22

Morgan had just woken up from a morning nap when her phone buzzed with Karadec's name lighting up the screen.

She answered on the second ring, holding it between her cheek and shoulder as she wiped formula off the counter.

"Karadec? Everything okay?"

He already arrived at the precinct, settling his bag on his swivel chair.

"Yeah," came his voice, surprisingly warm, relaxed even. "Boss said you can take the day off."

Morgan blinked, caught off guard. "Wait... seriously?"

"We're not needed at the field office today. The workload's light enough that Soto said the bullpen can handle it without you for once." A short pause. "So we all agreed you earned a break."

She leaned against the counter, still clutching the towel. "Is this about yesterday?"

"You cracked open a theory the Bureau's been chewing on for months, Morgan," Karadec said. "You deserve some air."

For a moment, her throat tightened.

She wasn't used to being offered rest, let alone appreciated so plainly. "That's... really sweet. Of all of you."

Karadec hesitated. She could almost picture him shifting awkwardly, probably running a hand through his hair.

"Don't get used to it."

"Too late," she teased gently. "You sure you don't want me to stick around and micromanage guys in suits?"

"We'll be fine," he assured her. "Do anything you want today. Spend time with your kids. That's an order."

"I would, but I'm only with Ava and Elliot. Ludo took Chloe with him for some baby-stuff errands. He knew I was supposed to work today, so he handled the morning shift."

"Then take the other two somewhere fun," Karadec said. "Go full mom mode."

Morgan smiled into the phone. "Thanks, Karadec. Really."

"Hope you have a good day," he replied, almost too quickly.

"You too."

She hung up, a little stunned by the lightness blooming in her chest.

—

Morgan woke up with Ludo and Chloe already gone from the house. Ludo had taken Chloe for some important baby stuff, knowing she had work that day and wanting to give her one less thing to worry about.

An hour later, Morgan found herself standing outside the gates of a massive amusement park, holding the hands of a giggling ten-year-old and an already-over-it fifteen-year-old.

Ava tugged her toward a shopping strip that sold cropped tops and lip gloss in a dizzying range of glitter. "Come on, Mom. This one's literally so cute, and it's on sale. Kinda."

Morgan laughed and let herself be dragged from window to window, pretending to weigh in seriously on every trendy item Ava pointed out.

Meanwhile, Elliot practically levitated at the sight of "MindLand," a science-themed corner of the park with working robotics, math puzzles, and a mini observatory. "Mom! They have Newton's cradle and a hologram table! This place is insane!"

Morgan beamed, watching him go full genius-mode on a poor tour guide who hadn't expected a ten-year-old to quote Isaac Asimov.

By noon, she let herself melt into a plush salon chair in the park's "Wellness Wing," getting her layers trimmed and nails shaped while listening to her kids giggle and mock each other behind a curtain.

"I forgot what it feels like to have silence and pretty nails," Morgan told the stylist, smiling faintly.

It was the first time in months that she didn't feel like she was holding her entire life together with duct tape.

By 1:30, they found a sunny bench near a taco stand, paper plates stacked with softshell tacos, nachos, and every dipping sauce available. Morgan snapped a blurry picture as Ava flipped her hair like she was in a shampoo commercial, and Elliot accidentally sneezed into his salsa.

"Okay, I just need to run to the restroom," Morgan said, laughing. "Stay right here, alright? I'll be quick."

"We got it, Mom," Ava muttered, already scrolling through the park map on her phone.

Elliot raised his wrist like a game show host. "Timing you... now!"

Morgan jogged toward the nearest restroom, still smiling.

—

When she returned five minutes later, the bench was empty.

She blinked. Her smile faltered as she scanned the immediate area.

Maybe they saw something and walked a few steps?

She turned in place, calling casually, "Ava? Elliot?"

No response.

She checked her phone. No notifications.

Morgan's stomach tensed slightly. Still calm, she walked a few more feet in each direction, calling their names again.

Still no answer.

She texted Ava—"Where are you? I told you to stay put."

No reply.

Then Elliot—"Buddy? Answer Mama please."

Nothing. Her heart rate started to climb.

She called Elliot. It rang. No answer.

Ava's line went straight to voicemail.

Her heart pounded harder. The ringing in her ears grew louder. She started weaving through crowds, checking between strollers and food carts.

"Excuse me," she asked a popcorn vendor breathlessly. "Have you seen two kids, teen girl, ten-year-old boy? Sitting here maybe five minutes ago?"

The vendor shook their head apologetically. "No, sorry."

She tried again. And again.

Minutes slipped by. Then ten. Then fifteen.

She circled back to the bench and climbed onto it, scanning the park frantically.

Nothing.

She dialed again. Still no answers. No location pings. No signal.

Panic closed in like a vice. Her hands trembled as she finally called the only person she could think of who'd understand what this felt like and do something immediately.

Karadec picked up halfway through the first ring. "Hey. You enjoying—"

"Karadec—" Her voice cracked as her throat closed up.

She couldn't get the words out. She sounded breathless. Choked.

He instantly straightened in his chair. "Morgan? What's wrong?"

"I—I can't find them. Ava and Elliot. I left them for five minutes. They're not here. They're not answering. They're just gone."

Karadec's stomach dropped. "Where are you?"

"The park. We were just sitting down to eat—I told them not to move—" her voice broke again.

"Okay. Stay where you are," he said urgently. "We're coming. I'm telling Soto now."

"But what if—what if someone took them?" she whispered, barely able to say the words.

"Stay calm, okay? Just stay visible. I'm coming to you, Morgan. Right now."

He hung up before she could respond.

By the time Karadec and the Major Crimes team arrived twenty minutes later, Morgan was standing exactly where he told her to stay—beside the taco stand, hands clasped, eyes wide with tears and terror.

Her face was pale, and she looked like she hadn't taken a breath since they spoke.

He saw her immediately and ran. Soto and Daphne were right behind him.

"Morgan!" Karadec called.

She turned toward the voice, and the instant she saw him, something inside her collapsed. She burst into tears and dropped to her knees.

Karadec sprinted forward, dropped to his knees, and held her hand like a lifeline.

"Hey. It's okay. I'm here. We're gonna find them."

"I—" she tried to speak. "They were right here. I only stepped away for a second."

Soto crouched beside her. "Morgan, listen to me. We're going to find them. But we need you to breathe."

She nodded frantically, taking a ragged inhale.

Karadec helped her to her feet. "You did everything right. We're going to move fast."

Soto stood and turned to the team. "Daphne, start canvassing. Grab park security. Get surveillance footage now. Oz, pull cell pings from Ava's and Elliot's phones. If this isn't resolved in thirty, we escalate to the FBI."

Karadec joined in, already tapping into the park's security comms. "We'll flood this place if we have to."

Morgan stood frozen for a second, watching the blur of agents swarm into motion, until Karadec turned to her again.

"Just stay with me. Okay?" he said, his voice softer now.

Morgan couldn't speak. She simply nodded, her lips trembling as she followed him.