Page 20 of Carter

Every person is different, and that’s what we need to remember.

Maybe Carter isn’t living his life to the fullest, but our lives aren’t that different. Which could say a lot about me, but I’m not getting into that. I’m not judging how someone else chooses to live their life. If he wants to be sad about his boyfriend dying, he has every right to be sad about that. For the rest of his life, if that’s how he feels.

I get up to my office without having to make small talk with anyone, which is a bonus. Makes for a good day when I don’t have to waste brainpower on senseless conversation with people I can hardly remember.

I go through my normal routine once in my office, and when my coffee is sitting on my desk with Ryan’s case file a safe distance away, I pick up my cell and dial Carter’s number.

I’m surprised when he answers. I expected him to be at work and to leave a voicemail.

“Hello?”

“It’s Detective Bennett.”

“I know.”

“Right. I was just calling with an update. Like I said I would.”

“Okay.”

I clear my throat, then continue. “I’ve gone through everything in the file and reviewed the footage, which didn’t give me much.” He scoffs. “But I have the tech team running the woman’s face through facial recognition software. Right now, she’s our best lead.”

“You have her face?”

“Partial. It’s blurry, and dark, but—”

“Doesn’t sound like much,” he says with no emotion.

“I won’t lie and say it is a lot. I’ve had more and still not solved cases. But I’m trying here. I know you are too.”

It’s silent for a moment, then he says, “I am. What else can I do?”

“I’d like to meet again to go over some more details. If that’s okay?”

“When?”

“You tell me. I’ll work with your schedule.”

“I have support group tonight. It ends around seven, unless that’s too late?”

“Not too late.”

“Well, it’ll take me some time to get home. The subway is—”

“I’ll pick you up.”

“You’ll… pick me up?”

“Sure, why not? Just send me the address, and I’ll be there at seven.”

“Uh… okay. I’ll text it to you soon. I’m at work.”

“Have a good rest of your day, Carter.” I try my best to use a tone that tells him I mean it, but I’m not so good with that sort of thing.

“Thanks. You too.”

He ends the call, and I put the phone down on my desk. I stare at it for a while, just wondering what the hell I’m going to do about solving this case. Because I have to. I don’t know why I feel so deeply about it when I’ve looked at plenty of case files since being here. But this one… it’s sticking out. Carter needs peace, and I need to be the person to give it to him.

I get a text from Jericho around three letting me know he’s packing up and will be heading home soon, and he’ll call me when he gets to the airport. He took a three-month “vacation” to clear his head and figure out his life.