Page 12

The glow of their tablets cast eerie shadows across Morgan and Derik's faces as they hunched over the devices, the car's interior bathed in a ghostly blue light. The clock on the dashboard blinked 2:37 AM, but neither detective showed any signs of calling it quits. Morgan's eyes burned from staring at the screen, but she forced herself to focus on the records of Andrew Keller.

"Anything?" Derik mumbled, his voice rough with fatigue.

Morgan's fingers flew across the tablet, scrolling through page after page of information. Suddenly, she froze, her breath catching in her throat. "Derik," she said softly, "I found something."

He looked up, alert despite the late hour. "What is it?"

Morgan's voice was tight as she replied, "Keller's dead. Car accident five years ago."

Derik slumped back in his seat, running a hand through his disheveled hair. "Damn it," he muttered. "That rules him out as our current killer."

Morgan chewed her lower lip, her mind racing. Even as exhaustion tugged at her, she couldn't shake the feeling that they were missing something crucial. "I'm not so sure," she said slowly. "Keller may be dead, but his connection to Sadie Winters' murder can't be ignored. And Sarah was so insistent that he was the killer..."

She trailed off, lost in thought. The pieces were there, she knew it, but they weren't fitting together quite right. Morgan's gut told her that Keller was the key to unlocking this whole mess, dead or not.

Derik raised an eyebrow. "What are you thinking?"

Morgan drummed her fingers on the steering wheel, her other hand already reaching for her phone. "I think we need more context. I'm calling Whitaker."

As she dialed, Morgan's mind whirled with possibilities. If Keller wasn't their current killer, who was? And why were they targeting witnesses from the old cases? The connection to Keller seemed undeniable, but how did it all fit together?

She glanced at Derik, noting the determined set of his jaw despite the dark circles under his eyes. They were both running on fumes, but neither was willing to stop. Not when they were so close to unraveling this twisted mystery.

The phone rang once, twice, three times. Morgan held her breath, silently willing Whitaker to pick up. They needed answers, and they needed them now. Before another witness ended up dead.

The line clicked, and Whitaker's gruff voice filled the car. "Morgan? What's going on?"

Morgan put the phone on speaker, her voice tight with urgency. "Whitaker, we've got some new information. I need you to confirm a few things for us."

She quickly explained their findings, including Sarah's unwavering belief that Keller was the killer. As she spoke, Morgan could feel Derik's eyes on her, his posture tense with anticipation.

Whitaker sighed heavily. "Yeah, I remember that part clearly. Sarah Winters was adamant about Keller being the killer. But she was the only one."

Morgan leaned forward, her brow furrowed. "What about the other witnesses? Rachel Martinez, Gregory Phillips, Vanessa Shaw?"

"We showed them all Keller's photo during the investigation," Whitaker replied, his voice tinged with frustration. "Some said he looked familiar, but none could positively ID him. Rachel Martinez initially thought it might have been him, but she backtracked pretty quickly."

Morgan exchanged a glance with Derik, her mind racing. "So Sarah was the only one who stuck to her story about Keller?"

"That's right," Whitaker confirmed. "And let me tell you, it caused quite a stir at the time."

Morgan's fingers tightened on the phone. "Why's that?"

Whitaker's voice lowered, as if he was sharing a secret. "You have to understand, Keller wasn't just any ordinary guy. He was a pastor at a local church, beloved by pretty much everyone in the community."

Morgan felt a chill run down her spine. She'd seen cases like this before, where a respected community figure turned out to be hiding dark secrets. "Go on," she prompted.

"Keller was known for his compassion, his charity work. He'd built up this reputation as a real pillar of faith and trustworthiness," Whitaker continued. "That image... it made it damn near impossible for people to believe he could be capable of murder."

Morgan closed her eyes, picturing the scene. A beloved pastor, accused of a brutal crime. No wonder the witnesses had been reluctant to implicate him.

