Page 13 of For Us

"Thank you," he muttered, taking a long sip of water.

Lisa's gaze lingered on the man's hands as he drank from the glass. It was odd--he was wearing... gloves. Black gloves, even though it was a warm morning, and he said he'd been walking a lot.

And something about those gloves were... familiar.

A memory flickered in Lisa's mind, and her eyes widened as she remembered where she'd seen this man and his gloves before.

But it was too late. The man lunged forward, slamming the glass of water onto the floor and sending shards flying. His hand shot out, gripping her throat with a vice-like strength that left her gasping for air. Panic bubbled up inside her, clawing at her chest like a wild animal.

"Help!" Lisa choked out, desperately trying to pry his fingers from her throat. But her vision blurred, dark spots dancing before her eyes as her body began to betray her.

"Nobody can help you now," the man whispered, his voice cold and devoid of emotion. He tightened his grip, and Lisa knew that her time was running out.

CHAPTER NINE

Morgan pulled up to Roger Walter's house, her FBI badge hanging from a lanyard around her neck. She glanced at the driveway and saw his car parked there, confirming that he hadn't slipped away yet. A wave of determination washed over her; she couldn't let him escape justice.

Stay focused, Morgan,she told herself, stepping out of her car and walking up the path to the front door.You've got this.

As she approached the house, she couldn't shake the feeling that something was off. Was it the eerie silence that hung in the air, or the slight tremor in her gut warning her of impending danger?

"Focus," she repeated, pushing aside her doubts. "You're here for Roger, not some phantom threat."

She reached the front door and knocked, announcing her presence with authority. "Morgan Cross, FBI! I need to speak with you, Mr. Walter!"

The seconds ticked by, each one feeling like an eternity as she stood there, waiting for a response that never came. Her instincts screamed at her, urging her to act before it was too late.

"Damn it," Morgan muttered under her breath. This was no time for hesitation. She had a job to do, and she would see it through, no matter what obstacles stood in her way.

The wind rustled the leaves of the oak tree in Roger Walter's front yard, casting eerie shadows that danced across the house's façade. Morgan could hear faint movements inside – shuffling sounds and hushed whispers. She clenched her fists, fighting to keep her emotions in check. This was no time for fear or doubt; she had a mission to complete.

She raised her hand and knocked firmly on the door. "Morgan Cross, FBI!" she announced, her voice steady and commanding. "I need to speak with you, Mr. Walter!"

"J-just a minute!" came a panicked voice from behind the door. It was unmistakably Roger's, and he sounded as if he'd been caught off guard. Good. Maybe that would make him more likely to slip up and reveal something incriminating.

She knew that every second counted, but she also needed to give him the opportunity to open the door willingly. If he didn't, she'd find another way in – she always did.

As the seconds ticked by, Morgan's mind raced with possibilities. What if Roger had an accomplice? What if he'd already fled out the back door? What if he had a weapon? She shook her head, driving away the doubts.

"Mr. Walter?" she called again, her patience wearing thin. "If you don't open this door right now, I'm going to have to break it down!"

Morgan braced herself, steeling her nerves for whatever might come next. This was the moment of truth – the moment when she would finally confront the man who had been evading her. And she wouldn't let him slip through her fingers again. She couldn't.

The familiar wail of sirens approaching pierced Morgan's focus. She glanced over her shoulder and saw a fleet of police cars swarming the area, their lights flashing urgently. Among them was Derik's car, unmistakable with its black tinted windows and sleek design. A knot tightened in her stomach at the sight of him, but she knew now wasn't the time for personal grievances.

She clenched her fists, feeling the sweat slicking her palms as she prepared for whatever might be waiting on the other side.

"Roger! This is your last chance!" she shouted, pounding on the door again. "Open up or we're coming in!"

Silence answered her this time, not even a muffled shuffle from within. Morgan's heart raced as she considered the implications. Was he planning an ambush? Had he already escaped through another exit?

"Damn it," she muttered under her breath, eyes sweeping the area for any sign of movement. She could hear the officers behind her, murmuring amongst themselves as they secured the perimeter. They were good, but she'd seen firsthand how slippery her quarry was. She needed to stay one step ahead.

"Derik, get some men around back," she barked, forcing herself to push past the tension between them. "I want every inch of this property searched."

"Got it," he replied curtly, his face tight with determination as he relayed the orders to his team.

The sudden creak of a fence hinge snapped Morgan from her thoughts, and she whipped around just in time to see Roger vaulting over the wooden barrier at the back of his property. Adrenaline flooded her veins as she immediately took off after him, shouting for backup.

---