Page 44 of Say Nothing
"This is ridiculous," Thomas said."I understand your frustration, Special Agent Sullivan, and I’ll be the first to admit that the timing of my meeting coinciding with the three murders is suspect.I wouldn’t be so foolish as to meet with a client, a meeting that can be easily proven, and then go and kill someone a few blocks away.If this is the only evidence you have, then we both know it won't hold up in court.Why leave no evidence at the crime scene, only to put myself in the vicinity?"
"How do you know we didn't find any evidence at the crime scene?"Derek asked.
"Because if you did, you would have presented that already.By focusing on a coincidence, you’re telling me that you have nothing," Thomas said.
Derek took his time taking back the CCTV images and credit card statements.He placed them back in his folder before taking out another report and studying it before placing it on the table.
"It’s interesting that you should mention evidence left at the crime scene," Derek said.He slid the report over to Thomas and his lawyer."There was something found at the latest crime scene."
The lawyer picked up the report and read it."A pink thread?What is this?"
"A pink thread," Derek repeated."When I received the call about the pink thread in your office, I knew immediately it would match your jacket, the one we currently have in evidence and are checking against the thread found on the victim’s body."
Thomas laughed."This all feels a little too neat, don't you think?Do you have anything else?Can I assume this was found on the third victim after finding nothing on the first two?"
"You seem to know a lot about the case," Derek pointed out.
Alison studied Thomas the entire time, trying to work out if it was all an act or if he was genuinely surprised and annoyed.
"I know how this sort of thing works," Thomas admitted."I’ve been on this side of the desk multiple times, and I’ve studied hundreds of client videos to ensure they weren’t coerced into confessions.This is obviously someone trying to frame me."
"Frame you?"Derek asked.
"Three murders that coincide with three of my meetings, and now, a thread that might match my jacket?"Thomas asked.
"Oh, I’m sure it will match your jacket when we get the forensics back."
"Yeah, that’s what I’m worried about," Thomas said."I’m not the only one with one of those jackets, and the last I checked, mine wasn’t missing any stitches on the lettering.I have guys come with me to my events, and we all wear the same jacket."
"So, it’s one of the guys you work with who’s tryin to frame you?"Derek asked.
"I don't know who’s trying to frame me," Thomas said."The only thing I know is that I’m not the one you need to be looking for, and while you’re in here being distracted by this circus, the killer is out there laughing at you."
"Is that a fact?"Derek asked.
"Yes, it is."
Thomas was becoming more agitated, but if he were telling the truth, he had a right to be agitated.Alison wanted to step in and push him a little to see if he would snap, but that was exactly what Thomas had spoken about: using methods to create emotion and hope someone slipped up.If he was angered, he might say something he didn't mean, but with the evidence piling up, it could mean a lot.
"We can put you in the area of all three murders," Derek said."When I mention the three women to you back at your office, you knew them, and you acted surprised to hear they were dead."
"I was surprised," Thomas said.
"You also told me that you hadn’t had any contact with them at all recently."
"I haven’t," Thomas maintained.
"Nothing springs to mind?"Derek asked.
"Can you just come out with it?"Thomas asked."You’re obviously about to produce some grand gotcha moment that you think proves I had something to do with the murders."
Once more, Derek took back the evidence he had presented, placed it back in his folder, and took out the next piece.He stored the documents into three smaller piles and a single file.He placed the three stacks before Thomas with the single file atop the middle stack.
"In the last three weeks, you’ve requested the trial transcripts from the trials where Margaret, Sarah, and Patricia testified, along with any other court records and police reports pertaining to them."
Thomas shook his head."No, I never requested any of that."
"See, that’s interesting," Derek replied, "Because all of the information was requested from your computer and downloaded onto that same computer."
