Page 36 of Forsaken

Morgan met his gaze unflinchingly, reading the fear beneath his professional concern. "It's the only way, Derik. We've been chasing shadows for too long. It's time to bring this into the light."

"And what if you're wrong?" he pressed, moving closer until they stood toe to toe. His green eyes searched her face, looking for any sign of doubt. "What if this is exactly what he wants? To lure you out, thinking you have the upper hand?"

Morgan stepped even closer, her posture rigid with determination. The scent of his cologne mixed with the office's recycled air, creating a moment of intimacy in the midst of strategic planning. "Then we'll be ready for that too. Cordell's smart, but he's not infallible. I’ve got more allies than he thinks I do.” She shot Mueller a slight smile, which he returned with a nod. After everything they'd been through together, she never thought Mueller, of all people, would take her side.

The sun continued its arc across the Texas sky, casting long shadows through Mueller's office windows. Morgan felt the weight of her badge against her hip, a constant reminder of everything she'd lost and fought to regain. She had Derik's loyalty, Mueller's support, and a chance to finally confront the man who'd stolen ten years of her life.

She would end this once and for all. Even if it meant she had to die trying.

CHAPTER TWENTY EIGHT

The acrid stench of decay and rain-soaked concrete assaulted Morgan's senses as she cut the engine, plunging the crumbling parking lot into silence. Her eyes darted to the rearview mirror, scanning for any signs of movement in the shadows cast by the flickering streetlight. Nothing. Just the ghostly silhouette of the abandoned apartment building looming behind her, a decaying monument to a night that had changed everything.

Morgan's fingers tightened on the steering wheel, her knuckles white. "This is where it happened," she whispered, her voice barely audible over the pounding of her heart. "Where Mary died. Where my father..."

She couldn't finish the thought. The truth was a jagged shard lodged in her chest, cutting deeper with each breath. The official reports, the lies she'd been fed for years – they all crumbled in the face of the photos she'd uncovered. Her father and Mary Price, smiling, connected. Not strangers caught in a random act of violence, but something more.

What were you hiding, Dad?Morgan thought, her eyes narrowing as she stared at the building.And what did Cordell have to do with it?

Taking a steadying breath, Morgan reached for her holster, double-checking that her weapon was secure. The weight of it against her hip was comforting, a stark contrast to the vulnerability she'd felt in prison. Never again would she be caught unprepared.

She pushed open the car door, the creak of metal impossibly loud in the stillness. Her boots crunched on loose gravel as she stepped out, every muscle coiled tight. The faint glow of the streetlight barely penetrated the gloom, casting long, twisted shadows that seemed to reach for her.

Morgan's hand hovered near her weapon as she scanned the area, her prison-honed instincts screaming danger. "Focus," she whispered to herself, forcing her breathing to steady. "You're not in there anymore. You're in control."

But even as she said the words, the memory of Thomas on the pier flashed through her mind. The crack of the gunshot, the shock on his face as he fell. How quickly it had all happened.

Dammit, Thomas,Morgan thought, blinking away the sudden sting in her eyes.Why did you have to get involved? Why couldn't you just stay away?

She took a cautious step forward, every sense on high alert. The distant hum of the city felt like a taunt, a reminder of the normal world that existed beyond this pocket of darkness and secrets.

I'm going to figure this out,Morgan promised the night, her voice low and fierce.For you, Thomas. For Mary. For all of us who've been caught in Cordell's web. Whatever the truth is, I'm going to drag it into the light.

With that vow echoing in her mind, Morgan moved deeper into the shadows, ready to confront whatever ghosts – or very real threats – awaited her in the ruins of her past.

Suddenly, Assistant Director Mueller's voice crackled through her earpiece, steady but urgent.

"Cross, we've secured the perimeter and most of the building, but the sweep isn't complete. Stay alert."

Morgan's hand tightened on her weapon. "Understood. Any sign of Cordell?"

"Negative."

"Copy that," Morgan replied, her voice low and tense. She moved forward, each step calculated and silent.

The building loomed before her, a hulking shadow against the night sky. Broken windows gaped like toothless mouths, and graffiti sprawled across crumbling brick walls. Morgan'seyes darted from corner to corner, searching for any sign of movement.

A sudden gust of wind sent a discarded newspaper tumbling across the parking lot. Morgan's muscles tensed, her weapon half-drawn before her mind registered the harmless source of movement. The autumn chill seemed to seep through her leather jacket, raising goosebumps along her arms where her tattoos marked the years stolen from her.

Minutes crawled by with excruciating slowness. Each shadow held potential threats, each unexpected sound sent adrenaline coursing through her veins. The weight of the bulletproof vest beneath her jacket pressed against her ribs with every breath, a constant reminder of the danger she'd willingly walked into.

A distant siren wailed, the sound distorted by the city's maze of buildings. Morgan thought of Cordell in his expensive office, probably watching the news coverage of her press conference. Had he seen through her challenge? Recognized the trap beneath her bold declaration?

"Movement on the east side," Derik's voice whispered through her earpiece. Morgan's heart rate spiked, her body automatically shifting into a better defensive position. But after a tense moment, he added, "False alarm. Just a stray cat."

Morgan forced herself to breathe slowly, fighting against the growing suspicion that was taking root in her gut. Everything felt wrong. The silence was too complete, the darkness too still.

"Mueller," she said softly, knowing the mic would pick up her words. "Any activity on the thermal scans?"

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