CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
Alison grabbed her coat and bag, rushing after Derek. She caught up to him as he was striding through the entranceway, and wanted to ask him for more, but they had the reporters to deal with first.
"Excuse me!" Derek’s voice boomed as he pushed one of the reporters who had stepped in front of him aside. "There will be no statements! Let us do our jobs!"
"Dr. Payne, how close are you to finding the killer?"
"How many more women will be killed?"
"Is it true that all the women are connected to the same violent offender, released just two weeks ago?"
Alison ignored all the questions. Most of them were fishing for quotes, and the rest were misinformation. The problem was that if she corrected the false information, more information was confirmed by confirming what was false.
Derek opened the passenger door of his car and held the top of Alison’s head as she ducked inside like she was a criminal he was arresting. He closed the door and ran around to the other side and got in. Then, they were off, the reporters becoming nothing more than specks in the rearview mirror.
"Thank you," Alison said.
"I know they’re just doing their jobs, but they’re like vultures sometimes. It’s in the best interest of the case not to reveal any information at this time, and yet I know that, but they still peck and pick, hoping for a morsel they can publish."
"So, what do you have?" Alison asked.
"Thomas Bennet," Derek said as he drove. "After you texted me the name last night, we looked into him some more. We tracked his credit cards and looked into his bank accounts. On the same days as all three women were murdered, he bought an energy drink a block or two from each. We’ve been in touch with the store where he bought a drink on the same day Margaret Donovan was murdered. We obtained CCTV from the store, and we have a positive identification. He was in the area right before she was murdered. We’re waiting for CCTV confirmation from the other two, but the credit card transactions are enough.
He was in the same neighborhood as each victim an hour before they were killed. That can't just be a coincidence."
"Are we going to his home?" Alison asked.
"His place of work," Derek confirmed. "He has a community reintegration center six books west of the downtown core, and going by his office hours, he should be there right now. A patrol car is on the way to his house. We get him at one of the locations."
"Is it enough for an arrest?" Alison asked. "That won't hold up in court by itself."
"That’s why I need you with me," Derek said. "I need you to tell me if he’s the killer. I’ve read his file and know what he’s capable of. He never killed anyone, but he came close a couple of times. I don't believe a man like him changes overnight."
"It is a massive coincidence," Alison said. "And I was the one who kept him behind bars five years ago. Everyone else thought he should go free, but I didn't. Now, he's advocating on behalf of prisoners. Was that driven by him not getting an early release? Does he blame me for that?"
"I’ll be there with you every step of the way," Derek said. "We go in there together, and we come out with him. He’s the guy; I can feel it."
"I’m worried," Alison admitted.
"I won't let anything happen to you," Derek told her.
"No, not about Bennet. About the case. The longer this goes on, the more the media will get a hold of it, and if we don't catch the killer soon, not only will they kill again, but it could stop dozens, hundreds of women from testifying.
If they believe that they can be murdered for doing so, then how many criminals get to walk the streets?
How many more will be hurt because dangerous people are not behind bars? And all because of me."
"This is not your fault," Derek maintained.
"It doesn’t matter if the killer is killing because of me or not, we’re no closer to catching them other than having another suspect to talk to. We need to do something. Empower women. Let them know they’re protected."
"You’re right," Derek said. "As soon as we’re done with Bennett, no matter the outcome, we put another statement out.
We urge women to come forward in exchange for protection.
We assure them their words are important and will be listened to.
We make sure criminals are put behind bars where they belong. "
"Good," Alison said. "And we catch this killer before they can kill again. That’s the best solution."
"Okay," Derek agreed.
Alison took a deep breath. She felt safe having her gun with her, and Victoria calmed her somewhat, and the action Derek promised went a long way to putting her at ease, but it was when she was with Derek that she felt safest and centered.
He didn't have to say anything; he just had to be beside her.
"This is the place," he said as they drew up beside a community hall in a mixed residential and commercial area.
The community hall was white on three sides and looked freshly painted.
On the fourth side was a large, colorful mural depicting children playing in a playground, adults smiling and watching, as well as flowers, trees, and some small wildlife.
The parking lot was mostly empty, with two cars parked out front.
Derek parked beside one of them, and he and Alison exited the vehicle and entered the community center. It was quiet inside, and it was obvious that the exterior had more recent care than the interior, which displayed chipping paint, faded carpets, and numerous blown light bulbs.
An open door led into a small office, and the man inside leaned sideways to view them as they entered. "Good morning."
Derek approached and spoke quietly. "We’re looking for Tomas Bennet."
"Just down the hall," the man said, pointing to the left.
Derek and Alison followed the directions to a second office twenty feet from the first. Derek looked into the office and knocked on the open door.
"Come on in," the man within said.
When Alison followed Derek in, the man looked at her with some recognition. She recognized him, but only from his mugshot and other photographs.
"Dr. Payne," Thomas said, a little surprised. He glanced at Derek. "And I assume you’re a cop? I’ve been around enough to know one when I see one."
Derek took out his badge. "Special Agent Derek Sullivan."
