Harmful Intent

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As with all my projects, I have benefited significantly from the experience and expertise of friends, colleagues, and friends of friends for the writing of Harmful Intent. Since the story bridges two professions, it is understandable that professionals have been the primary source. Those whom I would particularly like to acknowledge are:

Physicians.- Tom Cook Chuck Karpas Stan Kessler

Attorneys.- Joe Cox Victoria Ho Leslie McClellan

Judge.- Tom Trettis

School-based therapist. Jean Reeds

All of them generously donated many hours of their valuable time.

Once again for Audrey Cook, my wonderful mother

"The first thing we do, let's kill all the lawyers." -Henry VI, Part II

PROLOGUE

SEPTEMBER 9, 1988

11:45 A.M.

BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS

From the first twinges of cramps that began around nine-thirty that morning, Patty Owen was sure that this was it. She had been worried that when the time came she wouldn't be able to distinguish between the contractions that signaled the onset of labor and the little kicks and general discomfort of the final trimester of her pregnancy. But her apprehension proved groundless; the twisting and grinding pain she was experiencing was entirely different from anything she had ever felt. It was familiar only in the sense that it was so classically textbook in its nature and regularity. Every twenty minutes, like clockwork, Patty felt a steady stab of pain in her lower back. In the intervals between, the pain vanished only to flare again.

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