Page 32 of For Blood

Morgan's gaze fixed on the modest wooden cross near the door.Its simplicity felt like a mockery, given the horrors that had unfolded here two decades ago.She clenched her jaw, pushing back the memories of her own unjust imprisonment.Focus on the now, she reminded herself.

As they stepped inside, the scent of old wood and candle wax enveloped them.Morgan's eyes swept the empty sanctuary, settling on a lone figure near the altar.An older man with silver-streaked hair was straightening hymnals, his movements methodical and practiced.

"Pastor Ellis Carter," Morgan murmured to Derik."Current leader of the congregation."

They approached, their footsteps echoing in the quiet space.The pastor looked up, kind but weary eyes meeting theirs.

"Can I help you?"he asked, his voice gentle.

Morgan flashed her badge."FBI.We're here about Andrew Keller."

She watched closely, noting the slight tightening around Pastor Ellis's eyes at the mention of Keller's name.It was subtle, but years of interrogations had honed her ability to read micro-expressions.

"I see," Ellis said, his tone carefully neutral."It's been many years since Andrew was with us.What would you like to know?"

Morgan's mind raced, weighing how much to reveal."We're investigating a series of crimes that may be connected to cases from Keller's time here.Any information you could provide about him would be helpful."

Ellis's gaze flickered between them, a mix of wariness and resignation settling over his features."Perhaps we should speak in my office," he suggested, gesturing towards a door off to the side.

As they followed him, Morgan caught Derik's eye.The silent communication between them was clear: tread carefully, but don't let anything slip by.Whatever secrets this church held, they were determined to uncover them, no matter how deeply they might be buried in the past.

The office was small, its walls lined with bookshelves crammed with well-worn theological texts.Ellis settled behind a sturdy oak desk, his hands folded in front of him.Morgan took the chair opposite, while Derik leaned against the wall, his presence a silent support.

"What kind of man was Andrew Keller?"Morgan asked, her voice steady, revealing none of the tension coiled within her.

Ellis exhaled deeply, his gaze drifting to a framed photo on his desk.Morgan caught a glimpse of a younger Ellis standing next to a dark-haired man she assumed was Keller.

"Andrew was..."Ellis paused, seeming to search for the right words."He was a complex man.Quiet, deeply private.His faith was unwavering, but there was always something...burdening him."

Morgan leaned forward slightly, her tattoo-covered arms resting on the desk."How so?"

Ellis's eyes met hers, a flicker of unease passing through them."He was well-liked, respected by the congregation.But he never truly let anyone in.It was as if he was constantly battling something within himself."

The words struck a chord with Morgan.She knew all too well what it was like to carry inner demons, to feel isolated even among people who claimed to care.

"Did he ever confide in you about what was troubling him?"she pressed.

Ellis shook his head slowly."No, he kept those struggles to himself.But there were times...times when I'd catch a look in his eyes.It was haunted, almost desperate."

Morgan's mind raced, connecting dots.Could Keller's inner turmoil have been guilt over the murders?Or was he battling against urges he ultimately succumbed to?

Morgan watched Pastor Ellis carefully, noting the subtle tension in his shoulders and the way his fingers drummed lightly on the desk.There was an uneasiness in the way he spoke about Keller—fondness, yes, but also something heavier.She leaned forward, her tattooed arms resting on her knees.

"Pastor Ellis," she said, her voice low and steady, "I need to ask you something difficult.Do you truly believe Andrew Keller could have been a killer?"

Ellis hesitated, his eyes darting away for a moment before meeting Morgan's gaze again.He exhaled slowly, the sound filling the small office."Agent Cross, I...I want to say no.I want to believe in the man I knew."He paused, clasping his hands together."But the truth is, no one can ever truly know a man's heart."

That answer lingered in the air, neither confirmation nor denial.Morgan felt a familiar tightness in her chest, memories of her own wrongful conviction threatening to surface.She pushed them down, focusing on the present.

"I understand," she said, her voice tinged with a hard-won empathy."Sometimes the people closest to us can surprise us in the worst ways."

Ellis nodded, a flicker of relief crossing his face at her understanding.

Morgan pressed further, leaning back in her chair."Tell me, did Keller have any close friends, family, or people who might have been particularly influenced by him?"

Ellis shook his head, his brow furrowing."No, not that I'm aware of.Andrew never married, never had children.He kept to himself, really, on a personal level.He was beloved in the community for his work at the church, but he never formed deeppersonalattachments outside of the church, at least not that I saw."

Morgan's mind raced, cataloging this information.A loner with no close ties made for a difficult trail to follow.She thought of the silver cross necklace Vanessa Shaw had mentioned, a detail that could prove crucial.

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