"Calvin Morse!" Morgan called out, her voice steady despite the fear clawing at her insides. "Let her go. There's nowhere for you to run."

  Morgan took a tentative step forward, careful not to make any sudden movements that might provoke Calvin. The floorboards beneath her groaned in protest, something she couldn't prevent in the old, decaying church. Calvin's head snapped towards her, his grip on Sarah tightening as he brandished tooth extraction tools in his other hand like a deadly weapon.

  "Stay back!" he warned, wild-eyed and unpredictable. Sarah let out a shrill scream, her frail body trembling violently.

  "Calvin, I just want to talk," Morgan said, trying to keep her voice steady despite the fear threatening to consume her. "My name is Morgan Cross. I work for the FBI."

  "I know who you are," Calvin spat, his gaze never leaving hers. "Did you enjoy my little gift? Mildred's teeth?"

  Morgan fought the urge to shudder at the memory. "Yes, I received them. But why send me clues, Calvin? Did you want to get caught?"

  "Caught?" Calvin laughed, the sound hollow and devoid of humor. "No, Agent Cross, I wanted you to see the truth. To understand what I've become."

  Morgan knew this was her chance. If she could keep him talking, maybe she could find an opening to save Sarah and apprehend Calvin without further violence. She forced herself to remain calm, reaching deep within herself to draw upon the years of training and experience she'd accumulated as an agent.

  "Tell me, then," Morgan said, her eyes never leaving his. "Help me understand, Calvin. Why did you do it?"

  As Calvin hesitated, Morgan felt a flicker of hope. Maybe, just maybe, she could reach him before it was too late.

  "Darkness," Calvin began, his grip on Sarah tightening, "I've always had it inside me. The world never understood, never gave me the attention I deserved." His eyes seemed to lose focus for a moment before snapping back to Morgan. "But Mildred saw something in me. She was like a mother, a grandmother, a mentor... whatever you want to call it."

  Morgan could see the desperation in his eyes, the need for connection and understanding. It was a feeling she knew all too well. "Calvin, I understand what it's like to be alone. To feel abandoned by the world," she said softly, taking a careful step forward.

  His laughter was harsh and bitter. "Oh, I know all about your story, Agent Cross. Ten years in prison for a crime you didn't commit, framed by the very people you thought you could trust. I read all about you. That's why I knew you'd be the perfect one to find me."

  A shiver ran down her spine as she realized the depth of his obsession with her. She couldn't let that distract her, though; Sarah's life was hanging in the balance. Morgan focused on keeping her tone steady and empathetic. "It's hard, isn't it? Feeling like no one understands you, like you're all alone in the world."

  As she spoke, Morgan continued inching closer to Calvin, her senses heightened as she prepared to act if given an opportunity. But she also knew that any sudden movement might set him off, so she held herself in check, outwardly calm even as her heart raced in her chest.

  "Even when we're surrounded by people, we can still feel isolated and invisible," she continued, watching Calvin's face for any sign of softening. "But you don't have to let that darkness define you, Calvin. There's still time to choose a different path."

  For a moment, his wild gaze seemed to waver, and Morgan hoped that her words were getting through to him. But then his jaw clenched, and she knew it wasn't enough. Not yet.

  "Too late for that," he snarled, and Morgan saw the cold determination return to his eyes. "I am who I am, Agent Cross. And soon, you'll understand just what that means."

  As Calvin's grip on Sarah tightened and the tooth extraction tools glinted menacingly in his hand, Morgan knew she had to find a way to end this standoff before it was too late. She couldn't let another life be lost to Calvin's twisted desires – not if she could help it.

  As Calvin's rant continued, Morgan's gaze darted around the dimly lit gallery, searching for any advantage she could find. The cold air of the abandoned church seemed to seep into her bones, but adrenaline coursed through her veins, keeping her focused and alert. She knew she had to do something – anything – to save Sarah from this madman's clutches.

  That's when she caught sight of Derik, approaching silently from the other side of the gallery. Relief surged through her chest. He'd made it in time, just as he'd promised. But they had no room for error, and if Calvin noticed Derik too soon, the situation might escalate beyond their control.

