Chapter 23

CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

Dare and Sawyer drove along the winding roads leading to Riverside, the late afternoon sun casting long shadows over the landscape.

Pulling up to a modest house at the end of Maple Street, Dare turned off the engine and glanced at Sawyer. “Let’s hope he can give us something to go on.”

Sawyer nodded in agreement, opening the passenger door and stepping out onto the gravel driveway. They approached the front door, and Dare knocked firmly. Moments later, a man in his late forties answered, his expression wary. “Can I help you?”

“Mr. Carter? I’m Sheriff Dare Jensen, and this is Detective Sawyer Reed. We need to ask you a few questions about the car you reported stolen.”

Carter’s shoulders sagged. “I already told the other officers everything I know.”

“I understand that,” Dare said gently, “but we’d just like to confirm a few things. When did you report the car missing?”

“Three days ago. I called as soon as I realized it was gone. The police came and looked around, said they would look for it.” He scowled. “It’s been hell the last few days, dealing with the insurance agency and everything.”

Dare and Sawyer exchanged a glance before Dare spoke again. “We understand that, Mr. Carter. We actually found the vehicle in question.”

“You did? That’s great,” Carter said, his voice tinged with relief. “When can I get it back?”

“Before we can discuss that, we actually have a few questions for you,” Sawyer replied.

Carter nodded. “Whatever you need.”

“Sir, can you tell me precisely when you noticed your car was missing?”

“Wednesday morning,” he said decisively. “When I got up to leave for work, I noticed it was gone.”

“Do you typically park in the garage or outside?”

“In the driveway,” the man stated. “My wife and daughter park their cars in the garage, so mine is outside every night.”

“And when did you report it stolen?”

Carter’s brows drew together. “As soon as I noticed it was gone. Why?”

“We have reason to believe this car was involved in a drive-by shooting recently,” Dare cut in.

The man’s eyes flared wide. “Oh—Oh, my God!”

“I need any information you might have. Do you know anyone who might harbor ill will towards you or have a reason to use your car for such a crime?”

“A drive-by shooting? N-no, I can’t think of anyone. My life’s pretty quiet. I go to work, come home, and that’s about it.”

Dare studied Carter’s face for any sign of deceit but found none. “Are you familiar with a woman named Diana Morris?”

Carter shook his head slowly, confusion evident in his expression. “No, the name doesn’t ring a bell. Who is she?”

“She’s connected to the case we’re working on,” Dare replied, jotting down Carter’s responses. “It’s crucial we find out how your car ended up at the crime scene. You sure there’s no one you can think of who might want to set you up or use your car?”

Carter shook his head, eyes wide, his expression adamant. “Honest, Sheriff. I don’t know anyone who would do this.”

“We’re hoping you might have seen or heard something unusual around the time the car went missing.”

“Not that I can remember. Like I said, I noticed it was gone early Tuesday morning, but I don’t remember seeing or hearing anything unusual during the night.”

Sawyer took a small step forward. “Did you notice anyone hanging around the neighborhood recently? Maybe someone who didn’t belong?”

Carter shook his head. “No, nothing like that. It’s usually pretty quiet around here. You may want to talk to my neighbors, though. Maybe they saw something I missed.”

Dare nodded, appreciating Carter’s cooperation. “Thank you. I’ll do that. And if you remember anything, no matter how insignificant it might seem, please contact me immediately.”

Leaving Carter with his information, Dare moved toward the neighboring houses, Sawyer by his side. “You take this side. I’ll question the others.”

Dare crossed the street and knocked on the door of a small yellow house with peeling paint. An elderly man answered the door a moment later. Dare posed his questions, but the man hadn’t seen anything strange. Dare thanked him and moved on.

The first few houses he visited yielded no new information. Most of the neighbors were either not home or hadn’t seen anything out of the ordinary. As he approached the last house on the block, an older woman answered the door.

“Good afternoon, ma’am,” Dare greeted her with a warm smile. “I’m Sheriff Jensen. I’m investigating a car theft that happened a few days ago. Did you happen to see or hear anything unusual?”

The woman, Mrs. Hendricks, thought for a moment. “I did hear some noise late Monday night. I remember because it woke me up. Sounded like a car door slamming and then an engine starting. I didn’t think much of it at the time.”

Dare took notes. “Did you see anyone, or perhaps notice which direction the car went?”

Mrs. Hendricks shook her head. “I’m sorry, dear. I just heard the noise. By the time I got to the window, it was quiet again.”

He thanked Mrs. Hendricks and crossed over to where Sawyer stood next to the cruiser. “You get anything?”

“Nope.”

“Me either.” Dare sighed as he slid behind the wheel and started the engine. “Not much to go on.”

“Maybe not,” Sawyer agreed, “but at least we know when the car was likely taken. It’s a start.”