CHAPTER SIXTEEN
Alison tried to control her body as it began to shake.
She looked to the man beyond her threshold, not recognizing him.
He held his hand behind his back, not showing what he held.
One of her hands gripped the gun tightly, and the other held her phone, the contact list open, Derek’s name visible.
She only had to tap on the phone icon by his name to call him.
She couldn’t see a vehicle behind the man outside her door.
Did you walk up here to kill me?
The man knocked on the door. "I know you’re in there, Dr. Payne."
"I have a gun!" Alison shouted. "The police are on their way."
"No, there’s no need for that," the man said through the door, continually staring at the peephole. "I only want a statement."
"What?" Alison shouted through the door.
"Do you want to comment on the triple homicide?" The man brought his hand out from behind his back to present a small dictaphone.
Alison was still wary. Could he be the killer trying to gain entry? Had he done something similar with one of the victims?
"Look," the man urged. He reached into his inside jacket pocket and pulled out some ID, holding it up to the peephole.
Alison studied the card. It looked legitimate—a journalist.
"It’s two in the morning," Alison told him.
"This is big news," the man said. "Dr. Payne is back on the tail of another serial killer, and they’re coming after you next."
"They’re not—listen, I don't have any comment for you," Alison said angrily. "It’s the middle of the night, and you march up here to scare me like this? I could have shot you."
"One statement," the man begged. "Don't you want to get ahead of this?"
"I have nothing to say," Alison replied. "Leave my property or I’m calling the police."
"So, they’re not on the way?" the man asked with a smile.
"Just leave me alone," Alison warned.
"When Dr. Payne was asked to comment on the recent spate of murders, she refused," the man told her. "That’s what I’ll write."
"You can write whatever you please," she told him. "Now, leave me alone and don't come back here."
"Oh, come on, you know I have to. This place’ll be swarming with reporters tomorrow morning. It’s almost a courtesy for me to come up here and forewarn you."
"Get off my property," Alison ordered.
"All right," the man said, holding up both hands.
Alison watched as he left the door and walked back toward the gate into the darkness.
There was nothing for a while, then the headlights of a car came on, and they cut a blade of light across the outside world as he looked up and went back the way he’d come.
Alison watched until the vehicle was no longer visible.
Then, she turned and placed her back against the door.
"It’s out there now," she muttered. "That’ll only cause panic and confusion. What does that mean for the killer? They’ve been killing in the shadows so far. They want to be recognized for what they’re doing. It’ll only help them thrive."
***
Dr. Victoria Canton sat in her office with the TV on.
The small flatscreen attached to the right-hand wall was there to keep track of the news cycle, and she had it on whenever she was in the office with the sound turned down.
She’d turned the sound up as the story had broken (one she already knew about after talking with Alison Payne earlier that morning).
Special Agent Derek Sullivan had addressed the press earlier that morning, and they were playing the press conference again.
"Thank you all for being here this morning.
I am leading the investigation into a triple homicide, and at this time, we will not be naming the victims in respect to their families who are already grieving enough.
I can't share much information about the case as it is active, and there is some sensitive information that can't be shared.
All I can tell you is that three women have been found in their homes.
We are doing all we can to bring the killer to justice, and we have some very strong leads to follow.
If anyone has any information on the case, please call our tip line directly.
We appreciate your cooperation at this time, and we ask that you let us do our jobs. Thank you."
"Special Agent Sullivan, is it true that Dr. Alison Payne is involved in this case, not only in a consulting role?"
"I won't talk specifics about the case," Derek replied. "We consult with numerous professionals on every case when chasing criminals. I won't name anyone involved in our investigations."
"Is it true that Dr. Payne is being targeted herself?"
"You will be updated on the case when we have more information," Derek told them. "There will be no more questions at this time."
Dr. Canton picked up the remote and muted the TV.
She was surprised when Alison had turned up at the office that morning, but with the case now public knowledge and her involvement, her house would be inundated with reporters seeking a statement.
