Night Vision by Jane A. Adams

Of course, Alec thought – let the idea spread that it was some random nutcase, some escaped mental patient. Easy answers. Acceptable and digestible.
    Munroe cleared his throat, and expectant eyes turned back to him. His timing perfect, he interceded just before the speculation could drift into other, less manipulable explanations. He was good at this, Alec thought grudgingly.
    â€˜Of course, there is no evidence of that being the case. We really can’t speculate. I can only assure you that we have officers mobilized from three counties and full cooperation from the CCTV providers. Technology really is on our side.’
    â€˜So tomorrow, or the day after, we’ll be hearing about an arrest then,’ Alec said bitterly. ‘Some unknown, unnamed non-existent—’
    â€˜The police don’t do that sort of thing, Alec.’
    â€˜Don’t we? But I’m forgetting Munroe isn’t police, anyway, is he?’
    Eddison’s jaw tightened, but he gave no other sign that he had even heard.
    â€˜In the meantime,’ Munroe continued smoothly, ‘I suggest you all try to get some sleep. Those of you that haven’t yet spoken to one of the officers, please make sure you’ve at least checked they have your name and address, and please, if you think you might have seen or heard anything – anything at all, however seemingly insignificant – don’t be afraid to come and tell one of us. Please, don’t be worried about it being nothing, we’d much rather know about it.’ He smiled, a surprisingly warm smile . . . provided you didn’t look at his eyes, Alec thought.
    â€˜Are we free to leave?’ a woman asked.
    â€˜If you’ve spoken to one of my officers, then certainly. Though I really would urge everyone to try and get some rest before they go. It’s late, and I’m sure everyone is exhausted.’
    He’ll be telling them next that tiredness kills and they should take a break, Alec thought angrily. Munroe’s soft, patronizing attitude was jarring on him, or maybe what was jarring was that people were responding to it. He was telling them what they wanted to hear.
    â€˜You called me back from the hospital for this ?’
    â€˜Best you’re present at the briefing, Alec,’ Eddison said smoothly. ‘Best we’re all kept in the loop, don’t you think?’
    Alec grimaced at the implied rebuke but didn’t rise to it. ‘So, what now?’ he asked tightly.
    â€˜You get some rest and we talk in the morning, decide what your position is going to be in the ongoing investigation.’
    â€˜If I still have one, you mean?’
    â€˜Not my call, Alec,’ Eddison said and wandered off to join Munroe.
    Alec stood impotently for a moment, wondering what to do. If it wasn’t Eddison’s call, then whose was it? Munroe’s? He caught sight of Parks chatting to some of the guests. His blond head tilted sympathetically to one side, the cherubic little mouth tight with concern. He nodded briefly in Alec’s direction and then turned back to the anxious little group.
    â€˜It didn’t happen that way, did it?’
    Startled, Alec turned towards the speaker. The receptionist. ‘Didn’t it? I don’t think any of us are clear what happened yet.’
    She said nothing, but her expression spoke of betrayal. She had been sure he would listen to her, tell her what was going on.
    Alec sighed. He hated this. But two people were dead, he reminded himself, and another almost so. Instinct warned him that the best thing he could do for this young woman was to toe the party line.
    Gently, he took her arm and led her aside, aware that Eddison had seen and was now headed back their way. ‘Look,’ he said quietly, ‘sometimes we have to give out half truths in order to keep what really happened out of the media. If the media get hold of too much then the criminal will know exactly what