Page 88 of Diagnosis Attraction

“Not by yourself. Not until we find out about that clinic.”

She nodded, knowing he was right. They were safer if they stuck together. But safer from what? She still didn’t know.

They both walked back to Rachel Harper’s shop, but the tarot-card reader still wasn’t there.

A woman across the street stuck her head out of a doorway and asked, “Are you looking for Ms. Harper?”

“Yes.”

“She’s only here part-time—since she got married.”

“Thanks,” Elizabeth answered, feeling let down. Turning to Matt, she said, “We should go to Houma and see what we can find out about the clinic.”

“I did some more research after you went to sleep last night,” he said.

“And?”

“I told you that a nurse who had worked there died in the explosion with Dr. Solomon.”

“But what?” She cut him a quick look. “You’re keeping me from knowing what you’re thinking.”

“Good. There’s another one of his staffers living at a nursing home in Houma. Her name’s Maven Bolton. Maybe there’s something she can tell us about Dr. Solomon’s operation.”

“Did you look up Houma?” Elizabeth asked.

“Yes. The population is around 33,000. You can book swamp tours and fishing expeditions, eat spicy Cajun food, and walk bird trails in the wildlife park.”

“The town’s not all that large. I mean, for someone to locate an important clinic there.”

“Maybe he wanted a specific kind of environment. It has a long history and a historic downtown area. The Terrebonne Parish Courthouse is there, which would mean it was a center of local activity.”

“Was there anything about the Solomon Clinic.”

“I know where it used to be.”

“I’d like to see it. How far away is it?”

“A little over an hour.”

“We can have lunch in town.”

They arrived on schedule and drove around town, noting that the historic center was probably much as it had been for years, with newer development on the outskirts.

As they crossed a bridge, Elizabeth said, “The place is full of rivers and bayous.”

“Yes. It’s almost like some of the sections of town are islands.”

“It’s got a lot of atmosphere, but just being here makes me feel … nervous,” Elizabeth mused as they drove up and down tree-shaded streets where large old houses sat on generous plots. She was silent for several moments, then said, “Can you find Dr. Solomon’s lab? The one where he was killed?”

Matt consulted his smartphone, where he’d put some addresses. “It’s not too far from here.”

He punched the street and number into the GPS, and they drove for a few more blocks, stopping in front of a large red brick house that had been heavily damaged. Behind it was another building that was totally destroyed.

“Why did he have his lab in a residential area?” Elizabeth. “Did he live here, too?”

“This was the home of the nurse who died.”

“Which implied that they had some sort of close relationship. I want to get out,” Elizabeth whispered. Even when she knew Matt thought it was a bad idea, she opened the door and exited the car.

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