***
The Senator picked up immediately. “Hello,” he said.
“Senator, it’s Richard Crowder.”
“Mr. Crowder, I’ve been meaning to call you. I did receive your message and I am pleased to hear you have your son back.”
I bet you are, Richard thought. “So are we, Senator.”
“What can I do for you?” he asked.
“It’s about what we talked about last time. My wife and I want to make it clear we want no further part in what went on this past week.”
“I’m not sure I understand.”
“Look. We have our son back, but he’s been terribly traumatized by this whole ordeal and we want it to end here.”
“If you have him back, isn’t that the end for you?”
Richard wanted to laugh. The Senator seemed to be denying Michael’s connection to any of this.
“Lucy Carter’s death was no accident. We know that, and I’m pretty sure you know it too.”
“What do you want to say to me, Mr. Crowder?”
“We just don’t want to jump back into pursuing this. We were hoping you can take over.”
The Senator chuckled. “Take over?”
“Yes. Follow up and expose what happened here. This kidnapping has our son terribly traumatized. I can’t put him through any more of this. You know everything we know and we just thought with your connections you could expose the truth.”
The Senator made no reply.
“And my wife and I don’t think this is just about Lucy Carter any more. We think there’s more, Senator.”
“More?”
“I’d be reaching if I told you everything we think, but this whole Lucy Carter accident wasn’t just an accident.”
“You said that already. What more could there possibly be?” The concern in the Senator’s voice was obvious in his elevated response.
“Just some things we read in the paper, that’s all. Accidents. They seem like accidents, but my wife and I have a feeling they aren’t just accidents. And Harvey himself seems in denial…he knows it too, but is resisting taking any action, and I don’t know why he would choose to do that.”
“I’m not sure how you expect me to respond to this. Accidents that aren’t accidents?”
“I’m sorry. I’m still really upset and maybe I’m just rambling. I shouldn’t have said that. Just pretend I didn’t. I only want what’s best for Michael right now, and that is to be far away from any of this as possible. My worry is that Michael won’t let any of this go until the truth about Lucy’s death is told. She was his girlfriend, you see.”
A heavy sigh drifted through the phone. Relief? Worry? Richard couldn’t tell for sure.
“I think I’m beginning to understand, but I’m not sure how I can help. The police have already investigated this accident and the official reports indicate no foul play was involved. And Harvey Metcalf seems to be accepting that his daughter’s death was completely accidental as well.”
“So you have been looking into this.”
“A bit, yes. I’m still overseas trying to enjoy my vacation, so it’s been a bit difficult for me to get access to information.”
“I suppose it has been. But you will do this? Will you look into this for us?”
“I’ll make some more calls,” he replied.
A forced resolve fell upon Richard. He doubted the Senator would do much of anything, but he didn’t have any other options. “Thank you, Senator,” he said, partly hoping he was wrong. “You can’t imagine how much this means to us. Thank you.”
“You should hear from me in a day or two.”