  "Calvin," Morgan began, trying to keep his attention on her and away from Derik's stealthy approach. "You don't have to go through with this."

  "Shut up!" he spat, the intensity of his glare causing a shiver to run down Morgan's spine. "I told you, there's no turning back now!"

  Just then, Derik reached the edge of the gallery and stepped on a loose floorboard, its creak echoing through the church like a gunshot. Calvin's head whipped around, his eyes widening in surprise as he realized he was no longer in control.

  "FREEZE!" Derik barked, his weapon trained on Calvin.

  Seizing the moment, Morgan lunged forward and grabbed Sarah, pulling the frail woman to safety behind her. In that split second, the air seemed to hang heavy, as if time itself had stopped. But then reality rushed back in, and chaos erupted.

  "NO!" Calvin shouted, his face contorted with rage as he turned on Derik, who had no choice but to lower his gun so as not to risk hitting Morgan or Sarah.

  The two men clashed, grappling with each other as they struggled dangerously close to the edge of the balcony. Morgan's heart pounded in her ears as she watched Derik, his face pale and glistening with sweat, lose his grip on Calvin's arm.

  "Derik!" she cried out, her voice strained with fear. She knew she had to do something, but what? Her thoughts raced, searching for any way to turn the tide in their favor.

  As the struggle continued, Morgan felt the weight of the responsibility bearing down on her. She'd been given a second chance at life, and now it was up to her to make sure that Derik got the same opportunity. But how could she intervene without putting Sarah in danger?

  "Calvin, please!" she pleaded, trying once more to reach the man behind the monster. "It's not too late! We can help you!"

  "Help me?" he snarled, his eyes wild and unfocused. "No one can help me! I'm beyond saving!"

  His words sent a shudder through Morgan, but she couldn't afford to dwell on the implications. All that mattered right now was keeping Derik alive – and stopping Calvin before he claimed another victim.

  Seeing Derik struggle against Calvin, Morgan knew she had to act quickly. Clutching Sarah tightly, she guided the elderly woman behind a nearby pillar for safety.

  "Stay here," she whispered urgently, before turning back to help Derik.

  Morgan sprinted across the gallery, her heart pounding in her chest as she closed in on the two men. Calvin's strength seemed to be growing, fueled by his desperation and madness. Derik's face was contorted with pain and fear as he struggled to hold onto the railing.

  "Let him go, Calvin!" Morgan shouted, lunging at the man who was threatening everything she held dear. Her hands grasped at Calvin's arm, trying to pry it away from Derik's throat. "This ends now!"

  "Get off me!" Calvin snarled, but his grip faltered ever so slightly under the force of her attack. Derik gasped for breath, seizing the opportunity to pull himself free.

  Together, Morgan and Derik shoved Calvin back with all their might. The madman's eyes widened in shock as he teetered precariously on the edge of the balcony for a moment before gravity took hold, sending him plummeting down to the pews below with a sickening crunch.

  Morgan's legs threatened to give out beneath her as she stared down at the lifeless body of Calvin Morse, unable to tear her gaze away from the grisly scene. She barely registered Derik's hand on her shoulder, steadying her in the aftermath of their harrowing ordeal.

  "Are you okay?" he asked, his voice shaky but determined. "We did it, Morgan."

  Morgan nodded, finally tearing her eyes from Calvin's broken form. "Yeah... we did." She swallowed hard, trying to push down the nausea that threatened to consume her. They had done what needed to be done, but that didn't make it any easier to stomach.

  CHAPTER TWENTY FIVE

  Later, as the abandoned church was swarmed with police officers, FBI agents, and paramedics, Morgan stood beside Derik, watching numbly as Calvin's body was zipped into a bag and hoisted into the back of an ambulance. The entire scene felt surreal, like something out of one of her worst nightmares.

  "Hard to believe it's over," Derik murmured, his gaze following the ambulance as it pulled away from the scene. "I'm just glad Sarah's okay."

