CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
"Pick up the chair and sit down," Keller said authoritatively. His eyes flickered toward Moore, who didn't make a sound or move. "Make any sort of noise, and you will join her on the floor, but I won't only knock you out. I think you know what I am capable of, Alison."
"You don't need to do this," Alison said, placing her hands between her chest and the knife as if that could stop him from stabbing her.
"This is not a negotiation," Kelley told her. "I’ve asked you once to pick up your chair and sit down, and I won't ask you again. Do you understand me?"
Alison nodded nervously, her eyes moving between his and the tip of his knife.
She backed up and moved to the side to keep him in front of her at all times.
As she bent down to pick up the chair, she glanced at the lock on the back of the door.
It would be easy to run over there and unlock the door, but she didn't think she could get the door open and get out before he got to her.
And what would happen to Moore if she did that?
So, she bent down, picked up the chair, and righted it.
"Turn it to face me," Keller ordered.
Alison did as she was told.
"Now sit." Keller gestured to the seat with his knife.
Alison took a second, then rounded the chair to the front, remaining as close to it as possible to stay as far from the knife as she could. Then she sat down.
Keller nodded in satisfaction. He bent down by Moore and placed the knife to her neck.
"No!" Alison gasped.
Keller removed the knife from Moore’s neck and pointed it at Alison. "What did I tell you? No noise," he hissed. "Another outburst like that and I’ll cut her neck before I cut yours. Do you understand me?"
Alison nodded jerkily, keeping her mouth shut.
"Good," Keller said with a creepy smile.
He didn't put the knife to Moore’s neck this time, but he did take her under the arms and drag her from the center of the room to the wall, laying her along it. Then, he picked up the chair she had been in, placed it facing Alison, and sat down opposite her, only a few feet apart.
He stared at her, the knife held in his lap. She thought of his victims, especially of Michael Rodriguez, who had been stabbed in the chest in a fury. She didn't want to end up like that, but didn't know how to get out of the situation.
What made it worse was that they were in his office, surrounded by others in the building. That had made her feel a little safer walking in, but now it felt like a cage. If he was willing to take her hostage in his office with no way to escape the situation, what was he planning on doing?
He’s not planning on letting me walk out of here.
"Good," Keller said calmly. "I was hoping that we would have time to talk, and here we are."
"There’s no way out now," Alison said.
"Oh," Keller scoffed, tapping the knife against his knee. "Ye of little faith. There’s always a way out, but you let me worry about that. We’re in here together because it is exactly where we are supposed to be. Why do you think I made the call and invited you here? Do you think I’m a fool?"
"No, I don't think you are a fool," Alison replied honestly. Overconfident, perhaps. Arrogant.
"I’m glad," Keller said. "If I were a fool, and you were unable to catch me and stop me from killing three people only to end up trapped here in my office with me, then what would that make you?"
Alison wasn’t sure if he was expecting an answer, but she didn't give one.
"I assume that you understand why you are here by now," Keller said. "You have been a danger to our profession for a long time, and I can't allow you to continue. You represent everything wrong with modern forensic psychology."
Alison couldn’t help it. The scoff erupted from her lips before she could think about it. She couldn’t believe what he was saying to her, and the calmness with which he said it.
"You don’t really believe that, do you?" Alison questioned, so surprised by the statement, that she forgot about the knife in his hand. "It’s obvious to me now that you’ve been wanting to change the system from within, and you haven’t been able to do that, so you resort to this charade."
"Charade!" Keller boom, waving his hands, the knife glinting as it caught the light. "You call this a charade? Don't belittle yourself or me," he warned. "This is not a charade. Three people are dead, Alison. Do you think they would call this a charade? Would their families call it a charade?"
Okay, you want to talk. Then that’s exactly what we’ll do. The longer I can do that, the more chance of someone coming to the door. Someone will eventually come looking for us.
"Then what would you call it?" Alison asked. "Help me to understand."
"I could call it conviction," Keller snapped, almost annoyed that she couldn’t see that. "I would call it doing what needs to be done to protect our city, our people, our families."
"You weren’t protecting anyone when you killed three innocent people," Alison said. "I know you’ve been watching them, studying their routines, getting to know how you can get to them. There is zero evidence that they have committed any crimes since being released from prison."
"I can show you dozens of cases where someone has been released and recommitted a crime."
"Early release or after they’ve been released at the end of their sentence?" Alison asked. "There’s a big difference there."
"Don't try to twist my words," Keller spat.
"Then don't try to twist the data to make it suit your agenda.
We both know that it is rare for those released early from their sentence to commit a crime once they are out.
In fact, there is more data suggesting that those who serve their full sentence and are then released are more likely to reoffend. "
Keller brought the knife up slowly and pointed it at Alison. "Don't forget who’s in charge here. You sit there and talk to me as if I’m beneath you. I warn you to show me a little more respect."
"With all due respect, Dr. Keller, I don't agree with what you say. That is part and parcel of our field. Not all of us agree, and that is fine. Sometimes it’s not, but most of the time it is, and when there is friction, there is usually a way past that. That’s why we rely on peer reviews.
No one would agree with what you are doing. "
"Yes, because most people in our field are cowards.
" Keller smacked his lips as if enjoying the taste of his own words.
"No one has the gall to do what I’ve done, but they will appreciate it when they see it, though.
