Page 62 of Gone in the Night
Morgan paused, was she getting them into a whole new level of trouble they didn’t need?
‘Not specifically, we always have and always will put the safety of the public first.’
‘Then who?’
A queasiness in her stomach made her wish she hadn’t started this.
‘Nobody.’
Fin threw his arms up in exasperation. ‘You have to give me something; this is all just riddles.’
‘I think that the suspect may still be at large, and I think they could kill again. I want you to issue a warning to all women who partake in solo camping, hiking, anything outdoorsy where they are on their own. I want to ensure they are on high alert just in case.’
Fin’s phone began to ring. ‘Excuse me.’
She listened to his one-sided conversation and knew what it was about. He ended the call and looked at her. ‘There’s been a press release stating that they’re not looking for anyone in connection with the two murders; they believe they have the suspect and will share more when they have the details.’
Morgan shook her head then stopped what she was doing, remembering who the guy sitting opposite her was and what he was capable of.
‘You don’t agree at all?’
‘I don’t know, Fin, I just have this gut feeling that we could be missing something.’
‘Look, let’s call a truce. I’m sorry, I was an absolute idiot when I wrote that story about you. I regret it, I don’t feel bad about most of my articles but that one really made me question what I was doing with my life, but once it was in print there was no going back.’
She didn’t know if he was being honest or just trying to get her on his side. She shrugged.
‘It hurt a lot, I was only just finding out things I hadn’t known about myself, and I trusted you.’
He had the decency to look embarrassed and lowered his head. ‘I know and I really am sorry. Let me help you, I’ll write an article about how I think there’s more to this than the police have said. I was there at a crime scene and saw how bad it was, so I will say it’s all my opinion so you don’t get into any trouble; but I’ll also say that until we have more evidence from the police that they have the right perpetrator, then all women should be careful. I’ll issue the warning. How does that sound?’
‘You’re not going to name me in it at all?’
He shook his head. ‘No, I owe you this one, Morgan. By the way, who do they have in mind or who have they got in custody if they’re so certain it’s stopped? Why the big secret, it has to be someone in the force or local government maybe?’
‘If I tell you this, it is not to go into print. I need you to promise me, Fin.’
‘I won’t say a word, pinkie promise. Well not until I hear it officially.’
‘One of our officers was found dead near to the first crime scene yesterday.’
His mouth dropped so wide open she could see his tonsils at the back of his throat. He lowered his voice. ‘And they think he did it? Holy shit.’
‘I’m not saying that, and I don’t believe it, that’s all I can say. You can’t print that part. You’d better not.’
‘I won’t, but the shit is going to hit the fan when this gets out. Can you keep me updated, let me know when I can break it?’
‘I’ll do my best.’
‘Thanks, Morgan. If this means the killer could still be out there, are you not worried given your past run-ins with mad men?’
‘Not really, I don’t think I’m this killer’s type. I’m not outdoorsy, I don’t like camping, I have nothing to offer him that he gets off on.’
Fin smiled at her. ‘Good, I’m glad. I worry about you. I’m glad we’ve called a truce.’
Morgan smiled back, not sure if she was at truce level with Fin Palmer, but she’d see by what he put in tomorrow’s paper whether he was going to do the right thing for once or feed her to the wolves. Either way it was done now. She’d just have to take whatever fallout was coming her way and deal with it.
As long as Ben didn’t hate her too much, she could live with herself if it meant it potentially saved someone’s life.
