Free Not Dead Yet by Pegi Price Page A

record your statement?  If you saw my handwriting, you would understand,” he grimaced good-naturedly.  “I always take notes, in case there are problems with the recording, but I’m the only one who can read my notes.”
    “If your handwriting is half as bad as mine, I pity you.” Theia told him about the two phone calls that Lu had received, and the decision to avoid future phone calls. “I really want to get out of this as soon as possible and leave it to the professionals.”
    He frowned, tapping his pen on the notepad.
    “Is there a problem?  I thought you would be thrilled not to have an amateur involved, messing things up,” Theia said, looking a little baffled.
    “Yes, but I am just a little concerned about not having a way for him to make contact,” the detective answered.
    “Look, you guys can figure that out.  I don’t want to touch this with a ten foot pole.”
    “Would you be willing to have the DJO keep her old phone number, and keep passing his messages to us?” the detective asked.
    “I’m sorry,” Theia said, shaking her head. “If I get involved, I could muck things up and make it worse for Rose.  Her husband is already angry with me.  I don’t want to give him another excuse to beat the hell out of her.  The best way I can help her is to let you professionals do your job.  Sorry, but I want out.”
    “That’s okay.  I was just thinking out loud.”  He reviewed his notes, tapping his pen annoyingly on his notepad again. “We’ll check out the quarry to see what we can find there.  Thanks for your time, Ms. Pearson.  I’ll see myself out.  Oh, and keep a good lookout, just in case he tries to do something stupid.  It’s highly unlikely though.  If he was going to do something to you, he probably would have already done it.”
    As the detective strolled down the hall, Theia took a deep breath and slowly let it out.  The hard part was done.  The police were going to look for Rose.  And Theia was out of the case.  Free. 
     
    The next day, Theia had an appointment with a woman who wanted to divorce her husband.  After introducing herself, Theia began asking the woman the basic initial questions.  The client had a bemused look on her face as she stared up at the artwork through her John Lennon glasses.
    “Ma’am, how long have you been living at your current address?” Theia asked.
    Theia repeated the question, but was unable to draw the woman’s attention from the abstract prints on the wall.
    “Look at the swirls,” the woman murmured.  “And the splotches. That blue one looks like my husband.”
    Theia looked at the woman’s dilated pupils.  Perfect.  No wonder she wore tie-dye and sandals.
    “Ma’am, you made an appointment to talk with me about getting a divorce.  I need to ask you some questions.  First, I need your full legal name, please,” Theia inquired.
    “I am the Mother of God,” the woman replied.
    “Okay,” Theia said.  “You know, I don’t think I am the right lawyer for you, but I can give you the name and phone number of someone who would be great.  In fact, his office is just a few buildings away.  Why don’t we call him right now to see if he can work you in to his schedule today?  And make sure you tell him I gave you his name.  It might get you in to see him more quickly.”
    Theia turned over one of her own business cards and wrote the name and telephone number of a lawyer who had tried to screw over her client in a recent case.  “Revenge by referral” was highly effective, and seldom had to be used more than once on a lawyer. 
    “He can see me right away!” the woman said, delighted, as she hung up the phone.  Theia drew walking instructions and sent her on her way.  Theia already had more than enough crazy clients.  The last thing she wanted was one more.
    Theia walked over to the county courthouse, which was a block from her office.  She had a case in front of Judge Quinones. There were eighty cases on