Page 20 of Say Now
"I hate to think like this, but if the killer does kill again, then we’re all back on the same team again."
"Yeah, I know," Derek agreed."Let’s hope it doesn’t come to that."
"Yeah."Alison wanted to say more, to tell Derek she missed him and ask about his past few days, but she was dwelling in her solitude, trying to work out how she could fix the mess even though it wasn’t of her own making.
"I’m here if you need me," Derek said."Always, okay?"
"Thank you," Alison said."I’m going to go.I need to get some sleep, and then I’m going to pay Dale Kent a visit and see if I can sway him."
"Sleep well," Derek said.
"You, too."
***
Alison knocked on the door and waited.She knocked again and heard footsteps coming down the stairs.
When Dale Kent opened the door, he looked like he had just woken up.He looked at her with a dazed expression before frowning.
"What are you doing here?"
"I need to talk with you," she said."I’m sorry to wake you.I thought you would be up already."
"I normally would, but with everything that’s going on, I’ve not been sleeping much.What do you need to talk to me about?I didn't think we were on friendly terms."
"I need your help," Alison said."Can I come in?"
Dale looked her up and down before he jerked his head."I’ll put some coffee on."
She followed him into the house and through to the kitchen.He gestured for her to sit at the kitchen table while he made the coffee."Why do I get the impression that this is not going to be good news?Has there been a development?"
"Not exactly," Alison said."Marcus Webb is in custody thanks to you, and while that might be the best place for him, I don't believe he’s the killer."
"What’s been found?"Dale asked."An alibi?Something else?"
"No, nothing," Alison said."Everyone believes he’s the killer except for me, and I have nothing concrete to base that on other than my gut.I know that sounds foolish, but I’ve been right many times before.I’m not asking you to believe me, but to keep an open mind.Use what influence you have to keep the investigation open for a little longer.If I’m right, then the real killer is still out there, and he will kill again.It may be in a day, a week, a year, or longer, but he will kill again.I know you don't want to deal with this right now, but I don't know who else to go to."
"So, you want me to risk my reputation on a hunch you have?Is that what you’re telling me?"He turned and grabbed two mugs from the cupboard.
"Yes.That’s exactly what I’m asking of you."
Dale grunted.
"You want justice for your sister, right?I know nothing can bring her back, but if we have the wrong person, then she doesn’t get justice."
Dale brought the two mugs back to the table and slammed them loudly onto the table before going back to get the coffee.
"I don't want to antagonize you, Dale, or cause you any more pain, but don't you want to ensure we have the right guy?Do this for her."Alison didn't want to emotionally manipulate him, but she wanted to make sure they had the right guy, and at that moment, she knew they didn’t.
"Do you have any idea how hard this is for me?"Dale asked."Do you know what it’s like to lose your sister?"
"Yeah, I do," she replied."I lost my sister twenty years ago.They still haven’t found her killer.I would give anything to find him and bring him to justice.I want the same for you."
"I’ll see what I can do," Dale said."Not for you, but for Rachel.I can't guarantee anything, but I’ll talk to some people."
"Thank you."Alison had thought it would be much harder to convince him to help her.She only hoped now that whatever he did worked.
"I’ll skip the coffee," she said."I want to get back to the station to look over everything and maybe speak to Marcus before they transfer him."
