Page 16 of Forever

"Keep your eyes peeled for any movement," she instructed Derik, her voice barely audible over the boat's engine.

"Got it," he responded tersely, still watching her with an intensity she couldn't quite place.

As the boat drew nearer to the dock where Felix's boat was reported, Morgan's thoughts raced. What would they find when they reached the Infinity? Was Heather still alive, or had they arrived too late? And what of Felix himself? She steeled herself for the confrontation that was sure to come, her hands itching to draw her weapon and put an end to the nightmare that had consumed them all.

The police boat approached the private cottage concealed among the trees on the north side of the lake. Morgan's heart raced with anticipation. The sleek, expensive speedboat emblazoned with the word "Infinity" in elegant cursive script was docked nearby – a glaring beacon that they had found their target.

"Here's the place," the officer said, expertly docking the boat alongside the Infinity. "Looks like we got ourselves a party going on."

"Wait here," Morgan instructed the officer, her eyes never leaving the opulent boat as she imagined Felix Scale within its confines. She and Derik disembarked from the police boat, their shoes squelching on the damp wooden boards of the dock.

"Ready?" Derik asked, his voice tense and alert.

"Let's go," Morgan replied tersely, still avoiding eye contact with him. Her focus remained fixed on the task at hand: finding Heather and apprehending Felix Scale.

As they walked up the gravel path toward the cottage, the sound of pounding bass grew louder, pulsating through the evening air like a living heartbeat. The scent of freshly cut grass and blooming flowers filled Morgan's nostrils, a stark contrast to the dark uncertainty looming over them.

"Did you expect this?" Derik questioned, gesturing to the sprawling garden surrounding the picturesque cottage.

"No," Morgan admitted, her eyes scanning the idyllic scene for any sign of foul play. "But it doesn't change anything. We need to find Heather and bring Felix to justice – whatever it takes."

"Agreed," Derik nodded, falling into step beside her as they closed in on the cottage. The thumping music reverberated through the walls, a taunting reminder that time was of the essence. Morgan's gut churned with a strange mixture of dread and determination.

"Stay sharp," she reminded herself, feeling the weight of her gun resting on her hip. Her mind raced with thoughts of what they might find inside the cottage – had Felix brought Heather here, like he had done with his other victims? They were about to find out, and Morgan steeled herself for whatever horror awaited them beyond the door.

"Right behind you," Derik assured her. His presence was both a comfort and an annoyance; she appreciated his support but couldn't shake the nagging feeling that he was scrutinizing her every move. At the same time, there was a familiarity in it; they had worked many cases together, known each other for years. Sometimes intimately. It was just his betrayal that had put a stain on it, something Morgan wouldn't soon forget.

As they reached the back door, Morgan's hand instinctively hovered over her holstered gun. Peering through the glass, she tried to make out the interior of the cottage. The dim light filtering through the curtains revealed an empty room, but the situation still felt off.

"See anyone?" Derik whispered, his breath hot on her neck as he leaned in, trying to catch a glimpse as well.

"Nothing," she replied, her voice low and steady. They both knew that the absence of people didn't mean they were safe. Morgan's mind raced, filled with the haunting images of Felix's prior victims. Could Heather still be alive? They needed to find out.

"Let's try the front," Derik suggested, his eyes darting around the property as they moved cautiously. The music grew louder and more distorted as they approached the front entrance, its pounding bass reverberating through the ground beneath their feet.

"Stay close," Morgan instructed, her senses heightened and nerves taut as they crept along the side of the cottage. With each step, she imagined Felix inside, holding Heather captive or worse. Her heart hammered against her ribcage, her determination fueled by the memory of the women who had come before.

"Copy that," Derik responded, his tone serious and focused. He followed closely behind her, his own thoughts mirrored in Morgan's – they couldn't let another life be lost to this monster.

Reaching the front door, Morgan wasted no time in banging on it. "FBI! Open up!" she shouted, her voice barely audible over the deafening music. The melody continued to blare from within, drowning out her demands for entry.

"Damn it," she muttered under her breath, her frustration mounting as she banged harder on the door. Her knuckles turned white with the force of her pounding, the sound of wood connecting with flesh echoing in her ears.

"Think he's got Heather in there?" Derik asked, his concern etched across his face. "Maybe the other women, too?"

Morgan clenched her jaw and nodded. "It's possible. We have to get inside," she said, her mind racing with plans of action. As they continued their attempts to gain entry, the sickening thought that Felix might already be hurting Heather – or worse – fueled Morgan's urgency. She wouldn't let another innocent life be destroyed by this man, not on her watch.

Just then, she heard a scream.

CHAPTER ELEVEN

The muffled scream cut through the pounding music like a siren in the night, causing Morgan's heart to leap into her throat. Jerking her head toward Derik, she saw the same fear etched on his face that she felt twisting in her gut.

"Did you hear that?" she asked, even though they both knew he had. The scream, a woman's voice – Heather's? – had hung in the air for just a moment, but it was enough to solidify their resolve.

"Let's do this," Derik said, his eyes locked with hers. In unison, they stepped back and drew their guns, preparing to breach the door.

Morgan took one last deep breath, steeling herself for whatever horrors awaited them inside. Then, in one swift motion, she kicked the door open, the wood splintering as the lock gave way. They moved in quickly, guns raised, scanning the room for any sign of Felix or his victims.

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