"An FBI agent and the doctor connected to a recent triple homicide," Thomas said. "So, we’re talking about the case that’s gripping the nation this morning. Which of my clients do you believe is behind it, because I know each and every one personally, and you’re barking up the wrong tree."
"Do you mind if we sit?" Derek asked.
"Apologies for not suggesting it already," Thomas said with a smile. "I wasn’t sure how long this chat was going to be. I have an appointment at ten, but we have plenty of time before then."
Thomas Bennet was a large man. He wore a short-sleeved polo shirt, and both forearms were covered with tattoos.
He had a thick neck, a scar on his chin, a stubbly mustache, and dark brown eyes.
His face looked shadowy, no matter the light cast on it.
He wore a jet black jacket with the words ReformNation written in bright pink thread on the left chest area.
Alison hadn’t been face to face with him before, watching video footage and reading reports on him as well as interviewing the people around him, so she couldn’t make a direct comparison, but she was able to see a man who was unlike the one imprisoned.
Perhaps he had changed. He came across as charismatic rather than manipulative, and he was polite and authoritative instead of fearsome.
"What is it you do here?" Derek asked.
"I like that," Thomas said with a smile. "Make some small talk, put me at ease, pretend we’re all friends having a chat. You already know what I do here, Special Agent Sullivan, but I’ll humor you.
I help inmates both before and after they are released.
We are a non-profit agency, and the goal is to have them integrate back into society after they are released. "
"Just like you," Derek commented.
"Lead by example," Derek said with a smirk.
It was curious to watch and listen to a man who had been imprisoned eight times, twice for aggravated assault, and often showing no remorse for his crime.
It caused Alison to wonder if she’d been wrong when she recommended against early release.
If he’d gotten out sooner, would he have helped more people?
"Dr. Payne, I want you to know that I don't blame you," Thomas said. "I can see it in your eyes. You’re wondering if you made a mistake all those years ago. At the time, I was sure you’d made a mistake, but I was a very angry man back then. I was a criminal. I like to think now that I’m an ex-criminal. If I were released, it might have been too soon, and I could have reoffended. I always talk to my clients about the importance of patience. It might be cheesy, but I compare it to broth. You have to simmer the ingredients for a long time. Some people need to remain in prison for a long time before they’re released to simmer out all the anger and resentment at the world. "
"That’s all well and good," Derek said, "but we have three dead women, and they all link back to you."
"I’m sorry to hear that," Thomas said.
It was interesting to Alison that he didn't come out and deny that he was involved, like so many people did when confronted with that information. He had a confidence about him, but she couldn't tell yet if it was genuine or if he was hiding something.
"Do the names Margaret Donovan, Sarah Livingstone, and Patricia Montgomery mean anything to you?" Derek asked.
"Oh, my goodness, they do," Thomas replied. "I have to assume they are the three deceased women, or you wouldn’t have brought them up. I don't know them personally, but I have counseled the three men who are behind bars because of them. And rightfully so. I’m under no illusion that I’m dealing with criminals here. All three men deserve to be where they are; there’s no doubt about it.
I’m really sorry to hear that they were the ones killed. "
Thomas held up a finger to indicate he wasn’t done talking, as he picked up the mug on his table and took a drink. Then, he addressed Alison.
"This doesn’t bode well for the upcoming reform town halls," he said directly to her.
"I’ve been asked to speak there about rehabilitation with male prisoners, and the best way to rehabilitate them is to incarcerate them so they can be rehabilitated.
You must be worried about the fear instilled in women when the news outlets get hold of this.
The last thing I want is criminals walking our streets because then, I can't help them. "
Alison listened to his words and watched his features as he spoke, trying to work out if he believed everything he said or if it was all a smokescreen.
"We can put you in the vicinity of each crime scene a few hours before each woman was murdered," Derek said. "We have you making purchases, and we know you had contact with the three men who were incarcerated by the three women."
Thomas sighed. "Well, that is unfortunate. For you, I mean. Here you are, chasing the wrong person, wasting your own time. I believe those women are heroes for what they did, and if it weren’t for them, I would have three fewer guys to help.
Now, I can tell you that I didn't do it, but that doesn’t achieve anything.
If you give me the dates I was supposedly in the area, I am sure I can account for my whereabouts.
I visit numerous ex-cons on a daily basis, and that takes me all around the city.
Whatever I can do to aid the investigation and point it in the right direction, I’ll gladly help. "
Derek’s phone rang. He checked it and nodded to himself. "I need to take this." He stood up and was about to leave the room when he remembered who he was leaving in the room together, and decided against it. Instead, he walked toward the door a little bit, remaining facing Thomas and Alison.
"Hello?" he answered. "…Yeah, give me what you have…Uh-huh…Sorry, what color?… Send it over to me ASAP…You're sure?… All right, thank you…Yup, bye."
Derek slowly put his phone back in his pocket, then quickly drew his gun and pointed it at Thomas Bennet.
"Hands where I can see them," Derek ordered. "Do not make any sudden moves. You’re under arrest, Bennet.