"Even the witnesses who thought they recognized him seemed hesitant to say so definitively," Whitaker added. "It was like the idea of accusing someone so well-regarded was just too much for them to handle."

Morgan's mind whirled with the implications. Could the witnesses' reluctance to accuse Keller have allowed a killer to walk free? And if so, was that killer now exacting revenge on those same witnesses?

She opened her mouth to ask another question, but Derik's hand on her arm stopped her. He gestured to his watch, reminding her of the late hour. They needed to wrap this up, get some rest before diving back in.

The silence in the car was broken only by Whitaker's final words, crackling through the speaker: "One more thing, agents. Sadie Winters' body was found in the parking lot of Keller's church."

Morgan's breath caught in her throat. She locked eyes with Derik, seeing her own shock mirrored in his face. The connection was undeniable, like a neon sign flashing in the darkness of the night.

“Keep in touch,” Whitaker said, then he hung up.

Morgan exchanged a look with Derik, still reeling from the weight of the call.

"Jesus," Derik muttered, running a hand through his disheveled hair. "That can't be a coincidence."

Morgan leaned back in her seat, her mind racing. "No, it can't," she agreed, her voice barely above a whisper. The pieces were falling into place, but the picture they formed was still frustratingly unclear.

She closed her eyes, trying to organize her thoughts. "Keller was linked to Sadie's murder, whether directly or through Sarah's accusations. But if he truly was the killer..." Her voice trailed off as the implications hit her.

Derik finished her thought. "Then who the hell is copying his crimes now?"

Morgan nodded, her eyes snapping open. "And if Keller was innocent, could the original killer still be out there?"

The questions hung in the air, heavy and unanswered. Morgan's fingers drummed against the steering wheel, a nervous habit she'd never quite shaken. "We're missing something," she muttered, more to herself than to Derik.

"What's our next move?" Derik asked, stifling a yawn.

Morgan's jaw set with determination. "We need to speak with Vanessa Shaw. She's the final witness who was at the scene the night Sadie was killed." She paused, remembering Sarah's bitter words. "Sarah claimed Vanessa had seen the killer but lied about it."

Derik raised an eyebrow. "You think she'll talk to us at this hour?"

"She'll have to," Morgan replied, her voice hard with resolve. "These witnesses are being targeted. We can't afford to wait."

As she reached for her phone, Morgan couldn't shake the feeling that they were running out of time. The killer was out there, methodically eliminating witnesses. And with each death, the truth slipped further away.

The phone rang, its shrill tone piercing the stillness of the car. Morgan's heart raced, each unanswered ring amplifying her anxiety. Finally, a groggy voice answered.

"Hello?" Vanessa Shaw's voice was thick with sleep.

"Ms. Shaw? This is Agent Morgan Stark with the FBI. I apologize for the late hour, but this is urgent."

There was a rustling sound, then Vanessa's voice came through clearer. "FBI? What's going on?"

Morgan took a deep breath, choosing her words carefully. "Ms. Shaw, I need you to listen carefully. Witnesses connected to the Sadie Winters case from twenty years ago are being targeted. You may be in danger."

A sharp intake of breath came through the line. "What? I... I don't understand."

"I know it's a lot to take in," Morgan said, her voice softening. "But I need you to stay calm and follow my instructions. Don't go anywhere alone, and if you see anything suspicious, call 911 immediately."

"Oh God," Vanessa whispered. "Is this... is this about what happened that night?"

Morgan's grip tightened on the phone. This was her opening. "Actually, yes. I need to ask you about that night, Vanessa. It's crucial."

There was a long pause. Morgan could almost feel Vanessa's hesitation through the phone. Finally, the woman spoke, her voice barely above a whisper. "I... I saw him. The killer."

Morgan's eyes met Derik's in the dim light of the car. She put the call on speaker. "Can you describe what you saw?"

"It was dark," Vanessa began, her voice trembling. "But I remember... a man. Tall. He was standing over her, and there was so much blood..."

