Alison let the murmurs ripple around the room as people made comments.
"The killer knows a lot about multiple serial killers, and they are able to mimic the murders well enough for us to immediately recognize them.They can also understand what mistakes were made and who should be held responsible.They are certainly intelligent, there is no denying that, and they are precise and careful.I want you all to read through the letter to understand better what and who we’re dealing with."
Alison turned and looked at the screen, reading through the letter for the sixth or seventh time.It had been written on a torn piece of notepaper with a standard ballpoint pen.The penmanship showed some flourishes in the curves of certain letters.The periods had also been pressed into the paper with some force.It was almost impossible to determine someone’s character from the handwriting alone, but Alison wondered if that was the killer’s anger spilling through.
This has been a long time coming, and I know you all understand this by now.We have all made mistakes in our lives, and all we can do is atone for them.No, that is not true.We can atone for them as long as we are truly sorry for the pain we have caused, and we do what we can to fix past mistakes and learn from them.
Have we learned from the mistakes of our past?No, we have not.We allow mediocrity to seep into the very fibers of our being, and we accept it.Collectively, as a group, as a society, as the human race, we accept that mediocrity is acceptable.I do not allow for that, and neither should you.So, I have taken it upon myself to do something about it.
I don't need to spell out what I have done about the mistakes of the past.I have spelled it out in the deaths of innocent people.Yes, I admit that the people I’ve killed are innocent, and there will be more innocent people killed.I don't enjoy what I do; I take no pleasure in it.Yet, it must be done if we are to learn.
Do not treat me as the evil you want to treat me as.I am human, and I am fallible, but I am one of the few who have stepped up to make amends.None of you has been able to do this because you are not strong enough, so I am doing it on your behalf.
I am sorry for what I do, but I don't apologize for it.
Alison gave them some time to read the letter.
"We have analysts looking at the handwriting, but I don't know how much we get from that," Alison said."I’m also available to hear any of your theories about who might have written this or what they are communicating that we have missed.Before that, I’d like to give my thoughts to aid all of you in searching for this person."
Alison looked around the room, catching as many eyes as possible.She’d mentioned the fact that it could be someone in law enforcement, and what she was supposed to say backed that up more.It was hard to consider the fact as it meant any of them could switch from catching killers to becoming one.
"The letter shows self-awareness," Alison said."The killer is not trying to hide who they are, but they obviously left out details that could lead us to them.The first thing I want to draw your attention to is how often the letter's author mentions making mistakes.This is not only about the mistakes others have made, but also about the mistakes they have made.They are killing people to make up for what they did in the past, a way for them to deal with a mistake made, which further pushed me to consider the fact that this was someone who worked on one of the cases, or will have worked on an upcoming case.
"There is also a certain camaraderie in the letter.There is mention of ‘us’ and ‘we.’They talk about themselves as a separate entity to us, one who can help fix the mistakes of the past where we can't, but also one who is part of the same group: law enforcement.They feel responsible for a past failed case and, to cope with it, they find others to blame for the mistakes.If they can point the finger at others who have done what they did, then they don't feel so alone anymore.It’s a very human trait, even in those we deem to be evil."
Some of the officers and agents in the room looked around at each other as if one of them might be the killer.
"So, when you leave this room, I want you to keep in mind what I’ve said to you," Alison explained."Of course, the recent cases prove that we are all fallible, as the killer has pointed out.I don't want you to follow blindly.If you believe I might be wrong about something, or that any of us are, let us know.If you think of something that we haven’t, then let us know.I’m certain that we’re dealing with someone in law enforcement or connected to law enforcement in some way, but I don't consider that theory blindly.I hold it true until proven otherwise, and that comes down to all of you.Use the information I’ve given you, but scrutinize it and test it.Okay?"
There were some nods and murmurs of agreement from around the room.
"Good," Alison said."Now, get out there and find our killer."
The letter was an escalation to what had come before.Alison didn't want to discover what the next escalation would be.
CHAPTER TWELVE
Names were thrown around in the FBI offices, in the bullpen, and in Boston and Baltimore after Alison's information was shared with them as well.A lot of the names were people who were disliked by others or might bear a grudge, as well as those who were inept at their jobs.Alison reminded them that they were looking for someone smart, likely very good at their job, and someone who felt guilty about a past mistake they had committed out of ineptitude.
That guidance led to a suspect who fit the profile in many ways: Dr.Michael Dalton.
Alison and Special Agent Hartley looked through the viewing window and into the interview room where Dalton sat.He had been informed of his right to a lawyer, but he had refused one, stating that he had a team of lawyers on his books.
They were back in Boston, where Dalton lived and worked.One of the agents in the Boston office had worked with Dalton on a few occasions on different cases.
"Apparently, he was more than happy to come down here," Hartley commented."Almost too happy.Does that give us anything?"
Alison looked through the window at Dalton, who sat facing them, his eyes wandering across the one-way glass.His body looked loose, and he sat leaning slightly to his left.There was no tension in his face, suggesting to Alison that he wasn’t nervous to be in there.That was his outward projection.
"I don't know," Alison admitted."The killer must have a plan in place, in case we do interview them.They’re smart and connected to law enforcement.They must know there are other sorts of people around, no matter what they think of themselves.They have to have thought about what would happen if they were brought in.This doesn’t feel like a game they’d want to play with us, but you never know.What exactly are we dealing with here?"
"Dr.Michael Dalton," Hartley said."From what they briefed me on, he’s a criminal psychologist who often consults with the FBI and local PD here, but he’s also very vocal about established profiling methods and the taught psychology behind them.Still, he has his own consulting firm and has been published in multiple scientific magazines.I spoke to the agent who brought him in, and I get the impression that Dalton follows conventions, but hides that by talking a lot about the instinct he has for crime."
"He said that?"Alison asked.
"That’s what the agent told me," Hartley said."Dalton will often talk about psychology being more of an art than a science and how he works off hunches."
"He must get results if they keep using him."
