Page 48 of Defender
Eleven
Michael was getting really sick of dead ends. No sign of Colter McCord. They were stuck waiting for info for Donner’s case, and now this.
“The insurance company angle is a bust.” He leaned around his computer screen to see Finn’s reaction.
Finn just shrugged. “It was worth a shot. Every angle we eliminate means we’re one step closer to finding the truth.”
“The eternal optimist.” Michael sighed and went back to his computer. He closed the open files. It had only taken a couple calls to find out they all used different insurance companies. Michael walked over to Finn’s desk, which was covered in photos from the convenience store. He glanced over them. One with the cabinet where Eddie had hidden. Others with papers scattered on the counter and floor with Isaac Carter’s blood—Michael paused. Something in the back of his mind perked up, but he couldn’t put a finger on anything out of the ordinary or a connection with the other crime scenes.
But anything to get ahead, to feel like they were making progress at this point, was needed. “We should pay Isaac another visit. Hopefully he’ll be more awake by now.”
“Good idea. I’ll drive this time.” Finn snatched the keys off Michael’s desk.
At the hospital, they found Isaac Carter had been moved to a different floor. “They moved him out of the ICU? That’s good, right?” Michael asked the nurse on the fifth floor.
“He’s doing better. Still pretty rough, but yes, it’s always a good thing to move down to the second floor. You’ll find him in 283.”
But walking into the room, it was eerily silent.
“Why is it so quiet in here?” Finn stopped in the doorway.
Michael swung the curtain back, revealing an empty bed. “Because no one is here.”
Finn groaned. “He’s running.”
“Then we’d better catch him fast. He’s probably going into hiding.”
Michael and Finn jogged back to the parking garage and left. Michael found Isaac’s address and navigated while Finn drove. Just outside the downtown area, in a quiet neighborhood of mid-century Cape Cod cottages and bungalows, they pulled up at the Carter house. Finn purposefully blocked the driveway of the modest ranch home. A silver Toyota Camry parked outside the garage had an open back door. Finn and Michael walked past it on their way up to the porch.
As Finn lifted a fist to knock, Stephanie Carter opened the door and froze. She had a suitcase in hand.
“Going somewhere?” Michael asked.
She stayed quiet.
“Is Isaac here?”
She continued her silence, but a panicked glance behind her told them everything they needed to know.
Michael tried to keep the irritation out of his voice, but Carter was making this more difficult than it needed to be. “He should be in the hospital. He wasn’t cleared to leave yet.”
“I tried to tell him that, but he’s stubborn. By all means, try to talk some sense into the man.” She backed up and allowed them inside.
Isaac sat in a blue recliner. He didn’t look so great. His pale skin had a sickly sheen to it, and his breathing was ragged.
“Where’s Eddie?” Finn asked the sister.
Isaac sat up. “Leaving. We haven’t done anything wrong, so let my sister and son leave, and you can let yourself out while you’re at it.” His words were spoken through a closed bite. He’d obviously found his voice, despite his jaw being wired shut.
“We’re trying to help you out. We need your statement.” Michael pulled out his notebook and stared Carter down.
“If you want to help, then let them go.”
“And where exactly would they be going?” Finn stood in the doorway, blocking Stephanie’s exit.
“None of your business.”
Isaac might not want to talk, but Michael was done waiting. “What can you tell us about the break-in? Do you have any idea who did this to you?”
