I went back on Thursday at 7:10.

The side entrance was unlocked exactly as he had said. The clinic was dark except for a single strip of light under the door of the last office at the end of the corridor. My pulse was already loud in my ears. I had left the underwear at home. The dress I wore was soft and easy to lift. When I knocked once, his voice came through the wood, calm and certain.

“Come in. Lock it.”

I locked the door. Dr. Harlan Cole sat behind the desk in a dark button-down with the sleeves rolled up, the desk lamp throwing warm light across...