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Marc’s office door opened and Carolyn stuck her head in. Marc was on the phone with another private investigator he used. Tony Carvelli was working on a case for Marc.

“Gail Payne is on the phone,” Carolyn whispered.

“Hey, I gotta go. I have a call I need to take. Later,” Marc said and hung up.

“Line four,” Carolyn told him.

Marc said thanks to Carolyn as he answered the call about Robbie’s malpractice case.

“Marc Kadella,” he said.

“It’s Gail, Marc. I don’t think so, sorry. Like I told you, we had a couple of these as malpractice against the doctors who were involved. Our lawyers are waiting for someone else to win one. The lawyers told me that quack psychiatrist from the U came in as their expert. Convinced the jury that the kids had all of the normal signs of gender dysphoria.”

“Yeah, you mentioned him. Phillip Friedman.”

“None other,” Gail said.

“Robbie’s shrink. Supposedly a leading shrink about gender dysphoria,” Marc answered.

“Yeah, you mentioned that when we first talked. I guess he came across well on the stand…”

“He’d be a defendant this time, or would that be worse?” Marc asked.

“I don’t know. The symptoms for this are so vague, especially for preadolescent children,” Gail replied.

“Hell, when I was six or seven I wanted to be a cowboy. I should sue my mother for not buying me a Colt Peacemaker and a horse. Later, when I was ten or eleven, I wanted to be Joe Montana. All kids go through that,” Marc replied.

“I wanted to meet Joe Montana. I think I’m a little older than you,” Gail said.

“We’ll leave that alone. Okay,” Marc said with a sigh, “I told him it was a long shot.”

“Sorry. I know our lawyers would like to win one. Bye, Marc. ”

Marc checked the clock on the wall. Four fifteen P.M. Robbie should be home by now from school and his appointment with Friedman. He brought Robbie’s file up on his computer. He found Robbie’s personal phone number and dialed it.

“Sorry about being a little late, Robbie,” Priscilla said while Robbie put on his seat belt. “If your father was more dependable…”

“Dad’s dependable, Mom. You just won’t let him be a father,” Robbie said.

“Where is that coming from?” Priscilla almost yelled.

Robbie’s phone rang while Priscilla thought about the question.

“Robbie, it’s Marc Kadella.”

“Hi, Marc. Do you have news?”

“Yes, and I’m afraid it’s not good. They turned it down,” Marc answered him.

“Well, I guess that’s not a surprise.”

“Is that the lawyer? Is that Kadella? Give me your phone,” Priscilla demanded.

“No, the call is for me,” Robbie said.

“Give me your phone, young lady. Right now!”

“Give her the phone. I’ll talk to her,” Marc told Robbie.

“No, she’s being nosey. I’ll hang up now. Thanks, Marc.”

Robbie ended the call then quickly put the phone in her jeans pocket.

Priscilla refused to look at Robbie. She was so angry she gripped the steering wheel until her knuckles were white. Robbie found this so amusing she almost started laughing.

Priscilla parked in the driveway and angrily stomped in through the kitchen door. Robbie, finding her behavior quite funny, after waiting almost two minutes to let her get really steamed up, followed her inside.

Robbie found Priscilla standing next to the breakfast counter. One hand on the countertop, the other on her hip. Robbie realized Priscilla was trying to intimidate her. Again, Robbie had a difficult time holding in a laugh.

“What did he want?”

“Who?” Robbie replied .

“You know damn well who, Kadella.”

“Oh, him. Oh, let me think. I don’t remember,” Robbie said. She said that as she was walking past Priscilla. “Besides, it’s none of your business,” Robbie said, the proverbial last straw.

Priscilla grabbed Robbie’s arm and spun her around. “I told him, ordered him to never call you gain. Now, tell me damnit!”

“It’s none of your…” Robbie started to scream at her.

Priscilla lost it. She slapped Robbie across the face, twice, hard with her right hand. Robbie did not even blink. Still furious, Priscilla took one more swipe at Robbie, only this time she blocked it.

“I asked him if there was a way I could sue you, Dr. Frankenstein, that principal and school nurse at Sanger. Oh yeah, Dr. Miller and everyone involved in destroying my life! I hate it! I hate you and all of you for doing this to me!”

Priscilla was so shocked she simply stood, frozen, uncertain what to do or say.

“Are you happy now?” Robbie said almost in a whisper. By now, the tears were trickling down Robbie’s face. She brushed them off, turned and ran upstairs to her room.

* * *

A week later, Marc came into the office getting back from court on a criminal matter that was going to end badly for Marc’s client. An embezzler, a lawyer Marc knew who was accused of swindling an elderly woman out of two million dollars. The victim was quite wealthy and unwilling to testify against him. It was her children who saw some of their inheritance slipping away. Weird case when the victim would not sign the complaint.

Entering the office, Marc found Connie standing next to Carolyn’s desk. In her hand was a large envelope.

“Hey, um I think we need to talk,” Connie said to Marc.

“Okay, come on in,” Marc replied.

Inside Marc’s office, door closed, Connie tossed the envelope on Marc’s desk blotter.

“What is it?” Marc asked while hanging up his suit coat.

Connie remained silent as Marc picked up the envelope and read the return address .

“Office of Lawyers Professional Responsibility, 444 Minnesota St, blah, blah, blah. It’s kind of thick, too. Is that a bad sign?” he asked Connie while he sat down.

“Not likely a good sign,” Connie replied.

Marc found a letter opener in his middle desk drawer. While he sliced it open, Connie said, “You don’t seem too worried.”

“I know who it’s from,” Marc said, “and what it’s about.”

There were several pages of the complaint against him. He unfolded them and began to silently read.

“Robbie’s mother Priscilla, the flying broom tester?” Connie asked.

“Yeah,” Marc said while he continued reading.

“Since she’s not your client, why did they send this along?” Connie asked.

“Robbie’s a minor. Priscilla is claiming I have harassed him, overcharged her, tried to convince Robbie to sue her and the doctors and a bunch of minor stuff. Those amount to, oh, here it is, violating the client’s wishes during my alleged representation.

“They scheduled a hearing. One month from today. You want to see it?”

“Sure,” Connie said.

Marc handed it to her across his desk.

Connie said, “I’ll call Hyman Seymour, my ethics professor friend.”

“You didn’t break up his marriage, did you?”

“No, a twenty-four year old shiksa student tried that. He got her a federal appeals court clerk’s job with the First Circuit in Boston. The price he paid for keeping his marriage,” Connie said. “In fact, Leah and I are good friends. I’ll have her kick his ass and get on this.”

“I have clients convicted of murder who don’t complain as much as this. Robbie’s lovely mother…”

“Thinks she’s in charge,” Connie finished for him. “I’ll call Leah now, then Hyman.”

“You want a copy of this for Professor Seymour?” Marc asked.

“Sure, scan it and send it to me,” Connie replied .

“Um, yeah, okay, I’ll have Jeff get right on that,” Marc said. Being a little helpless with technology, Marc would have the office paralegal scan it.

“You know there are times when I’m surprised you’re not living with your mother,” Connie said.

“She wouldn’t let me move back.”

“Good for her,” Connie laughed.