Cat Morgan FBI Read online

  CAT MORGAN FBI

  by

  CHAPTER 1

  It's midnight, Friday. Half asleep, Charlene answers a phone call. "Agent Morgan. This better be important."

  Charlene is thirty-two years old, a new graduate of the FBI — after five long, crazy, dirty years as a police officer in Fort Myers, Florida. At five-feet-nothing-inches tall, she's got dark curly locks halfway down her back, big, wide eyes, blue like the ocean, and a hard-knocks, tough love attitude.

  "Cat, sweetie,” her mother Darlene says, sobbing, "I have terrible news."

  In a trembling voice she replies, “Mom, what’s wrong? Is it Dad?"

  "No sweetheart, it's Willow. She's dead."

  Charlene begins quivering. Tears fall down her face. She screams out, "Willow? No. Willow?" Her closest friend. Charlene's known Willow longer than anybody.

  "Sweetie,” Darlene tries to comfort her. “Try to calm down, baby. Mommy is here for you."

  Charlene shouts back, "I can’t calm down, Mom."

  [Darlene continues comforting her daughter.] {Show a little more to lead into summary}

  Charlene gathers herself, drying her eyes, breathing slower. “I'll be on a plane back home first thing in the morning."

  She hangs up with her mom. Calls her boss Sam Black, head of Fort Myers FBI. Along with two other agents, Violet Lewis and Jenna Sanders, Sam calls in a favor to get Charlene home.

  Charlene can't sleep. She tosses and turns, She gets up, paces her bedroom, thinking of the last time she saw Willow. It was only a year ago. June, 2015. One year. Her last visit home.

  *

  Charlene finds herself on a plane, heading back home to Erie, Michigan, a small farming town near Monroe, a nearly three-hour flight, managing a little sleep.

  Her Mother Darlene is sixty-two with salt and pepper hair, a warm smile, blue eyes, a slender build. Waiting for her.

  Charlene walks swiftly towards over. Gives her mom a big hug.

  "My baby girl.” They hold each other tight. “Good to see you.”

  Charlene’s lips begin puckering, her eyes leaking tears. “Why her momma? Why?"

  In a very soothing tone, her mother replies, “Sweetie, I don't know. I'm counting on you to find out. To find whoever did this. To help Willow be at peace."

  They stood there a few moments, before piling into a blue SUV. Darlene drove all of them to the huge family farm in Erie, Michigan.

  Pulling into the long driveway, there was a huge two-story farmhouse, white with huge double doors, and a wrap-around front porch with porch swing.

  Charlene’s eyes scanned the living room. Her 6 ft. tall father Kenneth and sister Sara were waiting for her.

  Charlene greeted and hugged her father first, then her sister Sara.

  She introduced everyone. “Dad, this is Violet, and Jenna. They are my friends, here to help me with the case."

  Sara was so excited to see Charlene.

  “Glad you’re home Sissy, sorry about Willow." They hugged a few moments while Kenneth and Darlene gave Violet and Jenna the tour.

  Charlene was getting exhausted. "Mind if I get a few hours sleep?"

  Darlene smiled. "Go on sweetie, I will prepare lunch, your favorite homemade Pierogies."

  A huge smile came upon Charlene’s face. "You are the best Mom, thank you."

  Jenna was a bubbly red head, a few years younger than Charlene, and Violet had long black hair and blue eyes.

  “Nice home you have here Charlene, nice folks." Charlene gave thanks. Violet added her two cents. "Time for shuteye ladies, we have to get some justice, and we have a case to solve."

  There were 3 beds set up in two bedrooms. The other two girls shared the one with two beds, and Charlene took her childhood room, falling asleep for 4 hours of much needed sleep.

  Charlene, Violet, and Jenna headed downstairs to a meal of Pierogies and kielbasa on the table.

  After partaking in a good home cooked meal, they said their goodbyes. It was off to the scene of the crime.

  Willow’s home was just down the road.

  Charlene was anxious, her heart beating rapidly. They made their approach, going through the police tape. Blood was soaking into the carpet. Charlene’s eyes opened wide with dread.

