Chapter 19
CHAPTER NINETEEN
"All right, I have two things for you," Derek said to Alison.
They were back in the CBI offices, and Thomas Bennet was in handcuffs. Derek had a lightness about him. He was sure they had their man.
Alison knew it pointed toward Bennet, but the way he had spoken back in the community hall unbalanced her. He was nothing like she expected, and he came across as a man reformed who truly believed in what he was saying.
"What do you have?" she asked.
"First, we’ve put a message out through all media outlets: news stations, social media channels, paper-based publications in the next few days, and targeted ads," Derek said. "We’re encouraging women to speak up and come forward, and there will be guarantees of protection where needed and special liaisons for them. It’s a work in progress, but we want to ensure we don't lose any witnesses. This is all because of you."
"I appreciate you putting that into action," Alison said. "I really feel this will help a lot of women. Maybe some won't come forward, but many will. What’s the second thing?"
"We already have the credit card transactions and CCTV evidence of Bennet being at two of the locations, but there’s more," Derek said.
"He claims to have not been in the area because of the three women, but in the last three weeks, Bennet has accessed court documents from the three trials the women were involved in. "
"Okay, that is suspicious," Alison said.
"Right? You’d think he would have mentioned that when we first spoke to him, especially when I mentioned the woman by name. I know you’re still skeptical, but this is a lot more evidence than any of the other suspects we’ve brought in."
"No, you’re right," Alison said. "I just… I believe he’s trying to help people, and I’m sure he cares about the men he’s helping.
Still, he can do that while still being a killer.
The killer we’re looking for is likely a functioning member of society.
It’s unlikely they’re dedicating their life only to murder and have no one in their life.
That fits with Bennet. We know we’re looking for someone connected with the justice system, someone perhaps wanting to target me, and someone who’s capable of violence while being calm and calculating.
He ticks all those boxes. And it’s a good cloak to hide behind.
Everything he does and says might be covering for the fact that he’s a killer. "
"I think when he sees what we have on him, he’ll crack. He was far too calm and calculated back at the community hall. Too calm. I don't buy it."
"He did ask for a lawyer as soon as you arrested him," Alison admitted. "Before that, he was happy to answer our questions, and I did believe that he wanted to help the investigation. He might be genuine, or he could have something to hide."
"He’s hard to read," Derek said.
"Maybe," Alison replied.
There was a lot of evidence against him, and that tipped the needle in one direction, but he had spoken earnestly, and that tipped the needle in the other direction.
The thing was that Alison believed what he said.
That gave way to a more chilling conclusion: Bennet was superior to her, and his manipulation had become so good that he could manipulate her without her knowing.
"I’m ready to go in there," she said to Derek. She was ready to face the man who could be her greatest challenge.
Derek led the way, hoping his folder of evidence. He opened the door and entered first, with Alison following.
Thomas Bennet sat at the metal table in handcuffs, his lawyer beside him. The lawyer wore jeans and a shirt and had a roughness about him. Alison didn't know the lawyer but had a hunch that he had been chosen because of that rough edge, and perhaps he was an ex-criminal himself, now reformed.
"Is this necessary?" the lawyer asked as Derek and Alison walked to the table to join them. He pointed at the handcuffs on his client’s wrists. "My client has been nothing but cooperative and poses no risk. Can we take the handcuffs off, please?"
"Your client is the prime suspect in a murder investigation," Derek replied. "We’ll leave the cuffs on for now."
"It’s fine," Thomas assured his lawyer. "As soon as we’ve cleared all of this up, we can remove the handcuffs. They're not all that uncomfortable compared to some previous occasions." Thomas chuckled. "Special Agent Sullivan was very gentle."
Derek and Alison sat at the table opposite Thomas and his lawyer.
Derek took his time producing his evidence.
He took out the two still images captured from the CCTV cameras and the three credit card statements, each with one line highlighted.
He flipped them to face Thomas and his lawyer and slid them across the table.
"Oh, come on," the lawyer said. "My client already told you where he was on all three occasions. On all three occasions, he was visiting clients to counsel them. He does that for dozens of clients, and the three on those occasions are regular clients. We have already provided my client’s online calendar with the appointments scheduled. I assume you’ve reached out to the three clients and confirmed he was with them at the stated times? "
"We have reached out," Derek said. "The only problem is that all three women were killed after the scheduled meetings. So, Mr. Bennet had ample time to meet with his clients and then kill the women."
"So, what? He goes around killing women at residences that happen to coincide with meetings he has with clients?" the lawyer asked.
"If he happened to be in the area right before all three murders, that is some coincidence," Derek said.
"And coincidences happen," the lawyer confirmed.
"You also stated that a call was made to the police after the third murder.
You believe that to be the killer, right?
My client was with one of his clients at the time the call was made.
If the killer made the call, as you believe, then my client can't be the killer. "
"We assumed the killer made the call to draw us there, but we can't be certain about that. The number was blocked, and we don't know where the call came from. We don't know who made the call."
"This is ridiculous," Thomas said. "I understand your frustration, Special Agent Sullivan, and I’ll be the first to admit that the timing of my meeting coinciding with the three murders is suspect. I wouldn’t be so foolish as to meet with a client, a meeting that can be easily proven, and then go and kill someone a few blocks away.
If this is the only evidence you have, then we both know it won't hold up in court.
Why leave no evidence at the crime scene, only to put myself in the vicinity? "
"How do you know we didn't find any evidence at the crime scene?" Derek asked.
"Because if you did, you would have presented that already. By focusing on a coincidence, you’re telling me that you have nothing," Thomas said.
