CHAPTER TEN
Derek sat at his desk in the CBI offices and couldn’t help but glance up at James Payne, occupying the desk that Alison usually sat at.
It wasn’t only the fact that he was her father, but how he went about reviewing the case files.
He and Alison shared many of the same mannerisms, and Derek couldn’t help but chuckle at the way he scratched the side of his head, or grunted when going through evidence in a file, or even the way the pen moved across the paper when he took notes.
Alison hadn’t been away for all that long, but it caused him to miss her more. However, having her father around was a pretty good substitute, and he was glad to spend some quality time with him. He planned on marrying Alison someday, and he wanted a relationship with her and her family.
He also wanted to find the person who killed Emma Payne, a murdered daughter and sister.
James looked up from his work and caught Derek looking across at him.
"This could take weeks, months even," James commented before taking a drink of coffee. He picked up one of the chocolates he’d brought (it hadn’t taken Derek long to see that James had a very sweet tooth) and popped it into his mouth (Derek has also realized early on that while James was a very generous man, both with time and money, he didn't ever share his chocolates).
"It’s already taken decades," Derek replied. "What harm is a little more time?"
James smiled at Derek. "You’re a good man."
"I like to think that we both are," Derek replied.
"Then Alison is lucky to have us," James said.
Derek laughed. It didn't take long for his mood to become more somber. "We are making good progress," he said. "We’ve ruled out a whole bunch of suspects so far. The more we do that, the closer we get to finding our guy."
James took a deep breath and let out a sigh. Derek thought for a moment that he was going to bemoan the dead ends they had hit time and time again, but he broke out into a smile instead.
"I know this might sound weird, but it’s nice to be around this all again," James commended. He looked around the small office and moved his hands across the surface of his desk. "I wanted to retire, and it was the right time, both for Rex and me, but I surely miss it at times. I haven’t felt the same since I left the force, and it’s nice to be back, even though it’s not what I wanted to be doing. "
"You’re doing something more valuable than any other case you worked back then," Derek commented. "This is for Emma. This is for your daughter. You’re looking after your family, and I know that Alison appreciates it more than she would ever say."
"We’ve never had the closest relationship," James commented with a grimace.
"I know," Derek admitted. "Alison knows that, too. I don't think it’s anything either of you has done, but I do know that working this case is bringing you both closer together. I’ve only known Alison for a couple of years, but she’s been focused on this case for twenty years more than that, and it’s hard for her to have the capacity for anyone or anything else.
Then I’ve come along, and I realize that it’s given her less time for you, and—"
James waved his hand in the air at Derek. "No, don't say that. You’re one of the best things to happen to my daughter. I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t wary at first, what with you being law enforcement and all that, but she’s better because of you, and you’re far better suited to her."
Derek laughed again.
"I let the job consume me for years, and Alison gets that trait from me," James admitted.
"I worried that it would be hard if you were solely focused on your job, but you’re not, and working this case with me proves it.
You have time for her and everything that comes along with it. Thank you, Derek."
Derek smiled, his chest puffing. "You’re welcome."
"Okay, enough with the feelings and more focus on the facts," James suggested. Winston Security sent in the police checks and background reports for all of their employees. They’re more than happy to work with us, but I’m still worried that an employee catches wind that there’s an investigation, and then word starts to spread. "
"When I spoke to the manager there, they assured me it would stay within a select few management people."
James nodded and looked down at his desk before looking up at Derek with furrowed brows. "I’ve been thinking about that. What if he’s been there long enough that he’s transitioned to management? That’s a possibility."
"I don't know," Derek replied. "If he’s responsible for the most recent murder, then he’s out and about on the streets in one of their vans. Maybe he took one of the vans, but that would be risky if someone discovered it. It’s far better for him to fly under the radar in all aspects of his life and use the job as a cover. If we find that a van from the company he works for was in the area of mutual murders when it wasn’t scheduled to be out, then that looks far more suspicious than if he were out for a job.
I’ll admit that we don't know a lot about this guy, but we do know he’s careful to remain unsuspected of any crime over the past twenty years. "
"Okay, but I don't think we can discount that fully," James said. "We have to look at everyone."
"No, I agree," Derek confirmed. "We leave no stone unturned."
When James looked down again, Derek got back to work on the list he’d been compiling.
They hadn’t yet made contact with any employees at the company.
There was a risk that someone in management would mention that an investigation was ongoing, and that could tip off their killer.
When they started talking to employees, there was a greater chance that the other employees would find out.
If the killer was among them and found out the employees of his company were being investigated, he wouldn’t wait around to talk to them.
Unless he believes we have nothing on him, and he’ll look us in the eye when he denies any knowledge of the murders.
They had to tread lightly. The killer had evaded capture for more than twenty years, and during that time, there had been no investigations into any security companies or the employees who worked for them.
To tip off the killer now and have them flee before they could talk with him would be the ultimate failure.