Page 18 of For Blood

As they approached the perimeter, an officer stepped forward, his hand raised."I'm sorry, but this area is off-limits—"

Morgan smoothly produced her badge, Derik mirroring her actions."FBI.We're taking over the investigation."

The officer's eyebrows shot up, but he quickly composed himself."Right, Detective Whitaker mentioned you'd be coming.Appreciate the help on this one."

"We appreciate your cooperation," Morgan replied, her tone professional but warm.She understood the delicate dance between federal and local law enforcement all too well."Can you point us toward the lead investigator?"

The officer nodded, gesturing toward a cluster of people near the center of the cordoned-off area."Over there, by the body.Can't miss him."

As they ducked under the yellow tape, Morgan felt a familiar tightness in her chest.Another victim.Another family torn apart.The weight of responsibility settled heavily on her shoulders.

"You okay?"Derik asked quietly, noticing her hesitation.

Morgan took a deep breath, pushing aside her personal feelings."Yeah.Let's do this."

They made their way through the bustling crime scene, careful not to disturb any potential evidence.Morgan's trained eye cataloged every detail: the trampled grass, the discarded evidence markers, and the grim faces of the officers on the scene.

As they neared the center of activity, Morgan steeled herself for what they might find.The fetal position Whitaker had mentioned nagged at her.It was too specific, too deliberate to be a coincidence.

"Agent Cross?"a voice called out, and Morgan turned to see a man in a rumpled suit approaching them, clipboard in hand."I'm Detective Ramirez, lead on this case.Or I was, until you folks showed up."

Morgan extended her hand, noting the dark circles under Ramirez's eyes."We're here to help, Detective.Do not step on toes.What can you tell us?"

Morgan's gaze fixed on the clipboard in Detective Ramirez's hand, her mind racing as he began to speak.

"Victim's name is Kevin Reeves, 54 years old," Ramirez said, his voice low and gravelly."Found about an hour ago by a jogger who heard a dog barking incessantly.The dog was trying to protect him."

Morgan's brow furrowed."A dog?"

Ramirez nodded, gesturing towards a nearby police cruiser where a golden retriever sat, looking forlorn."Reeves's dog.Poor thing was still here when we arrived and wouldn't leave his owner's side.Had to practically pry it away from the body."

A pang of empathy shot through Morgan as she watched the loyal animal.She turned back to Ramirez."The positioning suggests a specific MO.What's the time of death?"

"Based on body temperature and rigor, our ME puts the time of death between 8 and 10 PM tonight," Ramirez replied, flipping a page on his clipboard."Plenty of blood at the scene.Killer attacked him right here, during his evening walk."

Morgan's eyes narrowed."And the body positioning?"

Ramirez's expression grew grim."That's where it gets weird.After killing him, the murderer deliberately posed him in a fetal position.Probably while the blood was still flowing.There are drag marks in the blood, showing how the killer manipulated the body.It's...unsettling."

The words sent a chill down Morgan's spine.She exchanged a quick glance with Derik, seeing her own unease mirrored in his eyes.

"Fetal position," Morgan repeated, her voice barely above a whisper."Detective, are you aware of any similar cases in the past?"

Ramirez's eyebrows shot up."Funny you should ask.There was a case, must've been twenty years ago now.Guy named Thomas Burke, killed and posed the same way, right here in this park."

Morgan felt her heart rate accelerate."And Kevin Reeves?Any connection to that old case?"

The detective's eyes widened slightly."How did you...?Yeah, actually.Reeves was the one who found Burke's body back then.Local guy, walked his dog here every morning for years."

The pieces were falling into place, forming a picture Morgan didn't want to see.She closed her eyes briefly, willing her racing thoughts to slow.

Morgan's jaw clenched as the full weight of the revelation hit her.She turned to Derik, her voice low and urgent."This isn't random, Derik.Reeves was connected to the original case.And Rachel Martinez..."She trailed off, her mind racing.

Derik nodded, his eyes widening with understanding."Witnesses," he breathed."The killer's targeting witnesses from the old cases."

Morgan ran a hand through her hair, her pulse quickening."Exactly.Rachel witnessed Maria Santos's murder, and now Reeves, who found Burke's body.It's a pattern."

The lead investigator, a weathered man named Garrett, approached them, his clipboard tucked under his arm."Agents, there's something else you should know about Reeves."

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