Derek took his time taking back the CCTV images and credit card statements. He placed them back in his folder before taking out another report and studying it before placing it on the table.
"It’s interesting that you should mention evidence left at the crime scene," Derek said. He slid the report over to Thomas and his lawyer. "There was something found at the latest crime scene."
The lawyer picked up the report and read it. "A pink thread? What is this?"
"A pink thread," Derek repeated. "When I received the call about the pink thread in your office, I knew immediately it would match your jacket, the one we currently have in evidence and are checking against the thread found on the victim’s body."
Thomas laughed. "This all feels a little too neat, don't you think? Do you have anything else? Can I assume this was found on the third victim after finding nothing on the first two?"
"You seem to know a lot about the case," Derek pointed out.
Alison studied Thomas the entire time, trying to work out if it was all an act or if he was genuinely surprised and annoyed.
"I know how this sort of thing works," Thomas admitted. "I’ve been on this side of the desk multiple times, and I’ve studied hundreds of client videos to ensure they weren’t coerced into confessions. This is obviously someone trying to frame me."
"Frame you?" Derek asked.
"Three murders that coincide with three of my meetings, and now, a thread that might match my jacket?" Thomas asked.
"Oh, I’m sure it will match your jacket when we get the forensics back."
"Yeah, that’s what I’m worried about," Thomas said. "I’m not the only one with one of those jackets, and the last I checked, mine wasn’t missing any stitches on the lettering. I have guys come with me to my events, and we all wear the same jacket."
"So, it’s one of the guys you work with who’s tryin to frame you?" Derek asked.
"I don't know who’s trying to frame me," Thomas said. "The only thing I know is that I’m not the one you need to be looking for, and while you’re in here being distracted by this circus, the killer is out there laughing at you."
"Is that a fact?" Derek asked.
"Yes, it is."
Thomas was becoming more agitated, but if he were telling the truth, he had a right to be agitated.
Alison wanted to step in and push him a little to see if he would snap, but that was exactly what Thomas had spoken about: using methods to create emotion and hope someone slipped up.
If he was angered, he might say something he didn't mean, but with the evidence piling up, it could mean a lot.
"We can put you in the area of all three murders," Derek said. "When I mention the three women to you back at your office, you knew them, and you acted surprised to hear they were dead."
"I was surprised," Thomas said.
"You also told me that you hadn’t had any contact with them at all recently."
"I haven’t," Thomas maintained.
"Nothing springs to mind?" Derek asked.
"Can you just come out with it?" Thomas asked. "You’re obviously about to produce some grand gotcha moment that you think proves I had something to do with the murders."
Once more, Derek took back the evidence he had presented, placed it back in his folder, and took out the next piece. He stored the documents into three smaller piles and a single file. He placed the three stacks before Thomas with the single file atop the middle stack.
"In the last three weeks, you’ve requested the trial transcripts from the trials where Margaret, Sarah, and Patricia testified, along with any other court records and police reports pertaining to them."
Thomas shook his head. "No, I never requested any of that."
"See, that’s interesting," Derek replied, "Because all of the information was requested from your computer and downloaded onto that same computer."
"The one in my office?" Thomas asked.
Derek nodded.
"Anyone could have gained access to that computer. I don't lock my office. A member of the public could have walked in, used my office, and walked back out again without anyone noticing. There’s CCTV outside the community hall. Check that. Someone’s obviously trying to frame me."
"They used your login all three times," Derek said. "Your login information was used, the information was requested and downloaded onto your computer, and then the workstation was logged out of. Who has your login details, Mr. Bennet?"
"I…" Thomas sighed and gritted his teeth. "I don't know who has it. I don't share that information with anyone. They could have hacked the system."
"There was no sign of that," Derek said. "We’ll check the CCTV, but that doesn’t give us anything, does it? That only shows people going in and out of the community center, not your office. Will you be on the CCTV?"
"What?" Thomas replied.
"Do you know when the information was requested?" Derek asked.
The room felt very quiet. All of the charisma and confidence Thomas Bennet once had were gone.
"When?" he asked.
"Monday the third, Tuesday the fourth, and Wednesday the fifth. All at exactly nine-thirty in the morning. You normally arrive at the office at nine on those days, don't you?"
"I do," Thomas replied. "And I know I was in the office on all three of those days, but I didn't download that information."
"Was there anyone else in the office with you?" Derek asked. "I mean, if you can prove that you left the office unattended or that someone else might have used your office, then that’s a conversation we can have. Can you tell me that, Mr. Bennet?"
Thomas was quiet again, and Alison watched him. She hadn’t seen worry once in his office or the interview room until that moment. He looked very worried indeed.
"I need to talk with my lawyer," Thomas said.
"I think that’s a good idea," Derek said. "Take all the time you need."
Derek collated his information once again and placed it back in the folder. He placed the folder before the lawyer. "Take your time going through that, and when you’re ready to talk, I'll be here."
No one said another word as Derek and Alison got up from the table and left the room.
Once the door was closed, he asked, "Do we have him here? It feels like a slam dunk."
"The evidence is compelling, but so is he," Alison said. "I think we have to wait and see what he says after talking to his lawyer. While we’re waiting, can you accompany me home?"
"What for?" Derek asked.
"I need to pick up some stuff. I’m taking Victoria’s suggestion and staying in a hotel for now. I don't want to be hounded by reporters."
"Or targeted," Derek said.
"Yeah," Alison admitted.
She pulled out her phone to check her messages, and when she opened the one message that had come through since entering the interview room, her brow furrowed. It was the most curious text message she’d ever received, but something at the back of her mind told her it meant something.