Chapter 11

Liberty looked at Rhett."Did you stop by your father's house on the way from the restaurant?"

The politician also shook his head, but slowly and even sadly."No, not at all.Savannah and I went directly home.We didn't even call dad."

Liberty returned her gaze to the PR manager."So you had no idea who could have been at the door?"

This time Maddy verbalized her response."I had no idea, and neither did Daniel.As I said, he wondered who wanted to see him at this time of night.He told me he hadn't invited anyone else or expected anyone."

"Was your vehicle parked out front?"

Maddy nodded as she signed and Rhett translated."Yes, I drive an Acura LX.It's still parked where I left it.Daniel always parks his Lexus in the garage at the side of the house."

Liberty remembered seeing the Acura parked near the front porch, and a light gray SUV parked in front of it.She had assumed it belonged to the doctor, but now figured that Rhett Baumgard drove the SUV.

"So, the assailant would assume that the doctor had company," Liberty theorized."Although, he took a big risk in stabbing the doctor before knowing who else was in the house."

"That's right," Rhett agreed."He could have had prior knowledge of Maddy's visit, saw her car out front, or had no idea who else was in the house.Either way, he took a big risk.I hadn't...we hadn't thought about that angle."

"Hum.Going with your first assumption, the assailant knew Ms. Kime or at least knew her car."Liberty drummed her fingertips on the table as she steadied her gaze on the deaf woman."Ms. Kime...Maddy, can you think of anyone who had a beef with Daniel Baumgard and who might know you and your association with the doctor?"

Maddy shook her head."No," she voiced. "No one."

"Okay, we'll get back to that later after you have time to think.Now moving right along.What did you do after the 911 call?"

Maddy sighed, her brows knitted in thought.Rhett continued to translate without adding his own words or emotional expressions as she resumed her story."I moved to the living room.How I got there I don't remember, but I found myself sitting on the sofa while I waited for the police.I had the phone in my hand and I remember calling Rhett at his home so I could tell him what happened.I couldn't hear his response, but I figured he would come right over."

"Now you touched the knife, pulled it out actually."

"Yes...I did.At least I think I did. I saw it on the floor.Oh, I don't know anymore!"Suddenly Maddy hung her head.As she shook it slowly, her hair swept the table like fine strands of russet silk.

Rhett bolted from his chair and came to the aid of the sobbing woman, gently pressing her head against his chest."Can we stop now, please, Ms. Sloane?She's been through so much tonight.Tomorrow will be better."

"Of course."Liberty switched off her recorder and then stood."Stay here for a minute while I speak with the detectives."

"Thank you.We're grateful."

Before she left the room, Liberty noticed that Rhett produced a handkerchief from his jacket pocket and handed it to Maddy who had raised her head and then dabbed at her eyes and nose.Liberty hadn't known anyone who still carried a cloth handkerchief.Rhett's looked to be made of nice linen with his initials embroidered on the edge.

His gentlemanly gestures and concern for the PR manager seemed touching and genuine enough.But if Liberty hadn't known otherwise, she would think that Rhett Baumgard and Madeline Kime had an intimate relationship going on.They certainly appeared and acted closer than most people would as colleagues and business acquaintances.Plus, Rhett continued to use the inclusive "we" instead of the individual usage of "me and Ms. Kime."Of course, Liberty didn't know her clients very well.Their relationship to the late Daniel Baumgard might have placed Rhett and Maddy in a close alliance based on their mutual interests and the affection they shared for the late doctor.

Could it have been enough to launch an extramarital affair on the politician's part?Talk about an explosive exposé, although plenty of politicos had had affairs with little damage to their careers.In fact, the public almost expected their politicians to have a bit of tarnish on their gilded reputations.Of course, it really wasn't Liberty's business unless the Baumgard-Kime relationship, whether innocent or not, had some bearing on the murder case.

Now leaving her clients alone for a moment, she returned to the living room.The uniformed cop had left, and she found the two detectives standing and talking near the fireplace.As soon as she entered, they curbed their conversation and turned to look at her.

Keats moved away from the fireplace and stood behind the chair he had occupied earlier."Well, did you get the story you wanted?"

"You mean statement, detective.I recorded most of it, but it's very late and my clients are exhausted.I hope you and Detective Serrano are finished questioning Mr. Baumgard and Ms. Kime."

He nodded."For now.We have nothing to hold them on."

Liberty crossed her arms."Like what?"

"Murder, for one," Gloria Serrano announced."We have only Ms. Kime's word that she found the doctor already mortally wounded when she came from the kitchen to check on him.Plus, she pulled out the knife, but she might have put it in him to begin with."

"Oh, come now, detectives.Why would she go through all that, to murder the man she respected?She volunteered her time and services for Dr. Baumgard's endeavors to provide low cost health care for women and also provide shelter for abused women and children.So, what on earth would be her motive?"

Keats shrugged his broad shoulders."We don't know yet.We haven't dug into Ms. Kime's past, or the doctor's for that matter.And we have quite a few people associated with the doctor to interview."

"Well, if you find anything crucial, I'd like to know about it out of professional courtesy"

"If we do find anything," Keats assured her with a thin smile, "we'll let the sheriff know first, and then the district attorney.You can get the information from them."