The Chosen Ones

CHAPTER EIGHT

Matt made his way downstairs the next morning. This time he didn't find Tyler eating cereal on the kitchen counter alone. Casey was up there right beside him, with a bowl of her own. They were becoming quite the pair.

"Casey wanted to sit up here too." Tyler said. His smile said it all. The little guy made a new friend. He had broken her down. Not only was she talking to him, she was hanging out with him.

Casey took a spoonful of Cocoa Crispies and shrugged. "I mean, it is a great place to eat cereal." She gave Matt a smile.
The night before was still on her mind. She was still struggling with letting her guard down. She didn't want anything to distract her and Matt wasn't making that easy.

"You guys do your thing." Matt replied as he went over to the coffee pot.
"I made you coffee already, it's over there." Casey said, pointing to the table, proudly.
"Thank you." He said, impressed.
Tyler must have told her what he put in it, as he smelled the hazelnut creamer coming from his favorite Philadelphia Phillies mug.
This was a welcome change, he thought. He liked this version of Casey better than the stand-off-ish one.

The doorbell rang. Matt went to the window and looked out. He took a sip of coffee.
"Shit." He muttered. "Casey, you better go upstairs, take Tyler, please." He instructed.
"Who is it?" Casey asked.
"The detective."
That's all she needed to hear as she scooped up Tyler and ran up the stairs.

Matt knew this detective. He was the one assigned to Amy's murder case. Matt and him didn't see eye to eye. It all had to do with the case, and the fact that this particular detective, Milligan was his name, couldn't solve it. He couldn't even find a suspect. Matt let him know every chance he got that he had failed him, and failed Amy and her family.

When Matt knew Casey was out of sight he opened the door.
"Detective, what can I do for you?" He asked, as he shielded his eyes from the bright sun that shone through the door.
"Hey Matt, I was wondering if I could come in and ask you a few questions."

Detective Milligan was your textbook definition of what your typical detective would look like. He had a short, black, flat top, head of hair. A beer gut, and always wore a long black jacket.

Matt didn't respond, but he held the door open, letting the detective in. Once inside Milligan stayed standing. He took a quick scan around the living room area.
Matt took a seat on his couch and sipped his coffee. He had to try to act as calm as possible. He didn't know why Milligan was there, but it couldn't be good. The detective was very familiar with Matt's house, having come there many times to talk about Amy's case in the past.

"So what do I owe this honor?" Matt asked.
"Where were you yesterday between noon and one p.m?" Milligan asked.
"Getting right to it I see." Matt replied, dryly. "I was here."
"Alone?"
"Yep."
"Can anyone back that up?"

"Well I was alone, so probably not." Matt replied, squinting his eyes at the obviously stupid question. "What's this all about?"
"Do you know a Casey Carson?" He asked, suddenly.
Fuck. He wasn't expecting that. Where was he going with this? Milligan obviously knew something. Matt was going to have to play his game.

"I know OF her. I've seen her on tv, read about her a little bit online. Her family was murdered right?" Matt asked, playing stupid as well as he possibly could.
"That's right. The reason I'm asking you is Ms. Carson's house was set on fire yesterday. Someone turned on the gas and blew it up. We have witnesses saying they saw a black Ford F-150 leaving the scene."
Milligan checked his small notepad. "You do own a black F-150 don't you?"