Chapter 13

At four o'clock in the afternoon, Liberty decided to grab a cup of coffee at Kava Java down the street.Yes, she had coffee at the office, but she sometimes needed to get out of that legalese environment.And after her extended interview with Rhett Baumgard and Madeline Kime, she just wanted some fresh air and a chance to clear her head before she got down to business.

She opted for an iced caramel latte and took a seat near the front window that overlooked Carrollton Street.After she settled at the table, she peeled off the white bolero jacket she wore over her lavender paisley dress, and then opened her computer notebook to type up the information she had so far.

At the meeting in her office earlier, Rhett Baumgard came alone but Maddy Kime had brought along her interpreter, David Vreeland.Casual today, Rhett wore a polo shirt, tweed jacket, and black jeans, while Maddy came dressed for business in a cranberry linen skirt and suit coat, her hair skinned back in a severe bun.She wore a wine-hued blusher and lipstick to give her pale face some color.David Vreeland balanced out the varying attire with a pair of cream-colored chinos, a mint-green jacket, and suede loafers sans socks.He answered Liberty's first question about his role, letting her know that he served not only as Madeline Kime's interpreter but also as her communications assistant, both jobs he took seriously.

Liberty offered her clients a lunch of roast beef sandwiches and potato salad that her office manager, Corey Alvarez, had picked up at the nearby deli. Next, she had them repeat their stories while Brandon, her legal assistant, took down the information, and then notarized their statements.Liberty asked about the Save the Babies League, if Rhett and/or Maddy had any involvement with the pro-life movement or any direct dealings with Heather Pomers. Neither had, nor knew very little about the league.What they did know had been gleaned from the newspaper and TV news.

After that, Liberty produced Dr. Baumgard's cell phone and showed the younger Baumgard and the PR manager the threatening text.She had already made copies of the message, but the original text brought home the real, immediate threat.

When they finished reading, Rhett Baumgard glanced at Liberty with a solemn expression."I wondered why dad seemed a bit troubled the last couple of days.I should have asked him.Then again, I wish he would have confided in me."

"And me as well," Maddy vocalized as she crossed her legs and arms, her right foot in its red heel tapping the air in a quick, agitated staccato beat.She signed her next communication as David Vreeland sat beside her and translated in his clear, pleasant baritone."As a professional, I could have advised him how to handle the negative publicity if it came to that.And as a friend, I could have offered my support."

"I believe," Liberty began, "that Dr. Baumgard wanted to involve as few people as possible until he knew more about the situation."She revealed with had transpired at meeting she had with the doctor before he met Maddy Kime, and included the information about the private detective, Preston Durrell.

"Still," Rhett demurred with a shake of his head, "my father should have confided in his family.We might have been able to do something..."He trailed off his sentence with a resigned outtake of breath.

"There was nothing you could do," Liberty reasoned, "at least in an official capacity.That's why your father consulted me and Mr. Durrell."

Maddy sat straight in her chair.As her fingers worked furiously to express her sentiments, David expertly kept up with her pace."Why didn't Daniel go to the police right away?He should have done so.Maybe they could have offered him protection."

"The doctor didn't want to," Liberty revealed, "at least not right away. He preferred to handle the matter internally.I did advise him to increase his security staff, but I don't know if he called the security firm after we met or not."

Still dissatisfied, Maddy continued in sign language."As a professional legal advisor, you should have insisted that Daniel call the police."

"I did, Ms. Kime, but as I said, the doctor wished to handle things his way."

Rhett let out a short, derisive laugh."That's dad, all right.Ninety-nine point five-percent of the time he knew the right thing to do and did it, but he never considered the risk to him personally, that he could be physically harmed by these pro-life zealots.And now it's too late."

"I'm sorry, Rhett," Liberty offered."As I look back, I should have insisted that Daniel go directly to the police.And if he still resisted, I should have called them, not at his advising attorney but as a friend concerned for his safety.Yet, Daniel assured me that he could proceed on his own, using the detective, increasing security at the clinic and shelter, and utilizing his own staff people."

"Who on staff?" Maddy asked, her gaze as sharply pointed as her direct question.

Liberty consulted her legal pad where she had jotted down the names of the clinic staffers."Beverly Simpson, the office manager, and Kelly Borrego, the nursing supervisor.They planned to help the doctor by privately investigating the other employees as well as the volunteers."

She hadn't added the part about the computer code and who might have gotten a hold of it to copy the confidential files of certain high-profile clients.

"So what should we do?" Rhett asked, perplexed.

