Forever, page 2
But as her captor turned away from her, his actions spoke louder than any words ever could - and in that moment, Stacy knew that mercy was not something she would find here tonight.
"Look at me," the man commanded, his voice cold and detached. Stacy's heart pounded in her chest as she forced herself to meet his gaze, confusion and desperation swirling within her.
"Wh-what do you mean?" she asked hesitantly, tears welling up in her eyes, unwilling to look away from him for fear of what might happen next.
"Watch," he replied, a cruel smile slowly stretching across his face. He bent down, gripping the weighted end of the rope attached to her ankles. Her breath hitched, her chest tightening with each agonizing second that passed.
"Please... don't," she choked out, her voice trembling.
The man ignored her plea, his smile never wavering as he lifted the weight effortlessly and tossed it into the pool with a splash. The sound echoed through the deserted amusement park, sending chills down Stacy's spine.
Her mind raced, struggling to comprehend the situation. She couldn't believe this was happening to her. Was there any hope for escape? What would happen when the weight hit the bottom of the pool? Panic threatened to overtake her, but she held onto the tiniest shred of hope, praying for someone - anyone - to come to her rescue.
As the last trace of the rope disappeared beneath the surface, Stacy felt her legs begin to wobble, threatening to buckle beneath her. Desperation clawed at her insides as she tried to muster the courage to fight back against her captor. But as she stared into his emotionless eyes, she knew that no amount of pleading or struggling would change the outcome. The rope slipped into the dark water, leaving behind only ripples as it disappeared into the inky depths. Stacy's eyes remained glued to the spot where the rope had vanished, her heart pounding in her chest.
"Please, don't do this," she begged, her voice trembling with fear.
Her captor stared back at her, his face a chilling mix of amusement and malice. The smile that had been plastered on his face since the beginning never faltered, even as he stepped closer to her, invading her personal space.
"Isn't it beautiful?" He gestured to the pool, his tone mockingly affectionate. "I picked it just for you."
"Please, I don't want to die," Stacy choked out, tears streaming down her face.
"Ah, but who does, really?" He raised an eyebrow, feigning deep thought. "But we all have to go some time, don't we?"
Stacy searched his cold eyes, trying to find some semblance of humanity within them, but found none. She knew she was running out of time, and her thoughts raced through her mind, desperate for a solution, a way out, anything.
"Why?" she whispered.
"Good, keep looking at me," he said. "I want to see the light leave your eyes, Stacy."
And then, without warning, he shoved her forward with all his strength.
As Stacy plummeted toward the water, her scream tore through the air, echoing across the water park. The world seemed to slow down, and for a moment, all she could see were the stars above and the terrifying abyss below.
Then, the cold water enveloped her, and everything went black.
CHAPTER ONE
The morning sunlight poured through the blinds, casting a warm glow across Special Agent Morgan Cross's living room. She sat on her couch, her legs tucked under her, cradling a steaming cup of coffee in her hands. Her Pitbull, Skunk, was curled up beside her, his head resting on her thigh.
As she sipped her coffee, Morgan's thoughts drifted back to her time in prison. The cold concrete walls, the iron bars that had caged her for ten years – all for a crime she didn't commit. It was a past that still haunted her, even now that she was back in the FBI. Now, after everything, she didn't have anyone left to trust.
Her eyes wandered to the photograph on the mantel. It showed her and her former partner, Derik Greene, beaming at the camera after they'd solved a high-profile case together. She used to think she could trust him completely, but now...
Morgan shuddered at the memory. It had been a week since Derik admitted he knew more about who had framed her than he'd originally let on. He'd tried reaching out to her several times since then, but she'd ignored each call and text message. Unless he was ready to tell her the whole truth, she couldn't bear to face him—there was still too much she didn’t understand, but one thing was clear: Derik knew more than he'd told her, and that was enough for her to not trust him.
