by Elle Gray
Meanwhile, poor Sophia was alone out there somewhere, unable to tell them the crucial details they were missing in order to find her. Olivia felt certain that she wanted to be found. Not many kids of her age had the nerve to be out in the world alone for very long. If Olivia could just find just one detail, one lead, she wouldn’t rest until she found her—but there was nothing. She felt like she was standing in a barren desert, waiting for a tree to grow at her feet.
Olivia stepped outside the cabin and hoped that the cold air outside might shock her system, might make her think of something she’d overlooked before. She recalled the sight of Amelia, malnourished and injured by the wrath of the forest. How far had she walked? She wouldn’t have made it much further in the state she was in, but she could’ve been walking for several days, maybe even longer. Perhaps she was propelled by her will to survive and she’d been walking for a lot longer. Like Brock had said, it was easy to get lost in those woods. It could’ve taken her a long time to find civilization.
The thought scared her. If Amelia, adrenaline-fueled and fighting for her life, had only just made it, then there was a strong chance that they’d never find where she’d been held. Olivia pressed the heel of her hand against her eyes, feeling like she was going crazy. How many times was she going to have to go around in circles? When was she going to accept to herself that the case was hopeless?
She wished that Amelia could tell them something, anything. She knew that some non-verbal children were able to say a few words, but she didn’t think Amelia could even tell them anything of use through such limited language. If she could, she would’ve said something already, even through the shock of her situation. The kidnapper committed the perfect crime when they took her.
Except they’d then let Amelia get away. But why? She couldn’t understand the reasoning behind that. They’d taken Amelia with no intention of asking for ransom money or anything else, so what was the prize? They’d transported her for nearly three thousand miles only to let her free? If Amelia was what the kidnapper wanted, then why was she let go? Did something go wrong?
Or did they just figure out that no matter what they’d done to her, Amelia wouldn’t ever be able to tell anyone?
The thought was more than sickening. It made Olivia want to figure things out more than ever before. She imagined what it would be like to be Amelia, trapped in her own horrific memories of what happened. Tears sprang to her eyes. Who would do something like that to an innocent child? It was an even harder question to comprehend when Olivia had no idea what the motive was.
The situation was starting to get dire. Olivia knew that if they didn’t find something useful soon, the case would never be solved. They’d all be told to move on with their lives and forget that it ever happened—but Olivia wasn’t sure she was capable of that. She’d always had trouble letting go of the past, and this would be no exception.
The truth was, she needed a big win. For a long while now, Olivia had felt that she needed to repent for the things that had happened to her family, to somehow make them better by doing good deeds. Having Amelia’s case had seemed like the perfect way to make things right, but it was like she’d taken one step forwards and then ten steps back. The case was moving nowhere, and her opportunity to do something good was quickly slipping through her fingers.
Olivia closed her eyes for a moment, suddenly feeling indescribably tired. Her tiredness was so constant and so intense that it was becoming an emotion rather than a physical thing. She wanted it to go away, but until she got some answers, she knew it would continue to weigh her down. It made her chest feel heavy; she took several deep breaths, trying to take control of the feeling.
And that’s when she heard the sound of the car approaching. Her eyes snapped open and she rushed inside to grab her gun, just in case. Who the hell would be driving around near the forest in the middle of the night?
Maybe the kidnapper…
But when she spotted Brock behind the wheel of his Jeep, she relaxed a little. The heaviness on her chest lifted slightly. Brock seemed to have that effect on her now. Maybe it was because he was carrying some of the same burdens as her.
Or maybe it was because he replaced her anxiety with butterflies.
She watched as Brock leaned casually out of his car window.
“Couldn’t sleep?” he called over with a smile. Olivia shrugged.
“I’ve never felt more awake.”
He nodded, his eyes full of sympathy. “I thought maybe you might like to go for a drive. We could do a stakeout of the neighborhood where Sophia went missing. I know it’s not technically our case anymore, but they can’t control what we do in our spare time, right?”
