Page 21 of For Mercy

She cleared her throat, tucking away her notebook."Thank you for your time, Mr.Walsh.We'll be in touch if we need anything further."

Walsh nodded, his demeanor still serene."I hope you find who you're looking for, Agents.May God guide your path."

Morgan zipped up her leather jacket, the late afternoon chill nipping at her skin as she and Derik made their way across the church's gravel parking lot.The setting sun cast long shadows, painting the modest building in shades of amber and gold.She couldn't shake the feeling of disappointment that clung to her like a second skin.Another dead end.

As they approached their car, a voice called out behind them."Agents, wait."

Morgan turned to see Marcus Walsh jogging towards them, his face etched with an expression of deep contemplation.She tensed instinctively, her hand hovering near her holster, but Walsh's body language remained open and non-threatening.

"Is everything alright, Mr.Walsh?"she asked, studying his face carefully.

Walsh nodded, his eyes meeting hers with an intensity that made Morgan's skin prickle."I've been thinking about your case, about Judge Hawthorne," he said, his voice low and thoughtful."There's something I think you should consider."

Morgan exchanged a quick glance with Derik before turning her full attention back to Walsh."We're listening," she said, curiosity piqued despite her wariness.

Walsh took a deep breath, as if steeling himself."The person who set up that trap...they didn't actually kill Judge Hawthorne.The trap did."

The words hung in the air between them, heavy with implication.Morgan felt her breath catch in her throat, her mind racing to process this new perspective.

"What do you mean?"she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

Walsh's eyes took on a faraway look, as if he was seeing something beyond their immediate surroundings."In my time inside, I've seen all kinds of justifications for violence.But this...this is different.The killer didn't pull the trigger themselves.They created a situation, a choice."

Morgan's heart pounded in her chest as she absorbed Walsh's words.The pieces of the puzzle were shifting, realigning in her mind to form a new, disturbing picture.

"You're saying the killer sees themselves as separate from the act," she said slowly, the implications making her stomach churn.

Walsh nodded solemnly."It's a dangerous mindset.One that allows them to distance themselves from the consequences of their actions."

As Morgan stared at Walsh, she couldn't help but wonder what demons he had faced, what transformations he had undergone to reach this level of insight.And more pressingly, how this new perspective would reshape their investigation.

"Thank you, Mr.Walsh," she said finally, her voice thick with the weight of this revelation."You've given us a lot to think about."

As they drove away from the church, Morgan's mind whirled with possibilities.The killer they were hunting wasn't just a murderer - they were something far more complex and potentially more dangerous.Someone who believed they could play judge, jury, and executioner without getting their hands dirty.

The sun dipped below the horizon, casting the world in twilight.And in the gathering darkness, Morgan felt the case taking on a new, more sinister shape.

Morgan's fingers tapped restlessly on the steering wheel as she navigated the darkening streets.The weight of Walsh's words hung heavy in the air between her and Derik.

"It's a twisted logic," she murmured, breaking the tense silence."The killer's created a moral loophole for themselves."

Derik shifted in his seat, his brow furrowed."You think Walsh is onto something?"

Morgan nodded, her eyes fixed on the road ahead."It fits.The elaborate setup, the chance for escape...it's like they're trying to absolve themselves of responsibility."

She could feel the pieces clicking into place, a grim picture forming in her mind.The killer wasn't just seeking revenge; they were crafting a narrative, one where they weren't directly responsible for the death.

"It's like they're saying, 'I didn't kill him, the trap did,'" Morgan continued, her voice tight with frustration."As if that makes it any less murder."

Derik leaned back, his expression thoughtful."It's a hell of a psychological trick.Gives them a way to sleep at night, I guess."

Morgan's grip tightened on the wheel."But why go to all this trouble?Why not just..."She trailed off, unable to finish the thought.

"Because it's not about efficiency," Derik said softly."It's about proving a point."

Morgan felt a chill run down her spine.The killer wasn't just taking lives; they were crafting elaborate scenarios, giving their victims a slim chance at survival.It was a game, a terrible, deadly game.

"We're not just looking for a murderer," she said, her voice barely above a whisper."We're looking for someone who sees themselves as above the law, above morality.Someone who thinks they have the right to put people on trial."

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