Page 19 of For Mercy

"Unusually harsh," Morgan finished for him, her mind racing."The standard for cases like this is typically five to eight years.Hawthorne went well beyond that."

She stopped pacing, bracing her hands on the back of a chair as she met Derik's gaze."Can you imagine sitting in a cell for fifteen years, knowing you got more than double the usual sentence?That kind of resentment...it could eat away at a person."

Derik nodded slowly, his expression grim."It's a strong motive, that's for sure.But is it enough to turn someone into...this?"He gestured vaguely, encompassing the horror of the crime scene they'd witnessed.

Morgan sank into the chair, her exhaustion momentarily forgotten as adrenaline coursed through her veins."I don't know," she admitted."But it's the best lead we've got right now.We need to dig deeper into Walsh's background, see if there's anything else that connects him to this case."

She reached for her laptop, fingers flying across the keyboard as she pulled up Walsh's records."Let's start with his release date.If he's our guy, he would have gotten out recently."

As they delved further into Marcus Walsh's past, Morgan couldn't shake the feeling that they were finally on the right track.But a nagging voice in the back of her mind whispered a warning: if they were right about Walsh, they weren't dealing with some impulsive killer.This was a man who had waited fifteen years for his revenge.A man with patience, determination, and a carefully cultivated rage.

Morgan leaned in closer to the screen, her eyes narrowing as she scanned the details of Marcus Walsh's past."Engineering," she murmured, her pulse quickening."Walsh was an engineer before his conviction."

Derik looked up from his own stack of files, raising an eyebrow."How does that fit in?"

"Think about it," Morgan said, her voice low and intense."Engineering requires precision.A mind that understands mechanical systems, cause and effect."She paused, the image of the crime scene flashing vividly in her mind."That basement...it wasn't just a murder.It was a carefully designed death trap, a mechanism of perfectly executed timing and physics."

She could feel the pieces clicking into place, a chilling certainty settling in her gut.Walsh's background in engineering wasn't just a coincidence.It was the missing link they'd been searching for.

Derik nodded slowly, comprehension dawning on his face."And Walsh would have had the skills to build something like that."

"Exactly," Morgan breathed, pushing back from the desk and running a hand through her hair.The weight of their discovery pressed down on her, a mix of excitement and dread."We might have just found our prime suspect."

Their eyes met across the table, a silent understanding passing between them.This was the breakthrough they'd been waiting for, but it also meant they were dealing with a killer far more dangerous than they'd initially thought.

Morgan considered their next steps."We need to track down Walsh's current whereabouts," she said, already reaching for her phone."And we should look into any properties he might have access to.If he's our guy, he'll need a place to plan and build his...contraptions."

As she dialed, Morgan couldn't shake the image of Walsh, a man who'd spent fifteen years nurturing his resentment, honing his skills, and planning his revenge.A shiver ran down her spine.They were no longer chasing a shadow.They had a name, a face, and a motive.

But would it be enough to catch him before he struck again?

CHAPTER SEVEN

The gravel crunched under the tires as Morgan eased the car to a stop in front of the small church.She squinted against the late afternoon sun, its rays painting long shadows across the humble building and its sparse parking lot.A simple wooden sign caught her eye: "Hope & Redemption Ministry."

Morgan turned to Derik, her brow furrowed."This can't be right.Are you sure this is the address for Marcus Walsh?"

Derik double-checked his notes and nodded."Yeah, this is it.Not exactly what I pictured for a guy with his record."

Morgan stepped out of the car.She'd been expecting a rundown apartment or maybe a seedy bar—not this quaint little church on the outskirts of town.The disconnect made her uneasy, heightening her already razor-sharp senses.

"Let's see what we're dealing with," she muttered, more to herself than to Derik.

They approached the entrance, the wooden steps creaking beneath their feet.Morgan hesitated for a moment before pushing open the door, her hand instinctively brushing against her holstered weapon.

The interior was as modest as the exterior—worn pews, faded hymnals, and a small pulpit at the front.And there, arranging flowers on the altar, was a man Morgan almost didn't recognize from the mug shot she'd studied earlier.

"Marcus Walsh?"she called out, her voice echoing in the empty sanctuary.

The man turned, and Morgan felt a jolt of surprise.Gone was the scowling, defiant face she'd seen in his prison photo.This Marcus Walsh had clear eyes, a serene expression, and an air of quiet composure that seemed entirely at odds with his violent past.

"Can I help you?"he asked, his voice soft but steady.

Morgan stepped forward, Derik a half-step behind her."I'm Special Agent Morgan Cross, this is my partner Special Agent Derik Greene.We'd like to ask you a few questions if you don't mind."

Walsh nodded, setting down the flowers."Of course.What can I do for you?"

As they began their questioning, Morgan couldn't shake her discomfort.This man—calm, articulate, seemingly at peace—was so far removed from the angry convict she'd expected that she found herself struggling to reconcile the two images.

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