Page 85

"Maybe it's just the night that's over."

"Maybe," she said, but there was doubt in her voice that he really didn't want to hear. "After everything that's happened recently, I'm not making many future plans. I feel like there's enough to worry about in the moment."

"That's true."

"What are you going to do this morning?"

"I need to check on Gary, who watched over Jack all night. And I need to go to my office."

"I should go to work, too. Even though I don't have patients this morning, I have paperwork to catch up on, and I can always talk to more people, see if I can figure out who might be working with Waverly."

"I'd be careful about that."

"I will be." She paused. "And then I have that meeting with Dr. Levitan this afternoon at four."

He blew out a sigh of frustration. "I don’t think you should keep that appointment. It's too risky. You're putting yourself in a room with a dangerous man."

"I really don't want to argue about it, Tyler. I know you're in charge of the investigation, but let's not forget that this started with me and Jack. I still want to help, and I think I can. I have an in at Waverly that you don't have. Let me do this."

"What if he asks you about Jack?"

"I'll say that Jack told me he was happy with his treatment."

"And if he brings up Jack disappearing from the hospital?"

"I'll say I was shocked by that, and worried about Jack. I'll ask Dr. Levitan if he's heard from him. That would be a natural question, wouldn't it?"

"I think he's going to see right through this visit. There's too much going on. He has to be nervous about Jack being in the wind and being able to talk about what they did to him. Megan was almost killed last night, and if that attack was planned by him, and he realized it was unsuccessful, he may feel cornered. He may think that you can be used as a bargaining chip. And look how easy it is for him to get his hands on you. You've walked right into his office."

She sat up, pulling the sheet over her breasts as she gave him a look that contained both fear and anger. "You're trying to scare me."

"Because you should be scared."

"Fine, I'm nervous about it, for all the reasons you just said. But you're going to back me up. You'll be nearby. You'll know where I am, and I trust you'll come to my rescue if something goes wrong."

"I will come to your rescue, but what if I can't get there in time?"

She met his gaze, then reached out and cupped the side of his face. "I appreciate your concern for me, but you have to trust me. I don't take a lot of risks, but I want to take this one. And I believe I can do it."

He could see the determination in her eyes, and it was time to stop trying to talk her out of it and just make sure she was as safe as she could be. "All right. We'll stop at my office and get you fixed up with our latest tech gadgets before I take you to work. I can come back to the hospital later and drive you to the appointment."

"I should go to Waverly on my own just in case anyone is watching the front of the building."

She had a point. "Fine, but I'll be right behind you."

"Perfect." She stroked his cheek once more, the light in her eyes changing to something softer but just as determined. "So, how much time do you think we can waste this morning?"

"At least an hour," he said as she kissed him, then ran her lips down the side of his neck. "Make that ninety minutes."

She laughed. "Challenge accepted."

He kissed her again, thinking ninety minutes wouldn't be nearly enough time.

Tyler drove Rachel to his office around ten on Wednesday morning. When they got there, they joined Kara, Zane, Alina, Cole and Jason in the conference room. The team was starting to grow, and he was happy to have the extra manpower. After introducing Rachel to everyone she hadn't yet met, he presented the plan for Rachel to plant a bug in Dr. Levitan's office. No one disagreed with the idea, which was disappointing as he still didn't want her to do it. Instead, Jason told him he would try to get an emergency order from a judge to cover the bug, since it was probably the best way to get information while they waited on a search warrant for the clinic.

"Do you want me to get Rachel set up with Wes's team?" Kara asked. "She can meet with the techs while we debrief."

"I'd like to stay and hear what else is going on," Rachel said before he could respond.