The police boat cut through the dark waters of Lake Ray Hubbard, sending ripples along the surface as it sped over the waves. Morgan Cross clutched onto the railing beside Derik, her partner for this case, as they searched for Felix Scale, the millionaire suspected of kidnapping Heather and murdering two other women. The wind whistled in their ears, whipping Morgan's hair back from her face as she stared out at the vast expanse of water before them. Other police boats zipped around the coastline like bees around a hive, all searching for Felix's boat – named Infinity, written in cursive on its side.
"Stay focused, Morgan," Derik said, shouting over the roar of the boat's engine. "We'll find him."
Morgan nodded, her grip tightening on her phone as she looked up Felix Scale online. She knew time was running out, and with each passing second, her thoughts turned to the worst-case scenario. What if they were too late? She couldn't bear the thought of another life lost under her watch.
As she scrolled through search results, an article caught her eye: Millionaire Influencer Accused of Soliciting Sex. Her heart skipped a beat as she read the headline again, feeling a potent mix of anger and determination course through her veins. Morgan's eyes darted back and forth as she read the article, feeling her chest tighten. The words painted a disturbing picture of Felix Scale: a man who had no qualms about preying on vulnerable young women. She could almost hear the sneer in his voice as he allegedly offered the girl money for sex, as if trying to buy her dignity. Morgan clenched her jaw in disgust.
"Derik," she said, unable to keep the revulsion out of her voice. "It says here that Felix was accused of soliciting sex from a young woman – offering her cash in exchange."
"Are you kidding me?" Derik shook his head, his expression darkening. "Sounds like a real piece of work."
"Wait, there's more," Morgan muttered, scrolling further down the page. She tapped on Felix's social media profile, which was linked in the article. Almost immediately, she was bombarded with images of him living a luxurious and seemingly carefree life. He had hundreds of thousands of followers, but one look at him made Morgan feel sick to her stomach.
"Look at this guy," she said, holding up her phone so Derik could see. "He's clearly in his forties, but he's trying so hard to play it off like he's younger. It's pathetic."
"Seems like the kind of person who'd have no problem taking advantage of someone like Heather," Derik commented, his eyes narrowing as he studied Felix's smug grin plastered across the screen. The millionaire was surrounded by beautiful women in most photos, wearing designer clothes and sporting flashy jewelry.
"Exactly," Morgan agreed, her grip tightening around her phone. She couldn't shake the feeling that they were closing in on Heather's captor. This man – this predator – needed to be stopped before he hurt anyone else.
Inside Morgan's head, a storm of emotions raged. Anger, disgust, and fear for Heather's safety fueled her determination to bring Felix to justice. She couldn't allow another woman to fall victim to his twisted desires.
"Let's make sure this guy gets what he deserves," Morgan said, the fire burning in her eyes as she stared out at the choppy waters of the lake. They would find Felix Scale – and they would save Heather.
The wind roared around them as the police boat cut through the dark waters of Lake Ray Hubbard. Morgan's fingers flew over her phone, pulling up the FBI database to dig deeper into Felix Scale's background. The cold air nipped at her cheeks, but she barely noticed. All that mattered was finding Heather and stopping Felix before he could do any more harm.
"Here we go," she murmured, her breath clouding in the chilly air. Her eyes scanned the screen, taking in Felix's criminal record. Tax fraud. While it wasn't as damning as assault or murder, it solidified her belief that Felix was a scumbag. The fact that he had access to the docks only fueled her suspicion that he had Heather with him.
"Got anything?" Derik asked, his voice barely audible over the roar of the boat's engine and the crashing waves.
"Tax fraud," Morgan shouted back, not giving Derik much more than the basic information - she didn't want to engage in conversation with him any more than necessary. "He definitely had access to the docks."
Derik nodded, his gaze fixed on the horizon as if he could somehow see their target through sheer force of will. "We'll find him, Morgan. We'll find Heather and put this bastard away for good."
Morgan clenched her jaw, nodding curtly. She knew they had to work together, but she couldn't shake the feeling that something was off with Derik and that she’d never be able to trust him again, after everything. For now, though, she pushed those thoughts aside and focused on the task at hand: bringing Felix Scale to justice.
Her heart pounded in her chest, adrenaline coursing through her veins like liquid fire. It had been a long time since she'd felt so alive - so driven by purpose. In her mind's eye, she pictured Felix's smug face and imagined the satisfaction of finally slapping handcuffs on him. The thought brought a fierce smile to her lips.
"Let's hope we get there in time," she said, her voice steely and determined. "Heather's depending on us."
And with that, they sped across the lake, their eyes scanning the shoreline for any sign of Felix or his boat, Infinity. Time was running out, and Morgan knew that every passing second could mean the difference between life and death. All they could do now was pray they'd find Heather before it was too late.
The police boat cut through the water, its engine roaring as they approached the north side of Lake Ray Hubbard. Morgan's heart raced in anticipation, her grip on the railing tightening. The wind whipped through her hair, sending strands flying across her face and obscuring her vision momentarily.
"North side of the lake, we got eyes on the Infinity. Repeat, we've spotted the boat," the voice on the radio crackled with urgency.
"Copy that, we're on our way," the officer at the helm replied, pushing the throttle forward. The boat leaped ahead, racing towards their target.
