Chapter Text
Morgan walked into the bullpen holding a cup of coffee in one hand and a few files in her other hand. The morning air inside the precinct smelled faintly of coffee and ink, and the faint exhaustion lingered. Last week was rough. Two twins were missing for 4 days, hidden away deep in the forest, and were held captive by their own stepfather while the mother had been fatally shot. She moved through the bullpen, her heels clicking softly against the floor as people passed by and worked around her. She placed the stack of files on her desk; she could see Karadec, Daphne, and Oz talking to each other. Morgan smiled softly and headed to join the group. She was hoping that whatever case they’d have now would be rather less brutal, but she knew it wasn’t that easy.
The team dispersed, each seated on their own desks doing some paperwork or typing on their computer. Morgan cleaned the glass board while Karadec arranged a few things on his desk, some of her items mixed with his, but he didn’t mind. Just then, Selena came out of her office, her face painted with a serious expression.
“We have a new case," Selena began, her voice immediately cutting through the low chatter of the room. The team gathered in a small circle. “A woman in her early thirties named Keira Norman was reported missing by her mother, Hattie Norman. Keira was last seen in Brentwood two days ago. According to Hattie, she has no idea why her daughter was there in the first place.”
Karadec frowned slightly, arms crossing over his chest. “Keira didn’t specify? ” he asked.
Selena shook her head. “No, she didn’t. Hattie said Keira mentioned that she was going to Brentwood. No specific location, no explanation, no details whatsoever.” She paused before briefly adding, "And apparently, that wasn’t unusual. Hattie says her daughter was private.”
Morgan leaned slightly against the edge of the table. “Any boyfriend? Friends? Coworkers? ” she asked.
“Still checking,” Selena replied. “From what we know she worked for James Flynn Associates as a department manager.”
Morgan’s stomach dropped. Her fingers tightened against the edge of the wooden desk. Her mind was trying to process what Selena had said. She tried to regain her composure, hoping Karadec or the rest of the team wouldn’t notice her reaction to a name.
Selena turned to Daphne and Oz. “I want you two looking at her records. Financials, calls, messages, work history, or anything. Even if it isn’t unusual.”
Daphne nodded immediately, already retreating back to her desk. Oz gave a simple “got it" before following Daphne.
Then, Selena looked at both Morgan and Karadec. “You two go interview her mother, then head over to the place she works at. See if anyone knows about her disappearance.”
Karadec gave a curt nod. “Of course.”
Morgan remained standing near the edge of her desk, fingers now lightly pressing against the edge, she felt like she was stuck for a brief second. She swallowed hard, forcing herself away from the desk, making her way towards the coat rack. Karadec watched as her fingers fumbled while putting on her purple fur coat, her expression something that he can’t quite name. He studied her for a second, trying to figure out if something was wrong, before shaking his head and putting on his coat.
The car ride was quiet; Karadec kept his eyes on the road, hands steady on the wheel. Morgan was quiet beside him. Normally she would be talking about things during the ride such as theories or random fun facts, but it was different this time.
“I know your silences, Morgan. Now spill," Karadec said quietly.
Morgan glanced at him briefly before turning her attention back to the road. “I have a million thoughts in my head to see where this case would lead us too," she replied; it was half the truth. Karadec knew there was something else; he could tell by the way she sat stiffly in the passenger seat, hands clasped together tighter than usual.
“I have a feeling something else is bothering you," he said, his tone quietly soft.
Morgan sighed quietly, leaning her head back against the seat. She continued to stare ahead, trying to debate whether he’d tell him the truth or just lie a little.
“It’s nothing, really. Chloe was being fussy all night; she’s been teething, so it’s been hard," she explained; this time it was really the truth, aside from the name Selena had given the team.
The two arrived at a small, simple home in the quiet suburban streets of Mid-Wilshire. The house sat near the corner of the street, white paint faintly peeled near the porch railings; a few flower pots sat at the corner of the stairs, and a woman in her 50s was sitting outside along with another woman in her early 20s. The younger one had her head in her hands; Morgan could tell the woman was crying and felt empathy for her.
