Page 118 of Precise Justice

“Damn, Mike and Janet Curtis. I should’ve thought of them myself,” Butler said.

“You know them?”

“I know of them. I’ve met them once or twice. They do a lot with trans people. Before, during and after. I’ve heard good things. Why are you asking?”

Marc explained what they were doing and why he was looking for professional help.

When he finished, Butler said, “Yes, they would be at the top of my list to help you. I’m sorry I didn’t think of them sooner.”

“Don’t worry about it, Lorraine. Your stamp of approval is enough help. I’ll be in touch.”

“She knows them and recommends them,” Marc told the others.

A minute later Ryan the receptionist buzzed Marc to let him know Robbie was calling.

Marc answered Robbie’s call by saying, “Mike and Janet Curtis.”

“You called Lorraine and she told you, didn’t you?” Robbie asked.

“Yeah, she gave them a good recommendation. You have phone numbers and addresses?”

“Yep, ready?”

* * *

At ten minutes past five o’clock, a somewhat heavy set man came into the reception area. He was escorting a woman and a teenage boy. Obviously, patients.

He waited at the scheduling counter while the woman made their next appointment. After walking them to the exit, he turned to greet Marc, Maddy and Carvelli.

“Come on back,” he said. “I’ll buzz Janet, she wants to join us.”

As Mike Curtis led them back to his office, Marc thanked him for taking the time to see them.

“No problem,” Mike replied, “In fact, given our reputation about children and trans, I’ve sort of been hoping you’d call.”

He opened his office door then stepped aside to let them in. As he did so, a woman’s voice came from behind.

“They’re here. Excellent,” Janet Curtis said.

Janet was Mike’s opposite. Where Mike was heavy set with a full head of gray hair, Janet was slender, almost bony, with dark brown hair.

They introduced themselves when they were all seated. Maddy, sitting next to Carvelli, turned to him, took his hand and said, “Okay, this is when we do the intervention.”

The room went silent while Carvelli looked around wondering if she meant it. Maddy laughed, kissed him on the cheek while the others laughed a bit at Carvelli’s discomfort.

“I half-expected a couple of big guys wearing white to come in with a strait jacket,” Carvelli said.

“We’ll take it under advisement,” Marc said.

“How’s your client holding up?” Mike asked Marc.

“Robbie? Sometimes better than others,” Marc replied.

“Yes, I can only imagine,” Mike said.

“What can we help you with?” Janet asked. “Bearing in mind that we are restricted by what we can tell you.”

“What can you tell us?” Marc asked.