Olivia smiled. “I think that’s a great idea.”
“I’m full of them. Hop in, Knight.”
Olivia locked up her cabin and then joined Brock in the car, noting the smell of the leather seats and Brock’s musky aftershave. Brock smiled at her.
“You smell like a pine forest,” he commented as he started up the engine once again. “I guess I should expect nothing less from a woman living in a forest ranger’s cabin.”
Olivia’s cheeks heated up. Something felt strange and exciting about him noticing details about her. She wondered what he thought each time he looked at her. Did he ever think about her the way she thought about him? Lately, she had been replaying conversations they’d had each night before she went to sleep. Sometimes she’d construct her own fantasies of scenarios she wanted to happen. She imagined going on long walks together, spending precious Sunday afternoons in one another’s company. She imagined going to the local bar together and trying out the signature cocktails. She imagined introducing Brock to her father, and them bonding over their military backgrounds. She realized that these fantasies weren’t particularly interesting or wild, but all she’d ever wanted was a quiet life. Now, she could picture having that life with someone like Brock. Someone who made her feel safe and at peace, even when the world around them was crumbling.
“You alright?” Brock asked as they drove through the town. “Lately you seem kind of... disconnected.”
Olivia sighed. She needed to stop thinking about him. They had a job to do. At home, thinking about Brock was her escape from the reality of their situation, but she needed to get her head in the game. “I’m fine. I’ve just got a lot on my mind. This case is important to me.”
“I know,” Brock said gently. Olivia chewed the inside of her cheek, wondering whether she should expand. Brock had proved himself to be a good listener. She felt like it might be good to get a few things off her chest.
“I was thinking about Amelia before you arrived,” Olivia told him. “And I know she’s safe now, but knowing that there’s someone out there capable of snatching a kid up, transporting them cross-country, and keeping them as a prisoner for weeks on end without a trace of evidence just turns my stomach. And every time we hit a dead end, I feel so damn guilty. It makes me think of my sister and the ways the police failed her. I don’t want that to happen here. I don’t want this to go unsolved. I want to catch the monster who did this so I don’t feel completely useless.”
“Olivia... you’re so hard on yourself. You’re so good at what you do. It’s not your fault that the odds are stacked against us. It’s literally impossible to solve any case without good evidence to work with. You’ve done your best with what we’ve been given, which is very little.”
“I know. Rationally, I know that completely. In my head, I tell myself that, but it never quite sinks in. It drives me crazy.”
Brock nodded slowly. “I get that. I do. But you can’t live like this forever. On the edge, always blaming yourself for things you can’t control. You’ll destroy yourself from the inside out. You don’t deserve that, Olivia. No one deserves that.”
“So what would you suggest?”
“You should be in therapy. Don’t look at me like that, it’s completely valid to go to therapy. I did, once.”
Olivia blink
ed several times. She wasn’t expecting that. “You did?”
“I still go sometimes. But yes, I used to go to therapy. Every FBI agent has a story that they can’t bear to talk about, Olivia. Our job puts a lot of pressure on our shoulders. There’s always one case that sticks with us and makes us doubt our abilities, no matter how good we are at our jobs. You’re in the middle of yours right now, but it’ll pass, I promise you. Even if we never manage to solve the case. One day, you’ll learn to forgive yourself for that. But therapy is the fastest road to recovery in that regard.”
Olivia nodded. She wondered which case Brock had to deal with that sent him right to the edge. It was hard to imagine him breaking down. He seemed to have a good handle on his emotions most of the time, even if he slipped occasionally into anger. She recalled how cagey he’d been when she asked him about his worst case, and she wondered if that was the one he couldn’t let go of. She also wondered if he’d trust her enough one day to tell her about it.
Brock slowed the car as they reached the street where the Edwards family lived. The neighborhood was quiet. The lights in every house were turned off, and there was nobody to be seen out on the street. Olivia leaned back in her seat.