Karadec parked the SUV along the curb and stepped out first. The cool air hitting his face, the quietness feeling heavy. Morgan followed shortly after, adjusting her coat as they made their way towards the two women. The moment Hattie saw Karadec’s badge and Morgan’s ID, she felt a sense of hope and fear for her oldest child.
“Hattie Norman, I’m Detective Karadec," he said. “And this is my consultant Morgan Gillory.” Morgan gave a small smile at Hattie and the woman next to her.
“Have you found her? ” Hattie asked, her voice cracking.
Morgan’s heart sank slightly. She kept her expression gentle. “Not yet,” she answered carefully. “We’re here to ask a few questions regarding your daughter.”
“Of course. Let’s go inside, shall we? ”
The inside of the house felt warm, carrying a faint smell of coffee and a lavender scent. A few boxes were tucked in the corner, and the walls hung photographs of the family. Most of them were the three women; no male was in sight. Morgan continued to observe the room as Hattie led them to the living room. She assumed the woman in her 20s was the younger sister; her stomach churned. She couldn’t bear the thought of losing her eldest if she were in Hattie’s position. There were many cases of mothers losing their daughters, Morgan hated those cases, and she swore to do her best to find them.
All four of them sat down on the sofa. Hattie sat at the edge of the sofa; her eyes were red from crying and exhaustion, as if she hadn’t slept at all. Beside her was Kelly, the youngest sister of Keira. Her hands were clasped together, and then she’d open them, fingers fidgeting from being anxious. Morgan and Karadec sat across from them; he with his notebook ready to take down notes; he figured she’d take notes mentally. Karadec began asking questions, not wasting any time.
“When was the last time either of you spoke to Keira? ”
“Two days ago,” Hattie said quietly. “Around 8:56 PM. Keira told me that she’d be going to Brentwood but didn’t specify why.”
“Did she sound nervous? Upset or distracted? ” Morgan asked gently.
“She sounded serious. I pressed her into asking what she’d be doing there, and...and she sounded like she was in a hurry," she admitted.
Karadec leaned forward slightly. “But she didn’t tell you anything? Just said that she’d be going to Brentwood? ”
“Yes,” Hattie nodded, her voice slightly cracking.
Karadec nodded, jotting down a few things in his notebook, then turned his attention towards Kelly.
“Have you noticed anything unusual about your sister? As if she were hiding something? ”
“I actually have,” Kelly finally spoke. “I stayed at her apartment in Woodland Hills for 5 days. It was 2 weeks ago. I needed to stay because Woodland Hills is near the Santa Monica mountains," she explained. “But I’m pretty sure you already know that.” The young woman shrugged lightly.
“And what were you going to do in the Santa Monica mountains? ” Morgan asked.
“It was for my class,” Kelly answered. “I study forestry at CSU. Our assignment was to measure tree species and create management plans. Our professor told us to do it in different mountain areas in LA by duo, so I went with a friend, Amy Barlow.”
“Anyway,” Kelly continued. “With those 5 days of me and Amy staying at Keira’s apartment, we noticed that she was being…too secretive. Once, Amy went to the kitchen around midnight to get some water, and she could hear Keira talking to someone in a hushed tone. I think it was around 2:57 AM; I’m not so sure.”
“Did Amy tell you about what she heard from Keira’s conversation? ”
Kelly shook her head. “She couldn’t eavesdrop. I mean, she was about to, but Keira caught her. Amy went back to our room eventually.”
Morgan nodded. She glanced at Karadec, who was taking notes.
Karadec’s eyes then flickered towards Kelly immediately. “Anything else? ”
“Uhh yeah,” Kelly sighed, sinking deeper into the sofa. “Keira let us use her study to work on our assignment, but by day 2, she told us her study was off limits. She didn’t let us ask any further questions. And she would leave at a specific time at night, claiming it was for 'work'; she barely answered my calls either.”
