Page 91 of Diagnosis Attraction

But who were they? I mean, could Rachel have been the tarot card reader?

Maybe we’ll find out.

“I’m sure she’ll be pleased to see you,” Ms. Dalton said. “Maven should be in the dayroom now.”

They followed the woman down a wide hallway with nature pictures on the walls to a pleasantly large recreation room with windows looking out onto the gardens.

About twenty old women and a few old men were sitting around the room. Some were in wheelchairs. Others were in easy chairs watching television or at tables playing cards or working puzzles.

Ms. Dalton led them to a woman who was sitting by the window with a magazine in her lap. She had short gray hair and a wrinkled face, and she was wearing a nice-looking black and white blouse and black slacks.

“Some people to see you, Maven.”

The older woman looked up a bit apprehensively.

“We just stopped in to say hello,” Matt said. They both pulled up chairs and sat down.

After a few moments, the attendant left them.

The old woman silently studied the visitors. “Are you like those other couples?”

The receptionist had also said something similar.

“I don’t know. What can you tell us about them?” Elizabeth said carefully, pulling her chair a little closer.

“They were both getting married. They wanted information about … the Solomon Clinic.”

Elizabeth tried to keep her voice even and her face neutral while her heart was clunking inside her chest so hard that she was surprised her blouse wasn’t moving up and down.

“Why?”

“I shouldn’t talk about it. It was supposed to be a secret.”

CHAPTER NINETEEN

Elizabeth looked at Matt, then back at the old woman who might be able to tell them what had really been going on at the Solomon Clinic.

But you want to tell us about the clinic. You worked there years ago. It’s all right to talk about it now.

Maven looked uncertain, and Matt repeated the suggestion and added,It’s all right to talk to us. We won’t tell anyone else.

Elizabeth waited with her heart pounding for the woman to speak.

Maven lowered her voice. “Their mothers had fertility treatments from Dr. Solomon.”

“That’s not so unusual,” Matt answered.

“Yes. But Dr. Solomon doesn’t like me to talk about that. Not since the clinic burned down.”

“It burned?”

“Why yes. It was at night, so nobody was hurt, thank the Lord.”

I guess she doesn’t know Solomon’s dead,Matt silently commented.

And from her tone of voice, it seems she was afraid of him.

“We won’t tell anyone,” Elizabeth repeated Matt’s earlier assurance. She gently put her hand on the old woman’s arm. What can you tell us?”

---