"Six years ago," Derek said when he came off the phone."That’s when the front gate was installed.The security system in the house, along with the extra cameras and security lights outside, was installed just after the trial."
"She was afraid of retribution from Calvin or Franklin," Alison said.
"Either that or it’s really coincidental timing," Derek said.
"Okay, so Franklin was there when the gate was installed, but not the house system.Let’s assume he visited the house sometime in the last five years for some reason.He observes the system and becomes familiar with it.With the number of threats he sent her over the past five years, I’d be surprised if he didn't turn up at her house, too.There area lotof threats."
"So, he’s the guy?"Derek asked."He plots with his cousin while seeing him every week, and then goes after her now."
"Or he snaps," Alison suggested."He’s still messaging her.He still wants her back, and he likely wants her to feel the pain he feels.Maybe something flipped in his brain, and he decided to confront her, maybe scare her.We know he took the bag to the house where she was suffocated.No, he must have meant to kill her.He wouldn’t have gone there to scare her and used the bag, then left her alive."Alison shook her head and sighed."With the messages he sent her, I think it’s more to do with the marriage breakup than his cousin.He was obsessive and angry."
Derek’s phone chimed, and he checked the message.
"They have eyes on him now," he told Alison."Detective Moore and her partner are at his apartment building, and they’re waiting for backup before they go in.If he’s the killer, I get the feeling he won't go down without a fight.Let’s hope they can take him down before he kills anyone else.Let’s hope there’s no collateral damage when they do go in.
CHAPTER FOUR
Detective Samantha Moore sat in the passenger seat as her partner drove them to Franklin Howard’s apartment.
"You know," Detective Karter Roisin told her."Youcandrive from time to time."
"Yeah, I know," Samantha replied."It gives me time to think when I get to ride along and you do the driving."
"Oh, yeah?"Karter asked."And what has it given you time to think about today?"
"How inadequate my thinking is," she replied.
Detective Roisin indicated a turn and pulled into the second lane to overtake the slower vehicle.They didn't have lights or the siren on, not yet.They only needed to get to the apartment and keep an eye on the front door for Franklin Howard until backup joined them.
"Sounds existential," Karter told her.
"Nah, not like that," Samantha replied."Do you know who I met yesterday?"
"Who?"
"Dr.Alison Payne," Samantha said with some pride.
"And she is?"
"Ugh, Karter.Do you really not keep up to date with developments in our field?"
"Just the ones that keep criminals off the streets," Karter replied.
"Which are?"Samantha asked.
"There’s a new line of handcuffs coming out.Almost impossible to crack."He took a drink of the energy drink from the cup holder to the right of the steering wheel.
"And that keeps criminals off the streets, how?"Samantha asked.
"They can't get out of them once they’re on."He indicated again as he pulled past another slow driver on the way to the apartment building.The streets were getting busy with the start of rush hour."They can't escape, right?"
"And how many criminals escape once the cuffs are on?"Samantha asked.
"I don't have the numbers off-hand, but they must have invented them for a reason, right?"
"I don't know why I talk to you sometimes," Samantha said.
"Come on, you love me really," he told her.
