Deringer shut the door and Rachel could just barely hear him speaking to whoever was inside. Rachel then noticed that the receptionist had slowly started making her way back to her seat. She kept her eyes on them, though, her expression making it look like shed been nearly traumatized by their bullying. Rachel felt the slightest ping of regret but she didnt have time to examine it. She was at the point where she was willing to do just about anything to get to the bottom of this case. Shed be damned if she was going to allow time to slip away so easily when there was a potential fifth victim lurking around the corner.

She and Jack remained at their place by Deringers office door until it opened again about three minutes later. Deringer escorted a patient outan older man wearing a flannel shirt and ripped jeansand the receptionist began chatting with him about setting up a make-up appointment.

Come on in, then, Deringer said. Not that I really had much of a choice.

He walked to his desk, leaned against it, and crossed his arms. Rachel could see the smug look on his face right away and she knew this was not going to be easy. Though he was not a large man, he had the look of someone who was not going to be moved, no matter what.

I certainly hope this is a very important matter because you just disrupted a session with a client Ive been working with for over a year. Not that youd care, but hed showing great progress and you just ruined a potential breakthrough. So…whats so damned important?

Dr. Deringer, Rachel said, did you know that two of your clients have recently died?

What? The shock on his face was apparent. He went through a few different emotions, from confusion to alarm; she supposed he might have thought hed misunderstood them at first.

Joseph Staunton and Dustin Adams. Theyve both died in the last three days, both from what appear to be suicides by jumping from bridges.

Suicides? he asked. His eyes squinted a bit, and he looked like a man who was slowly getting lost in very deep thought. I dont…I dont see how thats possible. Especially not with Dustin. I dont know how…

While these deaths are obviously unfortunate, Jack added, the more interesting thing is that a blocked number called each of them in the two days leading up to their deaths. We had some folks at the FBI look into it and the number that was being blocked ended up being your number. Your office number, to be exact.

Dr. Deringer, if you were to call my cell phone right now, would it show up as unlisted?