"Do you think there will be changes?"Alison asked as nonchalantly as she could."That’s what the killer wants.They want to point out the failings of criminal investigations, pointing out where we went wrong.The mishandling of evidence, faulty profiling, confirmation bias, and over presumption.If we ever catch the person, do you think there will be any change in how we do things?"
Carver was silent for some time, and then she swallowed."I don't know.Whoever is doing this believes they are right in what they do; that much is obvious.It’s also obvious that mistakes have been made and will continue to be made.Yes, there should be a change in how we do things if mistakes are being made, but I don't know if that happens.It would depend on the attention the case gets."
"I think the killer is pivoting," Alison said.
She left the words dangling in the air between them like low-hanging fruit.
"Oh?"Carver asked after a pause.She swallowed again."What are they pivoting to?"
"This is not public knowledge, so I implore you not to speak about it to anyone."
"I know how this works," Carver confirmed."I wouldn’t do anything to jeopardize the case."
"I know you wouldn’t," Alison lied."We found evidence at the last crime scene: a hair."
"The killer’s?"Carver asked.
Alison shook her head."Mine.I’m worried that the killer is trying to frame me, and they will try to finger me as the killer.It makes sense.I’m the best profiler in the country, so I’ll get the most attention if it were to happen."
"Yes," Carver said stiffly."You have proven yourself over the past few years.Would they be able to pull that off?"
"I’ll do all I can to stop them," Alison said."Still, it made me think about what you said earlier."
Carver took a second before responding so that she didn't look too eager."What did I say?"
They arrived at an industrial area on the outskirts of the city, where many of the buildings looked run-down and derelict.Windows were smashed, doors hung by their hinges, and pieces of glass, brick, and metal littered the surrounding areas.
Alison was in a position to question why they had come here when there didn’t look to be a place where Sterling might hole up, but she played along for now.
"You said that you were worried about Sterling working with someone," Alison commented."Someone took a hair of mine to leave at the crime scene.What if you’re right about Sterling working with someone, and he has someone on the inside?"
"It is possible," Carver admitted."If he’s working with someone, then the other person is the brains behind it, but I don't think so.I do know Kenneth well, and there was no indication in anything he said to me.He wouldn’t be able to hide that from me, but I welcome a second opinion."
"I trust your opinion," Alison said."And you do know him well.As soon as we get to him, I’ll convince him to come in with me, and we can move on from him as a suspect."
"That’s for the best," Carver said.She paused before adding, "I can't believe someone is trying to frame you.After all you’ve done for the CBI and departments in other states, do they really think they can get the better of you?"
Alison smiled, maintaining her calm.While they were in the car, she felt safe.It was only when they reached their destination that Carver would let the mask slip, and then she would be in danger.
"I know I’m good at what I do, but I’m not arrogant or foolish enough to believe there’s no one better than me.I have a good team around me, and I believe that if we work together, I won't be in any real danger."
Carver slowed a little as they drove down a deserted road.No cars were parked, except for one that had been abandoned.The windows were smashed in, and yellow and black olive tape surrounded the vehicle.
"I never had that," Carver said."When I consulted with the FBI, I didn't have a support network around me.That was hard at times."She came to a stop outside a small storage facility.
Is this some final assurance that I trust you, perhaps sympathize with you, or are you being vulnerable right before you try to frame and kill me?
"How about at the Department of Justice?"Alison asked."That’s where you work now, isn’t it?"
"Yes," Carver said."It’s not as high-profile as consulting with the FBI, but it’s fine.And to answer your question, no, I don't have a good support network there.People find me hard to work with.I would add, if you can believe that, but I know myself well enough to know that it’s true."
The mask was starting to slip, but that didn't matter as much now.They were obviously at their destination.
"I would try to claim otherwise, but I don't know you well enough, and my words would be hollow.It wouldn’t take an expert to see that."
If I can keep her talking in the car, perhaps Hartley can get here in time to stop us from going in.If police do arrive, would she kill me where I sit as one last act of vengeance?
"Still," Alison continued, "there’s something valuable about knowing one’s self.Perhaps that doesn’t give you any peace if you understand that you're just not easy to work with, but I’m not easy to work with either.I know I’m stubborn, and I have a desire to be right about everything."
