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She was taking a risk, but she had to try. "I was told that one of my former patients came into our ER last week—Jack Barrone. He had mentioned to me that he was going to try this clinic for care, and when I heard he disappeared after being admitted to the hospital, I got worried about him. Have you spoken to him? Is he all right?"

"I'm sorry to hear that," he said evenly, his gaze completely unreadable. "Jack discontinued his treatment here several days ago. He was not following our rules regarding alcohol and recreational drugs, so he wasn't having the success he was seeking. Unfortunately, we had to let him go."

"So, you haven't talked to him since then?"

"No, I haven't. I hope he gets the help he needs, but that won't happen unless he can control his negative impulses."

His explanation seemed practiced and also believable, given Jack's history of alcohol and drugs. But she knew he wasn't telling her the truth. "Thank you for your time."

She walked away with cool confidence, maintaining that façade as she stopped at the desk and set up another appointment for next week. She doubted she would keep it, but she didn't want Dr. Levitan to notice that she hadn't set another time to get together. Then she left the building, walked straight to her car and pulled out of the lot. She drove two blocks away to a park and pulled up in a loading zone as Tyler and Zane came up behind her. She got out of her car and joined them on the sidewalk.

"I did it," she said, feeling triumphant. "I planted the bug."

"It was a nice move," Tyler said with a smile.

She wanted to give him a hug but decided to keep it professional with Zane standing nearby. "I thought so."

"It was risky to bring up Jack," he added.

"I had to see what he said. He made it sound like they kicked Jack out of the program because he was drinking and doing drugs."

Tyler nodded. "I'm guessing that's what his file will say when we eventually get our hands on it."

"Is the bug picking up any sound?"

"It is," Zane said. "But no conversation yet. It sounded like Levitan left the office after you did."

"He was on his way to see a patient, or so he said. Did you hear the phone call he was on? He seemed very annoyed with Jasmine. That's his ex-wife, right? He told her she owed him. I wonder what that was about."

"Definitely something we should look into," Tyler replied. "At any rate, you did your part well, Rachel."

"You did," Zane agreed. "As good as any of our operatives."

"Thanks."

"Zane will take your car back to our office. I need to go to the hospital to check on Megan's condition. Her doctor said he's available to meet in twenty minutes. You might be able to ask him better questions than I can. Do you want to come along?"

"Of course. I hope we can talk to Megan again." She pulled off the shell earrings and handed them to Zane. "I guess you can take these back. I'm going to grab my other tote bag out of the trunk, because I might need my computer later."

She walked back to her car to grab her bag. Then she hopped into Tyler's SUV while Zane drove off in hers.

As she fastened her seat belt, she said, "I have to admit I was nervous back there. I think I sweated off at least two pounds. I probably stink."

"You do not," he said with a smile.

"Would you tell me if I did?"

"Probably not."

"That's what I thought. Just let me know if you want me to roll down a window." She forced herself to breathe more fully, and her pulse began to slow. "It was strange to talk to Dr. Levitan about how bad it is at East River. As I was speaking, I started to think maybe I haven't fully realized how limiting some of our treatment plans are. I felt like I was describing myself as the too-rigid doctor who won't think outside the box."

"You're way outside the box, Rachel. Whoever you were before, you're different now."

"I feel different," she admitted. "I think I have been too cautious. Years of trying to do just the right thing and never fail have made me afraid to take chances."

"What changed?"

"Jack's disappearance, the realization that my patients have been abandoning my treatment and don't feel like I'm hearing them." She paused, looking at him. "And you, Tyler. Seeing how willing you are to take risks, to jump into danger to save someone. You don't ever worry about yourself, and I do too much of that. I can't keep playing it so safe. I have to push myself more. Whatever happens, I'll take that away from all this. I'm going to start really living my life."