  Her best friend Willow, murdered in cold blood. She said firmly, “Be careful, this is my best friend, I want you to treat this scene like you would for family, understood?"

  Violet and Jenna swallowed hard, showing empathy. “We know, Cat."

  They took their time combing over every room, giving it special attention. Nothing but a note scribbled and half burned.

  All it said was, "If you find this, look at B." The rest, burned.

  Charlene was in shock, and angry. " Ok, girl, who the hell is B?"

  Violet called from the bedroom. “Taking her laptop so we can go through her files and social media sites."

  Charlene nodded. "Thank you."

  "We should go, I need to see her body,” Charlene said, choking up in tears. "I can’t."

  Jenna looked at Charlene with sympathy in her eyes.

  “We got this, Cat,” they said as they placed their hands on her shoulder.

  They left, driving to the Detroit Medical Examiner’s Office.

  Charlene took the job of looking through Willow’s computer. Six hours later, after trying endless possibilities of recover and reboot, nothing. The system wiped clean. Charlene called her buddy, Meagan. She was a computer geek. Meagan came over to Charlene’s after hearing.

  She was tall blonde haired, dark brown hair, with streaks of pink.

  Glasses, and somewhat curvy.

  Charlene greeted her with warmness. “Thank you Meagan, I know if anyone can make this work, it is you."

  “I will try,” Meagan replied.

  She took the laptop and worked on it for two hours non stop.

  Meagan looked at Charlene and gave an “I give up” look. " Sorry, whoever cleaned this knew what they were doing. Sorry Cat."

  Charlene hugged Meagan and said, "Thanks Megs."

  Meagan shrugged. "Call if you need anything else."

  Meagan left, and shortly after Violet and Jenna returned. Charlene was eager to know, yet scared to know. Jenna and Violet sat around the dining table, Coroner’s Report in hand.

  Sara made a pot of tea. "You girls want some tea, or a cold beverage?"

  Charlene was grateful. "Yes, we need caffeine, Vi and Jen want a beer,” Violet answered.

  "Coke if you have it”, and “I will take that beer.” Sara poured each of them a beverage.

  " Um, is it ok if I sit?"

  Charlene chuckled. "Yeah, we could use fresh eyes."

  Sara sat with them as they all took a look at the report.

  From the report, Charlene saw that her friend Willow’s throat was cut in one clean cut, and postmortem, she was raped, the rapist leaving no evidence of semen.

  Charlene looked at Violet. "This son of a bitch left no evidence."

  "I know. Whoever he is, he is good,” she said, pounding her fist on the table.

  “We will catch him; I owe it to my friend." She said in a reassuring and angry voice. "You know we will, Cat."

  Violet asked, "What do we do Cat? This is your home town.”

  Charlene gave a look of frustration. She said, voice raised, "I am going to leave no stone unturned, we will go question everyone, friend or foe."

  “Got it Cat." Charlene looked at Sara, eyebrows raised.

  "We are going to The Digger," meaning The Clam Digger, a bar and grill down on the water front.

  Monroe was on the River Raisin and Lake Erie. The bars on the river were the place to be for anyone under 40.

  Charlene drove them 15 minutes down to the river front area. They walk
ed into the meat market type bar and saw every young person looking for one night stands.

  Charlene walked to the kitchen, since she knew the owners Steve and Jeff. There stood a man about 5 ft. 6in., a scrawny guy with a crazy look.

  “Look what the Cat dragged in," he said, giving a chuckle.

  “Hey there Stevie, you know why I am here." He hugged his friend and looked at her with sadness on his face.

  "I know," he said sighing. "She was just in here two days ago, and left with Brandon."

  Charlene gulped, thinking this could be the guy.

  “You know I got to ask questions."

  Steve sighed. “You know I hate cops, but she is our friend."

  Cat looked at him and said, “Still looking good."

  "Thanks Cat."

  Charlene sat down at the bar and introduced Jeff and Steve to Violet and Jenna. They had one drink and chatted like old times.

  About an hour later they found Brandon, the guy last seen with Willow. Cat approached him as an old friend.

  “Hey Brandon, remember me?"

  He was acting nervous and appeared high. "Yeah, you're Willow's girl."

