Alison had considered that the killer might wait until Alison was back in California and try to stage her death in connection with Emma’s death, but she’s been wrong about that.The time had come far sooner.
"Is there anything I need to know about him before we go in there?"Alison asked, trying to delay a bit longer."I don't want to scare him when we go in there."
"It’ll be fine," Carver said."As long as you’re with me, he’ll be fine."
"Okay, give me a second," Alison said.
"We shouldn’t wait too long," Carver urged."If he looks out and sees us, he might get scared that I’ve brought someone with me."
"But he knows I’m coming," Alison tried, keeping the conversation going a little longer.
"Come on," Carver said, opening her door."I don't want him to be my responsibility any longer.We go in there and talk with him, and then he’s your responsibility."Carver got out of the car."Come on," she urged.
Alison had delayed as much as she was able.She exited the car, taking as much time as she could without drawing suspicion, and as she rounded the car, she quickly looked Carver up and down for any weapons.Could she attack and subdue her now and be done with it?Was Sterling even in the building?Was he still alive?Was she right about Carver being the killer?
She had to go in to find out.
So, she went with Dr.Carver toward the building that Alison was sure Carver wanted to be Alison’s final resting place.
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
"Right this way," Carver said when she reached the building.Carver opened the door, but went in first.
That suited Alison.As long as she could keep Carver in front of her, she wouldn’t need to worry about being struck down from behind.And she knew that Carver had taken care in how she subdued Alison.Carver needed to make it look like a failed murder attempt for her plan to work.
Unless she’s already dealt with Sterling, and this is just to kill me.
Alison’s body was tense, ready to spring into action, as she followed Carver into the dark and dusty building.
Do you have everything ready?Are you planning on staging another murder from the past?Do you have photos to spread out around Sterling’s body to make it look like all the others?Will you make it look like Serling got to me somehow before he died, or will you stage it to look like a suicide?Perhaps you will kill me and claim you caught me in the act.You would come out of it looking like a hero.Except you know that my associates know I’m to be framed, and it would look too suspicious for me to be killed now.
The thoughts leaped through Alison’s mind as she followed Carver down the dim hallway toward a light at the end.Alison knew by the small amount of illumination in what looked like a large room at the end of the hallway that the light source was the same as the one in the hallway: sunlight.A small amount filtered in through the gaps in the ceiling above, and more natural light entered the room at the end.
Carver didn’t look back.Alison scanned the floor for anything she could pick up and use as a weapon.As soon as she saw Sterling, she could attack Carver and claim it was self-defense.There was nothing but dust, small stones, and dirt on the floor.
Carver entered the large room and immediately went right, out of sight of Alison.
"Dr.Carver?"Alison called.
"Dr.Payne is here to speak with you," Carver said from the large room."We’re through here, Alison."
Alison didn't hear Sterling in the large room.She didn't hear anything coming from there.She looked around again, but there were no weapons to take hold of.
What are the options?I make a run for it, and Sterling is in there, and she kills him?Or, I go in there and hope I can delay enough until Hartley gets here.If she ever gets here.
Alison moved quickly into the room, but immediately went to the right, backing into the room to see Carver standing with a gun pointed at her.Alison immediately froze.
"I wasn’t sure if I would have to come back for you," Carver said."What was it?The building?The abandoned area of the city?You got there in the end, didn't you, but it took you far too long.You really are too trusting, Dr.Payne."
"What are you doing?"Alison asked, raising her hands. "What’s going on?Where’s Sterling?"
Alison spotted Sterling as soon as she said it.He lay face down on the floor, to the right of and behind Carver.His arms were spread wide, and he was shirtless.However, he was still breathing.His torso rose and fell gently.
Alison only stared at him for a second before her eyes were drawn back to the gun.She had expected some form of weapon, but not a gun.She wasn’t sure why.Carver had used a gun on two previous victims, not discriminating when one of them caught her in the act.At least, that was the assumption of what had happened.
"What’s going on?"Alison asked.
"Don't play dumb," Carver said."I knew you knew as soon as you hesitated in the car.You tried to keep me talking in there after I brought you to an abandoned part of the city.Why would Kenneth hide out here, right?But you had to see for yourself.You had to come inside to know you were right.Well, surprise!"
