Page 86 of Girl Betrayed

“I think Claire’s wrapped up in feelings for this Max kid. He’s bad news, but she can’t see it. You should’ve heard her, Dana. She thinks she’s in love with him and has made him out to be some sort of saint. She’s hell bent on protecting him. And this,” he pointed to Claire’s closed bedroom door. “This is her coping mechanism. We can’t keep letting her retreat and shut the world out.”

“And we can’t keep ignoring the signs of her Dissociative Identity diagnosis. Jake, I don’t want this to be true either, but it all fits. And Dr. Dvita is behind it. I know it.”

“Even if you’re correct, right now all you have is a wobbly theory.”

“I know, but it could be enough to get me the warrant I need to access Dvita’s files.”

Jake started to object, but Dana’s phone interrupted. They both stared at the screen. Jake’s expression told her they were sharing the same worry.Was there another body already?

The caller ID read unknown. “Put it on speaker,” Jake instructed.

Dana complied, quickly answering. “This is Dr. Gray.”

Agent Spector’s voice filled the room. “You got what you wanted. We’re handing this case back.”

“What does that mean for Meredith?” Dana asked.

“We no longer need to speak to Miss Kincaid.”

“Then I guess we’re done here,” Dana said, curtly.

“Almost.”

73

Jake expected the courtesy call.The third victim had proven the matter wasn’t one of National Security. What he hadn’t expected was the cryptic message Agent Spector offered before hanging up.“Check your mailbox. I did what you asked. Now I’m the one owed a favor, Dr. Gray.”

Jake wanted to ask Dana what Spector meant, but she was already rushing toward the small copper box mounted next to her front door. Jake heard the tired hinges groan open then close as he followed Dana toward the door.

He met her in the foyer, where she held a yellow Post-it note in one hand, her other clutched something he couldn’t see in her fist. “What is it?” Jake asked.

Dana looked at him, her eyes sparkling cautiously. “Hopefully, it’s what you’ve been looking for.”

She handed him the note and unfurled her fist.

Jake stared at the dog tag in her palm, then the ten-digit code printed neatly on the paper. He despised the emotion that tightened his chest. “Dana, what did you do?”

“Trusted my instincts,” she replied.

Jake shook his head and tried to hand the note back. “I don’t want it.”

“What? Why not?”

“I heard Spector. Whatever this cost, it’s not worth it.”

“It didn’t cost anything. I asked him to help, and he did.”

“Trust me,” Jake said, pressing the paper back into her hand. “This wasn’t free.”

74

“Jake!”Anger coursed through Dana as she watched him storm away from her. She followed him down the hall as he disappeared into her bedroom. She wasn’t sure if he was sulking or packing but she was certain this conversation wasn’t over.

She was moments from barging in after him when her phone rang again. This time it was Hartwell’s name on her caller ID. “This is Dr. Gray.”

“We’re back on,” he said, skipping formalities. “How soon can you be here?”

“Where? What happened?”

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