anything. She just stood there, watching, as Lake walked past her out of the storage room.
Lake’s heart was still pounding as she reached the small conference room. She’d played indignant with Brie, but she doubted she’d deceived her. And to make matters worse, Lake had left evidence behind. If Brie opened the drawer Lake had been standing in front of and saw the Kastner file stuffed haphazardly in the wrong spot, she’d realize that Lake had been rooting through there—and clearly on a mission.
Lake knew that the best move she could make now was to just get out of the clinic. She grabbed her bags, leaving the press file on the table as she fled.
Out on Park Avenue, she hurried north along the wet, glistening sidewalk. She would catch the crosstown bus on Eighty-sixth Street and escape to her apartment. It had stopped raining and people were out again—nannies pushing strollers; thin women toting yoga mats and shopping bags; doormen lolling in front of redbrick apartment buildings. How could everything seem so sane, she wondered, when her own world was a nightmare? By now Brie had probably figured out that Lake had been checking out a patient chart. And she had more than likely squealed to Levin. If asked, Lake would have to say that she had grabbed a file before realizing she was in the wrong drawer and hastily stuffed it back in—as unconvincing as that sounded.
The irony of her busted spy mission was that she had absolutely nothing to show for it, though it had given her the idea of reaching out to Sydney Kastner. Without allowing herself time to deliberate, she dug her BlackBerry from her purse and called Sydney Kastner’s cell number. She was greeted by a soft hello.
“Ms. Kastner?”
“Yes?”
“Good morning. My name is Lake Warren. I’m a consultant with the Advanced Fertility Center and I’m trying to touch base with some of the patients—for, um, background research. I’d be so grateful if we could meet for a few minutes to talk.”
“Meet? What about?” she said. She sounded hesitant but not put out.
“I’d like to learn your impressions of the clinic—what your experience has been like.”
“Are you doing some kind of opinion poll?”
“No—not exactly. We just want to better serve patients in the future. And present the clinic in the right way to the public.”
“Hmm, well, my husband and I are going away for ten days, but I could do it when I get back, I guess.”
Lake’s body tensed. She had to see her before she left.
“Is there any chance you could squeeze me in today? I’d love to complete my report this week.”
“I suppose you could come by my shop at six tonight. I have plans after work, but I could talk for a minute after I close the store.”
“Perfect,” Lake said, relieved. “I really appreciate you finding the time.”
“Not a problem. You see, there is something I’d like to tell you. Do you need directions?”
Lake’s heart skipped as she scribbled down the shop’s address. Don’t get too excited, she warned herself. But she couldn’t help but wonder if she would hear a revelation that could help her.
As soon as she hung up, she emailed Kit Archer. “Nothing to report yet but still looking.”
She’d no sooner dumped her BlackBerry in her purse when it rang. She dug nervously for it again, wondering if Levin had been briefed by Brie and was tracking her down. But the screen showed it was Molly calling.
“Did you get my message about lunch?” Molly asked. “I feel like I haven’t talked to you in days.”
“I’m sorry,” Lake said. “I’ve just been so busy…finishing my presentation.”
“Can you meet today? I bet you need a break.”
A small part of her longed to say yes, just to have human contact unrelated to the clinic. But she dreaded the idea of having to fake chitchat and pretend that her life was perfectly normal.
“How about a rain check? I’ve just got so much to do.”
“Are you sure? What if I told you I have some interesting gossip about your old pal, Dr. Keaton?”
“What do you mean?” Lake said carefully.
“Just a little something I picked up from another friend; I think you’ll be intrigued. And I’m right in your neighborhood.”
“The West Side?”
“No, the Upper East Side. Aren’t you working for that fertility clinic on Park Avenue? I’m at a restaurant off Madison, near Sixty-second.”
“Um, okay,” Lake said. “I guess I could do a quick lunch.” She had to find out what Molly was talking about.