Of course, there were things Derik clearly didn't know, too. Morgan had been holding her breath, waiting for him to come to her and tell her he knew about Darren La Roux—that she'd accidentally killed him in self-defense. But Derik hadn't brought it up, nor had he used it to blackmail her. If Derik did know about Darren, he wasn’t mentioning it.
So maybe there was a chance he didn’t know everything. Maybe he was just a pawn too.
"Skunk, buddy," she said softly, scratching the dog behind his ears, "I don't know what to do about Derik. I thought we were partners, friends even. Maybe more than that. But how can I trust someone who's keeping secrets like that?"
Skunk lifted his head, his brown eyes meeting hers with an understanding look. He let out a soft whine, as if agreeing with her dilemma. Morgan sometimes felt like a crazy person for talking to her dog, but these days, he was all she had. Skunk listened to her. He was the only innocent one in her world, as far as she was concerned.
Morgan sighed and took another sip of her coffee, letting the warmth spread through her. She knew she needed answers, but getting them from Derik wouldn't be easy. Maybe I need to keep him close, she thought, to find out what he knows and who's behind all this.
Just then, Morgan's phone buzzed on the coffee table. The screen displayed "AD Mueller" in bold letters. She hesitated for a split second before answering the call. Mueller was another person she had little interest in speaking to--she didn't trust the man for a second. He had never believed in her innocence, and since getting back from prison, their relationship had been tenuous at best. He'd even suspended her, only to rescind it, claiming that he'd realized she was a good agent and that they'd needed her. It seemed Mueller was making some effort, but still, Morgan didn't trust him as far as she could see him.
"This is Cross," she said, trying to keep her voice steady.
"Cross, it's Mueller. Are you busy?"
Morgan took a breath. No, she was just trying to relax, and he'd ruined it. She said, "No, sir. What's going on?"
"A body's been found at a sea park just outside of the city," Mueller informed her tersely. "I'm getting reports of a deliberate drowning, but the details are still coming in. I need you on this case."
Morgan's heart raced, but she couldn't let her unease show. "Sir, I told you last week that I can't work with Derik anymore," she reminded him.
Mueller's tone was firm and unyielding. "Too bad, Cross. Derik's your partner, and he's already on his way to the scene. Whatever drama you have between you two--you're gonna have to figure it out."
Morgan gripped the phone tighter, her knuckles turning white. "Sir, I can't take this case," Morgan said, her voice firm but laced with frustration. "I refuse to work with Derik."
There was a brief pause on the line before Mueller's tone softened slightly. "Listen, Morgan, kids found the body. Can you imagine the trauma they're going through right now? This is bigger than your personal feelings about Derik. This guy had the gall to kill and leave someone in a public place, where kids had to see it—I need my best agents on this. I don't have time to assign you a new partner right now."
Morgan stared out the window, watching as a group of children outside the house across the street. If what Mueller said was true, then some children out there were almost certainly traumatized by whatever it was they saw.
With a sigh, she glanced down at Skunk, who seemed to be picking up on her internal struggle.
Her mind raced as she weighed her options. It was true that she needed to keep the FBI close if she wanted any chance at finding out who framed her. And if Derik knew something, then maybe it was best if she played nice with him to get the information out.
"Fine," she conceded, her voice barely above a whisper. "I'll take the case."
"Good," Mueller replied, relief evident in his tone. "Derik is already en route to the scene. I expect you both to work together professionally and get this case solved. Do I make myself clear?"
"Crystal," Morgan said, her jaw clenched as she fought to maintain her composure. She hung up the phone and let out a slow breath, trying to quell the rising anger within her. She set her coffee cup down on the table and rubbed her temples for a moment. Skunk, sensing her distress, nuzzled his head against her leg.
She patted him gently before grabbing her jacket and heading out the door.
CHAPTER TWO
The sun blazed hot and relentless as Morgan pulled up to the entrance of Orca World, allowing herself a moment to take in the scene. The sprawling park loomed ahead, its colorful façade contrasting sharply with the grim reality of what lay within. Pleasant hues of blue and white with a cartoon orcas made it look family friendly and fun. Despite the years Morgan had spent investigating crime scenes and witnessing humanity's darkest underbelly, places like this still turned her stomach. The thought of intelligent sea creatures confined to tiny tanks for human entertainment was sickening.
