The receptionist waited a moment and when she finally answered, it was a tone that indicated she was getting pretty tired of visits and calls from the FBI. Well, I certainly cant give you that information and I can tell you with pretty strong confidence that even if a doctor here would provide that information, theyd tell you to come visit. Its not the sort of thing anyone is going to give out over the phone.

Fine. Would it be Mrs. Carpenter again?

Yes.

Could you please let her know Im on my way over then? Again.

Yes, I can tell her but I dont know what the rest of her schedule looks like for the day.

Ill take the chance, Rachel asserted as she got to her feet and ended the call.

Need me to come along? Jack asked.

No, its okay. One of us should be here when the techs have results on Pauline Vicks phone. This shouldnt take long.

Happy hunting, Jack said, looking back to the laptop.

Rachel wished it were just her imagination but as she left, she was pretty sure Jack was glancing at her over the laptopno doubt still trying to figure out what was going on with her.

Or maybe youre just imagining it, she told herself. She did not realize it until that very moment, but she was starting to think of this voice as the Tumor. Maybe you feel like hes watching you because youre lying to him just like youre lying to your family. Guilt is a bitch, isnt it?

Yes, apparently it was. And though she was going back to the clinic by herself, she almost felt like the pressing presence of guilt and fear was now going to be a constant passenger.

***

Rachel did her best to hide her irritation as she walked quickly to the entrance doors of Regency Fertility Clinic. She noticed there were no protestors today, wondering if word had gotten around about the arrest of one of their ilk. As she pushed through the doors and walked inside, she also tried reminding herself that the women here at Regency had very stressful jobs to do and what may seem like a lack of cooperation likely just came down to making sure the private information of their patients and donors were kept confidential.

She knew all of this, of course, but it was hard to keep it in focus with three dead bodies and her own medical situation to contend with.

To her surprise, Mrs. Carpenter was already waiting for her. She was standing behind one of the reception cubicles. When she saw Rachel heading her way, Carpenter headed around to little desk to meet her.

This way, please, Carpenter said, not bothering with hellos.