Page 28 of For Wrath

With a renewedsense of purpose, Morgan began to delve deeper into the lives of the women onBlanchard's client list, searching for any detail, no matter how small, thatmight lead her closer to the truth. She knew that she was racing against theclock - not only to uncover the identity of the man behind the mask but to savethe lives of the innocent women who had become entangled in his twisted web.

Maybe some ofthese women on the list still saw him and still got work done by him, whereverhe is now.

Morgan's fingerstapped impatiently on the steering wheel, her gaze locked onto the digital glowof her laptop screen. She needed to make a move and fast. Her heart raced asshe dialed one of the numbers from the client list - a woman named Lucy.

"Hello?"a hesitant voice answered on the other end of the line.

"Lucy?"Morgan asked in a low, urgent tone, her eyes scanning the shadows outside hercar. "This is Agent Morgan Cross with the FBI. I need to ask you about Dr.Steve Blanchard."

"Dr.Blanchard?" Lucy repeated, confusion lacing her voice. "Yes, I sawhim last month, but I haven't heard from him in a while. He's not returning mycalls." She paused for a moment before adding, "I even went to hisclinic recently, and it looked like it had been abandoned."

Morgan's griptightened on the phone, her knuckles turning white. "Where is the cliniclocated?" she demanded, her voice edged with steel.

"Um, it's at928 West Elm Street," Lucy replied, the uncertainty in her voice growingmore pronounced with each passing second.

"Listen tome, Lucy," Morgan said, her voice firm and commanding. "Two ofBlanchard's clients are dead. I need you to lock your doors and not let anyonein. Do you understand?"

"Dead?"Lucy gasped, her voice trembling. "Yes, yes, I understand."

"Good,"Morgan said, her tone softening slightly. "Stay safe, and if anythinghappens, call 911 immediately. We're working to find this man before anyoneelse gets hurt."

As Morgandisconnected the call, her mind churned with grim determination. She couldn'tshake the image of Ella Van Sant's mutilated body, her youthful beauty twistedinto something grotesque. This monster had to be stopped, and Morgan vowed thatshe would be the one to bring him down.

But there was onemore thing she had to do first.

Morgan's fingersflew across her phone screen, selecting Derik's number without hesitation. Thecall connected, and she heard the faint beeping of hospital machines in thebackground.

"Morgan--"

"Derik,"she said, her voice urgent. "I have a job for you while you're in thehospital."

"Youserious?" Derik said. "Lay it on me, Cross. I'm ready."

"Good. It'simportant." Morgan's eyes scanned the street as she spoke. "I'msending you a list of names and numbers. I need you to call them all and warnthem about a man named Dr. Steve Blanchard. He might be dangerous."

"Whoa, holdon," Derik said, his voice suddenly serious. "What's going on?"

"I don'thave time to explain everything now but trust me, it's urgent," Morganinsisted, her grip tightening on the steering wheel. "Can you do this forme?"

"Ofcourse," Derik agreed, his voice filled with determination. "Justsend me the info, and I'll get started right away."

"Thanks,Derik," Morgan said before ending the call. She snapped a photo of theclient list and texted it to Derik, but not before he sent her a text thatread: Hope you can explain this soon...

She would, soonenough. But she had to focus on finding Blanchard, and his abandoned clinic wasthe first place she had to start.

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

The abandonedplastic surgery clinic loomed before Morgan. Its windows were dark, the glassreflecting back the hazy image of Morgan's car as she parked out front. Morganstepped out of her car, her shoes crunching on the concrete beneath her feet,littered with stones. As she approached, she couldn't shake the sense of dreadthat settled over her like a heavy fog.

Peering throughthe dusty windows, she saw only darkness, the ghostly outlines of medical equipmentshrouded in shadow. Yet, despite the emptiness, she couldn't shake the feelingthat something sinister lurked within.

With a deepbreath, she steeled herself for what lay ahead. The abandoned clinic may haveappeared lifeless, but Morgan knew that there was more to this case than metthe eye. And she wouldn't rest until she had unraveled every last thread of thetwisted mystery.

Circling aroundto the back of the building, Morgan spotted a door that appeared to have beenforced open before. The worn and splintered wood seemed to beckon her in, asilent invitation to explore the secrets hidden within.

"Here goesnothing," she muttered under her breath, pulling on a pair of gloves toprotect her hands from any unseen dangers. She wedged her fingers into thesmall gap between the door and frame, using her strength and determination toforce it open with a low groan.

Once inside,Morgan was immediately struck by the cold sterility of the abandoned clinic.The air was thick with the scent of disinfectant and dust, a mixture that senta chill down her spine. The darkness engulfed her, adding an eerie sense offoreboding to the already unsettling scene.

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