Morgan's heart pounded. This was it. "Vanessa, I need to ask you something very important. Was the man you saw Andrew Keller?"

The silence that followed seemed to stretch for an eternity. Morgan could hear Vanessa's ragged breathing, could almost picture the woman wrestling with her memories and her conscience.

"I... I don't..." Vanessa's voice faltered. "I don't think it was him."

Morgan's brow furrowed. The hesitation in Vanessa's voice was palpable. "You don't think? Or you're sure it wasn't?"

Another pause. "I... I'm not sure," Vanessa finally admitted, her voice barely audible. "It was so dark, and I was so scared. I just... I don't think it was him. But I can't be certain."

“Sarah Winters is certain,” Morgan countered.

"Yes, truthfully, it ended our friendship. I couldn't agree with what I didn't know I saw, and Sarah has resented me ever since."

Morgan's mind raced, processing this new information. "Vanessa, I need you to think carefully. Is there anything else you remember about that night? Any detail, no matter how small, could be crucial."

There was a long pause on the other end of the line. When Vanessa spoke again, her voice was strained. "There... there was something. I never told anyone because I thought I must have imagined it."

Morgan leaned forward, her entire body tense. "What was it?"

"A necklace," Vanessa said softly. "The man was wearing a necklace. I caught a glimpse of it when he turned. It was... it was a cross. A silver cross."

Morgan's eyes widened, meeting Derik's shocked gaze. A cross necklace - a detail that could potentially link the killer to Keller, the pastor.

"Are you absolutely certain about this, Vanessa?" Morgan pressed.

"Yes," Vanessa replied, her voice stronger now. "I remember thinking how wrong it was - someone wearing a symbol of faith while committing such a horrible act. I think that was part of why Sarah was so convinced it was Keller.”

“Was this part of why you moved away?” Morgan asked.

“Of course. I felt like I had nothing left in Dallas.”

“Well, you should be safe there, but please keep an eye out,” Morgan said. “Thank you for your time.”

Morgan ended the call and slumped back in her seat, the weight of frustration settling on her shoulders like a lead blanket. She pinched the bridge of her nose, eyes closed, trying to quell the growing headache.

"Dammit," she muttered, more to herself than to Derik. "It's like trying to grab smoke."

Derik leaned forward, his elbows resting on his knees. "What are you thinking?"

Morgan's eyes snapped open, her gaze distant as she stared out into the dark parking lot. "It's the same pattern Whitaker described. Vanessa, Rachel... they all saw something, but they're dancing around it. Like they're afraid to say a name for one reason or another."

She turned to face Derik, her voice low and intense. "Can you imagine being so convinced of someone's goodness that you'd doubt your own eyes? That's what we're dealing with here."

Derik nodded slowly, his brow furrowed. "Keller was a pillar of the community. A man of God. It's a hell of a cognitive dissonance to overcome."

"Exactly," Morgan said, her fingers drumming restlessly on the steering wheel. "And Sarah Winters? She's the only one who stood her ground, who insisted it was Keller. And look where it got her."

She could still see Sarah's face, etched with bitterness and disillusionment. The years hadn't been kind to a woman who felt betrayed by both the killer and a system that failed to believe her.

"So what does this mean for us?" Derik asked, his voice tinged with frustration that matched Morgan's own.

Morgan sighed, running a hand through her hair. "It means we're dealing with more than just a killer. We're up against a legacy of doubt, of people's unwillingness to confront an uncomfortable truth."

She turned to Derik, her eyes blazing with determination despite the exhaustion. "But here's what I can't wrap my head around. If Keller's dead, who the hell is committing these new murders? And why now? What’s the motive?"

Derik leaned back, his face a mask of concentration. "Someone with intimate knowledge of the original cases. Someone with a stake in all this."

Morgan nodded, her mind racing. "Exactly. But who? And what's their endgame?"

