Contents
31. Carter
Overview
Carter and DCI Bird return to the station, where Bird secures a hairbrush for potential DNA and dismisses grainy CCTV as unhelpful, doubling down on suspicion of Harrison Woolf. Bird heads to the pub to think, asking Carter for a transcript. Carter’s internal monologue reveals his prior one-night stand with Bird and a secret, emotionally charged connection to Eden, including her report of a watcher, visible bruises, and his conflicted desire to both save and sleep with her.
Summary
Back at the station, DCI Bird questions Carter’s unusual quiet as they process the search at Harrison Woolf’s home. Bird explains she took Eden’s hairbrush to preserve potential DNA, stating she doesn’t trust Harrison to retain evidence. Carter loads the village’s single, low-quality CCTV clip of the supposed real Eden; Bird deems it useless and reiterates that Harrison lied and remains their strongest lead.
Bird leaves for the pub to think with her dog, instructing Carter to send the art gallery transcript and join her for a working lunch. Carter, unsettled by Bird’s confidence and proximity, admits to himself that a past one-night stand with her and her sudden authority over him have upended his routine.
Carter’s narration shifts to earlier weeks: Eden visited the station to report someone watching Spyglass. She showed interest in Hope Falls’ Day of the Dead procession, flirted, and proposed they could attend in disguise. Carter noticed Eden’s loneliness and bruises on her arms and concluded her husband might be responsible.
He confesses to fantasies about Eden—sexual and savior-driven—imagining both rescuing her from harm and sleeping with her. The recollection underlines Carter’s fixation and potential bias as he ends with the stark acknowledgment that Eden is now gone.
Who Appears
- Sgt. CarterNarrator; loads CCTV, hides past with Bird, recalls Eden’s visit, bruises, and his conflicted desire to save her.
- DCI Olivia “Bird”Takes Eden’s hairbrush for DNA, distrusts Harrison, dismisses CCTV, directs next steps from the pub.
- Harrison WoolfEden’s husband; deemed untrustworthy by Bird, suspected of lying and possibly hiding evidence.
- Eden FoxArtist; earlier reported a watcher, appeared bruised, and unintentionally fueled Carter’s fixation.