal life was being laid bare in a front of strangers. She couldn't do this much more.

"Ms. Moss, do you have the notebook as you refer to it in your possession?"

"Yes," she gulped as she raised her head and accepted the handkerchief that Brumby offered her.

Cliff laughed, "if you didn't know that that was what we wanted why bring it?"

"I told Ms. Moss to bring anything that could be considered in any way shape or form a dairy with her," Brumby said stiffly.

"Then let's see it please," the chairman said.

Donna watched shell shocked as Brumby nodded to her and she shakily picked up her purse and reached in it for the journal, but her frayed nerves caused her hands to shake and the purse spilled over. Embarrassed she handed the guard the book as she started to pick up what had fallen over the table. Cliff immediately jumped on one item. "Are those pages from the 'notebook," he asked.

Donna paled slightly and nodded.

"You tore out pages? Why would you do that?"

"I. . ." she gulped. "I told you I use it for lists. They're probably old grocery lists or something."

"Hand them in as well," one of the members said. Shakily she did just that.

The quiet as they looked over things caused her to shift uncomfortably, with Mic whispering reassurances. The minutes passed slowly, before the chairman handed the book to the guard. "Ms. Moss, I apologize for the. . . embarrassment this might have caused you. But I'm sure you understand that we needed to check into the allegations made."

"Yes, sir," Donna muttered.

"I am going to make the recommendation that these proceedings be sealed to save those involved from further embarrassment. Thank you for your time. You may leave."