CHAPTER TWENTY
Alison left the hotel lobby and descended into the parking lot below, where Dr. Carver had parked. She got into the car, fully aware that she was being led into a trap, where she would likely be framed as the serial killer who had been wreaking havoc across the city.
Kenneth Sterling had been missing for some time, so Alison had to assume Carver had done something with him (she wouldn’t have left it to chance) or that he was part of the endgame.
Either way, it ended with Alison’s death.
She hoped that Hartley had received the message and that the cavalry was on the way.
Carver was good, but she had underestimated Alison, just as they all had eighteen years ago. That didn't mean Alison was right back then. There was no way to know now, but she did know she had been overlooked in favor of Dr. Carver, and that had not led to the capture of the killer.
The large door at the top of the ramp lifted, and Carver drove them through into the brightening morning when there was enough space.
Do you really believe that the justice system is wrong? Is that why you’re doing this? You included yourself as a bluff, and that was brilliant, but you also included me. You didn’t like me back then, and you don't like me now, so why include me? I wasn’t a part of the case.
"You’ve gone quiet," Carver noted as they drove from the hotel.
"I’m trying to think this through," Alison said. "Sterling was our number one suspect, but I believe what you say about him. With that being the case, then we’re back to square one. I hate to admit it, but perhaps we need to bring you on as a set of fresh eyes. If not Sterling, then who?"
"I’ll help in any way I can." Carver was a careful and cautious driver, staying below the speed limit and not following the cars in front too closely. She was in no rush to get Alison to the destination. "We deal with Kenneth first, and then I’ll take a look at what you have so far."
"Thank you."
If Sterling is to be a part of this, he’ll still be alive. She won't kill him beforehand if she wants to frame me for his murder. She’ll have to kill us both together to make it look like a murder gone wrong.
Alison checked in the side mirror as they drove, worried that Hartley might catch up to them too quickly and be spotted.
There was no telling how Carver might react if she were backed into a corner.
She was obviously not holding Sterling at home if she had him, but would she give them the location if she was caught?
It would track with her wanting to make the police look inept by leaving them to find Sterling without any help.
The only question now is why me? Was that to throw off the investigators? You included a picture of yourself so no one would suspect you? Did you add my name in there as a red herring?
"The killer blames us," Alison said. "I was called in because my photo was included with the second body found. I was one of the people they blamed for the killer not being caught. Me, you, Detective Vettle, and others. The killer wanted to draw attention to us because we made mistakes."
Carver didn't respond to that as she drove.
Do you blame yourself for the killer not being caught? Is that what drove all of this?
"Do you carry any guilt for the investigation?" Alison asked. "I know I do."
"Of course, I do," Carver said. "I was the lead investigator, and we didn't ever find the killer. I told you that already. I blamed myself, and other people did a wonderful job of blaming me, also. I struggled with it for a long time, but I forgave myself. I knew it wasn’t my fault."
"No?" Alison asked, trying to hide her surprise. "How did you do that? Forgive yourself? I was only on the case for five minutes, and I still blame myself for the killer not being caught. How were you able to let it go?"
Carver stiffened in her seat. "Some things are not in our control," she replied.
"I did my best to guide and drive the investigation, but you must know from experience that you can't always catch the killer, though you have shown time and time again that you are excellent at doing so. Perhaps that’s why you feel so much guilt.
You were able to catch many killers over the past couple of years, but you couldn't do anything back then. You’re comparing your recent success to your past failures. "
"I was young back then," Alison commented. "I was new to the job."
"That’s not an excuse," Carver warned, her voice getting louder.
"What? If you were a bus driver, would it be acceptable to crash on your first day because you are new?
No, you would be expected to do your job flawlessly because you were trained.
Perhaps you lacked experience, but you were trained for a job, Dr. Payne. "
Alison didn't push that line of conversation any further. She was getting to Carver with her comments, and she didn't want to push her too far, or they might lose her.
Alison also didn't question where they were going. Wherever Carver was taking her, it was likely where Sterling was being held, and it would be somewhere secluded so Carver could finish what she started. Alison resisted the urge to dip into her pocket for her phone and check that Hartley was on the way. She couldn’t tip Carver off.
"Do you think there will be changes?" Alison asked as nonchalantly as she could.
"That’s what the killer wants. They want to point out the failings of criminal investigations, pointing out where we went wrong.
The mishandling of evidence, faulty profiling, confirmation bias, and over presumption.
If we ever catch the person, do you think there will be any change in how we do things? "
Carver was silent for some time, and then she swallowed.
"I don't know. Whoever is doing this believes they are right in what they do; that much is obvious. It’s also obvious that mistakes have been made and will continue to be made.
Yes, there should be a change in how we do things if mistakes are being made, but I don't know if that happens.
It would depend on the attention the case gets. "
"I think the killer is pivoting," Alison said.
