Alison swallowed, and her breathing quickened."He’s been in contact with you?"
"It’s more than that," Carver said.She pursed her lips before taking a mouthful of coffee.Then she stared at Alison as if sizing her up."I don't want to talk to anyone else about this until you’ve had a chance to assess the situation, and I don't know what he might do if I bring anyone else."
"Just tell me what’s going on," Alison said."We’ve been looking for him for days.Agencies across the country are looking for him."
"He can't have killed anyone in Washington, D.C.," Carver said."He’s been at my house the entire time.He said it would happen like that, but I don't know if he’s still a part of it, and this is some grand plan of his and someone else.I’ve spoken to him, and I believe him, but I need a second opinion.We might have had a rocky start, but I trust your opinion, Dr.Payne."
Alison gave a tight smile in reply.Yet, something made her hold the smile as it threatened to drop from her lips.It felt like too much of a U-turn compared to before.There had always been an undercurrent of dislike from Dr.Carver.The way Alison had been treated the last time they were in the lobby together made it seem as though Alison was her subordinate.Alison knew that Dr.Carver believed herself the better of the two of them, so why come to Alison for a second opinion when Carver’s own opinion should hold more weight?
"Just tell me what’s happened," Alison said."I’ll help you in any way I can."
Does she want me to trust her?Is that why she’s giving me compliments?To throw me off guard?
"I knew you would help," Carver said."He came to speak with me three days ago, begging me not to tell anyone where he was.He told me he hadn’t killed anyone, and that I was the only one he could come to.I was terrified when he first turned up at my home."
"I can't imagine," Alison said, leaning in and trying to play her part as well as she could.She wanted to reach out and take a drink of her coffee, but she wasn’t sure where the conversation was going yet, and she might need a diversion.
"Then he started speaking to me, and claiming his innocence, and he was all over the place, to be honest, but I know him.Iknewhim, but he hasn’t changed in all that time.It felt like I was talking directly to the man I once knew.It was unsettling.But the more he talked, the more he convinced me.He said if we waited long enough, someone else would be killed, and that would prove his innocence, and that did happen, but I still questioned it.What if he were working with someone else?Then the truth hit me."
"What was that?"Alison asked.
"He’s too incompetent," Carver replied with a grimace and a shake of her head."I hate to say it, but he doesn’t have the mental capacity to plan any of this out, let alone all of it.I haven’t dared to say that to him because I know how much it would antagonize him.It took a long time, but he’s ready to talk to you."
"To me?"Alison asked."Why me?"
"You’re one of us," Carver said."That’s a good foundation.I vouched for you, and he listens to me.Also in your favor is your record.We both know what you’ve achieved over the past two years.You’re one of the most trusted names in forensic psychology and profiling.We can't go to anyone else, right?"
Alison took a moment to show she was thinking it through, even though she already knew where Carver was leading her.If Alison was right, that was into a trap, and the conversation was designed to get her there.
"It’s common knowledge now that we’re looking for someone connected to law enforcement," Alison said."We don't know who the person is.He’s worried that the killer is someone inside the force or the FBI."
"I don't believe that," Carver said."I tried to convince him of that, but he wouldn’t listen.He’s worried that if he comes in, whoever is orchestrating all of this will try to pin it on him."
"Why did he run in the first place?"Alison asked.
"He didn’t," Carver said."He went out of state to visit some friends, and word got back to him that the police were looking for him and they had raided his house and his cabin.He was terrified of…He was a good man in many ways, but he was never equipped with common sense.I don't understand how he made a career as a profiler.He decided this would be the best course of action.Don't ask me for any rhyme or reason to the thoughts that man has.Just talk with him and make him see sense."
"I’ll talk with him," Alison said.What would you say if I spoke about telling others about the situation?How would you scare me into keeping this to myself?You must have thought of that."Is he at your home now?"
"No, he won't stay there," Carver said."I can take you to him, and once you’ve talked to him, he’ll go with you to the FBI offices, I know he will."Carver sighed."I wish it didn't have to be like this, but he was also stubborn, and like a child at times."
"It’s fine," Alison assured."As long as he comes in and we can discount him from the investigation, then we can stop wasting resources."
"Thank you," Carver said.
There was a warmth in the thanks, a genuineness that was perhaps born from being happy to have convinced Alison, rather than being glad for her help.
When we met the last time in the lobby, you hugged me, and I thought that was odd.Was that when you stole a hair from me to plant at the crime scene?
Alison finally reached for her coffee and took a drink, almost spitting it out.
"Ugh," Alison complained."Give me a second.They forgot to put sugar in this morning.I’ll grab some, and then we can go.I want to talk to him as soon as I can so we can move on from him as a suspect."
Alison got up and placed her bag on the table, showing Carver:Look, I trust you with my possessions.I’m taken in by your story and believe you.
She went to the coffee bar, her back angled to Carver.
"Excuse me," Alison said with a pleasant grin, while slowly removing her phone from her pocket."Can I have sugar sachets, and oh…" She faced the server the entire time, glancing down as she typed a message to Hartley.
