Chapter thirty. Patrice Kane, please, Nicole said

" Patrice Kane, please, " Nicole said. " It's Dr. Westbrook."

" Of course, Dr. Westbrook. One moment."

Nicole tried to convince herself not to worry about this, that the police could handle it. After all, she'd had numerous threats over the years. But still, three murders. Three murders close to home. Jake's words were still running through her mind.

" Hello, Nicole. I thought I'd be hearing from you, " Patrice said.

" So the police have been bothering you, too? "

" Not bothering. Detective McCoy and some... guy."

" Yes. They've been here. What do you think? "

" Well, it's troubling, of course. But what can we really do about it? I'd thought about handing over all the threatening mail that we get, but it would take them weeks to go through it."

" Still get that much? "

" Daily, I'm afraid."

Nicole sighed. " Yes, I get my share."

" Of course, I wouldn't mind calling that detective for a little protection, " Patrice said with a laugh. " It's been awhile since someone's gotten my juices flowing just by standing next to me. Good Lord, but she's cute."

Nicole was shocked by the stab of jealously that shot through her. She nearly bristled, then reminded herself that she didn't care one way or the other. Jake was but an acquaintance, Patrice a colleague and social friend. If Patrice wanted to snag her claws into Jake, so be it. And with that said, she simply ignored her statement and pretended that her heart wasn't beating just a little too fast.

" I'm going to have Catherine go through the handful of letters we get each week from disgruntled husbands. Just in case. I gave Detective McCoy a list of your referrals, by the way."

" You did? I told her she'd have a hard time getting information from you, Nicole. I know you're a stickler for the confidentiality rules."

" Yes. Normally I am."

Patrice laughed. " I know what you mean. That woman had me ready to hand over all my files."

Nicole couldn't help it. " She got to you, I see."

" God, yes. I just wanted to sit and stare at her."

" Well, I didn't give her information because she's a pretty face. She has legitimate arguments. And she promised the information would not leave her hands."

Patrice laughed again. " And you just took her word? Nicole, I remember the time you forced them to get a court order for one of your files when they were trying to nail the husband for rape of your patient's sister."

Nicole sighed. Yes. And she had just handed everything over to Jake without a fight. " Well, thank you for pointing that out, Patrice. Perhaps I'm becoming more flexible in my old age."

" Feel like dinner one night? We haven't been out in ages."

" I'd like to, but I'm usually up here until seven most evenings. It would have to be late."

" That's okay with me. I'm dying to get the gossip on Deb Fisher."

" What do you mean? "

" I heard you asked her out, and she turned you down. It's not like Deb to turn anyone down."

" Where in the world did you hear that? " Nicole demanded, as she grabbed the bridge of her nose. Damn Debra Fisher! Deb couldn't stand to be turned down, so she had to get the word out before Nicole announced it. Jesus, as if she'd go around telling people that Debra Fisher had propositioned her!

" A group of us had drinks the other night, " Patrice said. " I forget who brought it up."

It was on the tip of her tongue, but Nicole decided not to stoop to Deb's level. Well, that, and the fact that no one would believe her. So, she tried the graceful way out.

" Well, it wasn't exactly like that, Patrice. Call me in a few weeks if you want to get dinner, " Nicole said.

" I will. And let me know if there's anything I can do with this police investigation."

Nicole's reply was cut short as she heard the dial tone. Police investigation? She wasn't being investigated. Was she?