Page 39 of Say Nothing
When Victoria cleared her throat, Alison looked up.
"Oh, hey," Alison said.
She looked bleary-eyed and sounded rough.
"You need to get some sleep," Victoria told her.
"I know, but I can't right now.I was up half the night, hearing the doorbell in my head.I must have gone to the door half a dozen times to find no one there.Thanks for letting me be in here.I can't be at home right now with journalists hounding me and my mind playing tricks on me.I’m sorry for bringing the unwanted attention."
"It’s part of the job," Victoria said."We’ve all faced something like this at some point in our careers, and if we haven’t, then we’re not doing our jobs properly.Although if you are going to be here more, I would like to add some extra security to the office, get a couple of uniformed bodies in here just in case."
"I can't let you do that," Alison said."I can't bring this to your doorstep and then expect you to deal with it."
"Nonsense," Victoria claimed."You’ve done so much for me and the company.The least I can do is have some extra security to protect my greatest asset and put my other assets at ease.It’ll only be for a short while, won't it?"
"I hope so."Alison sighed wearily."It feels like we’re burning through suspects one at a time.One comes along, we find he can't be the killer, so we cut him loose, then another comes along.Rinse and repeat."
"That’s sometimes the way it is," Victoria said."The more you get to know the killer, the more you get inside their head, and when the one perfect moment comes along, you’re ready to strike."
"That’s exactly what we need," Alison said."Although the latest suspect does fit the bill."
"Who are you looking at now?"
"Thomas Bennet," Alison replied.
"Bennet?"Victoria said.
"You remember him?"
"The benefit of a photographic memory."Victoria tapped the side of her head."I remember you working on his parole hearing, and everyone was for setting him free.You were the only one who advised against early release."
"Since he has been released, he’s become a model citizen," Alison said."He works full time, pays his taxes, hasn’t ever been in trouble again with the law, and has founded an organization that counsels incarcerated and released inmates.Maybe I was wrong about him back then."
"Do you think you were?"Victoria asked.
Alison took a deep breath."I’ve been going over his old files, and I don't think I was wrong.Right up until his release, he was manipulating the prisoners inside, and some of the reports make me think he was manipulating guards, too.It’s as if there are things missing from the reports, that the guards purposely left things out to make him look better."
"Then I’m with you," Victoria said."There’s no one I trust more, and that includes myself.You have a unique ability to see what no one else can.And if he hasn’t been in trouble with the law, that doesn’t mean he hasn’t committed crimes.He might be a lot better at getting away with it.SO, he’d the next suspect in the suspect mill."
"It looks like it," Alison said."I’m waiting on Special Agent Sullivan getting back to me with an address, and we can go speak with him."
"I want you to promise me that you’ll be careful with this case," Victoria said.
"I always am," Alison replied.
"I know you are, but I don't want you putting yourself in danger.Your house is not a place you want to be right now with the attention, and the possibility of…If you need a place to stay, come stay with me, or book into a hotel.Use the company credit card so it’s not under your name."
"I have my gun," Alison said, glancing down at the bag at her feet.
"If you’re carrying that around, you better be ready to fire it when the time comes."
Alison nodded.She was adept with a gun, and her aim was good, but firing at a living target was a different matter entirely.
"A lot of people are watching right now," Victoria told her."This is a big case for the justice department, and I don’t want to put any undue pressure on you, but people are scared, and that causes a ripple effect."
"I know."Alison sighed through her nose and tightened her lips."I’m trying to keep it at the back of my mind, but I know that the longer this goes on, the more women will be afraid to come forward, and that means more criminals on the street.This is not only about catching a killer, but crafting safe spaces so criminals are put behind bars instead of walking the streets.I will find them, and I will stop them."
"I believe you," Victoria said."And if there’s—"