Morgan stole a glance at Derik, who wore an expression of grim determination. She could feel his gaze on her even as she turned away, focusing on the approaching shoreline. She tried to ignore the uneasy feeling that crawled up her spine, concentrating instead on the task at hand.
"Almost there!" the officer shouted over the roar of the engine. "Get ready!"
Every muscle in Morgan's body tensed as they closed in on their destination. She couldn't help but think about Heather, about the terror the young woman must be feeling if Felix Scale had indeed taken her captive. Morgan felt a surge of anger towards the man, a fire that burned deep within her and fueled her resolve to see him brought to justice.
"Keep your eyes peeled for any movement," she instructed Derik, her voice barely audible over the boat's engine.
"Got it," he responded tersely, still watching her with an intensity she couldn't quite place.
As the boat drew nearer to the dock where Felix's boat was reported, Morgan's thoughts raced. What would they find when they reached the Infinity? Was Heather still alive, or had they arrived too late? And what of Felix himself? She steeled herself for the confrontation that was sure to come, her hands itching to draw her weapon and put an end to the nightmare that had consumed them all.
The police boat approached the private cottage concealed among the trees on the north side of the lake. Morgan's heart raced with anticipation. The sleek, expensive speedboat emblazoned with the word "Infinity" in elegant cursive script was docked nearby – a glaring beacon that they had found their target.
"Here's the place," the officer said, expertly docking the boat alongside the Infinity. "Looks like we got ourselves a party going on."
"Wait here," Morgan instructed the officer, her eyes never leaving the opulent boat as she imagined Felix Scale within its confines. She and Derik disembarked from the police boat, their shoes squelching on the damp wooden boards of the dock.
"Ready?" Derik asked, his voice tense and alert.
"Let's go," Morgan replied tersely, still avoiding eye contact with him. Her focus remained fixed on the task at hand: finding Heather and apprehending Felix Scale.
As they walked up the gravel path toward the cottage, the sound of pounding bass grew louder, pulsating through the evening air like a living heartbeat. The scent of freshly cut grass and blooming flowers filled Morgan's nostrils, a stark contrast to the dark uncertainty looming over them.
"Did you expect this?" Derik questioned, gesturing to the sprawling garden surrounding the picturesque cottage.
"No," Morgan admitted, her eyes scanning the idyllic scene for any sign of foul play. "But it doesn't change anything. We need to find Heather and bring Felix to justice – whatever it takes."
"Agreed," Derik nodded, falling into step beside her as they closed in on the cottage. The thumping music reverberated through the walls, a taunting reminder that time was of the essence. Morgan's gut churned with a strange mixture of dread and determination.
"Stay sharp," she reminded herself, feeling the weight of her gun resting on her hip. Her mind raced with thoughts of what they might find inside the cottage – had Felix brought Heather here, like he had done with his other victims? They were about to find out, and Morgan steeled herself for whatever horror awaited them beyond the door.
"Right behind you," Derik assured her. His presence was both a comfort and an annoyance; she appreciated his support but couldn't shake the nagging feeling that he was scrutinizing her every move. At the same time, there was a familiarity in it; they had worked many cases together, known each other for years. Sometimes intimately. It was just his betrayal that had put a stain on it, something Morgan wouldn't soon forget.
As they reached the back door, Morgan's hand instinctively hovered over her holstered gun. Peering through the glass, she tried to make out the interior of the cottage. The dim light filtering through the curtains revealed an empty room, but the situation still felt off.
"See anyone?" Derik whispered, his breath hot on her neck as he leaned in, trying to catch a glimpse as well.
"Nothing," she replied, her voice low and steady. They both knew that the absence of people didn't mean they were safe. Morgan's mind raced, filled with the haunting images of Felix's prior victims. Could Heather still be alive? They needed to find out.
"Let's try the front," Derik suggested, his eyes darting around the property as they moved cautiously. The music grew louder and more distorted as they approached the front entrance, its pounding bass reverberating through the ground beneath their feet.
"Stay close," Morgan instructed, her senses heightened and nerves taut as they crept along the side of the cottage. With each step, she imagined Felix inside, holding Heather captive or worse. Her heart hammered against her ribcage, her determination fueled by the memory of the women who had come before.
"Copy that," Derik responded, his tone serious and focused. He followed closely behind her, his own thoughts mirrored in Morgan's – they couldn't let another life be lost to this monster.
Reaching the front door, Morgan wasted no time in banging on it. "FBI! Open up!" she shouted, her voice barely audible over the deafening music. The melody continued to blare from within, drowning out her demands for entry.
"Damn it," she muttered under her breath, her frustration mounting as she banged harder on the door. Her knuckles turned white with the force of her pounding, the sound of wood connecting with flesh echoing in her ears.
"Think he's got Heather in there?" Derik asked, his concern etched across his face. "Maybe the other women, too?"
Morgan clenched her jaw and nodded. "It's possible. We have to get inside," she said, her mind racing with plans of action. As they continued their attempts to gain entry, the sickening thought that Felix might already be hurting Heather – or worse – fueled Morgan's urgency. She wouldn't let another innocent life be destroyed by this man, not on her watch.
Just then, she heard a scream.