Perhaps Carver was right about Alison not standing up for what she believed in the past, but she wasn’t that young, naive woman any longer.If Carver came back for Alison’s position on the case, Alison wouldn’t let her take it without a fight.
CHAPTER EIGHT
They were on a road trip, only it didn't feel like one.Special Agent Hartley drove, and Detective Wolfe had insisted on sitting in the front.Alison had come freshly from thinking about standing up to Dr.Carver, but she backed down this time.She could have visited in situ in the front, and perhaps Hartley would have backed her, but what would it achieve?
It would only slow them down and put a wedge between her and the detective.Some battles were worth fighting, and others were better to let go for the good of the case.So, Alison found herself in the backseat of the car as they arrived in Boston.
Dr.Cowan hadn’t worked for the police department in some time.From what they had gathered from making some calls and talking with Detective Wolfe’s contact, Cowan had left the police department, but there were suggestions that he would have been forced out anyway.
He now worked at a private psychiatry practice in the city’s downtown core, and it was extremely successful.
The office stood alone in a separate building, surrounded by high-rises.The sign out front was large, making it visible from the street, but not overly bright or gaudy.There were lots of free parking spaces out front, and plenty in general, subtly displaying the practice's opulence.
Hartley parked the car right out front, and the three of them headed toward the building.They’d made an appointment, but with the risk of Cowan being their bitter killer, they had made the appointment under false pretenses, asking for a consultation for Dr.Cowan’s services.
The reception area within the office building was large, as Alison had expected on seeing the exterior.The reception desk was a dark mahogany with natural grain running down the legs, and a young woman sat behind it.
She looked up at them and smiled as she spoke on the phone.She quickly ended the call and greeted the three visitors.
"You must be Dr.Cowan’s ten o’clock," she said.
"We are," Hartley replied.
"Give me one moment, and then you can go in," the woman said with a smile."Is it only you, or will all of you be going in?"
"It’ll be all three of us," Hartley told her.
The young receptionist picked up the phone and made an internal call."Dr.Cowan, your ten o’clock is here…Yes, I’ll send them in now."The receptionist placed the phone back down on the base and smiled up at Hartley."You can go in now."She gestured to the door to her right.
Hartley led the way, with Detective Wolfe and Alison following.
As soon as Alison entered, she found Dr.Cowan observing all three of them with a curious smirk.
"So, you’re my ten o’clock?"he asked in a way that suggested he knew they weren't there for treatment, but didn’t quite know who they were.
"Special Agent Hartley," Hartley introduced, showing her badge."My associates, Detective Wolfe and Dr.Payne."
"The whole cavalry is here," Dr.Cowan commented.He’d been standing, but he moved back around behind his desk and sat down."I assume this is about the recent spate of murders?Dr.Payne, I’m familiar with your work.Seems like we’re in this together now."
"Are we?"Alison asked as she approached his desk.
"You tell me," he said."I worked on one of the cases, and you worked on the other," Cowan commented."Of course, we caught the Slasher, but you never did catch the Strangler, did you?"
"Ha!"
Everyone tried to look at Detective Wolfe, who had spat out the word.He smiled and brought his hand to his mouth before removing both the hand and the smile.
"I’m sorry," Wolfe said."Are you really comparing the cases?They only caught the Slasher after they ignored your suggestions."
Cowan balled the fist that rested on the desktop, pushing his fingernails into his palm."Look at the case as closely as you like, but my profiling was sound.Dr.Payne, is it factual to say that we are right a hundred percent of the time?"
"That’s a loaded question," Alison replied.
"But we both know the answer, and if you’re working this case, then I’m sure you’ve read the original Slasher field by now.Have you come here to accuse me of something?"
"Is there anything to accuse you of?"Alison countered.
"You’re quite angry about the whole thing," Hartley commented.
