Page 33 of Facing the Enemy
“We’d like the information,” I said. “Have you been threatened professionally or personally?”
“Not at all. We’re teachers in an elementary school,” Michael said. “I teach math and science, and Sarah works with special-needs children. I’m sure you already knew that since several of our peers were questioned.”
“Yes, sir,” I said. “They all cleared including the parents of the students you teach. However, we are revisiting many of them. What is the response from your alarm company?”
Michael lifted his chin. “A source of irritation. We’d sue but what purpose would that serve? The company claimed their equipment was not at fault, and our alarm hadn’t been set. I disagree because I set it myself. Someone hacked into our security system. No other explanation.”
“We’ve talked to Mercury Alarms too, and their reporting shows the alarm wasn’t enabled.”
“We’re ending the service as soon as we find a new company. The night of the abduction, my mother-in-law checked it right after we left to ensure the house was locked and alarmed.”
I couldn’t blame them, although the alarm company operated nationwide and was highly rated for home and commercial customers. When Jack and I called them, they displayed cooperation and were investigating what had gone wrong in the equipment at the Addingtons’ home. For that matter, I’d just been at the owner’s home. “Agent Bradford, would you follow up with the alarm company?”
Jack nodded and typed into his iPad.
“One more question,” I said. “We’ve done a thorough background on your ob-gyn, and she has an impeccable record. Do you have reason to doubt her integrity?”
“No, sir,” Sarah said. “She’s been supportive since the beginning of the pregnancy. I’ve been her patient for over ten years.”
“Your pediatrician?”
“Highly recommended by my ob-gyn.”
The background on her pediatrician was spotless. I leaned back in my chair. The Addingtons needed rest, and other questions could wait. “We’ll stay in touch. Do either of you have additional comments or questions?”
Sarah raised her finger. “If I find who abducted our baby before you do, trust me I will blow a hole right through their black hearts.”
“You don’t want to take the law into your own hands, Mrs. Addington.” I understood her anger all too much but trusted it was her emotions talking.
“It wasn’t your child who was abducted and nearly died.”
18
RISA
Ethan Mercury called me again shortly after 9p.m. From the sound of his voice, he still hadn’t been successful in finding Carson. I expected him to be more professional, and I filed the peculiarity away for later.
“None of Carson’s friends went with him,” Ethan said. “Neither did he mention the hiking trip to them. According to his friends, he claimed to be spending a boring Christmas at home with the family. I contacted his old girlfriend, and she hasn’t heard from him either. She’ll call if he contacts her. Nice girl. Pretty. Smart. We thought Carson cared for her, and although they’re young, she could have been the right one. Not sure the reason for the breakup.”
“Maybe he’ll reach out to her.”
“Doubtful. They broke up the end of July.”
About the time of Trenton’s death. “Maybe he needed space to think about his future and felt uncomfortable about letting you and his mother know. Have you noticed a change in Carson’s behavior?”
“Unusual question from his professor, unless his schoolwork is a problem. Am I missing something here? Are you interested in my son other than his schoolwork?” His tone flattened, and I didn’t appreciate the implication.
If my goal didn’t center on finding Carson, I’d have given EthanMercury a piece of my mind. Then again, could I blame him for suspecting something malign? “That remark is totally inappropriate. Mr. Mercury, I’m being your friend by posing questions that could help you locate your son. I’m his college professor, and I have a question about Carson’s final paper. It’s to his advantage to reach me before the semester ends.”
I waited long moments before he responded, which gave me time to curtail my anger.
“I apologize,” he said. “He’s been preoccupied, and his mother believes his silence, or rather broodiness, comes from leaving his teenage years and entering his twenties. I view it differently. The breakup with his girlfriend has him depressed. He spends hours alone in his room, and he says he’s not playing online games or listening to music. His mother and I aren’t the type of parents to pry, but it appears we should have. When he informed us about taking a creative writing class, we supported a form of expression to help him work through his emotions. We didn’t object or question why he originally intended to major in engineering, then did a complete change to study English. What kind of writing have you seen from Carson?”
I carefully formed my words. “Mystery mostly.”
“Maybe the breakup affected him like a mystery. I don’t know. He prefers fantasy and futuristic movies. In any event, we have no concept of our son’s whereabouts.”
“Thank you for letting me know what you’ve learned. I’m sure he has a solid reason for his behavior.” I ended the call before I spouted out a huge lie that my concerns weren’t important, but they were. Carson had the answer to what happened to my brother.