The silence that fell between them was heavy with unanswered questions. Morgan stared out into the night, the darkness beyond the car windows seeming to mirror the mystery they were facing.

"We're missing something," she said softly. "Something big. And I have a feeling that if we don't figure it out soon, more people are going to die."

Morgan's fingers drummed restlessly on the steering wheel as she turned to face Derik. The pale glow of the dashboard lights cast shadows across their faces, accentuating the weariness etched into their features.

"Alright, let's break this down," she said, her voice low but intense. "We've got two possibilities here, and neither one is comforting."

Derik nodded, his eyes focused on the tablet in his lap. "Option one: Keller wasn't our guy, and the real killer's been out there this whole time."

"Which means," Morgan continued, "that for twenty years, this monster has been living among us, maybe even watching as an innocent man took the blame."

She shook her head, disgust evident in her tone. "And now, what? He's decided to come out of retirement?"

Derik's brow furrowed. "It's possible. But why now? What's changed?"

Morgan's gaze drifted to the empty parking lot beyond the windshield. "That's what we need to figure out. But there's also option two."

"Someone's copying the original murders," Derik finished.

"Exactly," Morgan said, turning back to him. "But here's the kicker – whoever it is has details that were never made public. The positioning of the bodies, the specific wounds... That's not something you'd find in old newspaper clippings."

Derik's eyes widened slightly. "So we're looking at someone with inside knowledge. A cop? Maybe someone close to Keller?"

Morgan's mind raced with possibilities. "Could be. Or someone obsessed with the case who managed to get their hands on confidential files. Either way, they're sending a message."

"But what message?" Derik asked, frustration evident in his voice.

Morgan didn't answer immediately. Instead, she stared out into the darkness of the parking lot, her mind swirling with questions and half-formed theories. The weight of twenty years of secrets and lies seemed to press down on her, making the interior of the car feel claustrophobic.

Morgan rubbed her temples, feeling the exhaustion settle deep into her bones. "God, I need coffee," she muttered, glancing at the dashboard clock. It glowed an unforgiving 3:17 AM.

Derik yawned in response. "I think we both need more than coffee at this point. How about some sleep?"

Morgan nodded, her shoulders sagging. "You're right. We're not going to crack this tonight." She paused, her brow furrowing. "But I can't shake this feeling that we're racing against the clock."

"The killer's methodical," Derik agreed, his voice tight with concern. "They're picking off witnesses one by one."

Morgan's fingers tightened on the steering wheel. "And they know things. Secrets. Things these witnesses might have been hiding for twenty years."

She closed her eyes briefly, picturing the faces of those they'd spoken to. Gregory Phillips, with his haunted eyes and trembling hands. Sarah Winters, bitter and angry after two decades of disbelief. And now Vanessa Shaw, hesitant and evasive even over the phone.

"At least Sarah is under protection," Derik offered, though his tone lacked conviction.

Morgan nodded, but her stomach churned with unease. "And Vanessa's out of town. She should be safe enough for tonight." The words felt hollow even as she said them.

"We should head home," Derik said softly. "Get a few hours of sleep before we dive back in."

Morgan knew he was right, but the thought of leaving the case, even for a few hours, made her skin crawl. "Yeah," she finally conceded. "You're right. We're no good to anyone if we're running on fumes."

As she started the car, Morgan couldn't shake the nagging feeling that they were missing something crucial. The pieces were there, scattered like breadcrumbs, but the full picture remained frustratingly out of reach.

"First thing tomorrow," she said, pulling out of the parking lot, "we need to dig deeper into Keller's past. If he was the original killer, we might be looking at a copycat after all, someone who was able to connect the dot between the crimes themselves. If he wasn't..."

"Then the real killer's been out there all this time," Derik finished grimly.

Morgan nodded, her eyes fixed on the empty road ahead. "Either way, we're dealing with someone who's willing to kill to keep old secrets buried. And I've got a feeling they're far from finished."