"And you found something?"Alison asked.
"Yeah, we did," Brian said."There are some terms that appear across all four reports we’ve had time to look at.There are some common terms used, but it’s more about how things are termed and the evaluation frameworks.We don't believe the author used them specifically, and they certainly had no knowledge they were doing so, but on a subconscious level, they likely have the same phrasing and formatting across all of their work."
Alison was eager to interrupt and ask questions about what that all meant, but the tech put up his hand to stop her.
"You don't need me rambling on.You want to know how this helps us to get the killer."
Alison smiled and nodded.
"The first thing that is important is that this is the work of an academic, someone who has been in academia for a long time, and is classically educated.They almost certainly hold a degree, likely a master's.The way they write has been honed by time at university.That's the starting point, but that’s not how we pinpoint them."
Brian turned to his colleague, a younger woman.
"Yes," she said nervously, giving the impression that it was how she always spoke rather than being nervous to stand before Alison and Detective Moore."There are quite a few points were master able to match with a very specific set of documents within the California Department of Corrections, which I believe is where you worked, Dr.Payne."
"It is," Alison confirmed.
"We’re looking at the internal training documents within the psychology department there," the young woman continued."I would say that we’re looking for either the writer or contributor of said document, someone who has used the documents extensively for training purposes, or someone who has been heavily influenced by the documents."
Brian took over again."We would recommend looking for someone who has been in the department for a long time."
"That tracks with what I thought," Alison said."That was where I worked, or consulted with up until two years ago, and I’m sure we’re looking for someone who worked with me in a position of authority.There can't be that many people."
"I’m going to check in with the team," Moore said."We’re almost there.They worked with you for a long time there, someone knowledgeable about the systems, and we have a description of them.We can get to them."
Hopefully, soon.We’re close, and if we can act, then we can put an end to the media outcry before it begins.
Alison considered the men she had worked with over the years, trying to think of any who had been there a long time and had a mustache.If they had to talk with everyone who might fit that description, they would do it, and Alison wouldn't sleep until they had found the right person.
Detective Moore appeared back in the small room.
"Do you have him?"Alison asked.
"No, but we should have a list of names in the next few minutes, and it won’t be extensive.We do this the old-fashioned way, going door to door if we need to.In the meantime, we play his game."
"What do you mean?"Alison asked.
"He’s left you another message," the detective said.
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
"It was phoned in," Moore told her as they drove.
"What?"Alison asked.
"We think the killer called the station to let us know there was another crime scene.It was a male voice, and he gave an address and told us there was a message there for you."
Alison looked out the side window of the vehicle at the darkening sky.
"What sort of message?"she asked.
"That’s what we’re about to find out," Moore said."The officer who picked up the phone tried to keep him on the line, but he knew what he was doing, and he hung up before we could trace him.By the time the officer called back, the phone was already out of service."
"A message?"Alison asked."What sort of message?"The phrasing of it worried her."It could be a trap."
"That’s why we’re not going alone," Moore said."Two patrol cars are going with us.If it’s a trap, we’ll be ready for him.You’re completely safe.I know you’re the expert profiler, but I don't need to get inside his head to know that he’s not going to be there.If it’s a trap, then it’s something else.He wouldn’t call and lead us directly to him."
"You’re right," Alison said."This is something new again.Another evolution.It’s a dangerous move."
