Then they entered the part of the prison where Alison rarely ventured.She remained on the safe side of the prison, the corridors and hallways where the guards walked, and the rooms they used.This time, she entered the large mess hall where the prisoners ate together.
She couldn’t imagine it.Being surrounded by criminals while she had breakfast or dinner.Trouble brewing and ready to kick off at any time.She knew it wasn’t quite like that.Most people wanted to do their time and be free again, but there were occasional arguments or fights.
When they reached the center of the mess hall, they found what the killer had left for them.
One of the tables had been set up to look like a desk.A lamp sat on the table, the power cord dangling over the edge and not connected to anything.There was a blank pad with a pen sitting on top, and then something that horrified Alison: a picture of her and her sister in a small frame.
Alison took a step back when she saw it, and almost tripped over a broken piece of wood.
"You okay?"Moore asked, sticking her hand out but not grabbing Alison.
"It’s personal," Alison said."He’s making it personal."
Alison stepped forward quickly, knowing it was not the time to shrink back from the problem, no matter how the killer was trying to taunt her.It was a taunt, that much was clear.She had not long thought about how, if he was out there killing more people, that would mess her up far more than anything else and make her search for him more frantic.Bringing her sister into it did just as good a job.
She didn't look at the photograph again as she sat down at the table and took hold of both reports.
"Shine the flashlight right here," she told the officer, indicating where to point the beam of light.She needed to read the report now to understand the contents and then get back out there with Moore to find their killer.
Alison took a quick look through the report she had written years ago, skimming over the corrections and deletions the killer had made.The staging of the report itself was a new evolution in what he did, as was the report.It was from early in her career, perhaps her second year, and she knew the man who had been released from prison was now dead.He had a heart attack three years after being released.
Alison took up the report the killer had written and went through it more carefully.
Again, another evolution.
The report wasn’t purely a rebuttal of the report she had written, but also a psychological assessment of Alison herself.
Alison gritted her teeth as she read what he had written about her, bringing her sister into it again.The document called into question her professional competence, methodological approach, and psychological fitness to conduct evaluations, especially with the ‘unresolved trauma regarding her sister’s unresolved murder.’
Is that what you want from me?A reaction?Is that why you made this so personal to me?Do you want to attack the system in general, or are you only out for my blood, because that’s sure how it reads.
Don’t react to it.That’s what the killer wants from me.This is designed to be a part of the game, and the only reason for him to attack me personally is to either delay me in finding him or to attack me.I can't give him the satisfaction of either working.
Alison continued through the report.
The killer talked about the death of Alison’s sister, creating a pathological need to believe in human redemption that rendered her professionally unfit to assess dangerous criminals.
Alison stopped and sat up to take a moment.It was not the attack that bothered her, but the sentiment behind it.She’d heard a sentiment like that before, but not as direct.It had been dressed up as care.Perhaps it was the seed that had grown into whatever this had become.
Alison pushed forward, taking up the report again and reading through it more quickly, sure that she knew where they were headed next.She had worked with him at different points of her career, and his career had run parallel to hers.They knew each other professionally, even if they didn't see each other outside of work.
The work became repetitive as the killer spoke about Alison being unfit for any role within the justice system, and calling into question everything she had done in life.The killer finished by mentioning that Alison was still looking for her sister’s killer.That many good men and women had investigated the case, but Alison was still determined to do what no one else had managed.
Has it affected my decision-making?No matter what I’m doing on the case I’m investigating, I always have her in the back of my mind.I can't help that, and I will always think about her case for as long as it remains unsolved.
Alison finally sat back, done with the report.
"Anything?"Detective Moore asked.
"My sister," Alison said."I’ve been looking for my sister’s killer for twenty years, and my connection to her adds emotion to that investigation, and I know that emotion slips out into other investigations, but it’s not a bad thing."
Moore stared at Alison.
"It drives me," Alison continued."Yes, it might get in the way at times, but I wouldn’t be so driven without what had happened to my sister.That’s why I can't give up on any cases, just like I can't give up with hers."
"I’ve seen your record," Moore said.
"I once had a mentor.He’s still a part of the field.Dr.Keller," Alison said."When I was new to the field, he warned me not to let emotion get in the way of my work.When he said it, he was trying to guide me, and he genuinely wanted to help me.I could see that."