“What time would she mostly leave? ”
“8:30 PM, she’d come back around 11:21 PM. I saw a faint bruise once too," Kelly said quietly.
Morgan and Karadec exchanged a look; the tension in the room felt heavy.
“Did she mention anyone new in her life? Karadec asked. “A boyfriend? Friend? Co-worker? ”
“She had a relationship with a guy at work," Kelly said. “His name is Spencer Zhou, working as an IT at the same company Keira works at. They were a thing for almost five months, until Keira told him it was over. I don’t know the reason why they broke up; he was a good guy and never fought with her that much.”
“Does Keira have any enemies at work? ”
“Not that I can think of,” Hattie now spoke. “She never told us about her work problems.”
Karadec nodded, slipping the small notebook into his coat pocket before finally standing up from the sofa. “Thank you for your time,” he said to them calmly. “Your information has been very helpful.”
“Call this number if anything goes wrong or if you have any clues about Keira’s disappearance," he said, giving Hattie a card.
Hattie carefully took the card into her hands, glancing down at it briefly before nodding. “Of course, Detective."
As Morgan and Karadec prepared to leave, Kelly suddenly spoke.
“Detective,” Kelly began hesitantly. “Don't you have to search her apartment? ”
“Uhh…yes,” Karadec admitted. “We have to.”
“We don’t have a spare key," Kelly said with a small shrug. “Keira changed her locks a few months ago after her neighbor's kid broke the lock with a ball. She never gave us another copy for emergencies.”
“Do you know the building manager? ” Morgan asked.
Kelly nodded slowly. “Richard Lawson. He owns the apartment complex.”
“Good,” Karadec replied. “We’ll contact him and see if he can let us in.”
They got into the car, both of them discussing the information the Normans had given them along the way, and within minutes later, Karadec was now driving through the streets towards Keira’s apartment complex in Woodland Hills. It was filled with sounds from bicycle wheels to the lovely chatter in the neighborhood.
The two stepped into the apartment. They were able to contact Richard and ask for the spare key to Keira’s apartment and her office just in case. Morgan stood in front of the door, taking in her surroundings as Karadec began to search. The apartment was neat; a few snake plants were tucked peacefully in the corner. The living room was just next to a small kitchen, and a large window was there for a good overview.
Morgan noticed that the door to Keira’s office was already cracked open before she even reached the end of the hallway. Morgan figured that Karadec had unlocked the office and was now searching, so she decided to join him. The office was surprisingly organized, as if she hadn't been in a rush to do things for the past few days. A desk sat near the corner; neatly arranged folders were placed on top, while a few framed pictures of her family and paintings decorated the walls.
Morgan pulled out a pair of blue latex gloves from her skirt pocket and put them on. Still examining the office. “Find anything? ” she asked.
Karadec sighed and shook his head. “Nothing much. I did, however." He closed the desk drawer and held out a manila folder. It was messy and covered in ink; a few papers could be seen. “Found this.”
Morgan approached him and took the folder from his hands. Inside were a few work contracts and bills, but one thing caught her eye. The paper itself was plain, slightly creased as if it had been folded and unfolded a million times. In the center, written in dark red ink with deliberate strokes, was a single Chinese character, 錯. Taped carefully next to it was a single red spider lily.
Morgan’s eyes narrowed as she studied both character and flower. “Red spider lilies often symbolize death, final goodbyes, and the afterlife in Chinese culture and other cultures. This character,” she points at it with her index finger. “Cuò. It means wrong, bad, or… move out of the way.”
Karadec notices the sudden change in her expression. “So you’re thinking Keira might’ve been involved with something she shouldn’t be? ”
Morgan nodded. “Yes, and maybe this ex of hers happens to know anything about her disappearance.”
Karadec pulled out his phone to take several pictures of the evidence from the folder. “Keira paid her rent in time 6 days ago," he says as he looks through the papers once more. “It seems like she didn’t struggle financially.”
“Or…she chose to hide it.”
Karadec glanced toward her and raised his eyebrows, slightly confused.
