For Now, page 4
Morgan and Derik exchanged a look. An elderly man on his deathbed was likely not who they were looking for, even with the tumultuous history with the victim. And Jennifer's knowledge of the events lined up with what Morgan had read in the letter. Carefully, she removed it from her pocket and handed it to Jennifer.
"We found this in your mother's room," Morgan said.
Jennifer's eyes scanned the letter quickly, her brow furrowing in confusion.
"I don't understand," she murmured. "My father wrote this? But why would he care to apologize now? I guess he was just a lonely, bitter old man on his deathbed..."
Morgan and Derik watched Jennifer closely, hoping to glean any insight from her reactions. But Jennifer just sat there, staring at the letter as if willing it to reveal more information.
Morgan felt a twinge of sympathy for Jennifer as she tried to console her. "We don't know what his motives were, but we'll look into it. In the meantime, is there anything else you can tell us about your mother? Any details that may seem insignificant, but could help us?"
Jennifer shook her head, her eyes downcast. "I'm sorry, I can't think of anything."
Morgan's mind drifted back to the other crime scene, to the peculiar detail of Mary's teeth. The killer had tampered with them – but why?
"Jennifer, did your mother have any history of dental issues?" she asked, her brow furrowed in thought.
"No, she had her own teeth up until the end," Jennifer replied, confusion etched on her face. "Although, we stopped seeing our family dentist after... what happened."
"What happened?" Morgan leaned forward, her interest piqued.
"Dr. Lorenzo, our dentist, he..." Jennifer hesitated, swallowing hard. "He messed up a few surgeries, and his practice got shut down. He just disappeared after that."
Morgan's gut instinct screamed that this was no coincidence. The connection between Mary's teeth and the mysterious dentist tugged at the edges of her consciousness, urging her to dig deeper.
"Can you tell me more about these botched surgeries?" Morgan asked, her fingers tapping rhythmically on the armrest of the couch as she tried to contain her growing impatience.
Jennifer looked at the floor and sighed, her shoulders slumping. "There was one woman... I remember her because her experience was all over the news. She went to Dr. Lorenzo for a routine procedure, but when she left his office, her jaw was completely deformed."
Morgan leaned forward, her mind racing. "Do you know what happened to the woman? Did she recover?"
Jennifer shook her head. "I'm not sure. I just remember seeing her on the news and my mother being furious. She canceled all of our appointments with Dr. Lorenzo after that."
Morgan nodded, her thoughts whirling. The revelation of a corrupt dentist was a new angle to the case, and she knew they had to follow up on it. Morgan mentally filed away the information, her investigative instincts buzzing with renewed energy. As much as she wanted to delve deeper into this lead, she was aware that Derik and Jennifer were still in the room, watching her closely.
She forced herself to take a deep breath, to appear calm and collected. Jennifer deserved answers, but Morgan couldn't risk sharing her suspicions just yet.
"Jennifer, we're going to get police and forensics in here," Morgan said. "It might be a good idea if you go elsewhere right now."
Jennifer nodded, her eyes still puffy from crying. "Okay, I understand. Please let me know if you find anything."
"We will," Derik assured her, standing up to escort her out of the house. "Thank you for your cooperation, Jennifer."
Morgan watched them leave before turning her attention back to the room. She scanned the photographs on the wall, her gaze lingering on a family portrait taken ten years ago. Mary looked happy in the photo, surrounded by her children and grandchildren. Morgan wondered how things had turned out so differently, how Mary had ended up alone in this house with no one to protect her.
She supposed it didn't matter now. She needed to get forensics in here, so she took out her phone, preparing to make a few calls.
***
By the time Derik came back in side, Morgan had forensics on their way and Mueller fully informed over what had happened here. Morgan turned to him as he came in, anxiety clawing at her chest.
"Forensics are on their way," she said. "Derik, I need to look for this Lorenzo guy."
"I agree, but I think we're leaving this thing with Jennifer's father out too easily," Derik said. "I get he's old and possibly sick, but the history of abuse is worth looking into. I want to find out if the guy is even still alive."
