Page 44 of Say Now
Alison composed herself.Kent had brought her into the room for a reason, and that was to show how much smarter he was than she was.He needed to know that he had bested her and then send her home.She needed to play along for now until she could find a way out of the situation and a way to prove he was the killer.
"I was in your apartment," Alison told Tommy."The way the files were placed on the wall was exactly the same as at the crime scenes.I will swear to that in court.Your best way out of this is to admit what you did.If you are guilty, then confess to your crimes."
"I already told you that I didn't kill anyone," Tommy said.
"Then tell us where you’ve been in the last week."
"I’ve told you already," Tommy said."I’ve been around.I’ll take my chances in court."
Why Tommy?What’s your motivation?Do you have something on the police corruption?Is that what you’ve been doing over the last two weeks?Have you been in contact with someone?You can't talk about it, or someone might silence you before you get the information?
Alison looked at Kent and raised her eyebrows to tell him: I’ve done all I can.What she was really doing was getting a hold of Kent’s mood.Was he orchestrating more than just framing Tommy?Was he involved in more than just that?
Kent glared at Tommy.There was anger there, but there was also fear.She had no proof of it either, but she got the feeling that he was the one who threatened Lizzy and had her drop the case against the department.
Is this the grand plan?Frame Tommy for the murders, then have him killed in prison to silence him?
Alison tried to think of a plan.She had to admit that it was brilliant if it all fit together as she suspected it did.She felt more driven to protect Tommy.She had assured his mother, but if his life was in danger and he wasn’t the killer, she had to find a way to get him out of prison.Kent might not have to wait.He could have had him killed before the trial, and everyone would still think he did it.
"We’re done here," Kent said."Tommy, take some time to think about how you want to proceed with this.Dr.Payne is right.We only want to help you, but you’re facing the death penalty here.Think about your poor mother.If you sign the confession, we can bring the charges down.Cooperate with me, and I’ll cooperate with you."
Tommy remained with his arms folded in steely defiance, not looking at Kent and not saying a word.Whatever it was he knew or thought he knew, it was worth going through all of this.
Kent looked at Tommy with a smirk of satisfaction.
When the police captain got up from the table, Alison followed suit.They left the room together.
"What’s your professional opinion?"Kent asked once they were outside.
"The biggest thing I can see is that he’s definitely hiding something, and he’s not being completely honest with us.He’s got a criminal record longer than most, and he has anger within him.I could see him killing people.I noticed that there was no attempt to supply an alibi, and that’s in our favor.Without an alibi and with the evidence found in the apartment, we don't need anything else to get a conviction.I think any jury in the country will find him guilty.And I don't believe it will go to trial.I could see it in his eyes in the interview room.He’s not going to confess to any of this."
Kent nodded."I’m just glad that I could get justice for my sister.This is what she would have wanted.I wish to thank you, too, for being a part of this.It wouldn’t have been so easy if you were not here.What will you do now?"
"There’s no reason for me to stick around," Alison said."I’ll book a flight out for tomorrow morning.I’ll keep an eye on the case from there, and I have a contact in the FBI back in California who can help, too."
"Keep an eye on it?"Kent asked.
"It’s just how I work," Alison told him."I know we have our guy, but I like to look into everything, explore every possibility, just in case.I mean, if Tommy has an alibi for even one of the murders, then he’s off the hook for all three.If that happens, I need to be ready to fly back.I just want to make sure we have everything leading up to the trial, and then it will finally be over."
That was the first amount of bait put on the hook.He still had to see her as a threat to tempt him into making a move.If she didn't have proof, she needed to orchestrate the proof in much the same way as he had done with Tommy.She wouldn’t plant evidence, but she would push him into action.
"I’ll keep you updated," Kent said."I'm sure we can handle it from here."
"Oh, no doubt," Alison agreed."I have full faith in you, Captain Kent, and I’m partially thankful that you brought him in so quickly.I saw the way he looked at me in there."
"The way he looked at you?"
"I think he’s been keeping tabs on me.I’m a threat to him.I should have been more careful, but I don't need to be now," Alison said.
"You think he might have come after you?"Kent asked.
"Yeah, I think he would have.I was the one to find out he went to talk to Dr.Laurent.I was the one who didn't believe Marcus Webb was guilty.He must have known at that point that I would come after him.It would make sense for him to come after me, make it fit into the pattern, and silence me, buy himself more time to kill the others.If I hadn't gone up to Butte, we wouldn’t have found his apartment and the evidence.I’m sure he would have come after me."
"Yeah, you’re probably right," Kent said."Good thing you don't need to worry about that anymore."
More bait was added to the hook, and she only had to wait and see what he might do with it.
"We’re all safe now," Alison said."I’ll be glad to get some rest at the motel tonight."She put out her hand."If I don't see you again, it was a pleasure working with you."