  She was trying her best to stay cool. "Yep." A pause.

  "Hey listen, you were the last one to see her."

  He kept shifting his eyes, real fidgety. “Yeah why? Hey, I got to go."

  He sprinted off fast. Charlene, Violet, and Jenna began giving chase down the dark alley. He was fast and ducked behind a dumpster.

  They finally caught up. He pulled a gun on them.

  "I don’t want any problems; you act like you never seen me. "

  Charlene was panicking. "Chill Brandon, we just wanna talk, ok?"

  Jenna looked at Violet. They gave each other a nod and pulled their guns.

  “On the ground, clown."

  He dropped his gun knowing he was out numbered. Violet read him his Miranda Rights.

  Charlene said to him with a smug look on her face, “Now you’re under arrest." He rolled his eyes, tried to struggle.

  Charlene said, with her no nonsense attitude, “Go ahead keep struggling, you're making it worse."

  She gave an evil chuckle. Jenna called the police and had them come pick him up. Moments later Brandon was in s Monroe County Sheriff’s car. The officer drove to the downtown police station while they followed.

  Charlene filled in Officer Gabe. “He was last seen with Willow Green.”

  “Thank you Agent Morgan."

  She asked, “Can I have a crack at him?"

  He looked at her and held her gaze. “You know you are close to the case, and that is a no no."

  She gave her sad pout. "Please."

  “Oh go ahead. Tell no one."

  CHAPTER 2

  She, Violet and Jenna walked in the room. Brandon was handcuffed to the table.

  "Just tell me where you were the night Willow was murdered."

  She looked at him, with cold eyes.

  He answered, “Lawyer."

  Charlene was instantly pissed off. "If you done anything to my best friend you will never see the light of day, " she said, slamming her hand against the table.

  She, Jenna and Violet kept asking him over and over, "What did you do to Willow?"

  He kept rolling his eyes and laughing evilly. “You can’t make me talk bitch,” he said smugly.

  The lawyer showed up.

  “My client will not say another word."

  They grew frustrated and said, "He killed my friend."

  The lawyer replied sternly with his eyebrow furrowed, “Sorry, I do not care if you are an agent, no dice got it.”

  They left so pissed off. "Damn it,” Charlene let out a scream of tension.

  Jenna and Violet tried to comfort her, "We will get him Cat."

  She sighed. "I know."

  They left and drove back to Charlene’s farmhouse, calling it a night.

  All rose early ready to go to the courthouse. Darlene had made eggs, bacon, biscuits and gravy.

  Greeting with warm smile, she said, “Good morning ladies, you all need to eat before heading out."

  Charlene gave a sigh. "Mom we are not two."

  Looking sternly tapping her feet, she then said, "Ok mom, you win today."

  They sat down and ate their delicious home cooked meals.

  Off they went, and to the courthouse they arrived. To their dismay, Brandon was let go, and Charlene was fuming mad. “How did they let him go?!"

  "Damn it," Jenna chimed in. “Back at square one."

  Storming out of the jailhouse, she said, “This is bull."

  2 days later, they all attended Willow’s funeral.

  Charlene stood by her friend’s casket and said, “I swear baby girl, I will find who did this." More tears rolled down her cheek.

  Charlene, Violet, and Jenna left and made the drive to the farmhouse.

  Their phone rang. Jenna answered as Charlene was driving.

  " Hello officer James."

  He told her that Brandon was found overdosed.

  "Ok, thank you officer James."

  "What happened Jenna?"

  "Your guy, Brandon, overdosed."

  Charlene pursed her lips. "Justice was served, we can go home."

  All felt a sense of relief.

  Arriving back at the farmhouse, they began packing up when another phone call came in. Another woman was found. In the same way.

  Jenna said to them, “We got another victim."

  “Damn. We will catch this S.O.B.," Violet said with a gleam in her eye.

  She loved police work. They rushed out the door.

  The house of the latest victim was three blocks away this time.

  Arriving, they walked in and saw the victim, throat cut in one fluid cut.

  She was dark haired, and the same age as Willow - 32. Her name was Kate. She was also from their high school.