She left the words dangling in the air between them like low-hanging fruit.
"Oh?" Carver asked after a pause. She swallowed again. "What are they pivoting to?"
"This is not public knowledge, so I implore you not to speak about it to anyone."
"I know how this works," Carver confirmed. "I wouldn’t do anything to jeopardize the case."
"I know you wouldn’t," Alison lied. "We found evidence at the last crime scene: a hair."
"The killer’s?" Carver asked.
Alison shook her head. "Mine. I’m worried that the killer is trying to frame me, and they will try to finger me as the killer. It makes sense. I’m the best profiler in the country, so I’ll get the most attention if it were to happen."
"Yes," Carver said stiffly. "You have proven yourself over the past few years. Would they be able to pull that off?"
"I’ll do all I can to stop them," Alison said. "Still, it made me think about what you said earlier."
Carver took a second before responding so that she didn't look too eager. "What did I say?"
They arrived at an industrial area on the outskirts of the city, where many of the buildings looked run-down and derelict. Windows were smashed, doors hung by their hinges, and pieces of glass, brick, and metal littered the surrounding areas.
Alison was in a position to question why they had come here when there didn’t look to be a place where Sterling might hole up, but she played along for now.
"You said that you were worried about Sterling working with someone," Alison commented. "Someone took a hair of mine to leave at the crime scene. What if you’re right about Sterling working with someone, and he has someone on the inside?"
"It is possible," Carver admitted. "If he’s working with someone, then the other person is the brains behind it, but I don't think so. I do know Kenneth well, and there was no indication in anything he said to me. He wouldn’t be able to hide that from me, but I welcome a second opinion."
"I trust your opinion," Alison said. "And you do know him well. As soon as we get to him, I’ll convince him to come in with me, and we can move on from him as a suspect."
"That’s for the best," Carver said. She paused before adding, "I can't believe someone is trying to frame you. After all you’ve done for the CBI and departments in other states, do they really think they can get the better of you?"
Alison smiled, maintaining her calm. While they were in the car, she felt safe. It was only when they reached their destination that Carver would let the mask slip, and then she would be in danger.
"I know I’m good at what I do, but I’m not arrogant or foolish enough to believe there’s no one better than me. I have a good team around me, and I believe that if we work together, I won't be in any real danger."
Carver slowed a little as they drove down a deserted road. No cars were parked, except for one that had been abandoned. The windows were smashed in, and yellow and black olive tape surrounded the vehicle.
"I never had that," Carver said. "When I consulted with the FBI, I didn't have a support network around me. That was hard at times." She came to a stop outside a small storage facility.
Is this some final assurance that I trust you, perhaps sympathize with you, or are you being vulnerable right before you try to frame and kill me?
"How about at the Department of Justice?" Alison asked. "That’s where you work now, isn’t it?"
"Yes," Carver said. "It’s not as high-profile as consulting with the FBI, but it’s fine. And to answer your question, no, I don't have a good support network there. People find me hard to work with. I would add, if you can believe that, but I know myself well enough to know that it’s true."
The mask was starting to slip, but that didn't matter as much now. They were obviously at their destination.
"I would try to claim otherwise, but I don't know you well enough, and my words would be hollow. It wouldn’t take an expert to see that."
If I can keep her talking in the car, perhaps Hartley can get here in time to stop us from going in. If police do arrive, would she kill me where I sit as one last act of vengeance?
"Still," Alison continued, "there’s something valuable about knowing one’s self. Perhaps that doesn’t give you any peace if you understand that you're just not easy to work with, but I’m not easy to work with either. I know I’m stubborn, and I have a desire to be right about everything."
Alison had considered that the killer might wait until Alison was back in California and try to stage her death in connection with Emma’s death, but she’s been wrong about that. The time had come far sooner.
"Is there anything I need to know about him before we go in there?" Alison asked, trying to delay a bit longer. "I don't want to scare him when we go in there."
"It’ll be fine," Carver said. "As long as you’re with me, he’ll be fine."
"Okay, give me a second," Alison said.
"We shouldn’t wait too long," Carver urged. "If he looks out and sees us, he might get scared that I’ve brought someone with me."
"But he knows I’m coming," Alison tried, keeping the conversation going a little longer.
"Come on," Carver said, opening her door. "I don't want him to be my responsibility any longer. We go in there and talk with him, and then he’s your responsibility." Carver got out of the car. "Come on," she urged.
Alison had delayed as much as she was able.
She exited the car, taking as much time as she could without drawing suspicion, and as she rounded the car, she quickly looked Carver up and down for any weapons.
Could she attack and subdue her now and be done with it?
Was Sterling even in the building? Was he still alive?
Was she right about Carver being the killer?
She had to go in to find out.
So, she went with Dr. Carver toward the building that Alison was sure Carver wanted to be Alison’s final resting place.