Victoria was glad to have Alison in the office, being her best employee, but she didn't like the attention she was receiving and would receive.
The phone rang, and Victoria picked it up.
"Hello?"
"Victoria, it’s Landon," the man said.
"Good morning, Landon. How are you?" Victoria asked.
Landon was a good friend of hers, and they’d studied together in the initial year of their degree before going separate ways, academically, but not in their personal relationship.
They’d always remained friends, and Dr. Landon Briggs worked for the state, advising on prison reform.
It was a hot topic, not because of recent events, but because it had always been a hot topic.
The prison system had been reformed again and again as society changed.
It would continue to be reformed for as long as a prison system was needed.
"I’m well, Victoria. I’ve been meaning to call you. I’m hosting a town hall of sorts that will be broadcast online, and I would love for you to be one of the panelists."
"I will certainly give it some thought, and if my schedule allows it, I’d be glad to help you out." Victoria drummed her fingers on the desk. "I have a feeling that that’s not why you called me this morning, Landon?"
"Have you seen the news this morning?"
"Of course," Victoria replied.
"How is she doing?" Landon asked.
"You know Alison. Even if she couldn’t handle what’s going on, she wouldn’t show it. She’s tougher than both of us combined, and that’s saying something."
"Yes, it is," Landon agreed.
"I appreciate you calling to ask after Alison, but I suspect that's still not the reason you called me. We’ve nothing but honesty with each other, Landon. What’s on your mind?"
"I’ve been talking to people, Victoria. The special agent spoke about keeping sensitive information under wraps, but a lot of it is being whispered around here."
"And what are those whispers?" Victoria asked.
"There is a rumor going around that victim advocates are being targeted. What has Alison said about it? I mean, are we all in danger?"
"Alison wouldn’t allow that," Victoria assured him. "If you and I were in danger, she would have told me. As she hasn’t, you have nothing to worry about."
"I have a lot to worry about," Landon corrected.
"Three women are dead, and all three testified against violent criminals.
You must see how this looks. How many women will abstain from testifying when that gets out?
How many already scared women will become too terrified to step into the courtroom because it might be the last thing they do?
What sort of reforms am I supposed to come up with to combat that?
And how many more criminals will go free? "
"Landon, your tone sounds as if you’re blaming Alison for this. Is that what you are saying to me?"
"Come on, we’re not in court," Landon countered. "I’m merely stating the facts. We both know it’s the truth.
Now, if she’s involved in the case, then I have full confidence the killer will be brought to justice.
Eventually. In the meantime, I would appreciate knowing what the heck is going on. How do we get ahead of this?"
"We get ahead of this by not making any rash decisions," Victoria told him. "I don't have any information for you, Landon, but if I discover anything that you should know, I’ll call you immediately."
"I would appreciate that, Victoria. We all know Alison’s track record, and she’s put hundreds indirectly and directly behind bars, but you’re only as good as your last case. If this killing spree gets out of hand, that’s all they’ll remember her for."
Victoria rolled her eyes at the use of the term killing spree.
"As soon as I know anything, you’ll know it," Victoria confirmed.
"Thank you again, my dear. I’ll have my assistant forward your assistant the details of the town hall."
"All right. "Goodbye, Landon."
"Goodbye, Victoria."
Victoria looked down at the phone once the call was ended.
It was the first call about the case, but it wouldn’t be the last. They all know Alison worked for her, and that would mean many more calls.
They already had journalists at the door, and thankfully, there was an entranceway between the main entrance and the offices, allowing a buffer between the two.
The journalists were stuck outside, only able to accost those coming in and out.
Alison had arrived early when there was only one journalist outside. Apparently, the one who’d visited her at her home in the early hours of the morning.
Victoria got up from her desk and left her office. She walked the short distance down the carpeted hallway to Alison’s office, where she found her with files spread out across her desk and her laptop sitting next to her PC monitor.
When Victoria cleared her throat, Alison looked up.
