Page 13 of Forever

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Morgan's fingers tapped impatiently on the edge of her desk while her mind replayed the details she had discovered about Martha McTavish and Stacy Cox. They both struggled with addiction, but what else connected them? Her gaze flickered between their autopsy photos, trying to find any other similarities or clues.

"Hey," Derik said, standing in the doorway of her office, a flash drive held up between his fingers. "I've got something that'll make your life much easier."

Morgan raised an eyebrow, her curiosity piqued despite her irritation with him. "What's that?"

"Footage from the security cameras at the marina," he explained, a hint of pride in his voice. "Thought it might help us find some leads."

She hesitated for a moment before grabbing the flash drive from his hand. "Thanks," she muttered begrudgingly, "but I don't need your help."

"Come on, Morgan," Derik replied, his tone firm but not unkind. "This isn't personal. We need to put our issues aside and get the job done. You know as well as I do that we work better together."

Morgan hated to admit it, but he was right. They had been through enough cases together to know that they made a formidable team when they put their differences aside. Swallowing her pride, she nodded. "Fine," she conceded. "Let's see what we can find."

Derik pulled up a chair beside her. Morgan's fingers trembled slightly as she inserted the flash drive into her computer. The scent of stale coffee hung in the air, mingling with the quiet hum of the office building. She glanced at Derik, who settled into the chair beside her, his eyes laser-focused on the screen. She couldn't help but feel a begrudging sense of gratitude for his persistence.

"Alright," she sighed, "let's see what we've got."

As the footage began to play, Morgan's eyes darted from frame to frame, searching for any clue that might lead them closer to the truth. Each grainy image flickered by, revealing nothing more than ordinary marina activity. Boats bobbed gently in the water, their reflections rippling across the surface like echoes of the past.

"Wait," Derik said suddenly, pointing to a figure on the screen. "There. What's that?"

Morgan leaned in, squinting at the pixelated shapes before her. A man and a woman appeared in the frame, their faces obscured by shadows. The timestamp indicated it was just last night. The man, tall and broad-shouldered, was engaged in a heated argument with the woman. He seemed to be pulling her roughly after him, her body tense with resistance. Just as quickly as they had appeared, they vanished from view, swallowed by the darkness.

"Who are they?" Morgan asked, her pulse quickening. "And what were they arguing about?"

"Couldn't tell you," Derik replied, his brow furrowed in concentration. "But it seems important. We should look into it."

"Agreed," Morgan nodded, her thoughts racing. Could this argument hold the key to unlocking the mystery of the victims? Was there some connection between this couple and the killer?

"Let's rewind and watch that part again," she suggested, her voice taut with determination. "Maybe there's something we missed."

As they played the footage once more, Morgan couldn't shake the feeling that they were on the cusp of a breakthrough. It was as if the truth was within her grasp, just waiting for her to seize it. One thing was certain; they needed to go back to the marina.

CHAPTER NINE

The sun was just beginning to climb higher in the sky, casting a golden glow on the marina as Morgan and Derik pulled up in their car. The morning air was tinged with the salty scent of the sea, and seagulls called overhead as they swooped and dived around the boats. Morgan's jaw clenched; the serene beauty of the scene sharply contrasted with the dark reality of their investigation.

"Let's find Annie," she said tersely, her gaze locked on the marina office.

"Right behind you," Derik replied, keeping pace as they strode across the dock.

Entering the office, Morgan spotted Annie hunched over a computer, her fingers flying across the keyboard. She looked up when the door opened, her eyes wide and fearful.

"Agent Cross, Agent Reynolds," Annie stammered. "What can I help you with?"

"I need you to identify someone for me," Morgan said, holding out her phone to show Annie the image they'd captured from the security footage. "Do you recognize this man?"

Annie hesitated, biting her lip. Her hands trembled slightly as she took Morgan's phone, studying the image. "I think I know who he is," she admitted softly, "but I'm not sure if I should say."

"Annie, this is important. We're investigating two recent murders, and this man could be connected," Morgan implored, her voice edged with urgency. "Please, tell us who he is."

"His name is Felix Scale," Annie finally whispered, her voice barely audible. "He's one of our most high-profile clients, a millionaire who owns multiple boats and yachts here at the marina."

Morgan's mind raced, the implications of Annie's words sinking in. Could Felix be the link between the victims? Or was he just another red herring, drawing them further away from the truth?

Annie hesitated for a moment before reaching into a drawer and pulling out a file. As she handed it to Morgan, her fingers brushed against the edge of the glossy photograph, making Morgan acutely aware of the gravity of the situation.

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