Contents
39. Carter
Overview
Bird confronts Carter after Diana Harris reports seeing him near the faceless body. Carter claims he was returning with Bird’s dog and pursued an unknown man, but withholds that he thinks he saw Harrison. Bird heads to inform the husband. Carter recalls Eden recently sought his help, admits he gave her whiskey and kissed her, and now fears she is dead.
Summary
On the beach, DCI Bird tells Carter that witness Diana Harris saw him running from the scene. Carter, still nauseous, explains he was returning to the village with Bird’s dog after a dispatch call about a body, and that the call initially lacked the exact beach location.
Pressed on whether the victim is Eden, Carter deflects and vomits again. Bird berates his hesitation, insisting he trust his instincts, and orders him to stay with the body and call HQ while she returns to the village to speak to the husband before rumors spread.
Carter withholds that he thinks he saw Harrison on the beach just before the body was found. He instead tells Bird he chased an unknown man who vanished among the rocks and cliffs, which Bird regards skeptically.
Alone, Carter reflects that Eden had come to the station days earlier, frightened and saying she was being watched. He gave her whiskey to calm her, then crossed a line and kissed her. Wracked with guilt and believing the body may be Eden’s, Carter blames himself.
Who Appears
- Sgt CarterQuestioned about being seen near the body; claims he chased an unknown man, hides seeing Harrison, recalls kissing Eden after she sought help.
- DCI Bird (Birdy)Confronts Carter, challenges his instincts, assigns him to secure the scene, and returns to inform the husband.
- Diana HarrisWitness and first reporter; says she saw Carter running near the faceless body.
- HarrisonHusband of Eden; Bird plans to speak to him. Carter thinks he saw Harrison on the beach but withholds it.
- Eden FoxRecently sought Carter’s help, was given whiskey, and kissed by him; likely the faceless body found on the beach.
- Unknown man on the beachFigure Carter claims to have chased before he vanished among rocks and cliffs.