She stepped out of her car and immediately felt the oppressive heat envelop her. Sweat beaded on her forehead as she walked toward the entrance, past the caution tape and heavy police presence. It was unsettling to see guests still being ushered out of the park, their expressions a mix of confusion and fear. Families clung to each other as they navigated the chaotic scene, and Morgan couldn't help but feel a pang of sympathy for the traumatized children who had witnessed something no child should ever see.
"Special Agent Cross?" A uniformed officer approached her, snapping her out of her thoughts. "I'm Officer Ramirez. I'll be assisting you with the case."
"Thank you, Officer," Morgan replied, extending a hand. As they shook, she looked around, trying to spot Derik among the sea of law enforcement personnel.
"Is my partner already inside?" she asked, hoping to get a sense of where he was without betraying her true feelings about working with him.
"Special Agent Greene? Yeah, he arrived a few minutes before you did," Ramirez said, pointing toward a cluster of officers near one of the large tanks. "He's been coordinating with the staff and local authorities."
"Great," Morgan muttered, her jaw tightening. She knew she'd have to play nice with Derik for the time being, but that didn't mean she had to like it. "Let's go," she said, forcing herself to focus on the task at hand. As they walked toward the tank, she steeled herself for what she was about to encounter. It was never easy to face the aftermath of a killer's actions, but she couldn't let her emotions cloud her judgment. There was a murderer on the loose, and she would do whatever it took to bring them to justice.
Morgan scanned the bustling scene around her, squinting against the bright sunlight that reflected off the water in the nearby tanks. Her gaze flicked from face to face, searching for any sign of Derik among the uniformed officers and frantic park employees. A knot of tension formed in her stomach as she tried to suppress her resentment toward him. She needed answers about her past, and he was the only one who could give them to her, and yet he'd refused. As far as Morgan was concerned, Derik had been involved in framing her. She just didn't know the extent.
Morgan noted a group of employees talking to some officers up ahead. She nodded at Ramirez, signaling she intended to stop here first. She held up her FBI badge as she approached, and the group looked at her. One girl in particular appeared very torn up--her big, tear-filled eyes landed right on Morgan, and her nametag read 'Chrissy.'
"These are some of the staff who made the call," Ramirez explained.
"You're Chrissy?" Morgan said, acknowledging her with a nod. "You're part of the staff here?"
"Yes, ma'am," Chrissy replied nervously. "I... I was working the dolphin exhibit when it happened."
"And what exactly happened?" Morgan asked, folding her arms across her chest and fixing her attention on the young woman. Inwardly, she couldn't help but feel a pang of sympathy for her; it was clear that she was shaken up by whatever had happened.
"Um, well," Chrissy began, fidgeting with her hands. "We were just starting our routine performance with the dolphins when the crowd suddenly started screaming. At first, I thought maybe someone had gotten hurt or there was a fight or something, but then I saw what they were all looking at." She swallowed hard, her eyes filling with tears. "There was a body floating in the water, right next to the tank."
Morgan's jaw tightened as she absorbed Chrissy's words. Another innocent life taken, another killer on the loose. As much as she wanted to ignore her own personal feelings about Derik, she knew she couldn't let this case slip through her fingers.
"Alright," Morgan said, trying to keep her voice steady. "What exactly did they see?"
Chrissy opened her mouth to respond, but before she could get a word out, Derik jogged over, slightly out of breath. "Cross!" he called out, waving a hand to catch her attention. "Derik Greene, FBI," he announced, showing his badge to Chrissy and the others. "I'm Special Agent Cross's partner."
Morgan clenched her jaw and forced herself to keep her focus on Chrissy, refusing to acknowledge Derik. Her heart pounded in her chest, a mix of anger and trepidation coursing through her veins. How could he just come up to her like nothing had happened? Morgan couldn't stand the sight of him.