"Oh, hey," Alison said.
She looked bleary-eyed and sounded rough.
"You need to get some sleep," Victoria told her.
"I know, but I can't right now. I was up half the night, hearing the doorbell in my head.
I must have gone to the door half a dozen times to find no one there.
Thanks for letting me be in here. I can't be at home right now with journalists hounding me and my mind playing tricks on me. I’m sorry for bringing the unwanted attention. "
"It’s part of the job," Victoria said. "We’ve all faced something like this at some point in our careers, and if we haven’t, then we’re not doing our jobs properly.
Although if you are going to be here more, I would like to add some extra security to the office, get a couple of uniformed bodies in here just in case. "
"I can't let you do that," Alison said. "I can't bring this to your doorstep and then expect you to deal with it."
"Nonsense," Victoria claimed. "You’ve done so much for me and the company. The least I can do is have some extra security to protect my greatest asset and put my other assets at ease. It’ll only be for a short while, won't it?"
"I hope so." Alison sighed wearily. "It feels like we’re burning through suspects one at a time. One comes along, we find he can't be the killer, so we cut him loose, then another comes along. Rinse and repeat."
"That’s sometimes the way it is," Victoria said. "The more you get to know the killer, the more you get inside their head, and when the one perfect moment comes along, you’re ready to strike."
"That’s exactly what we need," Alison said. "Although the latest suspect does fit the bill."
"Who are you looking at now?"
"Thomas Bennet," Alison replied.
"Bennet?" Victoria said.
"You remember him?"
"The benefit of a photographic memory." Victoria tapped the side of her head. "I remember you working on his parole hearing, and everyone was for setting him free. You were the only one who advised against early release."
"Since he has been released, he’s become a model citizen," Alison said. "He works full time, pays his taxes, hasn’t ever been in trouble again with the law, and has founded an organization that counsels incarcerated and released inmates. Maybe I was wrong about him back then."
"Do you think you were?" Victoria asked.
Alison took a deep breath. "I’ve been going over his old files, and I don't think I was wrong. Right up until his release, he was manipulating the prisoners inside, and some of the reports make me think he was manipulating guards, too. It’s as if there are things missing from the reports, that the guards purposely left things out to make him look better. "
"Then I’m with you," Victoria said. "There’s no one I trust more, and that includes myself. You have a unique ability to see what no one else can. And if he hasn’t been in trouble with the law, that doesn’t mean he hasn’t committed crimes.
He might be a lot better at getting away with it.
SO, he’d the next suspect in the suspect mill. "
"It looks like it," Alison said. "I’m waiting on Special Agent Sullivan getting back to me with an address, and we can go speak with him."
"I want you to promise me that you’ll be careful with this case," Victoria said.
"I always am," Alison replied.
"I know you are, but I don't want you putting yourself in danger. Your house is not a place you want to be right now with the attention, and the possibility of…If you need a place to stay, come stay with me, or book into a hotel. Use the company credit card so it’s not under your name."
"I have my gun," Alison said, glancing down at the bag at her feet.
"If you’re carrying that around, you better be ready to fire it when the time comes."
Alison nodded. She was adept with a gun, and her aim was good, but firing at a living target was a different matter entirely.
"A lot of people are watching right now," Victoria told her. "This is a big case for the justice department, and I don’t want to put any undue pressure on you, but people are scared, and that causes a ripple effect."
"I know." Alison sighed through her nose and tightened her lips.
"I’m trying to keep it at the back of my mind, but I know that the longer this goes on, the more women will be afraid to come forward, and that means more criminals on the street.
This is not only about catching a killer, but crafting safe spaces so criminals are put behind bars instead of walking the streets.
I will find them, and I will stop them."
"I believe you," Victoria said. "And if there’s—"
"There you are," Derek said, bursting into the office. "We need to go, now."
"What is it?" Alison asked as she leaped up from her chair.
"We have him," Derek said as he turned and headed back out