She was expecting push-back so she was pleasantly surprised when Carpenter nodded enthusiastically. Of course, I can get that for you right away.

And staff members as well, Jack said, almost apologetically.

At this, there was some skepticism. Whys that? Carpenter asked, raising an eyebrow.

You have to understand that the main point of confusion comes from how this killer knows these women are getting treatments.

And because the victims are all linked by this one factor, Rachel said, we have to start at the most obvious conclusion: that someone at these clinics is leaking the information. Weve already done background checks on everyone at Regency and theyve come out clean.

And so will ours, Carpenter said defiantly. So yes, Ill get you a list of names for staff members, too. Give me just a few minutes, would you?

Carpenter left them alone again. Jack sighed and cracked his knuckles nervouslya little nervous tic of his that Rachel actually found calming. You know, he said, it didnt truly hit me until I heard it out of your mouth just now. Three victims in three days. And if hes got some sort of a leaked list…fuck. Were in deep here.

It was rare that Jack got flustered, and even rarer that he dropped an f-bomb around her. I mean…do we think about putting out a citywide alert for all women that are scheduled for fertility treatments? he said.

That would never fly. It brings up privacy issues. Im starting to think along those extreme measures, too, though. I wonder if it might be plausible to have every clinic dealing with fertility treatments to be temporarily shut down until we find our killer.

That could work, Jack said. But the mere act of getting that approved would likely take days. And at the rate this killer is moving…

He didnt need to finish his statement for his point to be made. As they stewed in these ideas, Mrs. Carpenter came back to them with several sheets of paper. She had already separated the papers for them and made a point of showing them so.

This, she said, handing Jack two stapled sheets of paper, is a list of every women due to come in for treatments in the next month. There are eight in all. And this, she said, handing Rachel four sheets stapled together, is a list of our staff, complete with phone numbers, email addresses, and home addresses. I do ask that if you need to actually contact one of them that I would be notified.

Of course, Rachel said. Thank you so much.

Im glad to help. However, there is one thing that you should know…and it pretty much proves the innocence of my entire staff, if I may be so blunt.

What one thing is that? Rachel asked.