"Well, can you at least drive Skunk and I back to my car?" Morgan asked, her impatience growing. "I need to start researching this dentist, and I can't do that from here."
Derik nodded, his expression serious. "Of course, Morgan. But don't forget that we also need to look into Mary's ex-husband. It's possible that he's still alive and seeking revenge. Maybe this whole cancer and sickness thing was just a clever cover-up."
Morgan bit her lip, her mind racing with all the different possibilities. As it was in every case, it seemed like every time they found a new lead, two more cropped up in its place. But she wasn't about to give up. Not when the answers to Mary's death were so close.
CHAPTER FOUR
Morgan sat in her car, the laptop's screen casting a bluish glow on her face as she typed with one hand. Skunk rested his head on her thigh, his eyes half-closed as he watched her work. Morgan's fingers flew across the keyboard, pulling up information about Amos Lorenzo – the dentist whose practice had gone under after he botched several patients, even disfiguring one of their jaws.
According to Mary's daughter, Mary had once been a patient of Amos, making him Morgan's top suspect. The detail about the teeth was far too specific to fly under Morgan's radar; as compelling as the husband theory was, Morgan had a feeling there was a lot more at play here. Pulling out someone's teeth, only to crudely shove them back into the gums... this was no ordinary murder. Morgan was sure of it.
And most of all, she was sure another body would drop soon. Unless she could stop it.
"Alright, Skunk," Morgan mumbled, scrolling through the information on her laptop, "let's see what we can find on our Mr. Lorenzo." The dog raised his eyebrows but remained silent, his wise brown eyes watching her intently.
She found Lorenzo's file, which showed no criminal record. However, there were a number of lawsuits from dental patients that had left him bankrupt. His practice had been shut down several years ago, and his possessions were repossessed. Oddly enough, the building where his practice had been located had never been sold.
Morgan's jaw clenched as she read further. She could feel the weight of her past pressing down on her – the ten years she'd spent in prison for a murder she didn't commit. It had hardened her, made her more determined than ever to bring criminals to justice and protect the innocent.
"Seems like our guy has had a pretty rough time since his practice closed," she said to Skunk, scratching behind his ear. "But is he capable of murder? That's what we need to find out."
As she stared at the laptop screen, her thoughts raced. Could this man, who had already caused so much pain and suffering to his patients, be responsible for something as gruesome as Mary Jenkins' murder? And if so, why? What would drive him to do such a thing? And why Mary, specifically?
Morgan leaned back in her seat, her mind racing as she considered the different possibilities. She knew that the key to solving the case lay in the details, and she was determined to uncover them all.
As she sat there, lost in thought, her phone rang. She glanced at the caller ID and saw that it was Derik. She had to admit, it'd be easier if it was the husband--but her line of work was rarely easy.
"Hey," she answered, her voice strained with anticipation. "You have anything?"
He sighed. "Mary's ex-husband, John, died a week ago. I confirmed it. He couldn't have killed her."
Morgan's heart sank at the news. A part of her had hoped that John was responsible for Mary's murder, as it would have been a simpler explanation. But now, her gut feeling about Lorenzo was validated.
"Okay, thanks for letting me know," she said, trying to hide her disappointment. "I've been looking into Dr. Lorenzo. I found out that he used to be a dentist, but he's been bankrupt for years. His practice was shut down, but the building is still standing. I'm gonna check it out."
"Alone? Morgan, hold up, I can come with you."
Morgan couldn't help but feel frustrated. She'd be fine on her own. Besides, she had Skunk. Derik knew damn well that Morgan wanted to keep their work as separate as possible... she was being professional, but she still didn't forgive him.
"I'm fine, Derik," Morgan said. "I've got this. I'll connect with you at the precinct later."
"But--"
Morgan swiftly hung up, not caring how Derik felt on the other line. She didn't need him right now.
She sighed, steeling herself for what she was about to do.
