"We've got competition," Betsy announced as I stepped out of the shower. "Someone claiming to be 'the illusive psychic' has gone public." She handed me the newspaper.
The story related the successful return of a young boy kidnapped from his San Francisco home. Rupert Youngblood, a thirty year old graduate student took credit for the success, claiming he located the child clairvoyantly and informed the authorities. He hinted this case was only one of his many accomplishments.
"I remember the kidnapping from last week," Betsy said as she brushed past me, dropping her nightgown as she entered the bathroom. "We couldn't do anything because abduction wasn't made public for three days and the child went missing sometime during a twelve hour overnight period." She shouted her conversation over the sound of running water.
"Our Boston newspaper friend Ethel Reagan writes she's anxious to talk to the guy," she continued. Ethel was once again making a daily print appearance, concentrating on the subject of mystic tips, and soliciting comments from law enforcement agencies. She'd established an internet blog devoted to the subject, with the hits increasing daily.
"I think this Youngblood guy is a scam," I said as I lustfully watched my wife through the half open bathroom door. "Why else would he go public? I bet he has an angle. Maybe there was a reward involved. Did you notice they didn't catch the kidnapper? The guy might have snatched the child himself."
"I agree," she yelled, "but perhaps it will take the heat off us. Why don't you call Brennan when we get to the office and see what he thinks about the mystical Mr. Youngblood?"
The heat was definitely turned up. A defense attorney in a pedophile case we'd fingered demanded the tip line center release the tape of our call. They refused to do so, citing their promise to tipsters of absolute confidentiality. However, Brennan thought a subpoena might force them to respond. He suggested the center change their policy and not tape calls in the future. Other members of the defense bar would surely look closely if their clients were apprehended because of unverifiable tips and assail the source, if they could locate it.
A vociferous lawyer named Morton Epstein wrote a lengthy piece for the New York Times calling for legislation against anyone invading an individual's privacy by paranormal means. He contended such a visit was in violation of the fourth amendment of the constitution and tantamount to breaking and entering. He called for a congressional investigation. While most readers found Epstein's comments inane, at least one congressman agreed to look into it. We hoped he was simply seeking publicity; looking to see his name in national print.