Page 33 of Say Nothing
"He might eventually figure that out, but he has too much rage surrounding his brother," Alison said."If I had to guess, I would say that he blames himself.He feels guilty over his brother and how he couldn’t help him, and he’s transferred that guilt and rage, so he can blame other people for his problems."
"And that guilt encompasses him until he finally cracks or snaps and lashes out," Derek said.
"It would fit," Alison said."Special Agent Loxley said there was a message left this time, but he didn't know what the message was.That can only be beneficial for us.The more the killer gives us, the more insight we gain into them, even if they think they’re not revealing anything."
"Then let’s get in there and see if it makes a difference," Derek said.
Alison got out of the vehicle with a little more hope that the killer had messed up by leaving them a note, but her heart was still heavy and weary as they walked into another crime scene.She’d rather have no extra help and no message, but that wasn’t her choice.All she could do was work with what she was given.
And what she was given was another woman who’d testified against a violent criminal, one she’d also coached before the trial.
Three women, and I’m connected to all three.
Derek gestured with his head toward the CCTV camera above the door.Alison also saw the small entry pad for a fob.They would check who had come and gone on the camera and if there were any records of entry with fobs, but she knew they wouldn’t get anything with that.Two homes had been entered without triggering alarms.The killer had chosen to leave them a note; they wouldn’t be so kind as to leave them footage, too.
They were directed into the building and up to the fourth floor.They took the stairs to leave the elevator free for any equipment that needed to be brought up or down.They were met at the apartment by a familiar face.
"Detective Moore," Alison said.
"I hoped they would send for you," Samantha said to Alison.She quickly turned to Derek and added, "You, too, Special Agent Sullivan.I’m glad you’re both here."
"Your partner is not with you?"Alison asked.
"No.He had a family thing to go to, but I can handle it."
"The killer left us a note this time?"Alison asked.
"They did," Samantha replied, "but that’s not all.There was an anonymous 911 call made about a shot being fired within this apartment.When the officers arrived, there was no response when they knocked, so they forced their way in.That’s when they found the body."
"She wasn’t shot, was she?"Derek asked.
"No, suffocated just like the other two," Samantha said.
"So, we have to assume the killer made the call," Alison said."They wanted or needed the body to be found, and found quickly.But why?"
"Maybe they were worried about the smell?"Samantha suggested.
"Or, they want to give themselves an alibi," Derek said."Nichols could have arranged for someone to make the call while he was in custody, so we wouldn’t think it was him."
"Do they have a recording of the call?"Alison asked.
"They’re getting it to me," Samantha said."I had them play it over the phone, and it was a male voice, calm, straight to the point.They said what they needed to say, then got off the line quickly enough that it couldn’t be traced if we were tracing it."
"Maybe it would have taken too long," Alison said."We know Patricia Montgomery is a social worker.I assume she lives alone?"
Samantha nodded.
"When she didn't turn up for work, they would call her.They wouldn’t send someone around straight away, but they would eventually request a wellness check, and then she’s found, but what?Two days later?Three?Four?The killer wants the body to be found now, and I can only assume they want us to see it.They need their message to be out there, and they don't want to wait.That tells me that the next one is coming sooner rather than later.We need to find them soon.Three dead bodies in just under a week.I don’t want to think about how many more are coming and how quickly."
"This way," Detective Moore said, leading the way into the apartment.
That was the main difference when compared to the first two murders, and it worried Alison as much as the 911 call.It was one thing to bypass a security system and enter a private residence, but quite another to walk into an apartment building and walk out again without being noticed.
Derek stopped in the hallway just inside the door."The door was locked when the officers got here?"
"Yes," Samantha replied."The officers tried the door and found it locked, so they had to break it down.Two deadbolts.It took them some time to get through."
"There’s a security chain and a metal rod.I’m assuming they weren’t in place when the officers entered."
