Page 24 of Say Now
"Is there anything I can do from here?"Derek asked.
"I don't think so."
She had the news muted on the TV, watching for any announcement of a third body being found.So far, the death from that morning wasn’t public knowledge.Alison remained in her room like a scolded child for the past six hours, waiting for someone to tell her something.She couldn’t shake the feeling that everyone was on the wrong track without her.
"If there’s anything I can do for the case, even if it’s grunt work, let me know.The quicker you catch this guy, the sooner you can come home.The place is not the same without you."
"Oakland?"
Derek laughed."Yeah, the city is worse off without your presence in it."
"I do like the snow here, but it’ll be nice to get back to the warmth," she admitted."Maybe there is something you can do for me."
"Shoot," he replied.
"It might fall on deaf ears right now with Claire and Dale wrestling for control of this thing, but I think the soil is the key."
"The soil?"
"The killer managed to get a sizable amount of soil, and he didn't dig it up himself.There’s a chance he bought it from somewhere, but he’s a planner, he’s careful.He hasn’t left us a trail of any kind.Martinez hopefully has people calling around to find out where he might have gotten the soil from, but I don't think he makes it that easy for us.See if you can find out where he might have gotten the soul from, or if there is a way for him to dig the soil up himself without it freezing solid.He needed it loose to transport it to the clinic."
"I’ll see what I can find," he said.
"Thank you."
"So, what now for you?"Derek asked.
"I guess I'll try not to cause any more trouble.I’ll stay in my room for the rest of the evening and maybe reach out in the morning and see if anything has calmed down."
"Good luck with that.If this case wasn't already hard enough, you have to fight with the people you flew out there to help."
"Yeah," Alison said wistfully.
She wrapped up the call with Derek and lay on her bed, looking up at the ceiling.The only thing worse than not being able to find the killer was not being able to do anything about finding him.It was a nightmare to lie on the bed and wait.She knew she wouldn’t be able to sleep that night, and she would lie awake trying to think of something that could crack the case and end the bad dream.
She lay on the bed for an hour, unmoving, the cogs in her mind spinning as she tried to figure it out with no information or help.
Then came the knock at the door.
Alison got up from the bed and answered it.Special Agent Martinez stood there.
"I know you have no reason to work with me after what happened, but—"
"Let’s go," Alison said.
"You don't even know—"
"I don't care," Alison interrupted again."You want my help, and I want to give it.We can be angry and petty and everything else later, but for now, let’s find this guy.I presume you have a lead?"
"Yeah, we think so."
"Then let’s not waste another second," Alison said as she grabbed her jacket
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
Alison practically ran down the stairs with Claire as they headed to her car.She was apologetic the entire way, but Alison brushed her off.Alison was still frustrated with the special agent, but her desire to crack the case overwhelmed any resentment.She got into the passenger seat, and Claire took one quick look at Alison, thought better of making another apology, and started the car.
"Where or who?"Alison asked.
