Chapter 3

Agent Carson, Don, and Megan were watching as David and Colby tried interrogating Thomalson. They were getting nowhere. Don decided to give it a go.

"Do I get a lawyer yet?" Thomalson asked as Don came in.

"You need one?" Don asked innocently.

"Are you charging me with something or can I go home now?" he countered.

"Just wanna ask you a few questions that's all," Don said as he sat down in the chair opposite Thomalson. When he didn't say anything Don continued. "So where were you last night?"

"Around."

"Around, huh? Anywhere around here?" Don slid him a picture of Agent Michaels' body.

"Oh yeah, dead FBI dude. I heard about that. Too bad," Thomalson replied sarcastically.

"Heard about it, huh?" Don inquired as he stood up and walked around the table. "Sure you didn't see anything?"

"How could I? I was across town, visiting my sister and her family."

"Well, see that's a problem for two reasons. One, you don't have a sister, you're an only child. Two, isn't that you, here?" Don put the surveillance photo in front of him.

"So, that means I killed the guy?" Thomalson asked mockingly.

"No, I just wanna know what you saw."

"I didn't see nothing, I didn't hear nothing," he replied defiantly.

Don's cell phone rang. "Yeah?" he answered, staring at Thomalson. After a couple minutes he said, "OK."

Ten minutes later he came out of the interrogation room and joined the others.

"He say anything?" David asked.

"He gave us the name of a lawyer. Here's the address," Don replied, handing David a sheet of paper.

"Hey, I've heard of this guy," Lt. Walker said, seeing the name and address. "I'll get a couple of my guys to do some digging."

"OK, sounds good." Don then turned to Agent Carson. "Not a bad idea."

"Thought it might help," she replied calmly.

"Come on, you're with me," Don said, motioning for her to follow him.

"Where we going?" she asked.

"To give this new information to Charlie."

When Don and Agent Carson arrived at the craftsman, it seemed like no one was around.

"Wait here," Don told her.

She was looking around at some pictures when Alan came in.

"Oh...hello," he said, surprised to see her there. "Who are you?"

"Agent Carson," she said, extending her hand, which he shook.

"You work with Don?" he asked as he sat down his groceries on the table.

"On this case." Just then Don returned.

"Oh hey dad, have you seen Charlie?"

"I think he's out in the garage," his father replied.

"OK, thanks." He started to head to the garage, but paused. "I'll be right back," he told Carson, she nodded.

"So, Carson?" Alan asked, interested. "I used to know some Carsons."

"Congratulations," she said, uncomfortable making small talk with a coworker's father.

"You know them? Mark and Janice Carson?" he asked, trying to sound casual. She just stared at him for a minute.

"They were my parents," she replied hesitantly, getting even more uncomfortable talking about her family.

"Were?" he asked, concerned. "I haven't talked to them in a long time." He paused. "Out of touch I guess would be a better term," he added.

"They died. Car crash, about nineteen years ago," she told him, even more hesitantly.

"Oh, I'm so sorry," he said genuinely.

"It's fine."

Carson was saved from any more uncomfortable conversation when Don and Charlie came back.

"Agent Carson," Charlie acknowledged. She nodded and smiled back. "Well, I should be able to provide some new insights by morning. Right now I'm a little busy."

"Oh, that right. Larry was bringing that kid by," Alan remembered.

"Yeah, and he's smart too," Charlie confirmed. "In fact, I thought they were coming in."

Just then, Larry and a teenage boy came into the room. They were chatting about something when the boy looked up.

"Mom!" he said, running over and squeezing Agent Carson.

"Bri? What are you doing here?" she asked, returning the hug, as the three Eppes stared in shock.

"Professor Fleinhardt brought me so I could meet Professor Eppes," he told her quickly. "What about you? I heard about Agent Michaels. Are you okay? What happ-"

"Wait, what do you mean you heard about Agent Michaels? Who told you?" she interrupted, with a concerned look on her face.

"Some come," he told her. "I think he was a lieutenant or something." Don and Carson shared a strange look.

"What did he want?" she asked, trying not to sound too concerned.

"I dunno really," he replied. "He just told me about Michaels and asked a couple questions."

"What kind of questions?" This time it was Don who was asking.

"I'm not sure. They were just weird," he shrugged. "Is something wrong?" He was looking at his mother, who smiled back.

"No, nothing to worry about," she assured him. He was still looking at her though. "Don't worry, Brian. It's nothing. I promise," she said, holding his jaw so he'd look her in the eye.

"OK." He seemed satisfied, but gave her another squeeze anyway.

"What?" Carson asked, seeing shock on all the men's faces, with the exception being Larry, who she'd already met through Brian.

"You're a mom," Charlie stuttered in awe.

"Yeah, I'm a mom," she replied, in only a slightly sarcastic tone.