What Lies Beneath

Chapter 8

Yanking open her car door, Olivia hopped in and started the car. She nearly jumped through the roof when the passenger door opened. “What are you doing, Detective Ambrose?” she asked as Katherine got into the car with her.

“What does it look like? I am going with you.”

“Why?” It didn’t really matter anyway, since Olivia was already speeding towards the suburbs.

“Suzie is one of us, Olivia. I want to make sure we get what we need if she really is shady.”

“You believe me, Detective?”

“I don’t know what to believe.” They were silent for a few minutes as the cityscapes gave way to lush green lawns and tree-lined streets. “Katherine,” she said after a few more houses zipped passed them.

“What?” Olivia frowned at her, eyes darting back to the road before she turned the ninety-five Corolla into scrap metal.

“My name is Katherine. You can call me Kat,” she said conversationally–not at all concerned about the fact that Olivia was driving like a lunatic through a residential area–she still wasn’t sure if that message had gone through before she got hold of Suzie’s phone.

“I know what your name is.” Searching through her pocket for the piece of paper with the address, Olivia pulled it out and held the paper for Kat to take. “Do you know where this is?”

“Hold on.” Pushing up with her back against the seat, Katherine pulled her phone from her jeans. Google Maps, Olivia assumed. Confirmation came when the disembodied voice suddenly instructed her to take the next right turn that was immediately ahead. Olivia felt a twinge of remorse for the old car as she turned the steering wheel sharply to the right and took the turn with tires squealing in protest.

“Stop me a few houses down,” she instructed Katherine.

“Keep going.” The voice joined to the conversation and informed Olivia that she’ll turn left soon. “After this turn, you can slow down. The house is at the end of this street.” Olivia nodded in response, taking the next turn with more consideration for the elderly–and she wasn’t thinking about old age home they just passed.

Bringing the car to a stop when Katherine informed her they were a few houses from their destination, Olivia turned in her seat. “Since you are here, stay with the car,” she instructed but offered an explanation. “If someone tipped him off, he’s probably going to make a run for it soon. Keep an eye on the street.” Looking around in the car, she realized she was ill-prepared. “s**t!” she muttered. No two-ways.

“What?” Katherine mirrored her actions, not even knowing what Olivia was looking for.

“We don’t have comms.”

“Give me your phone.” She held out her hand. Pulling it out of her pocket, Olivia handed her the phone. “I’m calling my phone,” just as she said it Olivia’s phone rang. She accepted the call and placed her own phone on the dash. “Be careful not to end the call.” She handed Olivia her phone, and she just stared at it for a moment, blinking. How clever. She thought. “If you don’t have free minutes, I suggest you get moving.” Katherine grinned.

“Right.” She nodded. Pulling her Glock from its holster, loaded it before shoving it back, she got out. Resting her arm on the door frame, she leaned down. “Did you bring any handcuffs?” Katherine erupted in laughter, shaking her head. “Thought as much.” Olivia smirked. Before she straightened, Olivia changed her mind. “I think you should move one street over. In case he heads out back.”

“Should I head on foot?”

“Yes, if he jumps walls, the car would be useless.”

Leaving the car unlocked with the keys in the ignition was a risk, but one they’d have to take - the neighborhood seemed safe enough. As Katherine traveled back down the road, Olivia waited until she had rounded the corner before she slowly made her way towards the house.

Walking as though she had no purpose - just a nice mid-morning stroll. Her eyes scanned the surrounding houses, taking mental notes of unlocked gates and low walls. A voice from the inside of her jacket informed her that the house in covered from the back. Taking that as her queue, she walked up the well maintained front yard and took a deep breath before she knocked, waited a minute then rang the doorbell. She vaguely heard a bump followed by a muffled curse.

Someone’s home.

She knocked once more. No answer. Keeping her features smooth for the benefit of the peephole, she shrugged nonchalantly and headed back, walking nice and slow.

Scanning for a cover where she could watch the front of the house, she spotted a bush a few houses across the street and quickly ducked behind it. If he was watching her, which she doubts, he would have seen her take cover. But she was pretty sure he was busy packing a bag right about now. With her eyes still fixed to the door, Olivia retrieved her phone and whispered. “He’s home, but he is not answering the door. I’m keeping cover and monitoring the front. Stay alert.”

