Page 30 of For Fear

She could see him considering her words. His eyes flickered to the badge she held out - her testament to truth, to justice -then back to her eyes again. There was a silent plea for trust in them, one that Marcus seemed to weigh against his fear.

“Okay,” Marcus said, stepping toward them. “Okay.”

***

At the FBI building, they led Trevino inside, ignoring the curious glances from their colleagues. Morgan could feel the weight of their expectations, the pressure to solve this case.

In the interrogation room, Trevino sat across from them, his hands cuffed to the table. The harsh fluorescent light cast shadows across his face, making him look older, more haggard.

"Why did you run, Marcus?" Morgan asked, leaning forward. "What are you afraid of?"

Trevino's eyes darted between them, his jaw clenched. "I didn't do anything," he insisted, his voice rough. "I swear."

"Then why run?" Derik pressed, his tone sharp. "Innocent men don't flee from the FBI."

Trevino's shoulders slumped, his head bowing. "I...I can't," he whispered, his voice cracking. "They'll kill me."

Morgan's pulse quickened. "Who, Marcus? Who are you afraid of?"

But Trevino just shook his head, his lips pressed into a thin line. "I can't," he repeated, his eyes pleading. "Please, you don't understand..."

Morgan exchanged a glance with Derik, her mind racing. Someone had Trevino terrified, and they needed to find out who.

She leaned in closer, her voice low and intense. "Marcus, listen to me. We can protect you, but only if you talk to us. Tell us what you know."

Trevino hesitated, his eyes searching hers. For a moment, Morgan thought he might break, might spill everything.

But then his jaw tightened, his gaze hardening. "I want a lawyer," he said flatly, his voice devoid of emotion. "I'm not saying anything else."

Morgan sat back, frustration surging through her. They'd been so close, but now Trevino was shutting down, retreating behind a wall of silence.

The silence in the interrogation room was suffocating. Morgan paced the floor, her mind whirring, trying to piece together the fragments of information they had. Trevino sat hunched in his chair, his eyes fixed on the table, his face a mask of fear and defiance.

Derik leaned against the wall, his arms crossed, his expression thoughtful. "We need to dig deeper," he said quietly, his gaze meeting Morgan's. "There has to be something we're missing."

Morgan nodded, her jaw tight. She knew Derik was right, but the frustration was eating at her. They were so close, yet every lead seemed to slip through their fingers like smoke.

She turned back to Trevino, her voice sharp. "Your lawyer's on the way," she said, her tone making it clear she wasn't happy about it. "But you need to think long and hard about what you're doing. If you know something, if you're protecting someone, it's only a matter of time before we find out."

Trevino's gaze flickered to hers, a flash of uncertainty in his eyes. But then he looked away, his mouth set in a stubborn line.

Morgan sighed, rubbing a hand over her face. She could feel the exhaustion tugging at her, the long hours and endless dead ends taking their toll.

She glanced at Derik, seeing the same weariness in his eyes, the same grim determination. They were in this together, no matter what.

A knock at the door broke the silence. An officer poked his head in, his expression apologetic. "Trevino's lawyer is here," hesaid, stepping aside to let a sharp-eyed woman in a crisp suit enter the room.

Morgan's heart sank. With the lawyer present, their chances of getting anything out of Trevino had just plummeted.

But she wasn't ready to admit defeat. Not yet.

She met the lawyer's gaze, her own eyes hard. "Your client is involved in a murder investigation," she said bluntly, her voice brooking no argument. "If he has information that could help us find the killer, he needs to come forward. Now."

The lawyer's expression didn't waver. "My client has nothing to say," she said coolly, placing a hand on Trevino's shoulder. "And unless you have evidence linking him to these crimes, this interrogation is over."

Morgan opened her mouth to argue, but Derik's hand on her arm stopped her. She glanced at him, saw the warning in his eyes.

She took a deep breath, forcing herself to step back. "This isn't over," she said, her voice low and intense. "We will find out the truth, one way or another."

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