"I looked back at the reports for each case," Derek told her."No one person was interviewed for multiple murders.In each case, there weren’t a lot of suspects once family and friends had been ruled out.To me, that suggests a killer who chose victims randomly.I went back and looked again after we got on the van, and no one from the companies we’re looking at was ever interviewed as a suspect.If this is the same guy in all five murders, hehasgotten away with it, and he knows that.However, if this is someone who works for a security company, and we come sniffing around, there’s no telling what he’ll do."
"Yeah," Alison sighed.When she listened to Derek talk, it gave her some hope, but she remained guarded against the possibility that it would be another dead end.
"Maybe there’s evidence to connect him to the crimes, but we’ve not discovered it because we’ve not looked in the right direction," Derek continued."He’s not had to deal with someone questioning him."
"I know," Alison complained."It’s a lot of what ifs."
"It is, but your father and I have a lot of time and motivation.He’s retired, and my boss has agreed to let me focus on Emma’s case.This is not just personal anymore.If we bring in a killer for all five murders, that’s a big win for the department, and I’ve earned a lot of credit over the past two years working with you."
"This is all…" Alison brought her hand up and pinched the bridge of her nose.Then, she wiped the tears as they came.Derek gave her time and silence to finish her thought."It’s a lot," Alison added."The fact that Dad’s on board after all these years, and I know you’re doing this for me."
"Guilty as charged," Derek replied.
Alison laughed."I really hope this is something we can follow, but do you know what, even if it isn’t, I can help but feel proud of both of you and just…loved.It really is a lot to take in.I can't thank you enough for this."
"I’m in this with you now," Derek told her."If we get this guy, it’s a win for me, too.I want to catch this guy as much as you do and let your sister rest after all these years.I don't want to see more of the pain you hold inside.It’s the not knowing that hurts the most, and it’s been far too long.So, we keep going."
"We keep going," Alison echoed.
"Tomorrow morning, we finally get working on the case and speak to the first company," Derek told her."We don't need to investigate the company itself, but if they won't cooperate, we can easily get a warrant.Then we move on to the employees.We obtain the employee records and begin reviewing them, looking for anyone who matches the profile we’ve built.That gives us a list of suspects, and we start going through them one by one.Your father wants us to surveil them first before we make contact, and I’m inclined to agree.We watch, see what they do, and then talk with them."
"If you find our guy, there’s no real chance of catching him in the act," Alison reminded him."He spaces the killings out, five years or more.If the murderer from last monthwashim, then he won’t kill again for a long time."
"I know," Derek said."We watch them and observe, then we talk with them.We don't know what we’ll get until we get it."
The sky outside had turned completely black; the city shrouded in darkness.streetlights and building lights had popped up one by one, covering the city with what looked like stars in the blackness, far more than could be seen in the night sky above.
"What do you think about the investigation there?"Derek asked."One murder in Philadelphia and one in Boston.Are you sure they’re connected?"
"Yeah, we’re sure," Alison said."I was worried to call you tonight and give you an update after looking at the photos from the crime scene here.I was worried that someone was coming after me, but after seeing the photos from the section crime scene, it’s not me, but the justice system, or the people within it.The killer wants to show the failings.One criminal psychologist, now retired, and forensics from the other.I don't believe the investigation into the Riverside Strangler was improper, but the Fenway Slasher case is different.We’re hoping to travel out there tomorrow to talk with the profiler from the case.He either sabotaged the investigation or he was really bad at his job."
"You’re thinking he might be the killer?"Derek asked.
"I don't know," Alison admitted."Much like your investigation, I don't know if we know until we talk with him.It’s weird."
"What is?"Derek asked.
"I don't know for sure, but it just feels like weird timing."Alison was on the top floor of the hotel, and she looked down at the city, cars moving on the streets, and people walking around like small critters from her vantage point."That was my very first case, and the killer included my photo among the others as if it were partly my fault that the case failed."
"Yeah, but you had nothing to do with the case in Boston, right?"Derek pointed out.
"No, I know, but my first case is popping back up now?"Alison asked."The killer obviously thinks I had something to do with the killer not being caught."
"If you did, then it was because they didn't include you enough," Derek said."If you were involved more, then who knows what might have happened.Looking back now, knowing your history, I’m sure they know they made a mistake."
"Maybe," Alison admitted."I’ll reach out to Dr.Carver.She was the lead profiler on the case.Maybe she knows more about it.They never caught the killer, and that must haunt her, too.She’s still in the city, from what we know.She works for the DOJ now.She must think about that case."
"Just be careful," Derek warned."You had nothing to do with the failures in the original case, but if the killer believes you did, then that puts you at risk.The killer is pointing out the failings, but what if they decide to take retribution on those who made the mistakes?"
"I didn’t—"
"I know," Derek interrupted."I know that, and you know that, but we don't know what the killer believes.They’re killing people.We don't know what they might do next.So, please be careful."
"I will," Alison told him."That goes for you, too.And Dad.If you do find this guy and he gets spooked when you confront him, he’s not going to turn himself over after killing five women.You don't know what he’s capable of.We know the killer I’m chasing has killed at least two people, and the one you’re chasing might have killed five."
"I hope he tries something," Derek said."Let’s see him try."
"Derek," Alison warned."I don’t want anything to happen to you.Or Dad."