"Please, continue," she urged Chrissy, pointedly ignoring Derik as he took a place beside her.
"Right," Chrissy nodded, swallowing nervously. "It'd probably be best if I just showed you."
She led them toward the exhibit where the incident had taken place, her hands trembling. Officer Ramirez trailed behind.
As they walked, Morgan's mind raced with questions. What had happened here? Who had been found, and why? She could feel Derik's gaze on the side of her face, his eyes boring into hers as if trying to decipher her thoughts. It made her skin crawl, but she refused to give him the satisfaction of looking back at him.
Chrissy led them through the winding pathways of the marine park, her footsteps echoing against the concrete. As they approached the dolphin tank, Morgan's heart clenched at the sight of a woman's body floating lifelessly in the water, her hair fanned out like a dark halo around her head. Officers milled about, taking photographs and preparing to remove the body.
"Jesus," Derik muttered under his breath, his face pale as he stared down into the tank.
Morgan swallowed hard, forcing her emotions to take a back seat as she focused on gathering information. "This was how she found?" she asked Chrissy, her voice steady despite the gruesome scene before her.
"During our routine performance this morning. The crowd started screaming when they saw... her," Chrissy replied, her voice wavering slightly as she gestured toward the tank. "No one knows how she got there."
Morgan noticed that the woman's hands were tied behind her back, and a heavy weight was secured around her ankles, anchoring her to the bottom of the tank by a rope.
"Definitely not an accident or suicide," Morgan murmured, her eyes narrowing as she assessed the situation. "Looks like we've got a new killer on our hands."
"Damn it," Derik muttered, his jaw clenched as he studied the woman's features. "What kind of monster would do something like this?"
"Someone who wants to send a message," Morgan mused, her mind already working through possible scenarios and motives. She glanced over at Derik, noticing the way he kept stealing glances at her as if searching for a reaction. It only fueled her determination to keep her focus on the task at hand and not let him see any sign of weakness.
"Chrissy," Morgan said, her voice firm and authoritative. "Is your manager in today?"
"Uh, yes, he's in his office," Chrissy replied hesitantly, glancing between Morgan and Derik.
"Take us to him, please," Morgan instructed, her mind racing with questions about the victim and possible suspects. She could tell Derik wanted to talk, but she wasn't about to let him distract her from the case. Her personal feelings would have to wait.
For now, she wanted to speak to the man in charge around here and find out how on earth this had been able to happen.
CHAPTER THREE
"Right this way," Chrissy said, leading Morgan and Derik through winding corridors and past various exhibits until they reached a door marked 'Manager.' Morgan took a breath, steeling herself for the difficult conversation they were about to have.
"Thank you, Chrissy," Morgan told the young woman before knocking on the door and opening it without waiting for a response.
Inside, a portly man sat behind a cluttered desk, looking up in surprise at their sudden entrance. The nameplate on his desk read 'Stew Granger, Regional Manager.'
"Agent Cross, FBI," Morgan announced curtly, flashing her badge. "This is Agent Greene. We need to ask you some questions about the body found in the dolphin tank."
"Of course, of course," Stew stammered, rising from his chair and extending a sweaty hand. Morgan shook it briefly, her expression unreadable. "Please, have a seat," Stew gestured to the chairs opposite his desk, wiping his palms nervously on his pants.
Morgan could see the unease in his eyes as he glanced at the door, as if contemplating an escape. But there was also something else, something she couldn't quite put her finger on. She filed that thought away for later as she sat down in one of the chairs, Derik taking the other.
"Let's start with the basics," Morgan began, her voice steady and controlled. "When did you first hear about the body being discovered?"
Stew shifted uncomfortably in his seat, his cheeks reddening under her unrelenting gaze. "Well, not even an hour ago," he said. "Chrissy called the police first, and another one of our employees ran down to inform me. I was in here at the time."
_preview.jpg)
