Alison knew she couldn’t blame herself, and there was still the chance that they would uncover pieces of evidence that would show that both victims were killed for other reasons, but her name was still attached to the case, and it hurt her.Even if there were other reasons, a killer was still killing people because of her.There was nothing she could have possibly done to stop it from happening, but logic was not always a friend when emotion got in the way.
She looked down at the main entrance where people were going in and out, and spotted Detective Moore waiting for her.The woman had her arms folded over her chest, and her mouth was drawn tight.The detective looked up and down the street, clearly becoming impatient that Alison was not there yet.
Alison quickly exited the vehicle, and as soon as Detective Moore spotted her, she lightened and stood taller.She lifted a hand in a silent greeting as if Alison might not know where to go if she didn't indicate herself.
"You said there would be more," Moore said in lieu of a greeting.
It only made Alison feel worse.
"I hoped we had more time," Alison said."Three days between the two deaths."She wanted to ask the detective if they were sure the two murders were connected, but the same reports had been found at both crime scenes.There was little doubt they were by the same hand.
"We reset," Moore told her."If the killer plans on doing this again, then the clock is reset, and we work this as best we can.We really need you on this if you’re still in."
"I am," Alison admitted, knowing that nothing could drag her away now.
"Okay, let’s go up," Moore said, leading the way into the building.
"Two serial murderers in under a month," Alison vented."Both of them are connected to me.I’m seeing this case through, but the question is whether you want to partner with me.Death seems to follow me around lately."
"You’re our best shot at finding the killer," Moore admitted as they headed for the stairs."You're the best at this and have proven that time and time again, and if the killer is targeting you in some way, then you’re the one best placed to know why and how we get to them."
Alison noticed the sign in the main foyer with the name of the not-for-profit charity.
"I think I know the why," Alison admitted as they ascended."Whoever is killing the ex-inmates and writing the reports wants to show that I’m wrong.They believe that the inmates shouldn’t have been released in the first place and that it was my fault.There’s only one flaw."
"And that is?"Moore asked as she held the door open for Alison.
"As far as we know, the victims are innocent," Alison replied as they stood just inside the main office."We've begun looking into Thomas Warren, and there's nothing to indicate that he has returned to his old life.From the sign in the lobby, this is a nonprofit, which makes this victim the second person doing something positive.Unless the killer knows something we don't know, then killing them was a mistake if they want to prove that I made mistakes in having them released."
Alison saw that they were not alone in the office.There was an older woman, likely in her seventies, who was standing with an officer on the other side of the room, sobbing into a handkerchief.The doorway to a small office connected to the main office was covered with a large white tarp to block the line of sight.That was obviously where the body was found.
"Melody Jenkins," Moore said, indicating the older woman talking with the officer."She’s the boss and the one who found the body this morning.That’s her office, and the body of Jennifer Hayes was found on the desk in there with a knife sticking out of the middle of her chest."
"A knife to the back of the neck and now to the chest," Alison thought out loud.
"Does that mean something?"Moore asked.
"I don't know yet," Alison said."It could be that the killer is opportunistic.The first victim was a man, and the second was a woman.Thomas was stabbed from behind and above.It’s likely he was on his knees when he was killed.Thomas Warren doesn’t strike me as the sort of man who doesn’t get down on his knees alone in a room with someone unless there’s a reason."
"Like the killer had information to use against him or a gun?"Moores asked.
Alison nodded."Yeah, that would do it.The killer enters, threatens him, and tells him to get on his knees.Thomas has been threatened before, more than we probably know.He would have been composed.Perhaps he tried to think his way out of it or thought he could disarm the killer, so he complied.If he thought he was about to die, he wouldn’t have knelt and waited for his death."
"And Jennifer Hayes?"Moore asked.
"The killer wasn’t worried about them fighting back as much and attacked them from the front.Perhaps the killer had her kneel before stabbing her, but it wouldn’t make sense to do so once she was on her knees.I imagine it being quicker.The killer was waiting for her in the office, and they struck quickly and efficiently.Do we know if the boss is always the first one in the office?"
"Yeah, she mostly is.She likes to go through the agenda for the day and take some time to get things in order before the other staff, seven of them in total, arrive.She confirmed that Jennifer often worked late and received an email from Jennifer just before ten.Jennifer would always send the financials through at the end of the day, as well as printing them off and putting them on her desk."
"Okay, so we know the killer struck sometime after that, but it can't have been much later because Jenifer was about to leave.The killer waited in the office for her to drop the spreadsheets and then struck.The knives do pose a question.The killer could have stabbed each victim and taken the knife with them."
"But they left both in the bodies," Moore confirmed.
"Which means they knew there would be no DNA evidence on the weapons.They were confident it had been cleaned off sufficiently.It also means they left two knives, one at each crime scene.If they are planning more, and we have to assume they are, then they have more knives, or they’re going to source them.Take a look at that when we get back to the office."
"Okay," Moore said."You ready to go in?"
"Lead the way," Alison said.