  "Me too," Morgan agreed, feeling a flicker of relief amid the chaos. At least they had saved one life tonight.

  As the adrenaline slowly drained from her system, exhaustion began to set in. The weight of the night's events pressed heavily on her shoulders, threatening to consume her. But for now, there was solace in knowing that they had stopped a monster, and perhaps found a way to rebuild the trust that had once defined their partnership.

  The night air was thick with the scent of damp earth and the lingering traces of fear. Morgan glanced over at Sarah, the elderly woman wrapped in a blanket as she spoke to a uniformed officer. Her voice shook as she recounted her ordeal, but she remained unharmed—an outcome that brought relief to Morgan's weary heart.

  "Hey," Derik said quietly, breaking the silence that had settled between them. Morgan turned to look at him, his features softened by the pale glow of the emergency lights. "I just wanted to say... thank you."

  "For what?" Morgan asked, feigning confusion even though she knew exactly what he meant.

  Derik sighed, running a hand through his unkempt hair. "For stepping in with Calvin. If it wasn't for you, I might be the one lying dead on that church floor instead."

  Morgan's eyes flickered towards the now-empty space where Calvin's body had been, then back to Derik. She felt the familiar tightening in her chest—the unrelenting grip of emotions she struggled to keep at bay. "You don't have to thank me," she said finally, her voice low and steady. "We're partners, aren't we? That's what we do."

  "Partners," Derik repeated, a sad smile ghosting his lips. "Yeah, I guess so." He hesitated for a moment, as if searching for the right words. "But you know, it's more than that. I—"

  "Derik," Morgan cut him off, not wanting to hear whatever confession he was about to make. The pain of his betrayal still festered beneath the surface, an open wound no amount of time could heal. "It's been a long night.”

  He seemed to understand, nodding silently as they both turned their attention back to the flurry of activity around them. Morgan knew that despite everything they had been through, some part of her still cared for Derik—perhaps even loved him. But tonight was not the night to confront those feelings.

  For now, all she could do was stand beside him as they waited for their next moves, the weight of secrets and unspoken truths pressing down on them like a heavy shroud. And in the darkness of the night, beneath the watchful gaze of a shattered stained glass window, Morgan Cross found herself wondering if the ghosts of the past would ever truly be laid to rest.

  The distant wail of a siren pierced the quiet night, jarring Morgan back to reality. She glanced over at Derik standing silently beside her, his face a mixture of relief and exhaustion. She felt an unexpected surge of gratitude for his presence tonight, despite the lingering sting of his betrayal.

  "Besides, Derik," she said softly, eyes fixed on the bustling scene around them. "You would've done the same for me."

  "Of course," he replied, his voice rough with emotion. "No question."

  Morgan could feel the raw honesty in his words, and it struck a chord within her. The fear of losing him had been all too real, and yet, here they were—still standing, still partners. The thought brought an odd sense of comfort amidst the chaos.

  "Thank you," she murmured, the words barely audible even to herself. "For everything."

  With a sudden bout of courage, Morgan hesitated for only a moment before closing the distance between them and wrapping her arms around Derik. She felt his muscles tense in surprise before he slowly relaxed into the embrace, his own arms coming up to hold her.

  "Thank you," he whispered into her hair. "For letting me be here."

  In that brief moment, as they clung to each other amidst the wreckage of shattered lives and broken dreams, Morgan finally allowed herself to acknowledge the depth of her feelings for Derik. Though the weight of his previous betrayal was undeniable, she couldn't deny the fact that she still cared for him—perhaps more than she'd ever care to admit.

  "Partners," she whispered, pulling away from their embrace. Morgan could hardly believe she was opening up to him again—and maybe she was delirious, and would regret it later, but in the moment, it felt right.

  But she was definitely exhausted and needed to get some real sleep for the first time in days. This case had been stressful, as they all were… Morgan just hoped she wasn’t making a mistake by letting Derik in again, even a little.

  "Alright, I'm heading home. I'm exhausted," Morgan said, rubbing her eyes as she addressed Derik. "I'll finish up the paperwork in the morning."