“She could’ve been borrowing money from someone,” Morgan continued. “Private debts, gambling, loans. Maybe someone is paying for her things.” She shrugged lightly.
“Have you talked to Daphne? ” Morgan asked, organizing the papers back into the manila folder.
Karadec shook his head. “Not yet.”
“We should continue searching," Morgan said, already making her way towards the living room.
They spent the next few minutes searching for things that may give them a hint on why their victim suddenly went missing. Yet it seems like Keira knew what she was doing from those past weeks or months. Morgan felt as if she were hiding something as she continued to search the spare guest room. Their victim kept to themselves, seemed like the type of person to keep everything organized, and had a stable job. Morgan knew something wasn’t right from the moment Selena mentioned the company Keira works at.
An uneasy feeling washed all over Morgan. She didn’t want to go there. She didn’t want to meet that specific person again after how many years, not after what they had done to her. It was her job, so she didn’t have a chance unless she told Daphne or Oz to be the ones to interrogate. There were many cases from the past that hit home. Daughters going missing, a case that’s similar to her past, and yet Morgan would still continue to bring justice to those families who lost their loved ones.
She hoped that this was just like any other case, and it wouldn’t affect her personally.
“I found something! ” Karadec called from the bathroom, interrupting her thoughts. Morgan immediately went to the bathroom and found Karadec removing a loose tile from under the toilet seat. Morgan crouched down next to him and watched as he took out a ziplock bag filled with folded papers.
“Well, this is something," Morgan said. Karadec handed the bag to her and watched as she opened it with ease, the two of them now sitting in the cold bathroom tile.
Morgan slowly unfolded the papers inside. Karadec watched as she looked at the papers with a deadpanned expression.
“Keira was being stalked," Morgan said, her voice quiet. Karadec leaned in to look closer. The papers were covered in names, dates, and addresses. A few photographs showing Keira leaving her office or out on the streets, observations written at the back with rushed, uneven handwriting.
Morgan looked at the last paper in her hands; it was Keira’s name written 3 times. It was crossed and circled aggressively, the single Chinese character 錯 from earlier written all over the paper.
“It seems like this stalker of hers…was warning Keira to stop snooping around.”
Morgan nodded slowly. “But she didn’t. And whatever she was dealing with might be the reason why she disappeared.”
Karadec pushed himself up from the floor, brushing the dust off himself before turning toward Morgan and extending a hand in front of her, which she gladly accepted. “We already have our evidence." He gestured to the ziplock bag in his hands. “Let’s head over to James Associates, see if Spencer or anyone knows about Keira disappearing, then head back to the precinct.”
Morgan felt her stomach drop from the name. “Yeah,” she said quietly, offering him a tight smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes. “Let’s go.”
Karadec studied her for a short moment; he could tell something was bothering her again. Not just what she said on their way to this apartment; it was far more than that. Instead of pushing, he carefully sealed the bag and placed it inside the manila folder.
They arrived at the big, sleek modern building of James Flynn Associates. The building towered above the surrounding streets of Greater Los Angeles. It stood there, polished and intimidating; the glass exterior reflected the busy city like a mirror. Morgan tilted her head slightly as she looked up at the structure, taking in its sharp look and spotless windows. Employees were moving in and out with coffee and pressed suits. The afternoon sky began fading into a dull shade of gray.
Morgan let out a quiet breath. “Well,” she sighed, "let's go.”
They stepped out of the car, the warm breeze hitting them. As they approached the entrance, a security guard straightened slightly, his eyes flickering towards Karadec’s badge and Morgan’s work ID, completely letting them inside. The guard had simply told them that the receptionist could direct them upstairs.
Bright white floors were polished neatly, just enough to reflect the ceiling lights. Minimalistic furniture was arranged perfectly in the waiting area, and a massive company logo was mounted behind the reception desk in bold, silver lettering. Two receptionists were working with their computers. One, a brunette woman, was entertaining an employee. The other one saw them approach and offered them a practiced smile.
