Page 17 of Say Nothing
"How long do we have with him?"Alison asked.
"About eight hours."
"We got confirmation of the time of death from the medical examiner, and he couldn’t have killed Sarah.To me, this makes it unlikely he killed Margaret.We’re looking for one killer.His alibi?"
"He still claims he was in the pub that night, but we haven’t been able to confirm that.We have nothing to prove he’s innocent and nothing to prove he’s guilty."
"Do you think we should hold him longer?"Alison asked.
"I’d like to lock him up for something, but the assault on an officer charge won't stick, and we don't have him on evading arrest either.If you’re sure he’s not the killer, then we cut him loose when our time runs out, but keep an eye on him."
"All right," Alison said.
"Anything from the files?"Derek asked.
"Not yet, but I still have a lot to go through."
"The killer has bypassed two advanced security systems," Derek said."I don't like that you went home alone last night.If you’re right, and the killer’s out to get you, then you’re in danger.Does he kill and then come after you?Are you the final target?"
"Maybe.I don't know," Alison admitted."All I know is that both women testified against convicted criminals, convicted because of their testimonies, and I coached both women.Maybe we get a third body that conflicts with that, and I’m wrong, but that’s all we have to work with right now.Whoever it is, I think they feel wronged, but it’s not only that.This feels like something bigger, like they’ve been around people who think the same way, or they’ve seen others suffer with what they believe to be wrongs.It would make sense for it to be someone who was previously incarcerated and got to talk with others who were also incarcerated."
"Calvin Reynolds?"Derek asked.
"It could be," Alison replied."He wants revenge on Margaret, and he connects with people in prison who also want revenge.Maybe he orders the hit on Margaret and has someone he was in prison with do it, or maybe someone in prison heard his story and decided to take justice into their own hands when they were released.That’s why we must get the name of the second criminal convicted by the testimony of a dead woman.If we can link the two, we get closer to the truth."
"As soon as we get the name, I’ll get it straight to you," Derek said.
"Thank you, and thank you for brightening up this place."Alison turned and flicked one of the large leaves gently.
"I thought you might be back, so I had them bring in some of that stuff."
Alison smiled.
Derek slapped the doorway softly a couple of times before leaving.
Alison dove back into the two case files.Sarah was a victim advocate, and if she ever crossed paths with Margaret, that would give another strong link between the two women, but so far, she’d not been able to find a time and place where they could have crossed paths.
"Hey," Derek said, back at the door.
Alison looked up and then at the clock to make sure a massive amount of time hadn’t passed since he had last been there.It was less than three minutes.
"Gordon Boson," he said."That’s the name of the guy she testified against.It was a sensitive trial as he’s also a police informant, though that wasn’t connected to the violent crime case in any way, but they couldn't have his name out in the world, or someone might believe he was testifying against them and come after him.He’s in prison under a different name.Casper Douglas.And, get this, he’s in the same prison as Calvin Reynolds."
"That is interesting," Alison said."So, he has a woman testify against him, put him away, and we have the extra layer of him being a police informant, which might have given him the illusion of immunity.Do you know how long he’s been in prison?"
"Almost two years," Derek said."And I confirmed with the security company.It was around the time of the trial that Sarah had the security system installed in her home, so she must have been in the same boat as Margaret.I can arrange for us to go down to the prison and interview both of them.If either is connected, maybe we get something by playing them against each other."
"Yeah, that might be an idea.Let me make a call first.I know a guy who used to work at the prison as a warden, and he left about six months ago to pursue a career as a court bailiff.Maybe he knows something."
"All right, let me know if you find anything."
Derek gave the doorway another couple of taps, then went on his way.
Alison didn't have Joey Billings’s number in her phone, so she had to look it up.A weight was being piled on her as she searched for information, almost like someone was pulling a weighted bag over her head.She knew it wasn’t her fault that a killer was out there, but if he was targeting women because of her, then she had a duty to stop them before they killed more.It might be personal for the killer, and that made it personal for Alison, too.
I will catch you.If it’s the last thing I ever do, I’ll stop you from killing innocent women.
Alison found Joey’s number in the system and dialed it.It rang for a long time before he finally answered it.
