Page 12 of Her Last Warning
Rachel thought about Scarlett, about the joy in her voice when she'd announced her remission.About finding her body later, Cody Austin's handiwork evident in every detail.Some mysteries weren't mysterious at all – just human cruelty dressed up in elaborate costumes.
"Understanding is exactly what Dr.Walsh claims she's after," Rachel said, returning to safer professional ground."Her social media is filled with attempts to contact patients who've experienced these recoveries.She's persistent.”
She scrolled through more of Walsh's history as Novak navigated them through Glen Allen's winding streets.The doctor's early career had been promising – her residency director had called her"one of the most promising minds in diagnostic medicine."Her early papers had focused on traditional research: treatment protocols, drug trials, statistical analysis.But somewhere around 2015, everything changed.
"There's something almost desperate in how she documents everything," Rachel noted, studying a particularly detailed post about a lung cancer patient who had inexplicably gone into complete remission."Like she's trying to prove something to herself as much as anyone else.The level of detail is extraordinary – she's not just tracking medical data, she's recording everything.Patient diets, daily routines, emotional states, family histories going back three generations."
"Personal connection maybe?"Novak suggested, slowing for a turn.
"Let me check..."Rachel dug deeper into Walsh's background as Novak drove.The map indicated that they were about five minutes away from their destination."Here – her mother died of pancreatic cancer fifteen years ago.Diagnosis to death in less than three months.According to this old blog post, her mother's oncologist had actually given her six months, but the disease progressed much faster than expected.Walsh was still in medical school at the time."
"That'll change your perspective on medicine," Novak said quietly.
"And maybe make you obsessed with cases where people survive against the odds."Rachel kept reading."She took a leave of absence from school, came back with a completely different focus.Started questioning everything – standard protocols, statistical models, even basic diagnostic criteria."
"Grief can do that to you.Make you see patterns where there aren't any."
This comment made her once again think of Cody Austin worming his way into her life, but she instantly pushed it away.There was no time for that.
"Or make you see patterns everyone else has missed."Rachel closed the iPad as they pulled into a small medical complex.The sign for Walsh's office was modest – just her name and "Research Physician" in simple lettering.
The sun had dipped lower, painting the building's windows in shades of deep amber and gold.Rachel gathered her things, deliberately leaving the items from Austin in her bag.She had real work to do, real leads to follow.She wouldn't let his mind games distract her from the investigation at hand.
There would be time for him later—it was something she had to promise herself.Because if not, thoughts of Cody Austin would eat away at her, dividing her attention while she was actively doing her job and looking for killers.Besides…assuming itwasAustin, she’d caught the bastard before.There was no reason she wouldn’t be able to do it again.
CHAPTER TEN
The business park where Walsh’s office was located was sprawled across six acres of prime real estate, its modern glass buildings reflecting the late afternoon sun.Rachel and Novak approached the front doors, and Rachel tugged at the door handle.Locked.
She frowned as she looked to the small vinyl letters adhered to the glass spelled out the office hours: 8:30 AM – 4:30 PM, Monday through Thursday.Her watch read 4:51.
"Primary physician's usually the last one out," Rachel said, rapping her knuckles against the glass, undeterred.This was a bit of information she’d picked up not just from years with the bureau, but during her long fight in buildings and facilities just like this one.The sound of her knocking echoed through what appeared to be an empty lobby and rang out musically around them in a faint echo.She paused for a few moments and then knocked again, a bit harder this time.
Novak shifted his weight, hands in his pockets."Maybe we should come back tomorrow morning."
Rachel was about to agree when movement caught her eye.A woman appeared in the lobby, her heels clicking against the polished floor as she approached.She wore a fitted charcoal blazer over a cream silk blouse, her dark hair pulled back in a neat chignon.Her expression was guarded as she called through the glass: "We're closed for the day!If you need to make an appointment, you can—"
Rachel held up her credentials, pressing them against the glass."Special Agents Gift and Novak, FBI.We need to speak with Dr.Katherine Walsh."
The woman's professional demeanor cracked for just a moment, surprise flickering across her features before she recovered.She produced a key card from her pocket, approached the other side of the door, and swiped the card through an unseen digital reader.The lock disengaged with a soft click.
"I'm Dr.Walsh," she said, holding the door open."Please, come in.Though I must say, I don't understand why the FBI is here."
The empty lobby greeted them, all clean lines and muted colors.What remained of the late afternoon sun slanted through floor-to-ceiling windows, casting long shadows across the grey carpet.Modern art pieces hung on the walls – abstract shapes in cool blues and greens that seemed chosen specifically to put patients at ease.A curved reception desk dominated one wall, its surface cleared for the day except for a sleek computer monitor and a small potted orchid.
Walsh gestured to a seating area where four leather armchairs were arranged around a glass coffee table."Please, make yourselves comfortable."The chairs creaked softly as they settled in.In the after-hours quiet, Rachel could hear the gentle hum of the building's heating and even the muffled sound of traffic from just a street over.
"I appreciate you taking the time to speak with us," Rachel began, studying Walsh's face.The doctor sat with perfect posture, her hands folded in her lap.Despite the unexpected nature of their visit, she projected an air of complete composure."We're investigating a series of murders that we believe may have a connection to the medical community…more specifically, your area of expertise."
Walsh's eyebrows drew together slightly."Murders?I don't understand what that could have to do with my practice."
"The victims," Novak said, leaning forward slightly, "had something specific in common.They'd all recently experienced what could be called miraculous medical recoveries."
Something shifted in Walsh's expression – not quite anger, but a sharp intensity that hadn't been there before."I see," she said, her voice taking on an edge."And you're here because...?"
"We spoke with Dr.Yorke earlier today," Rachel explained."We understand the two of you have worked together in some capacity or another.One of the victims was a patient of Dr.Yorke’s.He mentioned your name, given your expertise with unusual recovery cases."
Walsh's shoulders relaxed marginally."Ah, Brian sent you."Rachel didn’t bother correcting her; Brian Yorke hadn’t actually sent them at all, but simply mentioned her name.Walsh uncrossed and recrossed her legs, smoothing an invisible wrinkle from her tailored slacks."While I'm certainly disturbed by what you're telling me, I'm still not clear how I can help.These murders – I assume you're investigating them as being potentially connected?"