“Good afternoon. Welcome to James Flynn Associates," the woman said calmly. “How can I help you today? ”
Karadec pulls his coat from the side to flash his badge briefly at her, and the woman’s smile falters for a second. “LAPD Detective Karadec, and this is our consultant Morgan Gillory," he said. “We would like to see Spencer Zhou and your CEO James Flynn. One of the employees named Keira Norman was reported missing yesterday.”
“Of course," the woman said, quickly typing at her computer. “The IT office is on the 4th floor; just head straight and turn left. Mr. Flynn’s office is on the 6th floor. Head straight to his assistant’s office, just straight ahead, and ask her if you’d like to meet him," the woman explained.
Both the detective and consultant nodded in understanding. “Thank you,” Morgan said with a small appreciative smile.
They arrived on the 4th floor and made their way towards the IT office. Around them, employees moved through the hallways in neat, appropriate attire. Morgan looked at herself consciously, feeling a bit awkward. She was wearing a white graphic t-shirt, a purple fur coat, a turquoise skirt, and a pair of leather boots. Contrasting with the dull environment around her. She could feel a few employees staring at her, but she didn’t care; she was used to it anyway.
They continued further down the hallway until they reached the main IT office. A young man who was carrying a stack of files brushed past them quickly, muttering apologies under his breath. Inside the office, several employees were busy typing on their computers. The faint glow of the screens reflecting against tired faces.
One man near the front desk looked up first.
“Can I help you? ” he asked politely, though his eyes flickered toward Morgan’s ID and Karadec’s badge tucked under his coat.
“LAPD Detective Karadec,” he introduced, gesturing briefly toward himself before motioning to Morgan, who was beside him. “And this is consultant Gillory. We’re looking for Spencer Zhou.”
The employee blinked once, clearly caught off guard by the sudden appearance of law enforcement, but he recovered quickly. “Uh…yeah, of course.” He glanced across the office floor before lifting a hand to point toward the far side of the room. “He’s over there.”
Morgan and Karadec followed the direction to see a man dressed in a navy button-up, standing near the water dispenser, deep in conversation with another employee.
“Thank you,” Karadec replied with a polite nod.
The two of them made their way across the office floor, moving past desks cluttered with paperwork, half-finished coffees, and glowing computer screens. Morgan glanced around as they walked, quietly observing the people around them. A few employees looked up curiously the moment they moved through the office before looking away, while some whispered to others. Karadec kept his pace steady, eyes locked in on the man near the water dispenser. Spencer Zhou, in his early thirties, was fully engaged in the conversation with another employee.
“Spencer Zhou? ”
Spencer turned around to see Morgan and Karadec standing in front of him. At first, he thought they were just another employee until his eyes flickered towards the LAPD badge and ID. His expression changed slightly.
“We’re here to ask a few questions regarding Keira Norman. She was reported missing yesterday," Karadec explained calmly.
Spencer’s eyes widened immediately. Morgan could tell the man was nervous and worried at the same time.
“Why yes. Of course, detectives.”
“I’m just the consultant,” Morgan corrected with a small smile. “Also, do you know any place to do this privately? It’s not exactly a good thing to do it here…” She gestured towards the busy office.
Spencer nodded. “Follow me.”
As Morgan and Karadec were following Spencer to an empty conference room, her phone rang suddenly. She reached for her purse and glanced at her screen; it was Ava. “Excuse me for a moment,” Morgan said. She stepped slightly away from the doorway, answering quickly as she made her way further down the hall.
“Hey, sweetheart," she greeted her. “What’s up? ”
“Hi, Mom," Ava greeted at the other end. “I was hoping you could buy me new art supplies. My paints just ran out during art class, and one of my paintbrushes broke. Elliot also needs some construction paper and tape for his school project.”
“Okay. I’ll get some from the store on my way home.”
“Thanks, Mom! ”
“No problem, sweetheart.”
The call ended shortly after, the screen fading dark in her hand. Morgan slipped her phone back in her purse, already preparing to head back to the conference room to help Karadec interview Spencer. Just then, she heard her name.
“Morgan Gillory. Fancy seeing you here.”