  “I know her, she used to go to school with us. A cheerleader, Kate."

  Charlene swiftly announces, "Girls, I need a highschool year book, whomever is doing this could be from our highschool."

  Jenna looking surprised. "You really think some geek, from this town, Is a murderer!" Cat looking at Jenna lips curled in a snarl. "Well, its not a ghost Jen." Jenna apologizes. "You're right Cat. One 2000 Erie High yearbook coming up." Violet looks over the scene. "Sooner or later they always slip up, call your computer whiz friend."

  After hours of looking for evidence. They took a ride to the Erie highschool. and retrieved a couple of yearbooks from the archives.

  And back to the farmhouse to look over the yearbooks.

  Walking into the house yearbooks in hand. Sara was home in the kitchen.

  " Why do you have yearbooks cat?" Cat looking at her sister. " I think it is someone from our old highschool, The latest victim was Kate."

  Sara held her hand over her mouth in disbelief. " OH holy shit cat."

  " You are only two years ahead of me sara,make us tea and help."

  Sara put on a kettle of tea, getting jenna a beer, and violet a coke.

  Sitting around the table thumbing through page by page.

  Paying attention to all names with B. Cat focused in on Bryan Hall.

  " Hey Sara, Remember Bryan Hall? " Sara chuckled. " Yeah he is gay now." And she chuckled again. Flashing a stern look." What,s So funny." "Nothing " pause . " I knew he was in the closet,He is still at his old house." Cats eyes got wide as her smile. " I think it is time to see how the old boy is doing."

  Leaving quickly . They drove the 5 blocks over to his house.

  Cat knocked on the door. a tall blonde with pink fishnet top and daisy duke shorts answered. He knew it was charlene immeadiately. " Hello girl, good to see you." " Hey bryan." Bryan invited charlene in.

  "So what brings you by doll." Looking at him with a frown." You heard about Willow, Now Kate." He was in shock began crying. " Oh,crap what the hell is happening." Cat hugged her one time boyfriend. " You never left Erie, Do you know anything about who t
he hell is killing our friends bry." He paused and collected himself.

  " Have you heard that Bobby Mead, Is now Barbara." Cat clearing her throat. In a shocking. "What,are you screwing with me,Damn "

  Shaking his head no. " No Cat, you are the one person I do lie to."

  " Is that all you know Bry." he looked at her like a deer in headlights.

  " Um, pause Um ,He was in jail for five years for killing some animals." Cat suddenly had a lump in her throat, She gasped. " They start out hurting animals, Thanks Bry, " She hugged her friend. and thanked him for the info. inviting him for some pizza later in the week.

  She got in the car driving back to her mom.s house.

  Sara waiting up. " Details." " Remember Bobby Mead, He is changed into Barbara." Sara gasped. " What, your messing with me,He was so manly always trying to work out."

  looking at sara in disbelief." I know right." "get this Vi, Jen, He has a record for killing animals. " That is how most serial killers start."

  " We gotta look into his past Cat."

  They sit up late looking over his record and cross refrencing him

  with both victims. and double checking into the whole class of 2000.

  All their criminal past even stuff that was esponged.

  All things leading to Bobby, and one other girl her name was Kendra Mead,Bobby,s sister. She had been molested by her father and uncle Ronald. both men in prision.

  They decided to call it a night and go to the police station first thing in the morning.

  Getting a early morning start . Cat put on the coffee, made her famous french toast. Sara woke smelling the french toast wafting in the air. " Morning sissy, it is nice having you home." Cat smiled.

  " It is good to be here, Wish it was under better circumstances. "

  " Yeah me too." Sharing a quiet moment together. before everyone

  Began filling the kitchen. After breakfast and a few pleasntries exchanged Cat, Vi and Jen Off to the Monroe police station.

  Meeting again with officer James. He took them into a confrence

  Room. Officer James addressed them. " Now since we have a new twist on the case,You and your team are to take the lead, I allready spoke with Agent Sam Black." Cat was exited to take the lead on the case. " Thank you Officer James, We will give The Monroe police department our best." Jenna added." We are looking at a one Bobby Mead, now goes by Barbara, and His sister Kendra."