"Alright, buddy," she said, closing her laptop and giving Skunk a pat on the head. "We're going to have to dig deeper into this one. I’ll have to drop you off home later, okay, pal?”
Morgan knew that the only way to answer these questions was to continue investigating Amos Lorenzo and his connection to Mary Jenkins. She looked down at Skunk, who wagged his tail in response to her determination.
She was going to find out the truth.
***
Morgan's car pulled up to the curb, gravel crunching beneath the tires. The abandoned dental clinic loomed in front of her, its windows boarded up and walls covered in graffiti. She couldn't help but think that it looked like a haunted house from some old horror movie. A chill ran down her spine as she studied the dilapidated building. As unnerving as this place was, she would still rather be working alone than with Derik. It was just better this way.
Skunk wagged his tail and eagerly followed Morgan out of the car. The wind rustled through the overgrown weeds surrounding the clinic. Morgan walked around the side of the building, searching for any signs that someone had been there recently.
Seems like the state still hasn't gotten their hands on this place, she mused, looking at the boarded-up windows. Maybe there's something useful left inside.
She found a door at the back of the building with a broken lock, evidence that someone had forced their way in before her. With a quick glance to make sure no one was watching, she pried the door open, wincing as it creaked loudly in protest. Skunk squeezed through the gap and began sniffing around, his nose twitching at the musty scent.
"Easy, boy," Morgan whispered, her eyes scanning the dark interior. Her flashlight illuminated peeling paint, cobwebs draped across every corner, and the remnants of a once-bustling dental practice. Old dentist chairs lay on their sides; rusty equipment littered the floor, gleaming dully in the beam of her flashlight.
As she stepped further into the room, her boots crunched on debris scattered across the floor. Skunk let out a low growl, and Morgan reached down to place a reassuring hand on his head. She knew they needed to be cautious, but her gut told her that there might still be something important hidden within these walls - something that could shed light on the connection between Amos Lorenzo and Mary Jenkins.
"Stay close, Skunk," she whispered, feeling an inexplicable sense of dread as she ventured deeper into the abandoned clinic. "We don't know what we might find in here."
Skunk's barking cut through the silence, his growls echoing in the empty room. Morgan's heart pounded as she reached for her weapon, her senses on high alert.
"Quiet, Skunk," she whispered, straining to hear the source of the disturbance. The dog's hackles rose, and he continued to bark, his gaze fixed on the door leading to the next room.
A faint shuffling sound sent a shiver down her spine. Someone was definitely in there. Morgan tightened her grip on her gun, her finger hovering over the trigger. She moved cautiously, each step deliberate and calculated, her eyes darting between the door and Skunk.
The shuffling grew louder, and Morgan's heart pounded in her chest. She couldn't see the figure moving in the next room, but she could feel their presence. Skunk threatened to bark again, but contained himself at Morgan's firm hand gesture.
"Easy, boy," Morgan hissed, her eyes scanning the dark room. She could hear the figure moving closer, their footsteps echoing through the empty clinic. But she couldn't identify where the sound was coming from. It seemed to echo throughout the rooms--one moment, she thought it was the room in front of her, the next, beside her. She couldn't just stand here like prey waiting to be captured--she had to make herself known.
"FBI! Show yourself!" Morgan yelled, her voice steady and commanding.
The shuffling stopped, and the building groaned in response. No one answered Morgan's call, and she only heard the sound of the building moaning. She wondered if she and Skunk had imagined what they heard. Wrapping her arm around Skunk, she backed away, her eyes darting around the room for any sign of the intruder. But there was nothing, just an eerie silence that made Morgan's skin crawl.
Suddenly, a loud thud echoed through the clinic as something shifted upstairs. Morgan spun around at the sound, holding her breath as her flashlight illuminated a set of stairs leading up to a second level. Her heart raced at the thought of going up there alone, but she knew it was pointless to stand in this room waiting for whatever was lurking above to come find her--she'd never know what secrets were hidden within these walls unless she went looking for them herself.
