CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT. Catherine looked up as the door opened, expecting their next client

Catherine looked up as the door opened, expecting their next client. She was surprised to be locking glances with Nicole's Jake.

" Hi again, Catherine, " Jake said.

" Detective, " she greeted.

" The doc busy? "

Catherine nodded, watching silently as Jake perched a hip on the side of her desk. She barely noticed the other detective take a seat in the lobby.

" Can you squeeze me in between appointments? "

The door opened again and Lori Simmons walked in, head held low, as usual. She barely met Catherine's eyes, and she took a seat at the opposite end as Detective Chase.

" She's nervous, " Catherine whispered. " Do you think he could leave? "

Jake frowned, then looked at the woman fidgeting, eyes darting between Rick and the door.

" Rick, " she said quietly. When he looked up, she motioned to the door. He nodded and followed her outside. " The lady in there is... kinda freaked with you being in the room."

" What'd I do? "

" Nothing. She's probably abused. Why else is she here? "

" Okay. What do you want me to do? "

Jake cocked her head. " Wait in the car? "

" Oh, Jesus. Wait in the fucking car? "

" If we freak out her patients, do you think Dr. Westbrook is going to give us anything? " Jake reasoned.

" No, you're right. Hell, I hate waiting in the fucking car."

" Big baby." Jake pulled the keys from her pocket and tossed them at him. " This doesn't mean you're driving on the way back."

" Yeah, yeah, " he murmured as he walked down the hall and dejectedly punched the elevator button.

" I won't be long, " Jake called.

When Jake walked back in, another woman was walking out. She stepped aside, holding the door open for the woman. When she closed the door, she glanced at Catherine with raised eyebrows.

" Five minutes, " Catherine said firmly as she picked up the phone. " Detective McCoy is here."

Jake listened, watching Catherine frown.

" Yes, she's here, too."

Jake shifted. She'd hate to have to throw a fit. But she would. She needed to speak with Nicole.

" Okay. I'll tell her." Catherine hung up the phone. " You have two minutes."

" Two? You said five."

" You have a minute and a half."

Jake pointed a finger at Catherine. " You're cruel." But she hurried to Nicole's door, not bothering to knock.

" Two minutes? " she asked, as soon as the door was closed.

Nicole looked up, catching her breath as her eyes met Jake's. " I have a patient waiting. And trust me, Lori does not need to be kept waiting."

" I noticed she was a little nervous."

" Yes." Nicole leaned back, her eyes traveling the length of Jake despite her resolve not to. " What can I do for you? "

" I need some names from you."

" Names? "

" Of all the clients that were referred to you from the crisis center."

Nicole leaned forward. " Are you out of your mind? "

" I don't think so. Is that a problem? "

" Of course it's a problem. Jake, I can't just give you this information."

" Why not? I'm not asking for anything other than names. And maybe addresses."

Nicole sighed. " Detective, I don't have time to argue with you. I have a patient waiting. Maybe we could discuss this another time? "

" Time is short, Dr. Westbrook, " Jake said. " And I need your help on this."

Nicole's eyes locked on Jake's and, for the life of her, she couldn't look away. She found herself being pulled, once again, to this woman.

" Make a real appointment, Jake. Then we'll discuss this."

" How about over dinner? " Jake asked, the question startling her as much as Nicole.

" No." Dinner? Nicole pulled her chair closer to her desk. " Have Catherine set you up with a time."

Jake shrugged. " Sure. Sure, I'll do that." She leaned her hands on the desk, and again caught Nicole's eyes. " I need your help, Nicole. Women are being murdered, and they are linked to you." She stood up straight. " So we'll talk soon. One way or the other."

Nicole watched her walk out, her eyes locked on the retreating back. One way or the other? What the hell did that mean? But she pushed Jake from her mind, smiling as Lori entered her office. It was only the third visit for Lori and she was still way, way out there. Nicole had yet to reach her.

" Hi, Lori. Did you have a good week? "

Lori barely lifter her head. " No, not really."

Nicole nodded. It was a standard reply.

Jake tapped on the window, smiling as Rick jerked his head up.

" Didn't sleep much? "

" Hell, no." Rick stretched. " Between the threatening calls from the sisters, and my own paranoia, no, I didn't get much sleep last night."

" Afraid the lynch mob was going to come get you? "

" Yeah. Maybe you could let me borrow Cheyenne for a few nights."

" No way. But if you want to bunk at my place, you can."

" Hell, no. I'm not scared of a bunch of women."

Jake laughed. " Of course not." She pulled into traffic, then glanced at Rick. " You have to talk to her, you know."

" I know. I just want to wait a few days and let her settle down."

" What exactly did you tell her? "

" I told her I wasn't in love with her, and I really didn't even like her much."

" Good Lord, Rick. Real subtle."

" Well, you said I should tell her."

" Ever heard of sugarcoating it? "

He shrugged. " It just kinda came out. And when it started, it wouldn't stop."

It was her turn to shrug. " Well, I guess you got it all out at once. At least that's over with."

" Yeah. But she acted all shocked and everything, like I'd just imagined all these problems."

" It's just a defense mechanism."

" I know. But still, I felt like a total asshole."

Jake laughed. " Well, I can't help you there." Jake again reached over and squeezed his arm.

" So, did the doc give up names or what? "

" Hell, no. She let me have my say, then had me make an appointment to see her."

" An appointment? "

Jake shrugged. " Apparently, she's very busy. So, I sweet-talked Catherine a bit, and she said her last appointment leaves at four-thirty."

" So we'll show up then? "

" I'll show up then."

" Come on, Jake. For some reason, I get the feeling that Dr. Westbrook doesn't exactly like you. Maybe I should go in solo, " Rick suggested.

But Jake shook her head. " Nothing against you, buddy, but all day long, she listens to women who've been abused by their husbands. I don't think a man asking her for a favor is going to go over well."

" You're probably right. But what if she won't give it up? Do you think the lieutenant could pull off a court order? "

" No." But Jake smiled. " She'll give it up."

" Now, Jake. Dr. Westbrook didn't look like your type. In fact, I'd bet money that she doesn't play for your team."

" Why does everything revolve around sex with you? "

" 'Cause I'm a guy. That's what we do."

Jake shook her head. " She'll give it up because I'll talk her into it. Don't worry."

" Okay. I won't worry. Because we've got shit for leads in this, anything the doc will give up can only help."