"Go about your usual business," Liberty advised, "and do what you must for your father's funeral and the execution of his will.If the police contact you again for any reason, please call me immediately.I'll deal with them."

"As you should have done right away," Maddy voiced, her opinion clearly reflecting what she thought of the attorney.

Sitting back in her desk chair, Liberty sighed."Yes, Maddy, that's what I should have done.Unfortunately I don't have the power of hindsight or the ability to predict the future, particularly impending danger.But I can do what Dr. Baumgard asked me to, and that's to offer my legal advice."

"I plan to contact this private investigator," Rhett concluded, "and ask him what he's found out so far.Now what was his name again?"

"Preston Durrell."Opening her middle drawer, Liberty rummaged through her mishmash of paper clips, sticky pads, pens, pencils and various business cards of colleagues.When she found one of Preston's from the small stack of cards he had given her last year to use as referrals, she offered it to the politician.

Rhett stared at the card he held with the thumb and index finger of both hands.Then he glanced up at the attorney."Have you had any dealings with Mr. Durrell?If so, do you feel he'll do the job competently...and within the legal limits of the law?"

Personal feelings aside, Liberty tried to provide an honest assessment of Preston's qualifications."Yes, in the past I've utilized his services, and I find him competent and efficient.He operates above board and cooperates with the police."

"That's a decent recommendation," Rhett reasoned."We're not looking for a super sleuth."

Liberty smiled."Real-life private investigators rarely face cliff-hanging dangers, shoot-'em-ups, and overly dramatic situations.Preston is highly regarded by his colleagues and even by law enforcement."

"Excellent."Rhett glanced at Maddy."I say we should continue as is, with the hope that information about the text sender and what he plans to do will be quickly forthcoming.But what do you think, Maddy?Should we go to the press as a precaution and warn them off?"

Maddy Kime gave a firm, quick shake her head."No, no, Rhett," she voiced."That will only stir them up and you'll have the press camping at your doorstep.As we say:give them an inch and they'll want ten yards."

"I agree," Liberty confirmed."And I suggest that if members of the press do try to contact you or members of your family, Rhett, you refer all enquiries to Maddy.Is that okay?"She looked at the PR manager who now nodded in the positive.

"Yes, thank you, Ms. Sloane."

"Liberty."

Maddy, smiling for the first time, gave the attorney a look of concession."Thank you, Liberty."

After her party left, Liberty made a quick visit to the Morning Star Clinic, but learned little.Beverly Simpson, the office manager, confessed that originally the password into the computer system had been known only to her, Dr. Baumgard, Dr. Malinda Patel, the associate doctor, and Kelly Borrego, the nursing supervisor.But over the years, the password could have become common knowledge among the nursing staff and the volunteers.Liberty could go on and try to contact all of the people associated with Dr. Baumgard's clinic and even the shelter, but it seemed a futile and time-consuming effort.

Beverly Simpson, a slightly overweight, middle-aged woman with short auburn hair, shook her head sadly."Dr. Baumgard, God rest his soul, concentrated on protecting the outside of the clinic from the pro-life groups, but did little to protect the inner workings.I think he felt in some ways that the clinic was sacrosanct and no one would breach medical ethics or disregard the integrity he instilled in all of us."

Kelly Borrego, a bright, energetic young woman in a nurse's uniform with a teddy bear print, echoed Beverly's claims and concerns, as did Dr. Malinda Patel, a tall, slim and lovely woman, originally from India, and who served as the associate women's healthcare physician.The incident with Amber Thewes was well-known by all associated with the clinic.In fact, Dr. Patel had been the attending physician when Amber came in complaining of abdominal pain.Liberty believed the doctor did all she could to save the young woman's life.Case closed, except to those who still harbored animosity toward Dr. Baumgard and the Morning Star Clinic, despite the doctor's contributions over the years to provide free or low-cost women's healthcare services.

When Liberty asked about the clinic's future, Beverly could only shake her head sadly."It depends on the board of trustees, if they're willing to keep the clinic operational, even find a replacement for Dr. Baumgard, although Dr. Patel has been wonderful in keeping things together despite our collective grief."

Liberty concluded the interview by asking if Rhett Baumgard had been involved in the decision-making process concerning all of Dr. Baumgard's endeavors.Again, Beverly shook her head, but this time with a firm, positive nod."No, the clinic and shelter come under the auspices of the board of trustees, chosen for their expertise in the fields of women's health services.Same for the foundation, as you know, Ms. Sloane, since you're a board member.Mr. Rhett Baumgard has no direct say on how the entities are governed and run."