I discussed the proposal with the others, sans Howie. It was, after all a dramatic departure from our quest for total anonymity. Each of us was concerned with Howie's sanity and after I laid out all the proposed safe guards, we agreed for me to approach Howie.
I took Howie aside. He agreed whole heartedly to engage a psychiatrist. I so informed Mr. Cooms and between us, a patient doctor relationship was arranged for Howie. Later the same day, he informed all of us he was getting needed help, as he put it. Somewhere there was a very shocked psychiatrist, with a million dollar client.
Betsy had confessed to Mr. Cooms her frustration over the lack of information regarding the outcome of our tips. He surprised me in a later conversation by mentioning he was taking steps to remedy the problem.
"I've established a non-profit group I call 'After,'" he told me. "Its mission statement is to demand transparency after a crime is committed and to assure all efforts to nail the guilty party are being pursued."
"Sort of a Monday morning quarterback team?" I asked
"Yes, or a victim's advocacy group. I've staffed it with an ex San Francisco detective and a few other retired experts. They'll keep the pressure on the authorities when any of these cases get out of the public eye."
"I bet that will be as popular with the police as internal affairs or stale donuts."
"We'll keep a low profile and limit any negative publicity to really egregious errors. We won't take credit for help we can offer. Our goals are to push forward, not pull back."
"Sounds good." My answer lacked the enthusiasm my benefactor expected.
"If you're concerned my little project might impact your security, don't be alarmed. I suggest you have no contact with the organization what-so-ever. They'll maintain a public web site you might peruse occasionally but they'll know nothing of your group or what you're doing."
I continued to feel uncomfortable. "Are you publically tied to the organization?"
"I am only one of a number of concerned citizen contributors."
When I related my conversation to my wife, she was elated. "Maybe now we'll get the action we deserve!" she exclaimed.
I was less critical than my wife on the slow workings of the law. I realized those receiving our tips lacked a reason to share our absolute confidence. Obtaining hard and fast evidence was their not-always simple chore. Our cases were scattered around the country with most jurisdictions receiving our tip for the first time. Our credibility had to be earned each time and be absolute. The case of Jude Bryce, and/or his brother remained unresolved.