Alison didn't think she had an option to say no to that, so she raised her eyebrows for her counterpart to continue as she took a sip of her latte.
"Do you stand up for what you believe in now?"Carver asked.
"I do," Alison answered.
"Good," Carver said."I’m glad you learned that, finally.Look, I know people talked about me after the Riverside case.No one said anything to my face, but it was obvious they thought I was to blame.Not me personally, perhaps, but I was one of the main pieces of the task force that was put together, and we all failed together.We all carried that around with us.I don't care about the past being dredged up.I have the same guilt now as I had back then.The one thing I don't want is to be blamed for this murder, these murders."
"The killer is referencing the original murders," Alison said."You’re connected to one of them, but not the other."
"What I’m saying is, I failed eighteen years ago.No matter how you look at it, I failed.I don't want to fail again.So, I’m asking you if you’ll catch this killer?"
Alison couldn’t make promises.They still had no idea who they were dealing with.
Dr.Carver cut in again before Alison could answer.
"I could have come running when that special agent called me, but I didn't want to revisit the past.If the killing continued, or, God forbid, the killer is never caught, perhaps my name won't be in the media, but I will shoulder the blame.If you don't catch this killer, then I will always wonder if I could have.Please don't let me shoulder more guilt."
"That’s a weight you’re putting on me, and I don't know if that’s fair," Alison said.
"I don't care about fairness," Dr.Carver replied, scolding and shaking her head."We care about justice, but that doesn’t mean there’s fairness in this world.I worked my ass off, and we didn't catch the Strangler.Is that fair?It’s not.Now, my photo is pinned to a dead body.I want this killer caught, so my face is not plastered all over the news.I know you can't promise that, but I want assurances that you’ll live up to your reputation."
"I always have," Alison countered.
Dr.Carver held Alison’s gaze, scrutinizing her, Carver’s eyes searching Alison’s eyes and then her face for some sort of guarantee.
"I suppose that’ll have to do," Dr.Carver said."If not, I will take over from you.I have contacts in the Department of Justice, and I won't hesitate to use them if you are failing."
Alison wanted to snap back at her former colleague, but she bit her tongue.
"Whatever is best for the case," Alison said."You might not believe that I’m as invested in this case as you are, but I am.I will stop at nothing to catch this killer.I do feel guilt, and it’s because the Strangler was never caught.I don't think we have a chance to catch the Strangler now, but we do have a chance to stop this killer."
Dr.Carver didn't seem to be paying Alison much attention as she gestured to the coffee bar for them to bring her another coffee.
"This is all on your tab, by the way," Carver said.
Alison almost laughed at that.It was made more humorous by the fact that the FBI was paying for Alison’s room, which meant they were now also paying for Dr.Carver’s coffees.
"I was going to reach out to you," Alison told Carver, who was looking toward the coffee bar as she waited for her drink to be brought over."I know you were the lead on the case and that I was around for a short time.I was hoping you might know something about the case that I don’t.Or know why my picture was on the body too.I do feel guilty about the case, but I don't understand why the killer would place me there with you and Detective Vettle.I was hoping you might have some insight?"
"My first insight is that you’re already lost in this case if you’re looking elsewhere for answers," Carver said."You were part of the case back then, even if you only played a small part.To be honest, I didn't concern myself with you back then, so I don't have an answer for you.If your photo was included with the body, then the killer believes you were to blame in some way.Only you know what your failings were."
"Yeah," Alison replied.
She had thought long and hard about it, as she’d tried to get to sleep the previous night.She blamed herself for not catching the killer, but she couldn’t pinpoint why.She’d been a part of the case, and the killer was not caught.She assumed some of the blame.The killer also blamed her in some way.
Did that mean the killer was guessing at who was to blame for the failures, or did they pick people to display after researching them?
Am I a mistaken inclusion, or am I to blame in the killer’s eyes?
"I should go," Dr.Carver said."I don’t like to give warnings, but if you don't catch this killer soon, I will step in.I won't repeat the mistakes of the past."
"I understand," Alison said as she stood.Her teeth clamped together, and she did her best not to bare them in front of Dr.Carver.She also understood why Carver wanted to take over the case.Alison had no intention of letting that happen, but knew it might also be out of her control.
She wondered if there would be an embrace at the end of their interaction, just like at the beginning.She didn't have to wonder for long.As soon as the coffee was delivered to the table, Dr.Carver took it and left the table without saying goodbye.
Allison watched her go.Then she picked up her coffee and left the building to hail a cab.The next stop was Dr.Cowan, the lead profiler on the Fenway Slasher case.Would he also try to take over the case from Alison?
A threat like the one from Dr.Carver might be taken with a grain of salt, but not after what Alison had seen in the woman’s eyes.Dr.Carver felt deep guilt about her past failure, and if Alison didn't find the killer soon, Carver would take over.
