Page 22 of Outrun The Devil
Olivia and Nathan shuffled into the victim's home with leaden hearts. The air hung heavy with sorrow - every inch of the space seemed to scream out in agony as if mourning the loss of what had been stolen so brutally. Olivia's gut twisted with heartbreak as she absorbed each photo that lined the walls and mantel, unable to shake off the haunting feeling that her daughter could be next.
A part of her longed to turn tail and flee from the scene - from all the pain and tragedy it represented. But she knew she could not run from this. The ghosts of the lost demanded closure, answers for who had done this, and why. She felt a deep obligation to them, almost as if they were family.
As her eyes shifted upwards towards the victim's parents, she saw their hollow shells of selves: eyes red and swollen from endless days and nights spent in inconsolable weeping. They embodied a sadness so profound that it had taken on a life of its own, infecting everything within reach like an invisible plague.
“I'm so sorry for your loss,” Olivia said, her voice wavering with emotion. She hesitated before continuing. “We know this is a difficult time for you, but we need to ask you some questions if that's okay?”
The victim's mother nodded tearfully, her eyes red-rimmed and puffy. Nathan placed an arm around her shoulders in support as she spoke. “Anything you need, please ask.”
Olivia retrieved her notebook and pen from her bag, feeling a strong sense of dread creeping up on her. She knew that the questions she had to ask would cause the family more pain, but it was necessary for the case. “Can you tell us a bit about your daughter?”
The mother smiled through her tears. “She was an amazing young woman. So kind-hearted and smart. She was studying to become a doctor, you know.”
Olivia could hear the pride in her voice, even as she wrote down what they said. But then she had to ask the difficult questions. “Do you know if she had any enemies or anyone who might want to harm her?”
The victim's father shook his head sadly.
“No, she was always so focused on her studies. We never heard her talk about anyone who might want to hurt her.”
Olivia felt a heavy weight settle in the pit of her stomach as reality sunk in for the couple. With a lump in her throat, she asked one more question: “Did she have a boyfriend or any close friends who might know more about her personal life?”
The victim's mother hesitated for a moment before answering, new tears forming in her eyes. “She did have a boyfriend, but they had broken up a few weeks ago. It was hard on her, but she didn't seem overly upset about it. As for friends, she had a few close ones from college, but we don't know much about them.”
Olivia wrote down everything in her notebook. “Thank you for your time, we will be in touch if we have any more questions.”
Olivia and Nathan trudged back to the car in a veil of despair, the truth of the situation hitting them like a ton of bricks. Another young life had been lost far too soon, and they were no closer to solving the case than they had been an hour ago. Olivia looked over at Nathan, seeing so much of herself in him, and she wondered if she was brave enough or driven enough to fight for justice when she was his age.
As they pulled out of the drive, Olivia’s mind wandered back to the complete lack of visions at the crime scene. She’d expected to at least get a glimpse of the victim when speaking with her parents, but the silence persisted.
But there was still work to do, and Olivia steeled herself with determination and vowed to find the killer and bring them to justice.
Next, it was time to check out school friends.
The drive into Phoenix was just as quiet as the drive to the victim’s home. Nathan, trying to break the tension, made small talk to engage Olivia in conversation.
However, she remained resolute, offering no more than curt responses and closed-off body language.
The atmosphere inside the vehicle became a reflection of their strained relationship, with unspoken words hanging heavily in the air. It was clear that Olivia had built an impenetrable wall around herself, unwilling to grant Nathan even the smallest opening.
Her thoughts incessantly gravitated towards the heated thoughts she had last night, the intensity that had caused a telltale blush to creep across her cheeks. Aware of the dangerous territory her mind was venturing into, Olivia couldn't deny the allure and temptation that threatened to consume her. She knew all too well that if she allowed herself to indulge in further fantasies, it would undoubtedly lead to trouble. The line between desire and professionalism blurred, and Olivia was acutely aware of the consequences that lay in wait if she surrendered to those enticing thoughts.
Olivia pulled into a parking spot across from the administration building at Arizona State. All Olivia could think about was her daughter. It was the campus that Jessica attended. If someone from here was capable of murders that brutal then it was time for Jessica to switch schools.
The few students were out on the lawn in front of the student center, hanging out and enjoying a hot afternoon. A loud boom echoed from one of the basketball courts to the north, followed by a chorus of cheers. Olivia and Nathan made their way across the grass, where several players took a water break. As their conversation died off, all eyes turned toward them.
One of the girls spoke up with concern, “Are you here about Claire?”
Olivia responded, “Yes. We need to talk to anyone who knew her.”
“I can take you to her room,” said another girl. “I'm not sure that we'll find anything useful, though.”
Nathan asked, “Did she ever mention any friends or enemies that might have wanted to do this?” The question churned in their minds as they waited for an answer.
Sarah nodded, “I think it was some guy from her math class. I remember her mentioning his name, but I can't remember what it was.”
Olivia and Nathan exchanged a look, both thinking the same thing. They needed to find out who this guy was and if he had anything to do with Claire's death.
“Can you give us any more information about this guy?” Olivia asked Sarah.