Chapter 12

Liberty knew the people in the DA's office, but she hadn't had any real contact with those on the police force or sheriff's department.She'd have to play her cards right to secure information from Jeff Jeffries' office and from him personally.For the moment, Liberty planned to tuck away the information about the threatening text the doctor received, at least for a little while.Let the detective with his smarmy attitude find it out for himself.

"Will you have an officer stationed here all night?"

Keats nodded."Yes, we'll have two, one inside and one outside."

"Good."Liberty could think of nothing more to add. "If that's it, my clients and I will be leaving soon."

Gloria Serrano offered a crisp, parting reply. "Good night then, Ms. Sloane.Just make sure your clients remain in the area."

When the woman detective emphasized the word clients with haughty regard, Liberty figured she had already branded Rhett Baumgard and Madeline Kime as the suspected murderers just because of their close involvement to the doctor.Liberty gave a polite answer tinged with her own sarcastic regard."As you say, detective.My clients won't be going anywhere except home and to bed, if you care to check up on them."

The detective offered a sloe-eyed look."That won't be necessary."

Back in the dining room, she found Rhett and Maddy sitting side by side, both silent and looking a bit forlorn.The attorney still had a couple of things to do, but hoped not to keep any of them for very long.

"Rhett, could you find your father's cell phone?"

"I suppose so, if you need the phone.Is it important?"

"Yes, very important.I'll tell you about it tomorrow.Let's plan to meet at my office at two o'clock.I'll have a late lunch sent in."Liberty told them how to get to her office in Bethesda.

Maddy nodded."I live just outside of Bethesda, in Thoreau Park."

Liberty had heard of the new community that emphasized "going green" with environmentally-friendly houses, a central community square surrounded by shops and services, all within walking distance. "I'll need your addresses and contact numbers.You can give them to my assistant tomorrow.Now you're free to go."

"Finally!"Relaxing his shoulders, Rhett let out an audible sigh of relief."Thank God, and thank you, Ms. Sloane.Without you here, I was afraid those detectives would keep us forever, even arrest us on some trumped-on charge of conspiracy to commit murder."

Liberty tried to add a lighter note."Let's hope that never happens.In fact, I'll make sure it doesn't.Now then, are you both fit to drive home?"

Rhett glanced at the PR manager with a look of concern."I'd like to drive Madeline home.We can pick up her car tomorrow."

"No," Maddy vocalized, "I feel perfectly fine to drive myself."

His concern heightened to chivalrous proportions."At least let me follow you so I know you'll get home safely."

Maddy's gaze cleared and dissolved the clouds of uncertainty and anxiety that had settled over her during the interview."No, please, Rhett," she voiced."I'm sure Savannah is frantic by now and needs you to go straight home."

Rhett checked his iPhone and nodded."You're right.She's called me three times since I put the phone on mute."Again, he shook his head slowly and sadly."Damn, we'll have so much to do tomorrow.Besides the funeral arrangements, I'll have to see the attorneys about the distribution of the monies my father stipulated in his will.He made sure all of his endeavors received funds, the clinic, the foundation, the shelter."

"Who will be executing his will?" Liberty asked.

"My father dealt with the law firm of Steinberg, Carver, Gamez, and Wong, from D.C., with Arthur Steinberg handling most of the business affairs."

Liberty knew of the firm.Arthur Steinberg, along with his colleagues Franklin Carver, Scott Gamez, and Michele Wong, had been one of the legal partnerships that courted her before she went into business for herself.It would be interesting to deal with such a large, established firm on a professional basis, although she might be in danger of becoming a bit intimated by the big guysand the girl.Nonsense, she told herself.You can do it, sister!This case just might be the one you've been waiting for, so give it everything you got!

Now, stifling a yawn, she wrapped it up here."Rhett, why don't you find your father's cell phone and I'll check the kitchen just to verify Maddy's statement about the tea."

"The tea will be cold by now," the PR manager realized, "but the pot, the cups and the other things are still on the tray."

"Good, then we're that much ahead of the game."

"A game," Rhett repeated with the same vacant stare as Maddy had donned earlier."It is a game, isn't it, the pursuit of a murderer and all that detective work that may or may not pan out?Yet, I can't conceive of anyone wanting to do my father so much harm that they would kill him, even the pro-lifers."

"That's another topic we'll discuss tomorrow."