If the word normal could in any manner describe what we were doing, we slowly slipped into a somewhat normal routine. Martha and baby Claire were released from the hospital after two days and both continued to prosper. Betsy renewed her quest for motherhood with vigor and a more than willing mate happily responded. Howie, with his disappointment intensified, vowed to do everything it took to apprehend the culprit he nicknamed the Delabama Killer.
Merrill Cooms transferred one hundred thousand dollars as a birthday present to Claire Elizabeth, over the unsuccessful protestations of mother and dad.
"It's for her college education," he said. "Invest it well and it might get her a couple of years, the way prices keep going up. Keep your eyes on the future." Mr. Cooms was apprehensive about what he described as an assault on our safety.
"Don't underestimate the wile of this person," he cautioned. "You people need an exit strategy. If you come under attack, you'll need an alternate identity . . . something similar to witness protection."
"You scaring me," I answered.
"Damn right! That's my intention. Think about it constantly and plan. You don't have to use it; just have it ready. All of you need an exit strategy; even the baby. Ask Brennan. He should be able to deliver."
The seriousness of Mr. Cooms' concerns convinced me the wisdom in securing what he suggested. When I mentioned it to Brenner, he agreed. The downside of setting up identities was that someone would learn more detail about us than we'd previously released. To create a fake identity, one would need at a minimum, our age, physical description and picture.
"I don't like it," Martha said. It was her first day back on the job; she would stay only an hour while Quinn babysat. "It scares me, like I'm stripping naked in front of strangers. Up until now, we've managed to maintain our total privacy."
My wife's opinion was the direct opposite. "It would make me more comfortable," she said. "If our privacy was assaulted by some mistake we made, at least we could start over."
Howie was ambivalent as usual while Quinn indicated the choice was Martha's to make. I was a hundred percent in favor and pleased Betsy agreed with me.
"Maybe there's some way to have both; retain our privacy and have an escape identity in case the need ever arises. Let's hold off deciding until I speak with Brennan and see what he can do."
Brennan felt Merrill Cooms idea had merit. "This sort of thing is usually done via the witness protection program but I once heard of a situation where fake papers were assembled independent of any government agency." I gave him an hour to check into the matter. When I spoke with him later, he was pleased with his results.