“I hope you brought coffee and donuts,” she commented, trying to lighten the mood. “It’s not a real stakeout without them.”
“Well, I wouldn’t want to disappoint you, Agent Knight,” Brock grinned, reaching into the backseat and producing a paper bag. “Two pink iced donuts coming right up.”
“You’re ridiculous, Agent Tanner.”
“I’ll admit, I wasn’t going to tell you about the donuts…” Brock teased. “But you’ve been so welcoming since I got here. I think it’s about time I repaid the favor.”
“How kind of you,” Olivia rolled her eyes with a smile. Despite herself, she was beginning to warm to Brock’s teasing. They sat quietly for a while, eating their donuts and sipping coffee, their eyes scanning the street. Olivia stretched out her legs with a long groan before resting her cheek against the cold window with a sigh.
“How much trouble do you think we’d be in if Jonathan found out we’re on a stakeout here?” she wondered. Brock chuckled quietly.
“Well, he should be grateful. We’re working overtime for no extra pay. We’re more dedicated than most. But it’s hard to leave this case alone.”
“Isn’t it? The more unsolvable it becomes, the more I want to solve it.”
Brock chuckled again. “You know, you and I are a lot alike. I didn’t expect it when I met you. My impressions of you have definitely changed.”
“Oh yeah?” Olivia raised an eyebrow, sitting up a little straighter. She was definitely interested in what he was going to say next. “What was your impression, then?”
“I don’t think you want to hear this,” Brock started. Olivia allowed him a small smile.
“Let me guess. You thought I was stuck-up and uptight. You thought that your terrible jokes were wasted on a bore like me. You thought I was going to be the worst possible person to have to work with.”
“Are you psychic or something?”
Olivia threw a donut crumb at Brock and he laughed, his eyes sparkling with mischief.
“Hey! I told you my first impressions were wrong.”
“Well, what are your impressions now?”
Brock’s eyes softened a little and Olivia felt her heartbeat pick up. Now that she’d asked, she wasn’t sure she was ready to find out the answer. But she waited anyway, wondering what kind of effect she’d had on him.
“Well, I don’t think you’re boring now, that’s for sure. I think you’re one of the most dedicated agents I’ve ever met. You’re also one of the best I’ve had the pleasure to work with.”
“You’re saying that now to make me feel better.”
“I’m not,” Brock insisted. “You put everything into your work. I knew when I showed up at your place that you’d be awake and up for this little mission. There aren’t many people who would do the same. I don’t think you realize how good you are. Which is another reason I like you. You don’t have your head stuck up your butt all the time.”
Olivia could hear her heartbeat in her ears. You like me? She knew he didn’t mean it in the way she wanted him to, but for so long, she was sure he was just tolerating her. They’d had a bumpy start, but it seemed that they were finally finding common ground, and that thought pleased her. She liked the idea that they could be friends, even if nothing further came of it.
“And it’s not just that. Because I was right that you can be uptight, but for all the right reasons. I know you’re good fun when you’re not concentrating on the case. You know, when this is all over, we should do something.”
“Something better than eating donuts in your car in the middle of the night?”
Brock laughed. “Yes, something better than this. Maybe you could show me all the hotspots in Belle Grove. I’m sure I’ll have a few days before I’m sent back to DC…”
Olivia’s heart sank a little. She’d forgotten for a moment that Brock wasn’t there to stay. At some point, he’d go back to city living and forget all about her little town. She didn’t want to admit out loud how much she wished Brock would stay. It wasn’t just because of the feelings she was growing for him. He was company in a town where she was always going to feel like an outsider. Sure, she wanted her life to be quiet, but sometimes, it was so quiet that she couldn’t stand the silence. She needed someone. A friend, if nothing else. And even through the hardships of those last few weeks, he’d been there to support her. What would she do once he left and she was alone again?
