CHAPTER SIXTEEN

The faint glow from a single lamp illuminated the dusty surfaces of Evan Rhodes's apartment as Morgan and Derik stepped inside. Morgan wrinkled her nose, the musty stench of neglect assaulting her senses. Takeout containers littered the floor, their contents long since rotted away. Old electronic parts were strewn across Evan's desk, a chaotic mess that spoke of a brilliant mind unraveled.

They moved methodically through the apartment, gloved hands sifting through the detritus of Evan's shattered life. Morgan felt a twinge of empathy for the man, knowing all too well how easy it was for one's world to crumble. Her own scars, hidden beneath tattoo-covered skin, were a constant reminder of the years she'd lost, the injustice she'd endured.

But now wasn't the time for sentiment. They had a killer to catch.

As Derik rummaged through a pile of old magazines, Morgan turned her attention to the coffee table, stacked high with papers. Bills, notebooks, discarded mail - the mundane remnants of a life cut short. She rifled through them, her keen eyes searching for anything out of place.

And then she saw it. Tucked beneath a stack of unopened letters, a glossy corner peeked out. Frowning, Morgan tugged it free, revealing a small brochure. The title caught her eye immediately: Maddox Talent Program: Excellence for the Gifted.

"Derik, take a look at this."

He glanced over, his brow furrowing as he read the title. "Maddox Talent Program? Never heard of it."

Morgan flipped through the pages, skimming the flowery language about nurturing gifted youth. Something about it made her skin crawl, though she couldn't quite put her finger on why.

"If Evan had this..." She trailed off, her mind racing. "We need to find out more about this program. See if there's any connection to our other victims."

Morgan's mind raced as she considered the implications of the Maddox Talent Program brochure. She'd heard whispers about Dahlia Maddox over the years, rumors that painted a picture of a woman who was as brilliant as she was ruthless.

"I remember reading about Maddox a while back," Morgan said, her brow furrowed in concentration. "She had a reputation for pushing these kid prodigies to their breaking point. Some of them ended up burning out completely."

Derik raised an eyebrow. "Sounds like a real piece of work."

"You have no idea." Morgan shook her head, memories of the articles she'd read flooding back. "There were stories about kids having mental breakdowns, developing substance abuse problems. All because of the pressure Maddox put on them."

She stared down at the glossy brochure, a sense of unease growing in the pit of her stomach. If Evan had been involved with Maddox's program, it could explain a lot about his downward spiral.

But there was something else nagging at her, a thought that she almost didn't want to give voice to. She glanced up at Derik, seeing the same flicker of doubt in his eyes.

"What if..." She hesitated, the words feeling heavy on her tongue. "What if Maddox is somehow connected to these murders?"

Derik's eyes widened. "You think a woman could be behind this?"

Morgan shrugged, turning the brochure over in her hands. "I didn't think so at first. But now, seeing this..." She tapped the glossy paper. "It's a long shot, but we can't rule it out."

She thought back to the crime scenes, the meticulous staging of the bodies, the taunting clues left behind. It had all seemed so calculated, so precise. The work of a man, she'd assumed.

But what if she'd been wrong?

What if Dahlia Maddox, with her reputation for pushing prodigies to their limits, had something to do with all of this?

It was a stretch, Morgan knew. But her instincts were screaming at her that they needed to dig deeper.

She met Derik's gaze, seeing the same determination reflected back at her. They'd been partners long enough to know when they were onto something.

Morgan paced the cramped apartment, her mind racing as she tried to piece together the connection between Dahlia Maddox and the victims. The brochure in her hand felt like a lead weight, a tangible link to a world of cutthroat ambition and broken prodigies.

Suddenly, a thought struck her. She pulled out her own phone and dialed a number she'd hoped she wouldn't need again.

“Mrs. Sanchez? This is Agent Cross. I have one more question for you."

“Of course—how can I help?” The woman's voice on the other end was hesitant, but Morgan pushed on.

"Was Lila ever involved with the Maddox Talent Program?"

There was a pause, a sharp intake of breath. Then, "Yes. When she was younger. But she... she didn't talk about it much."

Morgan's heart skipped a beat. "Thank you. That's all I needed to know."

She hung up, her mind already whirling with the implications. Two victims, both connected to Dahlia Maddox. It couldn't be a coincidence.

"Maddox knew Lila Sanchez. We need to talk to her," Morgan said, her voice hard. "If she's involved in this somehow, we need to know."

She thought of the crime scenes, the cold precision of the murders. The idea of a woman being behind it all was jarring, but Morgan had seen enough in her career to know that evil wore many faces.

"Maybe it's not about the killing for her," she mused aloud. "Maybe it's about the perfection. The need to eliminate those who don't measure up."

It was a dark thought, but one that seemed to fit with what they knew of Dahlia Maddox. A woman who valued talent above all else, who saw people as tools to be honed and discarded when they outlived their usefulness.

Derik sighed, running a hand through his hair. "It's a stretch, Morgan. But I trust your instincts. If you think Maddox is worth looking into, then that's what we'll do."

Morgan nodded, already moving toward the door. "Let's go pay Dahlia Maddox a visit. See what she has to say for herself."

As they stepped out into the hall, Morgan couldn't shake the feeling that they were on the precipice of something big. Something that could change everything they thought they knew about this case.

But one thing was certain: if Dahlia Maddox was involved, Morgan would stop at nothing to bring her to justice.

No matter how dark the truth turned out to be.

