Page 2 of Outrun The Devil
Olivia stood over the casket, staring at the face that was her partner. She barely registered that her captain came up beside her. Captain Mike Colson had always been a guiding light in her career.
Mike placed a gentle hand on Olivia's shoulder, offering a small measure of comfort. His voice was filled with empathy as he spoke.
“Olivia, I know you're carrying the weight of this on your shoulders, but ya can’t beat yourself up. It could have happened to anyone.”
Olivia's eyes welled up with tears as the guilt consumed her but she shoved it back into the depths. Letting guilt consume her felt like the easy way out. Punishment, that’s what she deserved. Olivia fully intended to turn in her gun and badge.
“But it didn’t happen to anyone. It happened to me, to Tim.” She shook her head.
Mike's expression softened, his voice held a depth to it, a quiet power that came from his soul. It is a voice that can deliver difficult truths with compassion and understanding.
“Tim knew the risks when he joined the force, just as you do. We all face dangers every day. Sometimes, despite our best efforts, tragedy strikes.”
The weight of her guilt threatened to crush Olivia's spirit. Her voice choked with emotion as she responded.
“But I let him down, Mike. He trusted me, and now he's gone. His wife and his family are left without him because of me.”
Mike's grip on her shoulder tightened, offering both support and understanding.
“Olivia, you're an exceptional detective. But even the best can't control every outcome. We rely on each other, but we also have to accept the things that are beyond our control.”
Olivia's tear-filled eyes locked with Mike's, seeking solace and reassurance.
In a barely audible whisper, she confessed her burden.
“I can't shake this feeling of responsibility. Tim had so much to live for, and now...”
Mike's voice carried a note of strength and conviction as he interrupted her self-blame.
“You're not alone in this, Olivia. We're all here for you. Tim knew the risks, and he trusted you as his partner. Don't let guilt consume you.”
Taking a deep breath, Olivia fought to steady herself amidst the overwhelming grief. She wanted to escape those feelings, but they’d become part of her now. Instead of eschewing her visions, Olivia decided to fully embrace them, understand them, and control them. She knew the value her unique ability held as a force for good, and they could aid her in seeking out truth and justice. If she could control it, she could make some meaning from the tragedy. Though an arduous journey filled with inner turmoil and conflict, it would help her find closure and peace.
Days turned into weeks as Olivia retreated deeper into herself, unable to accept what happened. She wrapped herself in her gift - which felt more like a curse, exploring every crevice for understanding and redemption. She poured through obscure books on mysticism, spoke to psychics and mediums alike. Anything to find some semblance of solace.
Olivia had never fully trusted her visions and intuition, but the more she studied them, the more she was confronted with their complexity.
The fleeting premonitions gave ambiguous glimpses of the future that could be interpreted in many ways, and she knew all too well how easily she might misinterpret them. A wave of guilt washed over her every time she remembered Tim's death, an outcome she could have avoided if only she'd listened to her doubts.
Chapter One
The metallic smell of blood filled her nostrils, and she could taste the coppery tang on her tongue. Officers and forensic techs stood crowded around the room, silently surveying the damage of this tragedy. Detective Olivia Collins ignored them. She had to. The visions weren’t something she could control and they didn’t show up all the time. But it always required her to focus. Focus so she could hear the untold story of the dead body before her, the victim still had a voice even if no one could hear it.
Collins believed that even in death, a body held the story of a life once lived, and it was her job to listen carefully and piece together every detail, no matter how small, to bring justice to the victim. As she surveyed the room, the familiar sense of sorrow weighed heavily on her shoulders.
Long ago when she had been a rookie detective, she had been exposed to violent crime too early in her career and been numbed by the senselessness of so many deaths.
It had taken her years to shake off what had happened and feel again. Now as an experienced detective, she was able to enter a scene with a clear mind and focus on the task at hand: bringing justice to the victim.
Wallis Mayer's story was just one thread in the intricate tapestry of Olivia Collins's career, a testament to her unwavering commitment to uncovering the untold stories of those she encountered. It was what she did best, and she wouldn't stop until every story found its voice and every truth was laid bare.
The scorching Arizona summer intensified the already potent smells, adding an extra layer of discomfort to the atmosphere. The heavy air carried the sharp scent of dried desert plants, mingling with the stale odor of concrete and asphalt. It was as if the heat had magnified every aroma, making them more pronounced and invasive. The sweat that dripped down her face reminded her that it didn’t matter how much deodorant she put on, body odor with this heat went hand in hand.
Olivia found herself inhaling shallow breaths, trying to minimize her exposure to the overwhelming olfactory assault. Sweat trickled down her forehead, adding its distinct tang to the mixture of scents. She longed for a cool breeze or even a hint of rain to cleanse the air and offer some respite from the stifling summer heat.
No matter how many lifeless bodies Olivia had encountered throughout her career as a detective, the putrid stench of death remained just as nauseating as the first time.
Each time she approached a crime scene, her senses were assaulted by the sickly-sweet odor of decay, the unmistakable sign that someone's life had been abruptly extinguished.