Page 39 of Let Her Hide

He nodded grimly, his jaw set with resolve. "I'm right there with you, Red."

"We need to talk to Dr. Fitzgerald again. We have to convince him to help us."

"Without a warrant? He might clam up even more this time," Jake replied, his grip on the steering wheel tightening.

"Then we'll have to make him see that lives are at stake." Fiona clenched her fists in her lap, anger bubbling beneath her skin. "This killer is targeting people who've abandoned others, and they won't stop until they've had their twisted revenge. We have to do something."

Jake nodded in agreement, his eyes steely with determination. "We'll find a way to make Fitzgerald talk. We have to. Lives depend on it."

Fiona couldn't help but feel a sense of gratitude towards Jake. He was always so reliable, so dependable. It was why she had fallen for him in the first place. But she pushed those thoughts aside for now. They had work to do, and figuring out who the killer was had to be their top priority.

As they drove back to the station, Fiona's mind raced with ideas. They needed to find a way to get access to the patient files without a warrant, and they needed to do it fast. The killer could strike again at any moment.

***

The sun dipped in the sky, casting a warm golden glow on Dr. Fitzgerald's opulent estate as Jake and Fiona pulled into the sweeping driveway. The meticulously manicured gardens surrounding the grand mansion seemed to mock their grim purpose for being there. Fiona couldn't help but feel an odd sense of dissonance as they approached the ornate front door.

"Ready?" Jake asked, his voice steady.

Fiona nodded, her jaw set with determination. "As I'll ever be."

Jake rang the doorbell, the chime echoing through the cavernous halls inside. After a moment, the heavy door creaked open, revealing the stern visage of Dr. Fitzgerald. His icy blue eyes regarded them warily, his thin lips pressed together in annoyance.

"Agents, this is rather unexpected," he said curtly, clearly displeased by their unannounced visit. "I thought our conversation was quite thorough."

"Dr. Fitzgerald," Fiona began, forcing herself to remain composed, despite her mounting frustration, "we need your help. We've discovered a connection between the victims, and we believe that someone at your Wellness Therapy clinic is targeting people who have abandoned others."

"Preposterous," Dr. Fitzgerald scoffed, attempting to close the door. Jake's hand shot out, stopping it mid-motion.

"Listen, Doctor," he insisted, his voice hardening. "We know Craig Tozer was a patient, and Gary Fogel was too. On top of that, Carrie Puglisi's ex-boyfriend was a patient too, which could have shown the killer to Carrie. This isn't a coincidence."

"Even if that were true, I don't see how I could be of any assistance," Dr. Fitzgerald replied, his voice dripping with apprehension. "I already told you my patients' files are strictly confidential."

"Dr. Fitzgerald," Fiona interjected, her voice trembling with urgency, "someone is going to die if we don't stop this killer. We're not asking for full access to your files – just information on any patients who might have been abandoned by someone close to them. Please."

Fiona could see the internal battle playing out behind Dr. Fitzgerald's eyes as he weighed his professional obligations against the possible consequences. She hoped he'd make the right choice.

"Fine," he relented at last, his voice low and resigned. "Come inside. I'll have to sift through some files."

Fiona and Jake followed Dr. Fitzgerald through the grand hallway, their footsteps echoing off the marble floors. They entered a spacious study, its walls lined with shelves of leather-bound books and antique artifacts. Dr. Fitzgerald motioned for them to take a seat as he disappeared into another room. Fiona couldn't help but feel uneasy as he left them alone in the opulent room. She hoped Dr. Fitzgerald would be honest with them--lives were hanging in the balance.

"What do you think about him?" Jake asked, his voice low so Fitzgerald wouldn't hear.

Fiona thought for a moment, her eyes scanning the room. "I don't know. I can't get a read on him. He seems nervous, but that could just be because he's breaking protocol. What about you?"

Jake shook his head. "Same. But he's cooperating, which is more than we can say for some people."

After a few tense minutes, Dr. Fitzgerald returned with a thick file in his hand. "I managed to find a few patient files that might fit your criteria," he said, "but many of them have stopped coming. Most recently, this woman comes to mind." He flipped open the file. "Abigail Weis... her ex-boyfriend left her without a word right after she had a miscarriage, leaving her devastated. She has been attending therapy sessions at our clinic for several months now."

Fiona's heart raced as she processed this new piece of information. Was her ex-boyfriend the next target?

"Any chance you know who the ex is?" Jake asked.

Fitzgerald shook his head. "I know his name is Matt. That's about it."

"We need to talk to Abigail," Fiona said, her voice urgent. "Do you have any idea where she might be?"

Dr. Fitzgerald hesitated for a moment before finally speaking. "I can give you her phone number, but I must insist that you do not mention my involvement in this."

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