***

The sleek lines of the Maddox Talent Program's studio glinted in the fading evening light as Morgan and Derik pulled into the parking lot. The building exuded an air of prestige, all gleaming glass and polished stone, the kind of place where the elite sent their prodigies to be molded into something extraordinary.

Morgan stepped out of the car, her eyes narrowed as she surveyed the facade. "Looks like no expense spared," she muttered, her tone laced with a hint of distaste.

Derik fell into step beside her as they approached the entrance. "Let's hope that extends to their security cameras. Might give us a lead if Maddox is involved."

The doors slid open with a whisper, and they stepped into an eerily silent main hall. Morgan stopped dead in her tracks, her hand instinctively reaching for Derik's arm. Before them stood two dozen children, ramrod straight, each balancing a thick, leather-bound book atop their head. The scene was surreal – like stumbling upon some twisted finishing school from another era.

And then there was Dahlia Maddox herself, prowling between the rows of children like a predator sizing up its prey. She cut an imposing figure in a high-necked black dress that seemed to absorb what little warmth remained in the room. Her silver-streaked hair was pulled back so severely it looked painful, emphasizing the sharp angles of her face.

A young boy near the entrance turned his head slightly at the sound of their footsteps. The movement was minute, barely perceptible, but it was enough. The book wobbled, then crashed to the floor with a thunderous bang that shattered the silence.

"Mr. Chen!" Maddox's voice cracked through the air like a whip. The boy flinched as she strode toward him, her heels clicking against the hardwood floor in a rhythm that sounded like a countdown to execution. "What have I told you about focus? About discipline?"

"I-I'm sorry, Ms. Maddox," the boy stammered, his face draining of color.

"Sorry?" She loomed over him, her voice dropping to a dangerous whisper. "Sorry is what weak people say when they've failed. Are you weak, Mr. Chen?"

"No, Ms. Maddox," he whispered, tears welling in his eyes.

"Then prove it. Twenty minutes in the corner, book on head, arms extended. Perhaps that will help you understand the importance of unwavering attention."

Morgan felt her stomach turn as she watched the boy shuffle to the corner, his small arms trembling as he lifted them parallel to the ground. The other children remained perfectly still, but their eyes darted nervously in his direction, a shared terror evident in their rigid postures.

"Christ," Derik muttered under her breath. "This isn't a talent program, it's a boot camp for kids."

Maddox finally turned her attention to them, fixing them with a gaze as cold as winter frost. She didn't smile, didn't even attempt the pretense of warmth. "This is a private session. You're interrupting."

Morgan stepped forward, her badge held aloft. "Agent Morgan Cross, FBI. This is my partner, Agent Derik Greene. We need to speak with you about two of your former students."

Maddox didn't move. "Do you have an appointment?"

"We don't need one. This is a murder investigation."

"How unfortunate for you." Maddox's lips curved into something that might have been a smile on another face. "However, I'm in the middle of training. My students require absolute focus. You can schedule an appointment with my secretary for next week."

Morgan took another step forward. "Ms. Maddox, two people are dead. This isn't a request."

"And this isn't a police state," Maddox shot back, her voice sharp enough to cut glass. "I know my rights, Agent Cross. Unless you have a warrant, you have no authority to disrupt my business."

"Children," Morgan called out, her voice carrying across the room. "You can put the books down now. Class is dismissed."

"Don't you dare!" Maddox's composure cracked, her face contorting with rage. "These children are under my supervision. Their parents pay considerable sums for my expertise, my methods. You have no right—"

"Your methods?" Morgan's voice was quiet but carried an edge of steel. "You mean like forcing a crying child to stand in the corner? Is that the expertise parents are paying for?"

"You know nothing about excellence," Maddox spat. "Nothing about what it takes to cultivate true greatness. These children need discipline, structure—"

"They need to be protected from you." Morgan turned to Derik. "Call it in. I want Child Protective Services here within the hour. And get me Judge Harrison on the phone – I want an emergency warrant for every piece of paper in this building."

Maddox's face went white with fury. "You're making a grave mistake." She spun toward the children. "Nobody moves! This woman has no authority here!"

But the spell was already breaking. One by one, the books began to waver, then fall. The sound of them hitting the floor was like artillery fire in the tense silence.

"This is harassment," Maddox snarled, advancing on Morgan. "I'll have your badge for this. My lawyers will—"

"Will what?" Morgan cut her off. "Explain why you're torturing children? Try to justify your abuse as 'training'. Be my guest. I'm sure a jury would love to hear it." She pulled out her handcuffs. "Now, we can do this one of two ways. You can come with us voluntarily to answer some questions about Evan Rhodes and Lila Sanchez, or I can arrest you right here for obstruction of justice and child endangerment. Your choice."

Maddox's eyes darted around the room like a trapped animal's. The children were watching now, their faces a mixture of fear and something else – hope, maybe. Or relief.

"You have no idea what you're doing," Maddox said, her voice trembling with barely contained rage. "These children need me. Without my guidance, they'll amount to nothing. They'll be ordinary." She spat the last word like it was poison.

"Better ordinary and alive than perfect and dead," Morgan replied coldly. "Now, what's it going to be?"

For a moment, Morgan thought Maddox might actually try to fight. But then her shoulders slumped, though her eyes remained hard as flint. "Fine. But my lawyer meets us there. And these children stay exactly where they are until their parents arrive."

Morgan nodded to Derik, who was already on the phone calling for backup and CPS. Then she turned back to Maddox. "After you."