public V remove(K key)
{
   checkInitialization();
   V removedValue = null;

   int index = getHashIndex(key);
   index = locate(index, key);

   if (index != -1)
   {
      // Key found; flag entry as removed and return its value
      removedValue = hashTable[index].getValue();
      hashTable[index].setToRemoved();
      numberOfEntries--;
   } // end if
   // Else not found; result is null

   return removedValue;
} // end remove
// Version 4.0