Dr. Vick, youre attracting attention, Rachel hissed, still not letting go of her right arm. Youve struck an agent that did not physically provoke you, so you will be coming with us. Its up to you if we make it look really bad or as innocent as possible. This is not a threat, and Ill give you five seconds, right now, to decide.

She was clearly still furious but she nodded. What about my appointments for the rest of the day?

You can use my phone to call and find someone to fill in, Rachel said. But for now, youre coming with us.

Slowly, Rachel felt the fight go out of the womans forearm. It felt like holding a stone that melted into jelly.

You cant imagine… Pauline said through clenched teeth and hitching breaths. You cant do this…

No refusing that she did it, Rachel thought. No attempt to talk her way out of it. Maybe Jack was right…maybe this is the finish line.

Pauline Vick, Rachel said, you are under arrest for suspicion of three murders.

She started to lead the woman right out of the office but figured she should save at least some dignity. Jack, give me your jacket.

What?

Jacket. Give it to me. Cuff her discreetly and hide it with your jacket.

He nodded and slipped out of his suit jacket. As he did, he also deftly took the cuffs from the little holstered section on the inside of the jacket. He cuffed her expertly and then draped the jacket over Pauline Vicks wrists. To anyone that was really paying close attention, it would still be pretty obvious what was happeningespecially those that had all watched it go down right there in the third floor hallway. But so long as Pauline did not cause a scene out front, they should be okay.

Briefly, Rachel thought she felt the twinge of a headache, right behind her eyes. She waited a moment, terrified that she might be on the verge of another of her attacks. But the moment passed and she walked dutifully behind Pauline Vick as the three of them left the office and headed for the front doors.

CHAPTER TWENTY FIVE

Rachel was very glad this case wasnt going down in DC. If Director Anderson had been directly overseeing them, he would have raised all kinds of hell about them bringing in a woman that had lost a so-called miracle baby. He would have understood the reasoning behind it, but he would have still raised hell. For a man with such a temper at times, he tended to have a heart of gold.