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"I'm afraid so. May I come in and talk to you about it?" Morgan requested, her tone gentle yet firm.
Nancy hesitated for a moment before stepping aside, allowing Morgan to enter her home. As Morgan crossed the threshold, she took note of the immaculate interior and the family photographs adorning the walls, reinforcing her belief that Nancy had no knowledge of her son's sinister activities.
Morgan stepped into the dimly lit living room, her eyes slowly adjusting to the warm glow of a solitary lamp in the corner. The wallpaper was faded, and the furniture looked worn but comfortable. She couldn't help but notice the heavy silence that seemed to permeate the air, making the small space feel almost suffocating.
Nancy motioned for Morgan to sit on the couch, and Morgan couldn't help but observe the family photographs adorning the walls and shelves around the room. There were pictures of a much younger Adam with both of his eyes intact, and a man she assumed was his late father, smiling warmly at the camera. Morgan felt a pang of sympathy for Nancy, wondering how such a seemingly ordinary family could have birthed the monster they were hunting.
"Mrs. Sallow," Morgan began, trying to suppress the anxiety building in her chest. "Have you seen or heard from Adam at all recently? Any indication of his whereabouts at all could be helpful."
Nancy sighed, her eyes welling up with tears. "No, Agent Cross, I haven't seen or heard from Adam in some time. I'm not sure how long. His visits have become few and far between. He has become a very strange young man." Nancy wiped away a tear with the back of her hand. "I always blamed myself, you know? Thought there was something I could've done differently to prevent the path he's gone down. He was such a sweet boy once."
"You did the best you could," Morgan reassured her. "Sometimes people make choices that are beyond our control." Morgan's heart sank as she listened to Nancy's words. It was yet another reminder of the darkness that lurked within people, hidden beneath seemingly ordinary facades. Either way, she needed to gather more information about Adam. "Did Adam have any close friends or acquaintances?" Morgan asked,
Nancy shook her head, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. "My son... he's always been a quiet person, very reserved and troubled. He's had a hard time holding down a job, and I think he feels ashamed when he comes to see me because of it. He doesn't even have a cell phone, or if he does, he's never told me about it. I doubt my son has any friends."
Morgan took a deep breath, her heart heavy with the burden of what she was about to say. She glanced at Derik, who nodded in silent encouragement. Turning her attention back to Nancy, Morgan's voice trembled ever so slightly as she spoke.
"Mrs. Sallow... we believe Adam is the prime suspect in the murder of three people and the disappearance of another woman."
Nancy stared at Morgan in disbelief, her eyes wide and filled with confusion. "That's ridiculous," she stammered. "Adam would never hurt anyone. He's just quiet... troubled... misunderstood."
Morgan felt a pang of empathy for the distraught mother before her, but she had no choice. They needed answers, and they needed them now.
"I'm sorry, Mrs. Sallow, but we have recovered evidence that proves Adam has been killing these people and leaving feathers on their bodies."
Nancy gasped, her hand flying to her mouth in shock. "I heard about those murders on the news," she whispered, her voice trembling. "I wanted to reach out to Adam just to see him, but I haven't had the time to drive across the city."
Her eyes pleaded with Morgan, desperation etched into every line of her face. "Adam can't be the one responsible. He just can't."
Morgan felt a pang of guilt as she witnessed Nancy's anguish. It was heart-wrenching to see a mother unable to accept the truth about her own child, especially one who had committed such heinous acts. But Morgan knew that she couldn't let her emotions cloud her judgment. She had a duty to bring the killer to justice, no matter how painful it was for those involved.
"I understand that this is difficult for you to believe," Morgan said, her voice softening. "But we have substantial evidence linking Adam to these crimes. Photographic evidence."
Nancy shook her head vehemently, tears streaming down her face. "No, no, you're mistaken! My son wouldn't hurt a fly, let alone commit murder. There has to be some mistake. He was always strange, but he was never violent."
Morgan took a deep breath, trying to find the right words to offer Nancy some semblance of comfort amidst the chaos. She could see the pain etched in every line of the distraught mother's face and knew that this revelation must have shattered her world.
"I understand that this is difficult to believe," Morgan said softly. "But the proof we have indicates he's involved, at the very least. It's crucial that we find him as soon as possible." Her voice softened, trying to convey both urgency and compassion.
Nancy's eyes swam with unshed tears, and her hands wrung together anxiously. "But... where do we even start? What can I do to help you?"
Morgan could see the fierce determination beneath the fear and uncertainty in Nancy's eyes. She knew that despite her own pain, this mother would do everything in her power to help them find the truth.
"Any information you can provide about Adam's habits, places he frequents, or people he might turn to for support would be invaluable," Morgan explained gently. "We need to get inside his mind and anticipate his next move before it's too late."
Nancy sighed, her gaze drifting towards the hallway as she spoke. "I have no idea where he could be if he's not at his home. He has no friends that I know of, and no job." She shook her head, her voice wavering. "I don't even know what he does with his time. But he's harmless, a quiet boy. I raised him alone after his father died when he was young. I love him very much, so much that I've kept his childhood bedroom intact."
Morgan noticed the way Nancy's eyes lingered on the hallway, a mixture of nostalgia and fear swimming in their depths. She couldn't help but wonder what secrets might lie within that untouched room. "Do you mind if we take a look at his bedroom?" she asked gently.
Nancy hesitated for a moment before nodding reluctantly. "Of course... Come with me." Her voice was barely audible, a whispered acquiescence as she led the way down the dimly lit hall.
As they entered the small room, Morgan's eyes were immediately drawn to the walls, which were adorned with photographs of birds in flight, their majestic wings spread wide. The room seemed frozen in time, a shrine to a childhood fascination that had never faded. A bookshelf stood in one corner, filled with well-worn volumes about birdwatching and field guides to avian species. Feathers were carefully arranged in shadow boxes, each one labeled with the name of the bird from which it came.
"Adam always loved birds," Nancy murmured, her eyes misting over as she took in the familiar surroundings. "He spent hours outside just watching them, learning their habits and calls. I never thought... I never imagined it would lead to something like this."
Morgan's fingers traced the spine of one of the books, her own thoughts a storm of questions and theories. What had driven Adam to this darkness? Was there a connection between his childhood passion and the monstrous acts he now stood accused of? And how could they use this information to find him before it was too late?
Morgan's eyes were drawn to a specific poster on the wall, faded with age but still bold enough to catch her attention. It advertised an open day at a wildlife center, and judging by the date printed in the corner, it had been years ago. Her gaze lingered on it, feeling a sudden chill run down her spine.