No.
No.
She froze mid-step before slowly turning around. She could feel the tension in her shoulders, settling heavily. Morgan hoped that she wouldn’t see him. She was expecting that he was at a meeting or out of the building, but there he was, standing a few feet away from her with a smug expression. Of all places, of all times. Morgan’s jaw tightened slightly as she tried to remain composed, though she could already feel the conversation being something she didn’t want to be a part of.
“Dennis Flynn,” she said calmly as she approached him. “It’s nice to see you after how many years.”
Dennis gave a smile, but she knew he didn’t mean it. “And who’s fault is that? ”
Morgan winced slightly at his words. She left home when she was 15 years old, living at her aunt’s place, yet it was no good. Her father treated her as if she weren't his; when her mother died, he acted as if she didn’t exist. Morgan found out he remarried when she was at the age of 13; he didn’t even bother to invite her to the wedding.
And here she was, standing in front of her step-brother. If she were being honest with herself, it was better seeing him instead of her father. Yet if the three of them were in the same room, she would rather die.
“So,” he began, his eyes scanning around the hallway. “What brings you here? Looking for a job because the previous one fired you? ” Dennis chuckled.
Morgan scoffed, rolling his eyes at him. “Typically Dennis, still the same as always. And no, I’m not here to look for a job. In fact—” She held her LAPD ID in front of him. "I work for the LAPD. We’re here interviewing one of your employees; we believe he has something to do with another employee’s disappearance.”
“Keira Norman,” Morgan said. “Rings a bell? ”
"Oh, her. The department manager for accounting. I’ve seen her a few times; didn’t know she went missing.”
“Mhm.” Morgan hummed, studying his face. “But she did go missing.”
Dennis looked at Morgan, then his eyes flickered towards her clothes. “I’m surprised the LAPD hired someone like you…If you showed up here for an interview dressed like that—” He gestured toward her outfit. “You wouldn’t even pass the interview, or even make it.”
Morgan looked at him, trying not to show any emotions, as she was hurt at his comment. “I’m sure you wouldn’t let them hire me; you would’ve told James about that.”
“Oh I would,” Dennis said smoothly with a smile in a way that made her stomach twist uneasily. “But I wouldn’t do it anyway,” he continued casually. “Men here would make an exception…a pretty accessory insight.”
“Relax,” Dennis added after looking at the expression on Morgan’s face. “That was just a compliment, sister.”
“Fuck off, and I’m not your sister," she sneered, hands fisting at her sides.
“Morgan, there you are.”
Karadec’s voice called from the hallway, firm and familiar enough to immediately cut the tension. Morgan felt relief in an instant, exhaling a breath she realized she was holding. She turned around to find him approaching her and Dennis.
“Karadec,” Morgan said, the relief in her voice more obvious than she intended.
Karadec’s eyes flickered between her and Dennis, who was now standing beside her; he could feel the tension between them both. Karadec looked at Morgan, her expression calm and composed. Then, his gaze dropped to Dennis. Dennis stood there maintaining professionalism, acting as if he hadn’t made an offhand comment to his 'sister.'
“You okay? ” he asked, turning his attention back to her.
“Yeah, yeah, don’t worry," Morgan said too quickly. Karadec raised an eyebrow slightly, unconvinced, but didn’t point it out.
Morgan, noticing the look on his face, changed the subject. “This is Dennis,” she said, gesturing towards the man wearing a grey suit and black pants. His chestnut hair is neatly placed with some hair gel. “Dennis Flynn. Son of James Flynn, the CFO here.” Dennis introduced himself, extending a hand out to Karadec.
“Detective Karadec,” he replied, shaking the man’s hand.
“Your consultant here asked me a few questions," Dennis continued smoothly, glancing toward Morgan with an easy smile. Morgan fought the urge to roll her eyes at him. When they were kids, he’d put on a fake act, making her look like she was in the wrong. “Keira Norman, right? ”
Karadec nodded once. “Yes. We’re currently investigating her case.”
