Faith nodded again.“I appreciate you giving us a call.We’ll keep your name out of our conversation with Dr.Pierce.Do you happen to know where she works now?”
“I have no idea.I truly cut ties with her after last year.I can give you the phone number I last had for her.”
“We’ll take it,” Faith said.“Thank you again.”
She wrote down the number, hung up, and looked at Jessica.Her partner was just finishing her own call.“I put in the request for the warrant.The judge is out right now, but her secretary paged him, and he said he’d review it and give us a call ASAP.What did Dr.Paulson want?”
Faith gave her a rundown of her conversation with Paulson.When she finished, Jessica shook her head.“Why do people hate religion so much?I understand not believing, but to carry that to the point of despising people, of being willing tomurderthem for their beliefs… It just makes no sense to me.”
“Some people don’t know how to cope,” Faith replied.“Whether it’s with grief, disappointment, humiliation, or disrespect.They just don’t know how to react healthily, so they lash out.In this case, it’s religion.”
Jessica nodded.“Well, if this means we get something without needing to wait for the Honorable Judge so-and-so to figure out if he wants to give us a warrant or not, then I’m all for it.”
Faith chuckled, but her smile didn't last long.As they exited the coffee shop, she noticed the sun nearing the western horizon.This would be their last lead of the evening.The art school would be closed before they got their warrant.If their killer followed their pattern so far, there would be a new victim tomorrow morning.Either Angela Pierce was their killer, or they would be left hoping that the safety net they'd cast over the region's chaplains would be enough to protect them from a killer consumed by hatred.
Faith knew all too well how easy it was for such killers to slip through the cracks.
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
Faith plugged Pierce’s phone number into the D.C.DMV and confirmed that the number was still valid.She also discovered Pierce’s address, a very nice home in the Georgetown area of Washington, D.C.Her workplace was listed as a private practice currently under contract with George Washington University Hospital.
“Looks like Dr.Pierce is doing well for herself despite the loss of her VA contract,” Jessica observed.
“Hate isn’t always about personal loss.Sometimes it’s about ego.”
“Yeah, but it pisses me off more when rich people throw tantrums like this.I guess that’s my working-class upbringing showing.”
Faith smiled.“A lack of gratitude is unattractive on anyone.But let’s remember that she’s innocent until proven guilty.”
"I know.Although, between you and me, I really hope she's guilty.I don't want to wake up to another body."
“No,” Faith agreed.“Neither do I.”
They drove to the hospital, hoping to catch Dr.Pierce before her business hours ended.When the receptionist saw them walking in, his lips vanished."Is it really necessary to have your dog here?"he asked in a prissy voice.
“Yes,” Faith replied simply.“I’m looking for Dr.Angela Pierce.”
“Do you have an appointment?”
“No.I’m here on official FBI business.I need to speak to Dr.Pierce.”
He paled.His lips returned, but the color remained banished from them and the rest of his face.“Is she in trouble?”
“I’m not at liberty to discuss that,” Faith said.
He swallowed and lifted the desk phone.“Dr.Pierce’s office.”A moment later, he said, “There are FBI agents waiting to speak with Dr.Pierce.”Another pause.“I don’t know, they didn’t say.”He frowned and looked at Faith.“They want me to ask why you’re here.”
“It’s a private matter that concerns no one but Dr.Pierce,” Faith replied.“And itisurgent.We’re asking to see her out of politeness, but we’re not really asking.”
The receptionist swallowed again, then spoke into the phone.“She says it’s between the FBI and Dr.Pierce, and she’s not asking.She needs to see her now.”A final pause, and then he said, “All right.I’ll send them up.”
He hung up and looked at Faith."Fourth floor, room four-sixty-nine.And is your dog at least house-trained?We had a pet visit last month when I wasn't here to stop it, and it…" His lips trembled."Pooped… All over the floor."
“I assure you my trained K9 unit will not shit on your floor,” Faith said drily.“Thank you for your help.”
She left the desk before the receptionist could have an anxiety attack.Turk snorted and gave Faith and Jessica an irritated look.“Yeah, I know,” Faith agreed.“He was very rude.”
Jessica chuckled, but there was no more levity as they took the elevator to the fourth floor and exited into the mental health ward.The waiting room was decorated in soft pastels with cheerful cartoon characters offering pithy advice such as, “The sun still shines behind the clouds!”and “A frown is only a smile waiting to turn around!”
