Page 22 of For Mercy

Derik shifted in his seat, his brow furrowed."You think they're trying to cleanse their conscience?By giving the victims a chance, however slim?"

Morgan shook her head, her eyes narrowing."It's more than that.This killer...they're playing God.Setting up these elaborate traps, these twisted courtrooms – it's all about control.About passing judgment."

She turned to face her partner, her expression grim."They're not just avoiding blood on their hands.They're creating a whole system, a perverse form of justice where they get to decide who lives and who dies."

Derik let out a low whistle."That's one hell of an ego trip."

"And one hell of a dangerous mentality," Morgan added, her voice tight."We're not just chasing a murderer anymore.We're up against someone who truly believes they're above the law, above morality itself."

As they stepped out of the car, the weight of this realization settled heavily on Morgan's shoulders.The cool evening air did little to calm the storm of thoughts in her mind.

"We need to re-examine everything," she said, striding towards the precinct doors."Every detail of the crime scene, every piece of evidence.Our killer isn't just playing a game – they're creating a system.And that makes them infinitely more dangerous than we initially thought."

Derik nodded, falling into step beside her."Where do we even start with something like this?"

Morgan paused at the entrance, her hand on the door."We start by thinking like they do.We need to understand their twisted logic, their warped sense of justice.Only then can we hope to catch them before they strike again."

As they entered the bustling precinct, Morgan couldn't shake the feeling that they were running out of time.Somewhere out there, their killer was likely already planning their next "trial" – and she was determined to stop them before another innocent life was lost to their perverted notion of justice.

CHAPTER EIGHT

The glass-and-steel monoliths of downtown cast long shadows across the parking garage as Michelle Knox stepped out of her office building.The last vestiges of sunlight glinted off skyscraper windows, bathing the city in an orange glow that was rapidly fading to dusk.Her heels clicked a staccato rhythm on the pavement as she made her way toward her car, the sound echoing in the near-empty garage.

Michelle rolled her neck, trying to ease the tension that had built up over hours hunched over spreadsheets and financial reports.Numbers still danced behind her eyelids when she blinked—profit margins, quarterly projections, investment portfolios.She'd been staring at screens for so long, the real world seemed slightly out of focus.

"Another day, another dollar," she muttered to herself, fishing in her purse for her car keys."Or a few million dollars, in this case."

As an investment analyst for one of the city's top firms, Michelle was used to high-stakes decisions and long hours.But today had been particularly grueling.Back-to-back meetings with anxious clients, followed by an emergency strategy session when the market took an unexpected dip.She'd barely had time to grab a wilted salad from the break room fridge for lunch.

Now, all she wanted was to get home, kick off these pinching heels, and pour herself a generous glass of cabernet.Maybe order some takeout and binge a few episodes of that new crime drama everyone was talking about.Anything to quiet the ceaseless whirring of her mind.

As she approached her sleek black sedan, Michelle's thoughts drifted to the bottle of wine chilling in her fridge.A small indulgence, but one she felt she'd more than earned today.

"You deserve it, Knox," she told herself, allowing a small smile."Hell, maybe even splurge on the good stuff tonight.Life's too short for cheap wine."

The parking garage was eerily quiet, most of her coworkers having left hours ago.Michelle's footsteps echoed off the concrete pillars, and she found herself picking up her pace slightly.She'd never admit to being nervous—she prided herself on her cool head under pressure—but there was something unsettling about being alone in such a vast, empty space as night fell.

She clicked the key fob, and her car's lights flashed in greeting.The familiar sight eased some of the tension in her shoulders.Just a few more steps, and she'd be on her way home.

"Early night tonight," she mused, reaching for the door handle."Maybe I can actually catch up on some sleep for once.Novel concept."

As she slid into the driver's seat, Michelle let out a long exhale, feeling the day's stress begin to ebb away.She tossed her purse onto the passenger seat and took a moment to close her eyes, savoring the quiet.Tomorrow would bring new challenges, new fires to put out.But for now, she could leave it all behind and focus on unwinding.

"Alright, Knox," she said, starting the engine."Home, wine, relaxation.In that order."

With a final glance at the darkening sky visible through the garage's concrete levels, Michelle put the car in drive and headed for the exit, leaving the long day—and the looming shadows—behind her.

Michelle's hand froze on the door handle, her breath catching in her throat.A figure materialized from the shadows, leaning against her sleek black sedan.Her analytical mind, honed by years of dissecting market trends, instantly cataloged details: male, medium build, dark clothing blending into the twilight gloom of the parking garage.

"Excuse me," she called out, her voice echoing unnaturally in the cavernous space."That's my car you're leaning on."

The man didn't react.He remained motionless, head tilted downward as if studying the cracked concrete beneath his feet.Michelle's eyes narrowed, her body tensing as she assessed the situation.

*This isn't right,* she thought, her mind racing.*Security should have cleared the garage by now.Why isn't he responding?*

"Sir?"she tried again, taking a cautious step closer."I need to get to my car.Are you alright?"

Still no response.The unnatural stillness sent a chill down Michelle's spine.She'd dealt with aggressive personalities in boardrooms, navigated high-stakes negotiations, but this...this was different.The man's presence felt deliberate, calculated.

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