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She nodded, a sympathetic look on her face. But he saw the faintest traces of excitement there, too. He could see her trying to slip into the agent mindset, wanting to help figure out who this killer might be and what their motive was.
“So…someone attacking doctors in a brutal, angry way.”
“Yeah, that sums it up.”
“Is there evidence of a weapon?”
“At the most recent scene, yeah, it looks like it. A knife, almost certainly. I’ll know for sure after I check in with the coroner.”
“I’m guessing the killer is angry… that these might be revenge killings. Maybe the result of receiving bad news.”
She knew Jack had likely assumed the same thing. All the signs were there. It wasn’t enough to just kill them. These doctors were being bludgeoned. But she took note of how he was saying nothing along those lines as he sat with her. He wanted to watch her mind at work. He wanted to let her stretch her work muscles, to be a part of this case, even if it was in an unofficial and minuscule way. He was kind like that. And he also knew just how much she was missing work.
“If he wanted them dead,” Rachel went on, “a simple gunshot would do. Of course, that would be louder and draw attention…” She pondered this for a moment, sipping at her coffee.
Jack sighed and said,“It was weird being at a scene like that last night and not having you around.”
She smiled and said,“It’s good to know I’m missed.”
“And I can’t help but notice what you’re looking at this morning,” he said, nodding to the End-of-Life Bucket List folder. She also took note of the pamphlet that was sticking out halfway. “Any chance you’ve made a decision yet?”
“No. But I’m leaning heavily one way in particular.”
“And can I ask which way that might be?”
Before she could even begin to think of a way to dodge the question, Jack’s phone rang.“Oh no,” she said, chuckling. “I guess you need to take that call, huh?”
He smiled at her, shaking his head as he dug his phone out of his pocket. He shrugged and showed Rachel the number.“This would be the judge.”
She waved him on, gesturing for him to go ahead and answer it. She found that she was just as anxious as he seemed to be; she knew very well how much harder his day was about to be if the judge denied his request for a warrant.
Rachel wasn’t sure why, but she was oddly touched when Jack didn’t bother standing up from the glider and taking a few steps away when he took the call. Instead, he remained exactly where he was, again seeming to make sure she felt as involved as possible. She sat and listened to his side of the conversation and could tell within the first few seconds that things weren’t going to go his way.
“This is Agent Rivers… yes, and thanks for the speedy response. Yes, I can… wait, is he sure? I know that, but this is a…yes, as long as you know that you’re making this so much harder than it needs to be.” He looked at her, anger starting to register in his eyes, and shook his head. “I’m not being rude,” he said to the phone. “I’m just stating a fact…yes…yes…and what about something as simple as the patient list? No… you can give me that. I don’t even need anything personal. Just the names to compare the doctors and… yes. Yes, that would be appreciated.”
He ended the call and uttered a curse word under his breath.
“Sorry,” Rachel said. She leaned in and kissed him on the mouth, quick and soft. “But it seems like you’re at least getting the list, right?”
“Yeah. Within the hour. And they also said if I can get more evidence to prove these murders were by the same killer, I could try again.”
“Well, that’s infuriating.”
“Yeah… yeah, it is.” He got to his feet and seemed to realize for the first time that he hadn’t even touched his coffee yet. He took a large slurp of it before setting it down on the little patio by the glider.
“You know,” Rachel said, an idea suddenly coming to her. It felt far-fetched but, somehow, slightly thrilling. “I think I might be able to help.”
“Um… yeah, I don’t think you should risk it. And I think Anderson might go nuclear on your if you eventryto get active in this case.”
“Oh, no, nothing like that. I just… do you trust me?”
“That’s a loaded question. Are we talking overall or only when it comes to work?”
She scowled at him playfully.“Never mind then. Just let me…yeah, I think I can help.”
“Is it going to be worth my time and breath to ask you not to?”
She stood up and kissed him again, a bit longer and with more intensity this time.“Yes, it would. Be careful out there. And text me when you can.”