Taking a deep breath to calm herself, she took one last look around before slowly making her way up the stairs with Skunk close at her heels. As soon as they reached the top step, Morgan could feel a chill in the air that hadn't been present on the first floor; it felt like something sinister lurked in this place - something far more menacing than anything she had encountered before.
"Who's there?" she demanded, her voice steady despite the adrenaline coursing through her veins. "Show yourself!"
There was no response, only the sound of her own breathing filling the room. But she knew someone was there, lurking just beyond her line of sight.
"Damn it," she muttered, feeling frustration bubble up inside her. She couldn't let this intruder get away, not when they might hold the key to unraveling the mystery of Mary Jenkins' murder.
Morgan crept up the hallway with Skunk, filled with abandoned office supplies and boxes. Just then, a flicker of movement from behind--and the sound of her dog whining.
Morgan spun around, her gun still raised, and stared at the man before her. His gaunt face was a sickly gray, with thin wisps of hair clinging to his skull.
He was leaning over Skunk, grabbing hold of his collar--and he pulled out a knife.
"One wrong move and the dog dies!" the man yelled.As he opened his mouth to speak, she noticed the gaping void where his teeth should have been.
Skunk went to lunge back and attack the man, but Morgan knew if he did that, he'd be dead.
"Skunk, freeze!" Morgan shouted.
Skunk obeyed her command, freezing underneath the man--and his knife--although he still snarled. The man increased his grip on Skunk's collar and gave him a slight yank. Skunk barked, and panic flitted through Morgan.
"Skunk, calm," Morgan said again. Although the Pitbull could clearly sense the danger, he trusted Morgan's leadership and calmed down. "Let my dog go," Morgan demanded, her grip tightening on her gun as she pointed it at the man. "Right now."
"Lower your weapon, and nobody has to get hurt," the man rasped. He seemed unfazed by Skunk's attempts to bite him. "You're the one who broke into my crib, lady."
Morgan hesitated, weighing her options. She didn't trust this man, but she also couldn't risk Skunk getting hurt. It was clear she'd have to play along for now. This man looked nothing like Amos Lorenzo, as Morgan had seen in the files--he looked like a crack addict, but maybe this was just what time and drugs had done to Lorenzo.
"Let the dog go," Morgan warned. "I'm not looking for any trouble. I just want to know where Amos Lorenzo is."
"Then put your damn gun away," the man said, "or the dog here is gonna get a slice through the neck."
Morgan held up her hands, then tucked her gun back into her belt. "There. Look. No weapons, no one has to get hurt, okay? Let the dog go."
The man let out a low chuckle, his eyes gleaming with malice. "You think I'm stupid enough to fall for that, lady? Nice try, but I ain't buying it."
Morgan gritted her teeth, her mind racing as she tried to come up with a plan. She couldn't let this guy get away, but she also couldn't risk Skunk's safety. She needed to find a way to distract him, to give her a chance to disarm him.
"Please," she said, her voice shaking slightly. "Just let the dog go. I won't hurt you, I swear."
The man sneered at her, his grip on Skunk's collar tightening. "Yeah, right. I know who you are, lady. You're a fed. I heard you. You think you can just waltz in here like you own the place? Think again."
Morgan's heart sank as she realized there was no reasoning with this man. She was going to have to fight for Skunk's freedom--and for her own life. She took a deep breath, trying to steady her nerves as she watched the man warily.
"I don't care what you're doing in here," Morgan insisted. "I just want you to let my dog go. I won't shoot. I promise. I have enough issues to deal with--shooting a civilian wasn't on my agenda today, and I intend to keep it that way."
The man hesitated, eyeing Morgan and Skunk before finally releasing his grip on the dog's collar. Skunk bolted toward Morgan, his tail between his legs. Morgan reached down to stroke his fur, her eyes still trained on the man.
"Now, who are you?" she asked, trying to keep her tone calm and collected. "And what are you doing here?"
The man smirked, revealing a row of rotted teeth. "Me? I'm just a guy trying to make a living," he said, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "And as for what I'm doing here...well, that's none of your damn business, is it?"
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