Dennis smiled again. “It seems like I’ve given my time and my answers,” he said lightly.
He gave Morgan a pat on the shoulder; the second his hand touched her, her body immediately tensed instinctively. It was subtle, nearly invisible to those around them. But Karadec noticed it; of course he did. Morgan forced herself not to react outwardly, though the discomfort crawled under her skin. Dennis either didn’t notice or chose not to.
“I better get going," he added casually. “I have some clients to entertain.”
“Of course,” Karadec replied with professional politeness. “We won’t keep you waiting.”
Dennis adjusted the cuff of his suit before adding, “My father’s currently out, but I can tell him to stop by the station later for questioning.”
“That’d be good," Karadec said.
“Well,” he said, taking a step back. “I better get going.”
Both of them watched as Dennis disappeared down the hallway, his polished shoes echoing faintly against the floors of the office building. Karadec glanced sideways at Morgan, who was still quiet and a bit tense.
“You okay? ”
Morgan crossed her arms tightly over herself, still staring in the direction Dennis had walked off to. “Yeah. I’m fine, don’t worry.”
“We have to get back to the precinct. Hand over the evidence and head over to Santa Monica," Karadec explained.
“Got another lead? ” Morgan asked.
“Yeah. Come on,” he said, already walking. “Let’s go.”
“Apparently, Keira had an enemy at work. Rhiana Sinclair," Karadec said as he kept his eyes on the road. “Two of them got into some kind of disagreement over a business contract. Spencer said it may have gotten personal.”
Morgan leaned back slightly in her seat, processing the information. “Personal how? "
Karadec gave a small shrug. “Spencer didn’t elaborate much. Just said the tension between them had been building for months.” He paused briefly before adding, “Apparently Rhiana believed Keira went behind her back to secure a client.”
Morgan’s mind drifted back to the apartment. Her mind pictured the scattered papers, the photographs of Keira, and the warning notes they had found hidden away beneath a bathroom tile.
“Oh,” she said quietly, looking down at her hands. “But what about the papers we found? The photographs? ”
“She was being warned," he answered, his hands slightly gripping the steering wheel a bit harder. “According to Spencer, Keira got herself involved in some kind of business, something she wasn’t supposed to. The problem is, he doesn’t know who or what it actually was.”
“And the reason they broke up? ”
Karadec exhaled quietly. “It was because Spencer found out she was stalked. He was furious that she didn’t report it to the police.”
“She told him it was none of his business," he continued, eyes remaining in front of the road. “And for the next few weeks, Spencer got the same warning.”
“And he didn’t bother to report it either? ”
“He did, actually," Karadec answered, "but the police brushed it off, saying it was some kind of prank.”
Morgan hummed in response, staring out the passenger window, watching the blur of headlights and people pass by.
They arrived at the precinct not long after; the drive on the way was quiet and tense. Karadec wanted to ask Morgan if she was okay; clearly something else was bothering her. He could see it. The way she tensed at Dennis’ touch, the discomfort, and her smile not reaching her eyes. But he chose not to.
Karadec parked the car with a quiet exhale before stepping out. Morgan followed behind, clutching her coat tighter around herself as they made their way towards the precinct. It was a little louder than usual when they stepped inside. The low murmur of conversations filled the bullpen, phones ringing and people moving between desks.
Pushing the doors open to the bullpen, Karadec held out one of them, letting Morgan enter first before letting it swing shut behind them. Immediately, both of them noticed Selena and Oz gathered behind Daphne’s desk. The two focused on the computer while Daphne clicked through what looked like surveillance footage.
No one noticed Morgan and Karadec enter at first.
Daphne paused the footage suddenly, rewinding it a few seconds before playing it again.
“There,” she said, pointing at the screen.
Morgan and Karadec exchanged a quick glance before making their way over.
“What’ve you got? ”Karadec asked as they approached.
The three of them looked up almost simultaneously. Selena’s eyes flickered towards the evidence Karadec was holding before stepping aside to give both Morgan and Karadec a better view of the footage. “We pulled up some security footage from Brentwood. It looked like Keira was expecting someone.”