I will not work again, I know that, but I will get to see the fruits of my labors. "
"How do you expect this to play out?" Alison asked with more bravery than the situation warranted.
"I expect that you will die, Alison. You’re one of the best at profiling people, so you must know that. I wasn’t sure how all of this would play out in the end, but I understood that it would be difficult to get you on your own, so there would need to be some collateral damage."
"There’s a chance for you to make amends," Alison said. "If you let us go, this can all end. If not, then I’ll scream, and they’ll get here before you can kill us. You won't escape, and you won't ever get out of prison. It will all be for nothing."
"Oh, come now," he said in a consolatory tone. "It won't all be for nothing. Even if I’m captured today, people will take notice of the message I have put out there. Still, I don't expect that to happen, and that’s because you overestimate me."
When he stared at Alison, it looked like he was waiting for her to respond. She didn’t give him the satisfaction and kept her mouth shut.
"If you make any noise that attracts someone, it will take them some time to figure out that you are calling for help.
While that is happening, I will kill you and Detective Moore, and then I will kill anyone in my path who is in my way as I leave the building.
Then, unless the police are alerted very quickly, I will disappear and never be seen again.
I know that you and Detective Moore came here alone, which gives me the upper hand. "
Alison sighed. "And this is the point where you give me another option, right?"
"Very good," Keller said condescendingly.
"The second option is one where you still die, but no one else has to. You see, when I make my escape, everyone will know what I’ve done.
I don't need to kill the detective to protect that, and I don't need to kill anyone else.
Only you need to die, Alison, and through your sacrifice, you can save people. "
"You make it sound like I’ll be a martyr."
Keller pointed the knife at her. Alison was sure Moore’s finger just twitched.
"You will be a martyr," Keller said, waving the knife.
"When your body is found in my office, and they realize the length I’ve gone to get my message out there, people will have to stand up and listen.
You are one of our modern-day heroes here in Oakland, Alison.
You protect the city in a way most of us can only dream of, and by killing you, I will protect the city more than you ever could. "
Alison scoffed again, this time, not involuntarily.
She could see Keller bristle at her response.
He was the one supposed to be in control of the situation, the one who was supposed to be intimidating, and while Alison was afraid she would lose her life, she didn't find him intimidating.
He was pathetic, and the only thing giving him any form of control was the knife in his hand and the fact that he was physically stronger.
"You’ve always been weak," Keller spat. "You live in the past because you can't let go of your sister. You’re the fool."
Alison gritted her teeth at the barb from Keller.
She knew why he had said it, and it was not for the same reason as in the reports she had found the previous day.
With that, he wanted to throw her off her game and call into question her decision-making and emotional tendencies.
Now, facing her in his office, he mentioned Emma because he wanted to hurt her.
He wanted to wrestle back some of the control that he had given away.
There was a lot that Alison wanted to say, so she gritted her teeth more to stop herself from saying any of it. Reacting emotionally to that would be to give in to him, and she had no intention of doing so.
She had emotions—she was only human. She would never stop looking for her sister’s killer.
"I understand what this is really about," Alison countered, taking that hurt and pain and using it against him. "You’re jealous of me."
It was Keller’s turn to scoff, but he couldn’t hide the flicker of rage that flashed in his eyes, and Alison hoped she hadn’t pushed him too far.
"You haven’t listened to a word I’ve said to you, have you?" Keller snarled. "Did you even study the reports I sent you? I’ve tried to show you the truth, Alison, but you can't see what is right in front of you."
"I can see it just fine," Alison countered. "It’s why you chose me, isn’t it?"
"I chose you because you were an easy target with how wrong you have been over your illustrious career."
"Yes, my illustrious career," she stated. "People respect me, and they listen to what I have to say. You might be against early release, and I can see that you are, but I’m just as much a part of this, intertwined with how the system works. Then, you watch me consult with the FBI and help people, and it eats you up inside, doesn’t it? "
"We could all do what you do," Keller said. "It just so happened that you were available to consult on a case, and that detective took a liking to you. Don't forget, I’ve studied your cases, and mistakes have been made."
"You couldn’t have done what I’ve done," Alison said, hoping to get a rise out of him and succeeding.
"I would have done far better than you could ever imagine!
" he boomed. "You really think you’re special, don't you?
You are nothing, Alison. You are less than nothing, and soon the world will know it.
They will find your body, and they won't ever find me, and you won't be around to talk your way out of it.
They will know I am superior to you, as they always should have. "
"We’ll never know, will we?" Alison challenged, unable to bite her tongue now that she had started. The more she angered him, the more dangerous he would become, but it would also help distract him from Detective Moore, who was slowly stirring. If Keller noticed that, he might put an end to her.
"You won't ever know," he snarled. His lips turned up into a smile. "Your little tricks won't fool me."
Alison’s heart skipped a beat when she thought he had her figured out.
"You want me to rant and rave to draw attention to us," Keller continued.
"Don't worry, people have heard me shouting in here many times. It’s become completely normal, and they know better than to come knocking. These tricks might have worked on other killers, but not this time, Alison. It’s the end of the road. "
"Wait!" Alison yelped, getting to her feet and knocking her chair forward as Keller stood up before her.
"No more waiting," he said. "I’ve been waiting for this moment for a long time, and I’m going to relish every second of it. Any last words?"