CHAPTER TWENTY TWO

A burst of laughter cut through the normally subdued atmosphere of the FBI break room. Morgan couldn't help but crack a smile as she watched Derik animatedly reenacting the takedown of Henry Adler, complete with exaggerated hand gestures and sound effects. The other agents gathered around, their faces alight with a rare sense of triumph.

"In all seriousness, everyone," Mueller said, raising his voice to be heard over the chatter. "You all did an exceptional job on this case. Thanks to your hard work and dedication, Henry Adler is behind bars, and Tara Lin is safe. That's a win in my book."

Murmurs of agreement echoed through the room as agents clinked their mugs together in a celebratory toast. Morgan leaned back in her chair, allowing herself a moment to savor the victory. The weight of the past few days seemed to lift from her shoulders, replaced by a sense of relief.

She glanced over at Derik, who caught her eye and raised his mug in a silent salute. Despite their complicated history, Morgan couldn't deny the satisfaction that came with working alongside him. They made a good team, and moments like these reminded her of that.

For a brief time, the ongoing investigation into Cordell and the secrets surrounding her father felt distant, as if they belonged to another world. Morgan knew she couldn't escape those demons forever, but for now, she allowed herself to bask in the camaraderie and the knowledge that they had stopped a dangerous killer and saved an innocent life.

Even as laughter filled the break room and the mood remained jovial, a restlessness stirred in Morgan's mind. While the satisfaction of solving the Adler case was undeniable, another part of her—the part haunted by the deeper mystery surrounding her father—remained unsettled. The cases involving Cordell, her father's secret life as John Christopher, and Thomas Grady lingered in the background, refusing to be silenced by the momentary triumph.

Morgan's gaze drifted, her thoughts wandering to the unanswered questions that plagued her. She had been waiting, hoping for a breakthrough that could shed light on her father's past and his connection to the criminal syndicate. The pieces of the puzzle were scattered, and she yearned to fit them together, to uncover the truth that had eluded her for so long.

After some time, Mueller quietly stepped out of the break room, catching Morgan's eye as he did so. A subtle shift in his demeanor told her that the celebration was about to come to an end, and something more serious was on the horizon. Sure enough, a few moments later, Mueller beckoned both Morgan and Derik to follow him.

As they made their way to Mueller's office, the casual atmosphere dissolved, replaced by a quieter, more secluded space. Mueller's faint smile from earlier had vanished, and the familiar seriousness Morgan had come to expect from him had returned. He motioned for them to take a seat, his eyes holding a glimmer of something Morgan couldn't quite decipher.

The heavy oak door of Mueller's office closed behind them with a dull thud, sealing Morgan and Derik in the room with their superior. The air felt thick, laden with unspoken secrets and the promise of revelations to come.

Mueller gestured silently toward the two chairs facing his desk, an invitation for them to sit. Morgan's heart thrummed in her chest as she lowered herself into the leather seat, the material creaking softly beneath her weight. Derik followed suit, his presence a reassuring constant at her side.

Once settled behind his desk, Mueller leaned forward, his elbows resting on the polished wood surface. "First, I want to commend you both on your exemplary work on the Adler case," he began, his voice measured and professional. "Your dedication and skill brought a dangerous killer to justice and saved an innocent life. The Bureau is grateful for your service."

Morgan nodded, accepting the praise with a tight smile. She could sense the "but" hanging in the air, the real reason Mueller had called them into his inner sanctum.

"However," Mueller continued, confirming her suspicions, "there is another matter that requires our attention. One that, I believe, holds particular significance for you, Agent Cross."

At the mention of her name, Morgan's spine straightened, her focus sharpening to a laser point. This was it, the moment she had been waiting for, the chance to finally unravel the tangled web of her father's past and its connection to Cordell.

Mueller's gaze met hers, a flicker of understanding passing between them. He knew the weight of the secrets he held, the impact they could have on her life. "As you know, I've been conducting my own investigation into Richard Cordell and his possible involvement in your father's case," he said, his words measured and deliberate.

Morgan's breath caught in her throat, her fingers curling into the armrests of her chair. Beside her, she could feel Derik's tension, his own anticipation palpable in the quiet room.

"I believe I've uncovered something that may shed new light on the situation," Mueller continued, reaching into a drawer of his desk. "Something that, until now, has remained hidden for decades."

Morgan leaned forward, her eyes fixed on Mueller's hands as he withdrew a plain manila folder. Her heart pounded against her ribs, the blood rushing in her ears. This was the moment she had been waiting for, the key to unlocking the truth about her father and Cordell.

Mueller slid the folder across the desk, his gaze never leaving Morgan's face. "Inside, you'll find a photograph that I believe will be of great interest to you," he said, his voice low and serious. "A photograph that connects your father to Mary Price.”

With trembling fingers, Morgan reached for the folder, her mind racing with possibilities. What secrets did this photograph hold? What did it mean for her father, for Mary Price, for the entire case against Cordell?

As she flipped open the folder, her breath left her in a rush, her eyes widening at the sight before her. There, in stark black and white, was a younger version of her father, standing side by side with Mary Price. The image was faded, the edges worn with time, but the faces were unmistakable.

