Page 16 of For Us

"Let's hope so," Morgan agreed, her mind racing with thoughts of how much time they had wasted on Roger. She was determined not to let her past mistakes hinder her from solving this case. If anything, it only fueled her resolve to bring the murderer to justice. The killer had eluded them for far too long, and every moment they spent searching for clues brought them closer to another potential victim. They needed to end this nightmare once and for all.

"Find anything?" she asked Derik, who was now examining the living room.

"Nothing yet," he replied, frustration evident in his voice. "But there has to be something here we can use."

"Keep looking," Morgan urged, her own determination mirrored in Derik's eyes. "We'll find something. We have to."

The front door creaked open, the sound echoing throughout the suburban home. Morgan glanced over her shoulder as a man stumbled into the foyer, his face pale and eyes wide with shock. He looked like he'd been running, sweat beading at his temples and staining his disheveled clothing.

"Who—what's going on here?" he stammered, his gaze darting between Morgan, Derik, and Thomas.

"Sir," Morgan began, stepping forward to block his view of the body in the living room. "I need you to step outside."

"Is that—No! That's my wife!" The man tried to push past her, but Morgan held him back firmly. "Please, let me see her!"

"Sir, I know this is difficult, but we need you to calm down," Morgan said softly, her voice laced with empathy. "My name is Special Agent Cross, and I'm here to help catch whoever did this. But I need your cooperation."

The man choked back a sob, tears streaming down his face. He took a deep, shuddering breath and nodded, his eyes never leaving Morgan's. "My name is Matt."

"Matt, I need you to help us. Can you tell us where you were today?" Morgan asked, her tone gentle but firm.

"I was out," Matt confessed, his voice cracking. "I haven't been a great father or husband. My kids are at daycare right now. I came as soon as I got the call that something had happened."

"Are you usually not home, Matt?" Morgan asked.

"Actually," Matt hesitated, rubbing his forehead as if trying to summon a memory. "I travel a lot for work. Sometimes I'm gone for weeks at a time, and... I've always been afraid something might happen to my family while I was away." He glanced around the room, fidgeting with his fingers. "That's why I had a secret security camera installed a while back. But honestly, I don't even know if it works anymore."

Morgan's eyes sharpened at this new piece of information. A security camera could provide them with valuable evidence – if the footage was still intact. She looked over at Thomas, who had been examining the crime scene alongside her and Derik.

"Thomas," she said, her voice all business. "Find that camera and get us whatever footage you can."

"Understood, Special Agent Cross," Thomas replied, immediately getting to work. His eyes scanned the room as he began his search for the hidden camera.

As Thomas busied himself, Morgan couldn't help but think about the implications of having a security camera in the house. If it was functional, it would be an invaluable asset to their investigation. Yet, she couldn't help but feel a tinge of unease as well. Despite her own troubled past, she understood the need for privacy and the importance of trust within a family.

"Matt," Morgan addressed him gently. "Do your wife or kids know about this camera?"

"No," Matt admitted, his gaze lowered. "I didn't want them to worry or feel like they were being watched constantly. But now..." He swallowed hard, his voice barely a whisper. "Now I wish I'd told them."

Morgan nodded solemnly, understanding the weight of regret Matt must have been feeling. As she watched Thomas move through the room, searching for the camera, she couldn't help but wonder what kind of person would target innocent people in such a cruel and calculated way. The thought sent a shiver down her spine, but she quickly pushed it away.

She looked up just in time to see Thomas examining a small, inconspicuous device mounted near the ceiling. "I found it," he called out to Morgan, his voice steady and determined.

"Good work," she praised him. "Now get us that footage."

CHAPTER TWELVE

The dimly lit room was a stark contrast to the chaos of the crime scene outside, casting eerie shadows on the walls. Morgan stood by the window, peering through the blinds at the flurry of activity beyond them. She clenched her fists tightly, trying to keep her emotions in check as she waited for Thomas to inspect the camera.

"Water damage," Thomas muttered, running his fingers over the small device in his hands. "This thing's been through the wringer."

"Can you still get the footage?" asked Morgan, her voice tight with impatience.

Thomas glanced up at her, a mischievous grin spreading across his face. "I might be able to do something..." He glanced up, eyes flashing. "if you agree to go out on a date with me."

Morgan narrowed her eyes at him, a storm of emotions swirling inside her. Part of her wanted to lash out, to demand that he take the situation seriously. But another part of her recognized the need for levity in even the darkest moments.

And besides, Thomas wasn't a bad-looking guy. Not at all.

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