She’d come across the same article you saw while she was doing a search online. She’d been a patient at the Advanced Fertility Center—of Dr. Daniel Sherman specifically—and said that we ought to do an investigation of the clinic. She claimed they were exploiting innocent patients and they needed to be exposed. My article was on Washington area clinics—I was living there at the time—but the subject overall interests me.”
“What did she mean by exploiting?”
“She refused to go into it on the phone. She set up a meeting with Rachel but Rachel had to reschedule because of some breaking news. Then, the day before their appointment, the woman called to say she had to reschedule and would get back in touch. That was a few weeks ago and we haven’t heard from her since.”
“What do you think she could be referring to?”
“Take a guess. You’re the one who works there.”
“I’ve never seen anything suspicious, but then again I’m not involved with the patients in any way. Plus, the fertility world is pretty new to me. Something could be going on right under my nose and I wouldn’t know it.” She paused. “You mentioned in your article that some clinics encourage procedures people don’t really need. That may be a possibility.”
“They could also be inflating their success rates,” he said. “That’s a big factor when someone is choosing a clinic.”
“I read that in your piece, that some clinics do that. I can’t believe there isn’t outside auditing done on those numbers.”
“I know. It’s a three-billion-dollar business with lots of competition and very little government regulation.”
Was the clinic capable of such things? Lake wondered. Overcharging desperate couples? Pumping up their success rates? Both Levin and Sherman—and Hoss, too—were certainly arrogant, and arrogant people often played by different rules.
“So there’s a chance this woman could be right?” Lake asked.
“It’s possible—though Rachel said she sounded like a bit of a nut job. Some high-maintenance Manhattan type who’s never been denied anything. I called the clinic myself and talked to Sherman. That’s probably why they had my article on file—they must have checked me out. He told me that this woman had emotional difficulties because of her failure to conceive and that her claims were baseless. I’d caught him off guard and he was pretty pissed. Said if I had anything further to say, I should speak to his attorney.”
“Is that why you haven’t tried harder to connect with her—because she might be unstable?”
“Partly. I’ve also been swamped with stories lately. But in light of Keaton’s death—and then your call—my interest has shot way up. Something could be going on there that needs to be exposed.”
Lake picked at the wet label on her beer bottle as her mind raced. Maybe Keaton had stumbled onto the fact that the clinic was involved in wrongdoing and had threatened to expose them. If the doctors there were engaged in unethical activities and the truth was brought to light, everything would be lost—not just the clinic, but people’s reputations and careers, even their medical licenses. That offered a perfect motive for murder.
But one detail still didn’t jibe. According to Maggie, Keaton had changed his locks since the late winter. If he’d uncovered something negative about the clinic then, and was concerned for his safety, why return this summer? Unless he decided it was his duty to dig up more evidence.
When she looked up she saw that Archer had slipped a credit card from a weathered brown wallet and was laying it on the bar.
“I hate to split,” he said, “but the publicist for the show is going to have my head if I don’t get up there on time.”
“I understand. Can I get this? I appreciate your taking the time.”
“No, it’s on me. But there is one thing you can do.”
Of course, she thought. Reporters like him were relentless.
“What?” she asked.
“Why don’t you nose around a little bit at the clinic?”
Lake caught her breath. “You want me to spy? I—”
“Hear me out. These clinics are like fortresses—it’s going to be impossible for anyone to get in and investigate without real proof of wrongdoing. Having you on the inside gives us a big advantage.”
“What exactly would I be looking for?” she asked tentatively.
“Tough to say since this woman didn’t give specifics. I’d see if you could find out what their real success rates are and compare them to what they tell prospective patients. I’d go through as many patient records as you can and make a note of what procedures