Page 12 of Outrun The Devil
“Say, isn’t Jessica shadowing today?” Mike smirked, changing the subject was one of his specialties. But he knew her weakness: her daughter. The redhead returned his smirk.
Her smirk softened into a smile as Olivia thought about Jessica's upcoming opportunity in the forensics lab. It was a proud moment for her, seeing her daughter follow in her footsteps, albeit in a slightly less morbid way. The thought of Jessica's enthusiasm brought warmth to her heart.
“Yeah, she's been showing an interest in forensic science for a while now,” Olivia replied, a mix of pride and fondness in her voice. “I suppose it runs in the family. Just glad she's exploring her passion in a safer environment.”
“She’ll do great.”
Olivia nodded in agreement, a sense of pride welling up within her. She had always believed in her daughter's abilities, knowing that Jessica was intelligent and capable of great things. There was no doubt in her mind that Jessica would excel in the forensics lab.
“Anyways, I’ll head out now.” She left his office with a fire burning. It would seem the detective would just have to get rid of this partner like she did every other one. And in doing so, she’ll prove by solving the case alone that that’s exactly how Olivia wanted the rest of her career to be: alone.
But first, she needed to tackle Tolleson and all its painful reminders. Olivia couldn't ignore the timing of the case being assigned to her and the resurgence of her nightmares. The memories from the past threatened to haunt her, their tendrils creeping into her thoughts and dreams.
The mention of Tolleson brought forth a flood of emotions, memories of a case that had shaken her to the core. It was a dark part of her life, one that had left scars on her psyche. The nightmares had become a constant companion, a cruel reminder of the horrors she had endured.
Taking a deep breath, Olivia steeled herself for what lay ahead. She would not let the nightmares dictate her actions. And she would not let Tolleson consume her.
Chapter Four
The sun beat down mercilessly as Olivia drove towards Tolleson, a small town just outside of Phoenix. She cranked up the air conditioner, trying to alleviate the oppressive heat.
The saguaro cacti and rocky formations stretched out on either side of the road, baking under the relentless sun. Olivia felt the same way, her skin sticky with sweat, and she longed for relief.
Leaving Phoenix should have been a nice reprieve from the bustling city of Phoenix. And it would have been if Tolleson hadn’t been the very town she was held captive a year ago.
Olivia's vision blurred before finally coming into focus as she fought against the consuming darkness, her mind a muddled chaos. The pungent odor of rotting wood invaded her senses, as thick ropes painfully constricted her limbs like vice-grips.
Adrenaline spiked through her veins and her heart thudded wildly within her chest, each beat pulsing in her eardrums like a death rattle. A chill crawled up from the cold ground, freezing her bones to the marrow with frigid daggers.
Desperate to move, she tugged at her wrist and ankles, which felt like they had been trapped by the strength of the rope. Fear flooded her body as the realization that she was a captive set in. Panic squeezed her chest tight and tears stung her eyes. The last twelve hours were a blur of terror that had left her unable to make sense of anything beyond her current reality—she had been taken from her home and family by an unknown abductor.
Terror ripped through Olivia's body in an uncontrollable shiver as the rope dug into her wrists, burning where they rubbed. Tears streamed down her face, blurring her vision as she desperately thought of Jessica, her daughter, who may never know what happened to her mother. The thought caused crippling anguish to surge through her veins, threatening to tear away at any ounce of hope that remained inside.
Struggling against the ropes only caused more pain, until Olivia felt completely helpless and alone with no way out. Time seemed to pass in slow motion, with Olivia feeling the weight of impending dread settle into her bones.
The sound of footsteps outside the cabin door brought a newfound sense of hope, yet before she could scream for help, a thick bandana gagged her mouth and restrained her voice.
The door creaked open, and all hope was snuffed out like a flame in the darkness as Olivia saw the face of her captor. All sense of security evaporated in an instant, leaving her powerless and at his mercy.
She glared at the man, a deep rage boiling within her, but it quickly dissipated as she noticed the malicious glint in his eyes. He was a devilish-looking man, with an unkempt beard and a crooked nose. His dark attire, which consisted of a black hoodie and jeans, blended into the shadows as he crossed the room and stood before her, his breath hot on her face. Olivia averted her eyes, unable to hold his piercing gaze.
“You know why you're here, don't you?” he asked, his voice cold and menacing. Olivia's heart raced as she struggled to put together the pieces of her abduction, but nothing made sense.
“Tsk, tsk, tsk,” he said, shaking his head in feigned disappointment. “You really don't know, do you?”
Olivia shook her head, and the man chuckled. “It's simple,” he continued. “I need something from you.”
He reached into his pocket and pulled out a small, silver key. Olivia's heart skipped a beat as she realized what he was talking about. The man must have mistaken her for someone else, someone with valuable information or possessions.
“Where is it?” he demanded, holding the key up for her to see.
Olivia shuddered, her mind racing as she tried to come up with a response. She had no idea what he was talking about, but if she didn't give him what he wanted, who knew what he was capable of doing to her?
“I don't know what you're talking about,” she said, her voice shaky and weak.
The man's face twisted into a scowl, and he stepped closer to her, his hand reaching out to grab her chin. Olivia recoiled, trying to pull away from his touch, but the ropes held her firmly in place.
“Don't lie to me,” he growled and shoved her, her head hitting the floor hard.