“You know, DC isn’t far,” Brock commented with a smile. “You could come and visit me too. At least in the city, there’s more than one bar to choose from…”
Olivia’s heart soared. “You want me to come and visit you?”
“I mean, sure, if I’ve got nothing better to do...”
“Just when I thought you were being nice,” Olivia sighed, trying to play it off even as her heart thudded hard against her chest. Brock laughed at his own joke. She’d assumed that his leaving would mean the end of whatever their friendship was. Many partnerships in the Bureau weren’t built to last, just to get a job done as well as possible. But now she could picture driving up to DC to spend the day with him. Those fantasies she’d come up with didn’t seem like such a stretch anymore. And now that she knew she had more time on her hands, she allowed herself to imagine that one day, he’d feel the same way she did. One day, he’d suddenly notice how much their similarities made them a good match. Maybe then she’d be able to give in to her emotions and find a new source of happiness.
“When this case is over and done with, drinks are on me,” Brock promised, nudging her arm gently. “And who knows? Maybe then you’ll stop being so uptight.”
“Okay, this is just character assassination now. Don’t make me tell you what I thought of you the day we met—because I can guarantee, my thoughts on you are much more scathing than what you think of me.”
“Well, I know that already. I could tell that I was getting under your skin,” Brock replied with a grin, leaning in a little closer to her. “Well... what about now? Am I still getting under your skin?”
Yes... but in a very different way, Olivia wanted to say. She stared into his eyes and felt her stomach twisting with nerves. He was close enough that if she leaned in just a little, their lips would connect. She watched as his eyes searched hers too, and he seemed a little surprised at how long their eye contact was lasting.
“Olivia…” Brock began, but a sharp, loud noise cut him off. Olivia jumped in her seat, trying to locate the sound. It was coming from Alice’s house. It was her house alarm.
“Someone broke in,” Olivia whispered, her heart lurching. She already had her gun at the ready as she leaped out of her car, shortly followed by Brock. The pair of them darted up toward the house, the blaring alarm filling the still evening with noise. Olivia could see a figure in th
e doorway, looking panicked as they looked for an escape route. The figure was wearing a ski mask and her heart jolted.
Could it be the kidnapper?
“FBI! Freeze!” Brock barked, but it was too late. He took off.
She sprinted toward the man, who turned tail and began to run out into the street. He was surprisingly fast, but Olivia felt her training kicking in. She was prepared to outrun any amateur. She was not about to allow the guy to get away from her. This was her one chance to maybe end the whole case.
She watched as the guy leaped over a neighboring garden fence. Instead of following him through the garden, she anticipated his next move, edging around the side of the house and through to the street on the other side. She hoped that Brock would catch on to what she was doing and follow through the garden, just in case.
But Olivia knew she’d made the right decision when she saw the man make it through to the street, and she’d gained several feet on him. He spotted her and veered out into the middle of the road. Adrenaline pumped rapidly through Olivia’s veins. She felt like she was in one of those chases in nature documentaries, like a lion hunting a gazelle. She resolved to be ruthless if she had to. The man was running for a reason. If it was because he was the kidnapper, then she couldn’t afford to hesitate. She needed this. She needed a win.
Her legs were pumping hard, her feet slamming against the concrete. She was getting closer and closer to the target. He seemed to be losing speed and as she gained on him, she could hear him struggling for breath. As she’d thought, she had much more stamina than him. She knew she could afford to slow down and she’d still catch him with ease, but she was desperate to get her hands on him. Her anger was enough to propel her closer and closer to him.
He was almost within her reach. He glanced over his shoulder, his eyes panicked behind the ski mask. As he turned back around and tried to run faster, Olivia threw herself at him, sending them both tumbling to the ground. The man cried out in pain as he landed, and Olivia’s arm scraped along the ground, but she didn’t stop. She had to restrain him and find out who he was and what he was doing here.
