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a Notice of Automatic Court Orders. I enclose for your information (and edification) Ms. McGregor’s letter (a follow-up on yours) and the K&B letter. Apparently I was supposed to respond to his summons and complaint on or before March 8 (20 days after the summons). Because I didn’t do that, Daniel is closing out our joint checking account.
    You will already have grasped that I want to stick with you as my attorney—so long as you are willing, or not completely unwilling. I know you’d rather do your murders, but my case shouldn’t take that much of your time. I don’t care that you’re inexperienced. I know the firm will see that I am well represented; and as I said earlier, I don’t mind paying double if that’s what it takes. (I suggest David Greaves over Ms. McGregor, but it’s your call.)
    Do I need to see you next week, or can you respond to the K&B letter without my input? (Apropos the Automatic Court Order #1, can I sell Daniel’s Audi to pay your attorney’s fees?) I am putting together the financials you asked for. Jane and I are planning to go away the weekof April 11 to visit friends in Hawaii, unless you advise against it. I don’t think Dan would change the locks on us. He loves Jane, and he doesn’t want to look bad. If he locks us out, he knows my father will call the dean of the medical school and the president of the hospital and maybe even the director of the NIH. He never liked Daniel but he held his dislike in check. No longer. I’m holding him back now. I haven’t told him about this second grenade from K&B. I don’t want to bring him in unless (until?) I need to.
    Dan said he didn’t tell K&B to serve the summons at Golightly’s; it was their idea. “But they’re
your
lawyers,” I said. He shrugged. We are barely talking to each other; instead we leave notes. My latest is in the packet. He has set himself up in a guest bedroom and put in a new phone line to that room. I think it’s for calls to Dr. Stephanie. I picked up the receiver once when he was out, and the party on the other end hung up. Where does love go?
    I took your letter in the spirit you intended it.
    Yours truly,

    Mia Durkheim
    cc: David Greaves

TRAYNOR, HAND, WYZANSKI
    222 CHURCH STREET
    NEW SALEM, NARRAGANSETT 06555
    (393) 876-5678
    ATTORNEYS AT LAW
    March 31, 1999
    Maria M. Durkheim
404 St. Cloud Street
New Salem, NA 06556
    Dear Mrs. Durkheim:
    I am following up on Sophie Diehl’s letter to you on the subject of legal representation by Traynor, Hand, Wyzanski. She sent me a copy. As you know, Sophie was standing in for me at the intake interview. I was in Ireland, visiting my grandparents.
    Sophie is not being falsely modest when she advises you to choose another lawyer in the firm. She is a competent criminal lawyer, but she knows nothing, as she herself admits, about civil law and civil procedure, let alone the ins and outs of matrimonial law. I join her in urging you to go with a more experienced practitioner. I’ve read Sophie’s write-up of your interview, and I anticipate problems. Your husband’s decision to retain Kahn & Boyle must be seen as a very hostile, very aggressive move; K&B regards any settlement that provides for alimony or child support for children over the age of 18 as a case of bad lawyering.
    I stand ready to help in any way I can, as of course do Felix Landau and David Greaves. All three of us have extensive experience with separation, divorce, and custody actions. If you’d like to discuss the subject of your representation, I’d be happy to speak with you.
    Sincerely yours,

    Fiona McGregor

KAHN & BOYLE
    46 B ROADWAY
N EW S ALEM , N ARRAGANSETT 06555
(393) 876-4343
A TTORNEYS AT L AW
    March 30, 1999
    Mrs. Maria Durkheim
404 St. Cloud Street
New Salem, NA 06556
    Dear Maria:
    On February 15, this law firm, on behalf of your husband, Dr. Daniel Durkheim, served you with a Summons and Complaint for Divorce with a Return Date of 20 days, calculated as March 8, 1999. It is now March