“And it was so urgent that you had to come barreling in through my front door?”
“Actually, yes,” Rachel said. “So, Dr. Lucas…do you have the time to speak with us?”
Lucas stared at Jack and Rachel for several seconds. It was like a game of chicken, both sides sizing the other up. As the seconds passed, Rachel could see his posture faltering and she could tell he was going to try to keep things civil. Killer or not a killer, he still had the very fragile remains of a reputation to keep in order.
“Here?” he asked.
Rachel thought it over for a moment and honestly saw no harm in staying in Mrs. Freemont’s home. But before she could answer, Jack spoke up. “We’d rather not,” he said. “We need to ask you questions pertaining to a sensitive case, and it would be better for all parties involved if it was done at the bureau offices.”
Rachel reached out and lightly tugged at his sleeve. He’d clearly forgotten that there was no way she could go to the field office right now—not when she was supposed to be on a two-week leave of absence.
“I don’t underst—” Lucas started, but then went quiet. He looked to Mrs. Freemont one last time before focusing solely on the agents.
Jack seemed to finally get the clue, though. He sighed, clearly frustrated at the situation, and shrugged. He then swerved things and used their current situation to come off as an understanding and likeable agent.
“Fine, we don’t have to take you to the office—yet. But due to the sensitive nature of the case, we’ll step outside. Mrs. Freemont, are we okay to use your porch?”
She frowned, adjusting her weight on the couch as if she simply could not get comfortable. “If you must.”
Rachel saw the ease and comfort that rose up in Lucas’s eyes. It threw Rachel off a bit. He hadn’t been out and out defiant about going to the FBI offices, which spoke of either a resigned form of guilt or simple agreeability. Or, of course, it could simply be a ruse to confuse them. This was a man operating without a medical license, after all; there was no telling how far he might go to cover himself. So really, the fact that they were keeping things to a minimum and not officially taking him in might end up playing in their favor. The comfort and lackadaisical nature of it all could easily cause him to slip up.
“We’re good here, Mrs. Freemont,” Lucas said. “I’ll give your results to Life Fulfilled and they’ll work with your doctor to ensure the best decisions are made.”
Mrs. Freemont only nodded, clearly disgruntled by the sudden interruption to her day. He then nodded to Jack and Rachel and, with a strange look of acceptance on his face, gestured to the hallway. Jack started forward, and Rachel bookended them, coming in behind Lucas. As they exited Vicki Freemont’s home, Rachel couldn’t help but feel as if Dr. Lucas was leading them along rather than the other way around.