Page 12 of For Mercy (Morgan Cross #16)

The words hung in the air between them, heavy with implication. Morgan felt her breath catch in her throat, her mind racing to process this new perspective.

"What do you mean?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

Walsh's eyes took on a faraway look, as if he was seeing something beyond their immediate surroundings. "In my time inside, I've seen all kinds of justifications for violence. But this... this is different. The killer didn't pull the trigger themselves. They created a situation, a choice."

Morgan's heart pounded in her chest as she absorbed Walsh's words. The pieces of the puzzle were shifting, realigning in her mind to form a new, disturbing picture.

"You're saying the killer sees themselves as separate from the act," she said slowly, the implications making her stomach churn.

Walsh nodded solemnly. "It's a dangerous mindset. One that allows them to distance themselves from the consequences of their actions."

As Morgan stared at Walsh, she couldn't help but wonder what demons he had faced, what transformations he had undergone to reach this level of insight. And more pressingly, how this new perspective would reshape their investigation.

"Thank you, Mr. Walsh," she said finally, her voice thick with the weight of this revelation. "You've given us a lot to think about."

As they drove away from the church, Morgan's mind whirled with possibilities.

The killer they were hunting wasn't just a murderer - they were something far more complex and potentially more dangerous.

Someone who believed they could play judge, jury, and executioner without getting their hands dirty.

The sun dipped below the horizon, casting the world in twilight. And in the gathering darkness, Morgan felt the case taking on a new, more sinister shape.

Morgan's fingers tapped restlessly on the steering wheel as she navigated the darkening streets. The weight of Walsh's words hung heavy in the air between her and Derik.

"It's a twisted logic," she murmured, breaking the tense silence. "The killer's created a moral loophole for themselves."

Derik shifted in his seat, his brow furrowed. "You think Walsh is onto something?"

Morgan nodded, her eyes fixed on the road ahead. "It fits. The elaborate setup, the chance for escape... it's like they're trying to absolve themselves of responsibility."

She could feel the pieces clicking into place, a grim picture forming in her mind. The killer wasn't just seeking revenge; they were crafting a narrative, one where they weren't directly responsible for the death.

"It's like they're saying, 'I didn't kill him, the trap did,'" Morgan continued, her voice tight with frustration. "As if that makes it any less murder."

Derik leaned back, his expression thoughtful. "It's a hell of a psychological trick. Gives them a way to sleep at night, I guess."

Morgan's grip tightened on the wheel. "But why go to all this trouble? Why not just..." She trailed off, unable to finish the thought.

"Because it's not about efficiency," Derik said softly. "It's about proving a point."

Morgan felt a chill run down her spine. The killer wasn't just taking lives; they were crafting elaborate scenarios, giving their victims a slim chance at survival. It was a game, a terrible, deadly game.

"We're not just looking for a murderer," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "We're looking for someone who sees themselves as above the law, above morality. Someone who thinks they have the right to put people on trial."

Derik shifted in his seat, his brow furrowed. "You think they're trying to cleanse their conscience? By giving the victims a chance, however slim?"

Morgan shook her head, her eyes narrowing. "It's more than that. This killer... they're playing God. Setting up these elaborate traps, these twisted courtrooms – it's all about control. About passing judgment."

She turned to face her partner, her expression grim. "They're not just avoiding blood on their hands. They're creating a whole system, a perverse form of justice where they get to decide who lives and who dies."

Derik let out a low whistle. "That's one hell of an ego trip."

"And one hell of a dangerous mentality," Morgan added, her voice tight. "We're not just chasing a murderer anymore. We're up against someone who truly believes they're above the law, above morality itself."

As they stepped out of the car, the weight of this realization settled heavily on Morgan's shoulders. The cool evening air did little to calm the storm of thoughts in her mind.

"We need to re-examine everything," she said, striding towards the precinct doors. "Every detail of the crime scene, every piece of evidence. Our killer isn't just playing a game – they're creating a system. And that makes them infinitely more dangerous than we initially thought."

Derik nodded, falling into step beside her. "Where do we even start with something like this?"

Morgan paused at the entrance, her hand on the door. "We start by thinking like they do. We need to understand their twisted logic, their warped sense of justice. Only then can we hope to catch them before they strike again."

As they entered the bustling precinct, Morgan couldn't shake the feeling that they were running out of time.

Somewhere out there, their killer was likely already planning their next "trial" – and she was determined to stop them before another innocent life was lost to their perverted notion of justice.