Page 64 of Outrun The Devil
But a part of Collins knew that she wasn’t ready for this kind of exposure. The detective refused to be the city’s mascot. She firmly believed that that role belonged to more than one person. And yet, Rachel Park found her to be the face of this particular story. It made her detective flags go off—but why?
As Rachel Park sat there, pen and notepad in hand, Olivia Collins couldn't help but feel uneasy. She had seen this before, reporters who claimed they wanted to tell someone's story, but in reality, were just looking for a good headline. She couldn't allow that to happen to her.
“Look, Rachel, I appreciate your interest in my story, but I'm not sure I'm ready for this kind of exposure,” Olivia said, trying to find a way out of this situation.
Rachel looked up from her notepad, her eyes narrowed, as if she was trying to read Olivia's mind. “What's the real reason, Detective Collins? Is it because you don't want to be seen as the city's mascot or is it because you're hiding something?”
Olivia stood there stunned.
“I think it's time you leave, Ms. Park.”
Rachel opened her mouth to object but Olivia lifted a hand to stop her.
“This was also on your doorstep.” Rachel held out a hand toward Olivia, an envelope with her name scribbled on it.
“Were you just going to walk off with this?” she asked.
“I thought about it. I did but then I figured you’d arrest me the moment you realized I’d taken something of yours.”
Olivia narrowed her eyes at the reporter.
Her instincts screamed at her to grab gloves but standing there stunned, there was no time. Olivia took the envelope from Rachel’s hand. And then she stepped back inside and slammed the door on Rachel Park, leaving her to stand in the hallway.
Carefully, she opened the envelope, half-expecting something sinister inside. Instead, a note and a key fell out, the words carefully printed in that familiar handwriting.
“I've left you a gift for all your hard work,” it read. “8230 W Lower Buckeye Rd #403.”
Olivia's hands clenched around the note, her knuckles turning white. The memory of her past ordeal resurfaced, the feeling of helplessness and vulnerability threatening to consume her. The scars, both physical and emotional, still lingered, serving as a constant reminder of the danger she had faced.
She knew deep down that rushing into the unknown could be a grave mistake. The note was a deliberate taunt, a provocation designed to test her resolve. But Olivia had learned from her past experiences. She understood the importance of caution and careful planning. She couldn't afford to let her emotions cloud her judgment.
Taking a deep breath, Olivia forced herself to think rationally. She knew that succumbing to the killer's game would only lead her further down a treacherous path. She needed to gather information, strategize, and involve the right people to ensure her safety and increase her chances of apprehending the culprit.
Reaching for her phone, Olivia dialed Nathan's number. But hesitated. She reasoned that it was broad daylight and that the storage unit was a public place with cameras and employees on duty. There was no way for what had happened a year ago to repeat itself. And if she needed backup, she could always call Nathan once she was there. After carefully sealing the note inside a Ziplock bag to prevent further contamination, she set off to the address, her heart pounding in her chest.
The drive to the storage unit flew by like a blur. And she was certain she had run a few red lights and misused her police light to get through some areas with traffic. Olivia was determined to get there but she wasn’t sure what she’d find.
Guilt riddled her and she found herself texting Nathan to meet her at the address. She didn’t say anything else other than telling him to hurry. It was a step, but in what direction she didn’t know, and instead of not telling her partner where she was going… she did. Had she finally accepted that she had a partner? But they were more than that, weren’t they? The department wouldn’t allow them to be partners if they knew they were sexually involved with one another.
It’d been one time but Olivia wanted it to be more than that. And she had a feeling Nathan wanted that too.
With a deep breath, she stepped out of the car and made her way toward the entrance of the storage facility.
Inside, the atmosphere was quiet, save for the distant hum of fluorescent lights overhead. Olivia approached the front desk, her eyes meeting the curious gaze of the employee behind the counter. She flashed her badge, giving a brief explanation that she was following up on a lead.
The employee nodded and directed her to the assigned unit number. As Olivia followed the employee, she couldn't shake off the lingering sense of unease. Between her own captivity and the kidnapping of her daughter, a lot weighed on her.
Nathan’s car pulled up a few minutes later. He’d gotten there quicker than she expected and wondered what he was doing in Phoenix. But now wasn’t the time to be asking that.
Olivia's gaze locked onto Nathan's unmarked squad car as it smoothly pulled up beside hers. A mixture of surprise and curiosity flickered across her face. How had he managed to arrive so swiftly? Questions danced at the edge of her thoughts, but she pushed them aside, recognizing the urgency of the situation at hand.
As Nathan stepped out of his car, her eyes meet his determined gaze. The unspoken understanding between them fueled her resolve, and she brushed off her initial puzzlement, knowing there would be time for explanations later.
Her focus shifted to the task at hand, the imminent need to confront the unknown assailant who had been taunting her. The sense of urgency pressed against her chest, intertwining with the adrenaline coursing through her veins. Every second counted, and there was no room for distractions.
Silently communicating through a series of nods and glances, Olivia and Nathan moved in unison toward the storage unit. The weight of their weapons reminded them of the danger that lay ahead, amplifying the gravity of their mission.
Olivia held up the key to him, something familiar about it tugged at her memories. The cabin, she thought, he’d shoved a key at her that day and demanded something from her.