The footage showed nothing at first, only showing grainy black-and-white footage of a parking lot. Just then, a man appeared briefly near the edge of the frame. He was tall, hood up, and his face completely covered with a mask, making it hard to make out clearly.
Karadec’s expression darkened immediately.
“Can you enhance it? ”
“Tried already,” Daphne answered, frustrated. “Camera quality’s garbage.”
Morgan sighed. Her eyes narrowed at the footage. The five of them stood crowded around the desk in near silence, the glow from the screen reflecting across tired faces as the grainy surveillance played once more. It was clear that Keira and the man were talking about some sort of business. Then for a few more minutes, the two were arguing. Keira was clearly frustrated at the man, throwing her hands up in frustration as she paced around. Until the footage abruptly became static; a few minutes later, both were gone.
“This is where it glitches and ends.” Daphne frowned.
“The camera feed was tampered with. Someone corrupted the recording right at the moment it happened," Morgan said. “And it seems like whoever the man Keira was with had someone too.”
Selena sighed, rubbing a hand against her temple, exhaustion mixed with frustration. “Okay,” she said after a moment. “We’ll figure out how to recover the corrupted footage and find more on nearby cameras.” Her voice steadied as she slipped back into work mode. “For now, let’s discuss what we have so far," she explained, already moving towards the glass board near the center of the bullpen.
The team followed her almost immediately; chairs scraped softly against the floor as Oz picked up the case files from the desk. Daphne remained seated, already ready to search for more information on the victim and suspects. Morgan lingered for half a second longer, staring at the footage before finally forcing herself to turn away.
The group gathered around the glass board while Selena uncapped a marker with a quiet click. “Alright,” she began, writing KEIRA NORMAN in large letters across the center. “Female, thirty-two. Missing for approximately twenty-six hours.”
“The last confirmed sighting was the abandoned parking garage in Brentwood around 9:20 PM.”
“Followed by an unidentified male,” Oz added.
Selena nodded, writing it down. “Possible suspect. No facial identification yet.”
“Her mother, Hattie Norman, said Keira called around 8:56 PM. Her youngest, Kelly Norman, stated that Keira was being too secretive. Kept mostly to herself," Morgan said.
“Keira’s ex, Spencer Zhou, also noticed. And we found this,” he said. Holding up a ziplock bag containing the manila folder while the other one remained on the desk. “Keira was being warned, and so was Spencer."
Selena immediately reached into the pocket of her coat and pulled out a pair of latex gloves she always kept on hand. She slid them on quickly, the sharp snap of rubber echoing faintly in the bullpen as she stepped closer to the desk.
“What does this mean? ” she asked, her tone low and focused. Her fingers lightly brushed against the papers.
“Wrong, bad, or move out of the way," Morgan spoke, crossing her arms. “And the spider lily means death.”
Selena frowned slightly, her eyes lingering on the threats and photographs. “So Keira was involved in something she shouldn't be and was sent…a death threat.”
"Likewise," Morgan replied grimly.
“What about the company James Flynn? ”Oz asked from where he stood near the glass board. “Have you talked to the CEO? ”
“Morgan talked to his son, Dennis Flynn. He’s the CFO for James Associates. He also told us that his father will come by; we just don’t know when.”
Daphne’s fingers moved quickly as she typed on her keyboard. “James Flynn,” she read aloud. “Male, sixty-five. Currently married to Melissa Flynn and is a stepdad to Dennis Flynn.” She scrolled further down the digital records, her eyes narrowing slightly as more information appeared. “His past records state that he was involved with theft, fraud, and multiple complaints of physical and emotional abuse.”
Morgan felt something twist painfully in her stomach. She kept her expression neutral, forcing herself not to react, but her body had already tensed instinctively.
“He was married before,” Daphne continued. “To a woman named Lena Gillory and had one child with her…”
“Morgan Gillory," Morgan continued for Daphne, cutting in quickly. “Yeah. It’s me," she said, her voice now quieter.