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“Deputy David Kane is present.” Kane took a seat. “Okay, Mr. Carson.” He leaned forward, resting his clasped hands on the table. “We’ve just come from Harriette Jefferson’s home. Inside we discovered evidence to prove she kept kids in closets and we found a box of what we’d describe as trophies. You’ve admitted to Agents Carter and Wells that you were aware of the children at the Jefferson’s home.” He gave the man an earnest stare. “Now, as you seem to be the only person alive who has knowledge of what happened in that house, do yourself a favor and tell us what you know.”
Jenna pulled a statement book from the desk drawer. “If you willingly withhold information about a crime, you will be charged and face jail time. Cooperate now, and if we can prove you were not involved, you’ll be able to go home to your wife.”
“I wasn’t involved and it was a long time ago.” Carson rubbed both hands down his face. “I mean like maybe fifteen or twenty years. The house I’m living in belonged to my folks. I inherited it when they died. Mrs. Jefferson has always lived in the next property. My folks had her and her husband over for cookouts and we went over there as well. The Jeffersons stayed home back then. It wasn’t until Mrs. Jefferson had gotten older, that she went out. That was a long time after the kids left. I know she fostered kids way back, ten or twenty years ago. She must have been in her sixties then, I guess. She’s always had white hair as far back as I remember.”
Jenna made notes and looked up at him. “Did she bring the kids with her when you had cookouts?”
“No, never.” Carson shook his head slowly. “She never allowed them to join us when we went there either. She’d always say they shouldn’t get to like being with her because they’d be going soon.” He moved around in his chair uncomfortably and met Jenna’s gaze. “I went there one day, snuck over the fence and through the trees. She had two little girls outside washing their clothes on those old-fashioned washboards.” He swallowed and his Adam’s apple moved up and down. “She’d be raving on about how evil they were and how their parents died because of their sins, things like that.” He clenched his hands on the table. “I told my parents and they said I was making up stories.” He looked from one to the other. “I went back another day and she had a little boy standing out in the garden while she hosed him for wetting his pants.” He shuddered. “I was hiding for at least an hour and she never cared for him. She just left him standing in the garden shivering.”
Jenna winced. “How old were you then?”
“Oh, I don’t recall, maybe ten.” Carson thought a beat. “Yeah, ten. So twenty years ago.”
“If she was so evil, how come you became close friends with her?” Kane was wearing his combat face. “You seemed awful cut up about her going missing, and from your account, she was a monster.” He leaned closer. “What changed your mind?”
“She did.” Carson leaned back in his chair. “She was nice to me, after my parents died. You do know her husband and my folks were out fishing and drowned? They were washed over the falls.”
“They went fishing in the rapids above the falls?” Kane’s brow wrinkled. “Really? Who would do a crazy thing like that?”
“Well, that’s what she told me.” Carson sipped from a bottle of water and cleared his throat. “She was there and tried to save them but they all went over. She managed to get to safety.”
Wondering just how gullible this man was, Jenna scribbled down an abundance of notes. She raised her gaze to him. “You were eighteen when they died?”
“Yeah, I was away at college. I didn’t come home then. I stayed and finished my studies. I couldn’t cope with dealing with the house and all my parents’ things. Mrs. Jefferson handled everything. She said she owed it to my parents. I didn’t come back home until after I married. When we arrived here, Mrs. Jefferson had kept the house going for me, lawns mowed and the house clean. She’d even set up the master bedroom with a new bed.” He looked from one to the other. “I guess, over the years, I figured I must have been wrong about her. She was a different person than I remembered.” He opened his hands wide. “My grandma thought the world of her.”
“Do you have kids?” Kane leaned back in his chair, making it creak.
“Nope.” Carson shrugged. “My wife doesn’t want any.”
After reading through her notes, Jenna slid the book across the table to Carson. “Read the statement through. It’s everything you’ve told us about the children at Mrs. Jefferson’s house. If it’s correct, sign and date it.”
“Okay.” Carson read the statement and moved the pen over the paper before handing it back to Jenna.
Jenna pushed to her feet and turned off the recorder. “Thank you for your cooperation. I’ll give you a ride back to your vehicle.”
“No, don’t bother.” Carson stood. “I need some fresh air. I’ll walk some and then take a cab.”
Jenna swiped her card and opened the door. She stood to one side as Carson passed. Jo and Carter came inside the room. She looked at them. “I believe him. He is mixed up but it sounded like the truth. I mean, who could make up a story like that on the fly?”
“Another thing.” Kane leaned one shoulder against the wall. “See how he stood and walked out of here? I’ve hurt my back and I’ve walked like that when I’ve been in pain. I can’t see him dragging Rio or a dead woman across a room. I say we watch him, but I figure he isn’t involved.”
Carter’s phone buzzed and he took the call and then smiled at them. Jenna stared at him. “Well, what is it?”
“Mrs. Jefferson was removed from the list of suitable foster parents after a complaint about mistreatment from her neighbors the Carsons. The investigation ground to a halt when the Carsons and Mr. Jefferson drowned in the Black Rock Falls rapids.” Carter smiled. “How convenient for her.”
Jenna led the way out of the interview room and back to her office. She glanced at her watch. “I’m starved.” She looked at Kane. “Can you order something from Aunt Betty’s and get them to deliver?”
“Sure.” Kane pulled out his phone and walked into the hall.
“I’ll get the files up to date and check on what Rowley and Rio are doing.” Jenna thought for a beat. “Can you guys split the list of Mrs. Jefferson’s friends and see if we can get a time she was last seen. She obviously walked from town, but when?”
“I’m on it.” Carter went to his laptop and looked at Jo. “I’ll take the top four.”
“Okay.” Jo pulled out her phone and peered at the list of names.
After the conversations had stopped Jenna lifted her gaze to Jo and Carter. “What did you find?”
“Mrs. Mills said she was with Mrs. Jefferson on Friday and she left town just before five. So, at three miles an hour, she’d have gotten to the park by six maybe. Mrs. Mills said she walked at a good pace.”