“Copy.”

She made a quick calculation of the distance from her surveillance spot back to the car. She was almost certain she could make it in time if he took a car. Her legs were growing numb from the crouching position she was in. She thought about joining a yoga class or maybe palates and nearly laughed–she hated exercise.

The automatic garage door opening pulled her from her musings. Popping up like a Jack-in-the-box, she sprinted for the Toyota. Phone still in hand, she brought it up to her mouth. “Head up! He’s making a run for it. He’s taking a car.” Shoving it back into her pocket, she once again yanked the car door open just as the reversing car came into view. She had the car started and in gear in seconds. Praying that Katherine could hear her with her phone tugged into her jacket, she relayed the update. “In the car, he’s heading up.”

Olivia tried to keep a reasonable speed following him. Knowing she would never get caught up in her hunk of junk if he realized he was being perused. The thought had barely left her mind when the blue Honda picked up speed. He was nearing the T-junction ahead, ready to turn left, back towards the city, and the off-ramp for the highway.

Olivia heard it before she saw it, the thundering sound of a powerful engine. A black Mustang came to a screeching halt right in front of the Honda, effectively blocking its turn. Olivia geared down, and the car lurched forward. She had to block him from behind. Silently thanking the driver of the Mustang for driving like a maniac down the road.

Just as she blocked the car from the back, the driver’s door was flung open and he made a run for it. Snatching the keys out of the ignition to stop the engine, she dove out and ran after him. The forward motion nearly made her fall face first on the asphalt, but she quickly recovered and ran like her life depended on it. Behind her, she could hear her Toyota crashing into the abandoned Honda. He veered right, and she prayed Katherine was heading up the next street and not down.

She was in terrible shape; she thought as cramps shot through her side.

“s**t, dammit,” she groaned when they passed the next road and Katherine was nowhere to in sight. She must have headed down. Olivia cursed her stupidity.

He could have run circles around her if he wanted to, she would not catch him on foot. Olivia heard the powerful roar once again as the car swerved and blocked the way, and for a second time, she praised the driver’s reckless driving. The suspect quickly recovered and dashed around the vehicle. But this time, Olivia was there, right behind him. Leaping through the air, she jumped on his back, grabbed a hold of his shirt and pulled down as she hooked her feet around his legs. She wasn’t strong enough to turn them around as they stumbled and he came down directly on top of her. The wind left her lungs in a rush as they hit the ground, hard.

If he was overweight, she’d have had a few cracked ribs for sure. Before she could figure out a way to get out from under him and still keep her hands on him, he got up. She scampered up, ready to run after him, but it wasn’t necessary.

Detective Mason Riley had him in a very painful looking headlock. “Call for backup next time.” He smirked before he relayed Finley’s rights. Katherine came around from the passenger side dangling a pair of handcuffs, grinning at Olivia.

Confused, Olivia stood blinking, gulping precious air into her lungs, while trying to make sense of the scene in front of her. When Mason had the suspect securely in the back of the car, Katherine got in beside him. For a moment, Olivia thought they were going to leave her there and just drive off with her suspect. Riley turned to look at her with one foot already inside the car. “Are you getting in? Or walking back?” he asked. Still stunned to silence, she quickly made her way around the black beast and got in. Momentarily fascinated by the sleek interior of the car, she was a bit surprised when she looked ahead and saw that they were already speeding down the road. “How?” she asked.

Mason frowned at her. “What?” She opened her mouth, but the sight to the left had her mouth snapping shut. They drove by her car, smashed into the rear of the Honda.

Olivia was experiencing an overwhelming urge to go to her car, but she suppressed the desire. It probably died anyway. Mason must have been looking at the same thing because he unhooked his radio from the dash and instructed the station to have both cars towed back.

“Woo-hoo! I love the chase!” Katherine laughed from behind her. Olivia’s eyes went wide as she realized she had forgotten about Katherine and their guest in the back. She could shrug it off to the adrenaline which was playing havoc with her mind, but she knew well why she was this detracted and disorientated. Detective Mason Riley was going to make her life harder than it needs to be, she could just feel it.

Turning in her seat, she grinned at the scowling face. “How are you doing, Mr. Scott?”