Free From Cradle to Grave by Patricia MacDonald Page B

chair. Noreen leaned forward and folded her hands.
    ‘How are you and Claire related, Morgan?’ asked the attorney.
    ‘We’re old friends. More like sisters,’ said Morgan.
    Noreen peered at her. ‘She has no close blood relations?’
    ‘Not really. Some cousins in Oregon. Her mother died several years ago. She and I are very much in the same boat. We’ve come to rely on one another.’
    Noreen held up a document. ‘Well, obviously she has a lot of faith in you. I saw Claire first thing this morning and she indicated that she wanted you to have general power of attorney while she’s incarcerated.’
    ‘Power of attorney? What does that mean?’ asked Morgan.
    ‘You will be in charge of managing her assets, her financial affairs, that sort of thing. Obviously, she trusts you to safeguard her interests.’
    ‘Wow,’ said Morgan.
    ‘Are you willing to act as her agent?’ asked Noreen.
    The idea of it was daunting, but Morgan wasn’t about to refuse. She had promised to help, any way she could. ‘Yes. Of course,’ said Morgan. ‘Whatever she needs me to do.’
    ‘All right. I’ll have this recorded with the state.’
    ‘But I don’t know exactly . . . what her interests are . . .’ said Morgan.
    ‘Some things she can tell you herself. And when you are able to get into the house you’ll be able to access her computer, her paperwork, etc.’
    ‘Do you know when that will be?’ Morgan asked. ‘The police have the house blocked off right now.’
    ‘I’ll call and find out when you can get in,’ said Noreen.
    ‘Oh, thank you. That would be a big help.’
    ‘No problem,’ said Noreen. She made a note on the pad in front of her.
    ‘How’s she doing today?’ Morgan asked.
    ‘Excuse me?’ said Noreen.
    ‘Claire. How’s she doing?’
    Noreen spread her freckled hands. ‘As well as can be expected, I suppose.’
    ‘Can we get her out of there on bail?’ Morgan asked.
    Noreen sighed. ‘Bail’s a problem. If it was just the baby, that would be one thing. In our justice system, that is actually considered the lesser crime. The fact that the husband was also killed . . . Bail’s not gonna happen. And, they have her on a suicide watch right now. Which is, in my opinion, a good idea.’
    Morgan blanched. ‘You think she’s suicidal?’
    Noreen looked surprised. ‘Obviously, she is at a high risk right now.’
    ‘So that’s all the more reason to get her out of there,’ Morgan insisted.
    Noreen frowned. ‘Even if we could, she needs constant supervision. This is a responsibility that you do not want to take on. Trust me. I’m having her examined by a psychiatrist today,’ said Noreen.
    Morgan had a sudden image in her mind of Claire, last night, being led to the van for the county jail – the vacant, exhausted look in her eyes. ‘That’s probably a good idea,’ Morgan admitted.
    Noreen frowned. ‘Her state of mind is a cornerstone of my defense. I’m going to plead temporary insanity. She is suffering from an extreme form of post-partum depression. Actually it’s called post-partum psychosis.’
    ‘Psychosis? I was with her last week,’ said Morgan. ‘She didn’t seem that disturbed.’
    Noreen looked at her with raised eyebrows. ‘She killed her husband and her baby. It doesn’t get much more disturbed than that.’
    Morgan reddened. ‘I know. I know you’re right. But the way she told it to me, it sounded almost . . . accidental.’
    Noreen gave a mirthless chuckle. ‘I’m afraid it would be impossible to sell “accidental”. Maybe one or the other death might have been an accident. But both of them? No. That’s out of the question.’
    This attorney was undeniably forceful. Morgan felt her objections being slammed down like badminton birdies. But Morgan felt both weighted down, and emboldened by the fact that Claire had legally entrusted her with all her affairs. It gave Morgan the right, the duty in fact, to speak her mind on Claire’s behalf. ‘You’re