Page 10 of For Mercy

"Sleep okay?"Derik asked, his tone carefully neutral as he leaned against the counter, his own mug cradled in his hands.

Morgan let out a humorless chuckle."As well as can be expected when your whole world's been turned upside down."

Derik nodded, a muscle in his cheek twitching."Morgan, about Cordell-"

"I know what you're going to say," she cut him off, her voice low and intense."That we should go to the Bureau, that we need backup.But we can't.Not yet.Not until we know who we can trust."

She watched as Derik's knuckles whitened around his mug, saw the conflict play out across his face."He's dangerous, Morgan.You know that better than anyone."

"Yeah, I do," she agreed, her gaze dropping to the syrup slowly spreading across her untouched pancakes."But so am I.And I'm not about to let him win.Not after everything he's taken from me."

The silence stretched between them, heavy with unspoken fears and the ghosts of past betrayals.Morgan knew Derik was worried, knew he was struggling with the desire to protect her and the knowledge that she needed to fight this battle on her own terms.

Finally, Derik sighed, setting his mug down with a soft clink."Just...promise me you won't shut me out again.Whatever happens, whatever you're planning, I want to be there.We're partners, remember?"

Morgan looked up, meeting his gaze.The concern in his eyes made her chest tighten.She reached out, covering his hand with her own."I promise," she said softly."We're in this together."

As if sensing the tension, Skunk chose that moment to let out a low whine, his nose nudging Derik's leg.Despite everything, Morgan felt a small smile tug at her lips."I think someone's feeling left out of the pancake party."

Derik chuckled, the sound warming Morgan more than any cup of coffee could."Alright, alright," he said, tossing a small piece of pancake to the eager dog."But don't tell Morgan I'm spoiling you."

For a brief moment, as Skunk happily munched his treat and Derik's hand remained warm beneath her own, Morgan allowed herself to believe that they might just make it through this.That together, they could face whatever Cordell threw their way.

But deep down, she knew the calm wouldn't last.Cordell was out there, waiting, planning.And she had to be ready.

The harsh buzz of her phone shattered the fragile peace, vibrating against the kitchen table with an urgency that made Morgan's stomach clench.She glanced at the caller ID, her jaw tightening.Mueller.

Morgan's hand hovered over the device, her mind racing.Mueller had been an ally, true, but the revelation about her father changed everything.Trust was a luxury she couldn't afford, not with Cordell's shadow looming over them.

She caught Derik's eye, saw the question there, and gave a slight nod.Only he could know the truth.Only he could be trusted completely.

"Cross," she answered, her voice steady despite the rapid beating of her heart.

"Morgan."Mueller's gravelly tone came through, tinged with something she rarely heard from him – urgency."We've got a situation."

She straightened, instantly on alert."What kind of situation?"

"Murder," Mueller said bluntly."High-profile.A federal judge, Richard Hawthorne."

Morgan's breath caught.A judge.This wasn't some run-of-the-mill homicide.This was big.

"How bad?"she asked, though she already suspected the answer.

"Bad enough that they called us in immediately," Mueller replied."The crime scene...it's unlike anything I've seen.We need you here."

Morgan exhaled slowly, her gaze falling on the untouched plate before her.So much for breakfast."Text me the address.I'll be there in twenty."

She ended the call, looking up to find Derik already moving, grabbing his jacket.His green eyes met hers, filled with determination and a hint of worry."I heard enough," he said."Let's go."

As they headed for the door, Morgan's mind raced.A federal judge murdered, a bizarre crime scene – was this Cordell's work?Or was she seeing ghosts in every shadow now?Either way, she couldn't shake the feeling that this was just the beginning of something much bigger, much darker.

And as they stepped out into the crisp morning air, Morgan steeled herself for whatever horrors awaited them.The game had changed, the stakes raised.But she was ready.She had to be.

***

The stench of decay and neglect assaulted Morgan's senses as she and Derik descended the crumbling concrete steps into the basement.Flickering fluorescent lights cast an eerie, sickly glow on the peeling walls, creating dancing shadows that seemed to mock their presence.

"Jesus," Derik muttered, his hand instinctively moving to the small of his back where his weapon rested."This place looks like it hasn't seen a living soul in decades."

---