Page 28 of For Mercy

"Mueller, what's going on?"Morgan asked, her voice tight with tension.

There was a pause on the other end, filled only by the sound of Mueller's heavy breathing.When he finally spoke, his voice was weary, laden with the weight of bad news."Morgan, we've got another one.Another crime scene."

The words hit her like a physical blow.Morgan's free hand clenched into a fist, her nails digging into her palm.She'd known, deep down, that the killer would strike again, but she'd never expected it to be so soon.The realization made her stomach churn.

"Where?"she managed to ask, already pushing herself to her feet.Skunk whined softly, sensing her distress.

What would they find this time?Another staged scenario?Another victim who'd been given a chance to escape but hadn't made it?The possibilities made her head spin.

"I'm on my way," she said, ending the call.For a moment, she stood still, trying to gather her thoughts.The fatigue that had been weighing on her moments ago was gone, replaced by a surge of adrenaline and a gnawing sense of dread.

"Damn it," she whispered, running a hand through her hair."We're always one step behind."The frustration in her voice was palpable, echoing in the quiet room.She glanced at the scattered case files, at Sarah Reeves' photo staring up at her."What are we missing?"

With a deep breath, Morgan steeled herself for what was to come.Another crime scene.Another victim.Another piece of the puzzle that she had to fit together before the killer struck again.The weight of responsibility settled heavily on her shoulders as she moved to wake Derik, knowing that the long night ahead would only be the beginning.

"Derik, wake up," she urged, her voice tight with urgency.

He groaned, his face scrunching up in protest as he slowly stirred."Wha...?Morgan?"he mumbled, blinking groggily.

But the moment his eyes focused on her face—the taut lines of worry etched around her mouth, the barely contained panic in her eyes—Derik bolted upright, instantly alert."What's happened?"he asked, already reaching for his shoes.

"Another body," Morgan said, her words clipped."We need to go.Now."

Derik nodded, no further explanation needed.As he laced up his shoes, Morgan grabbed her jacket, her mind racing."I knew he'd strike again," she muttered, more to herself than to Derik."But this soon?What's his game?"

"We'll figure it out," Derik assured her, his voice steady despite the gravity of the situation.It was one of the things Morgan appreciated most about him—his ability to remain calm under pressure.

As they hurried out the door, Morgan paused, looking back at Skunk.The dog whined softly, sensing her distress."Stay, boy," she commanded gently."We'll be back soon."

The drive to the crime scene was tense, the roads eerily empty in the pre-dawn hours.Morgan's knuckles were white on the steering wheel, her jaw clenched as she navigated the familiar streets of Dallas.

"What do we know so far?"Derik asked, breaking the heavy silence.

Morgan shook her head."Not much.Mueller didn't have many details.Just an address and...and confirmation that it's connected to our case."

As they approached their destination, the flashing lights of police cruisers cut through the darkness, a beacon guiding them to the latest horror.Morgan felt her stomach tighten as she pulled up to the curb.

"An abandoned rental space," she murmured, taking in the dilapidated building before them."Clear across town from the first scene."

Derik's brow furrowed."He's moving around.Trying to throw us off?"

"Maybe," Morgan replied, unbuckling her seatbelt."Or maybe location is part of his message."She paused, her hand on the door handle."You ready for this?"

Derik met her gaze, his eyes reflecting the determination she felt."As ready as we can be," he said grimly.

Together, they stepped out into the chilly morning air, the weight of what awaited them inside hanging heavy between them.As they approached the crime scene, Morgan steeled herself, knowing that whatever they found beyond that yellow tape would only deepen the mystery—and the urgency—of their investigation.

***

Morgan ducked under the yellow crime scene tape, her nostrils immediately assaulted by the acrid scent of stale air and faint disinfectant.The dimly lit space before her was a sharp contrast to the pre-dawn darkness outside.As her eyes adjusted, she felt Derik's presence close behind her, his breath catching audibly as he took in the scene.

"Jesus," he muttered.

Morgan's stomach twisted violently as she absorbed the full scope of what lay before them.The room had been meticulously staged, but not as a courtroom this time.This was a mockery of a hospital, eerie in its uncanny falseness.

"It's like a twisted dollhouse," Morgan breathed, her voice barely above a whisper.She took a tentative step forward, her eyes roving over the plastic medical equipment, a fake heart monitor with a flat, unmoving line, and a cheap metal bed positioned dead center in the room.IV bags filled with colored liquid hung nearby, a grotesque parody of life-saving medication.

Derik moved to stand beside her, his face pale in the harsh overhead light."He's escalating.This is...more elaborate than before."

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