So much for his big brain. It wasnt helping. There was nothing obvious except that the two women had both worked at Georgetown at the same time. He leaned back in the desk chair, tapping his pen against the yellow pad where hed been taking notes. They didnt work in the same department although every department sent stuff to the lab. Was that it? Could it be that simple?

Okay, he said into the silence. Hear me out.

Hernandez looked up from her computer. Nothing I want more. Except maybe a decent cup of coffee. She tossed the paper cup shed been sipping from off and on for the last hour into a garbage can.

He snorted. What if Lexa and Michelle worked on the same case at some point? What if thats the connection? And what if that case didnt go well? Maybe theres a disgruntled patient out there taking revenge.

Danielles eyes narrowed. Establishing that would require combing through a lot of medical records.

Morgan shrugged. Ive got time on my hands.

It would also be a hard sell to get a warrant that would allow us that access. Maybe if we had a specific request with a limited scope, but no way is a judge going to let us comb willy-nilly through peoples medical records. She stood and went to the windows to adjust the blinds. It didnt help. The room was still dark.

Danielle couldnt necessarily get at those records, but he could. Im a doctor with privileges at Georgetown. I dont need a warrant to look at peoples medical records.

Im pretty sure you have to have a reason to access them.

Isnt solving two murders a good enough reason? It was this kind of bureaucracy that drove him crazy. What about possibly preventing more violence? Theres no way that the only two people who worked on a case would be a lab tech and a resident. Thered be doctors and nurses and orderlies and nursing assistants. Who knows how many people might have been part of the care team? Who knows how many other people could be targets? Whoever this person is. I doubt that hes going to stop with Michelle and Lexa.

Thats not how this works. We compile evidence that we present to a judge to get a warrant. We want everything we find to be admissible in court. Danielle turned away from the window to face him.

Morgan threw up his hands. How are we supposed to compile evidence if were not allowed to look at anything?

We build our case bit by bit. Danielle looked at him with narrowed eyes. Im serious, Morgan. We have rules and protocols here just like you do in the hospital. They exist for a reason.