  "Get some rest," Derik replied, his voice filled with concern. "You deserve it after all of this."

  "Thanks, Derik." She gave him a small, tired smile before turning away and walking to her car.

  ***

  Morgan's exhaustion weighed heavily on her shoulders as she drove through the dark streets of Dallas, the city lights casting eerie shadows around her. She couldn't help but mull over the evening's events—the fear she had felt for Derik, the adrenaline that coursed through her veins when they faced Calvin together, and the undeniable bond they still shared despite everything. It was a lot to process, and she knew sleep wouldn't come easily tonight.

  As she pulled into her driveway, the familiar sight of her small house offered her a measure of comfort. The night was quiet, save for the distant hum of traffic and the occasional rustle of leaves in the wind. With a sigh, Morgan stepped out of the car and locked it behind her.

  Upon entering her home, she tossed her keys onto the table by the door. Normally, Skunk, her loyal Pitbull, would be there to greet her with a wagging tail and an enthusiastic bark, but tonight, he was nowhere to be seen.

  "Skunk? Where are you, buddy?" she called out, her voice betraying her growing concern. She walked further into the house, her footsteps echoing in the silence. "Skunk, come here!"

  The lack of response from her beloved dog sent a chill down her spine. Her heart raced as she thought of the worst-case scenarios—had someone broken in while she was gone? Was Skunk hurt or worse?

  "Skunk!" she yelled again, her voice cracking with emotion.

  As she continued to search her home, the weight of the day's events grew heavier on her shoulders. The fear for Derik, the confrontation with Calvin, her own vulnerability—all of it swirled together in a storm of emotions that threatened to bring her to her knees. She was sure Skunk was around here somewhere, but she needed to see him now.

  Morgan fought to remain focused as she searched for Skunk, refusing to succumb to despair just yet. She knew she couldn't afford to lose him—not now, not after everything they had been through together. And as she continued to call his name into the darkness, Morgan Cross vowed to herself that she would find her dog, no matter what it took.

  Morgan's heart raced as she paced through the dimly lit rooms of her house, her eyes scanning the shadows for any sign of her missing dog. The usually comforting sound of Skunk's claws clicking on the hardwood floor was conspicuously absent, and with each empty room she checked, her anxiety grew.

  "Skunk!" she called again, desperate for a response. "Come on, buddy. Where are you?"

  Still, there was no answer. Her hands trembled as she pushed open the door to her bedroom, but it too was empty. A feeling of dread settled over her, making it hard to breathe.

  "Damn it," she whispered, trying to keep her emotions in check. She forced herself to focus, remembering her years of training and experience. Something was off, and she needed to find out what.

  As Morgan entered the living room, she froze. There, lying on her coffee table, was a small white envelope. It looked almost innocent, but her instincts screamed that this was anything but.

  With hands shaking, she picked up the envelope and carefully opened it. Inside was a single sheet of paper, covered in neat, bold handwriting. As she read the words, her blood ran cold.

  "Hello, Morgan," the note began. "It's time for you to go on a treasure hunt. If you try to call the police or tell Derik, you'll never see your dog again. You must come alone."

  "Thomas," she breathed the name like a curse, her heart pounding in her chest. How had he found her? How had he gotten so close without her knowing?

  Think, Morgan, she urged herself, her mind racing. She couldn't involve the police or Derik, not if she wanted to save Skunk. But going after Thomas alone was dangerous—she knew all too well how cunning and ruthless he could be.

  "Okay," she whispered, steeling her resolve. "I'll find you, Thomas. And I'll find Skunk."

  Closing her eyes for a moment, Morgan took a deep breath and tried to focus. She had been through worse—she had survived prison, betrayal, and heartache. This was just another challenge to overcome.

  "Alright, Thomas," she said, determination settling in as she gripped the note in her hand. "Let's play your game."

  NOW AVAILABLE!

  FOR ONCE

  (A Morgan Cross FBI Suspense Thriller—Book Eight)

  Victims found with a single, mysterious feather on their bodies. An ex-con FBI agent, unchained. A maniacal serial killer who will stop at nothing…

 

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