Morgan's mind reeled, questions flooding her thoughts. How long had her father known Mary Price? What was the nature of their relationship? And why had Cordell been so interested in them both?

She looked up at Mueller, her voice barely above a whisper. "What does this mean?"

Mueller leaned back in his chair, his expression grave. "I believe it means that your father and Mary Price were connected in ways we never suspected," he said, his words heavy with implication. "And that Cordell's interest in them both may hold the key to unraveling this entire mystery."

Morgan's grip tightened on the photograph, the edges crinkling beneath her fingers. She knew, without a doubt, that this was just the beginning. That the secrets hidden within this single image would lead her down a path she could never turn back from.

"Where did you find this?" she asked, her voice rough with emotion.

Mueller leaned forward, his elbows resting on the desk. "It was buried deep in some old case files. Files that Cordell had sealed away years ago."

Morgan's head snapped up, her eyes narrowing. "Cordell? What does he have to do with this?"

Mueller's expression was grim. "From what I can tell, Cordell had an agent investigating your father and Mary Price. Decades ago, long before you were even born, Morgan.”

A chill ran down Morgan's spine. Why would Cordell have been interested in her father? In Mary Price? What secrets had he been trying to uncover?

She looked back down at the photograph, studying the faces of the two people who had unknowingly shaped the course of her life. Her father looked so young, so carefree. It was hard to reconcile that image with the haunted man she had known, the man who had raised her in isolation, always looking over his shoulder.

And Mary Price... Thomas's mother. The woman whose death had set so much in motion. Seeing her standing beside her father, she felt a strange sense of connection. As if their fates had been intertwined long before she was even born.

Derik leaned in, his shoulder brushing against hers as he studied the photograph. "What do you think it means?"

Morgan shook her head, trying to clear the jumble of thoughts racing through her mind. "I don't know," she admitted. "But whatever it is, it's big. Bigger than we ever realized."

She looked up at Mueller, her jaw set with determination. "We need to find out what Cordell was after. What he was trying to hide."

Mueller nodded, his expression serious. "I agree. But we need to be careful. If Cordell went to such lengths to bury this, it means he's willing to do whatever it takes to keep it hidden."

Morgan's grip tightened on the photograph, the edges crinkling beneath her fingers. She knew Mueller was right. That pursuing this lead would be dangerous. But she also knew that she couldn't turn back now. Not when the truth about her father, about Cordell's corruption, was finally within reach.

Morgan stood up, the photograph clutched tightly in her hand. She paced the small confines of Mueller's office, her mind spinning with possibilities.

"What if..." she began, her voice trailing off as she tried to piece together the fragments of the puzzle. "What if my father and Mary Price were working together on something? Something that threatened Cordell?"

Derik leaned forward, his elbows resting on his knees. "It's possible. But what could it have been? And why would Cordell go to such lengths to cover it up?"

Morgan shook her head, frustration etched on her face. "I don't know. But whatever it was, it got Mary Price killed. And it nearly destroyed my father."

She turned to Mueller, her eyes blazing with intensity. "We need access to those files. The ones Cordell had his agent looking into. They could hold the key to all of this."

Mueller hesitated, his brow furrowed. "Those files are classified. Buried deep. It won't be easy to get our hands on them. It was hard enough for me to uncover this photo without ringing any bells.”

"I don't care," Morgan snapped, her patience wearing thin. "We need to find out what Cordell was after. What he was trying to hide. And we need to do it now before he catches wind of what we're up to."

Derik stood up, placing a calming hand on Morgan's shoulder. "We'll find a way," he assured her. "Even if we have to go outside official channels."

Morgan nodded, her jaw clenched with determination. She knew it wouldn't be easy, that they were up against a formidable opponent in Cordell. But she also knew that she couldn't back down, not when the truth about her father was so close.

Mueller leaned forward, his eyes intense. "Morgan, I know you want answers. But you need to be careful. Cordell is a dangerous man, and he's not going to take kindly to you poking around in his business."

Morgan met his gaze unflinchingly. "I don't care what Cordell thinks. He framed me, sent me to prison for a crime I didn't commit. And now I find out he's been obsessed with my father and Mary Price for decades? I'm not going to back down until I know the truth."

She stood up, the photograph clutched tightly in her hand. "I'm going to keep digging, sir. With or without your help. I owe it to my father, and to myself, to find out what really happened."

Mueller sighed, but there was a glimmer of respect in his eyes. "Just be careful, Morgan. You're treading on dangerous ground."

Morgan gave him a grim smile. "I know. But I've been in dangerous situations before. And I always come out on top."

With that, she turned and strode out of Mueller's office, her mind already churning with plans. She knew the road ahead would be treacherous, but she was ready for the fight.

Cordell had made a grave mistake in underestimating her. And now, with this new lead, she was more determined than ever to uncover the truth and bring him to justice.

No matter what it took, no matter how dangerous the path became, Morgan would not rest until she had exposed Cordell's crimes and avenged her father's memory. The game was on, and this time, she was playing for keeps.