“Doesn’t stop me feeling bad.”
Erica nodded in sympathy. “I know.”
Olivia dropped her head against the back of the sofa and blew out a deep breath. “So, you and Jake, huh?”
“Not really.” Erica shrugged and gave a small smile. “We’re both married to our jobs. We just have a casual ‘whatever’ going on. What about you?”
“What about me?”
Erica settled more comfortably into the couch and lifted her mug of coffee. “No guy pining for you because you moved back to Mercy?”
Olivia took another sip of her tea. “I don’t do relationships.”
“Because?”
“Just because.” She really wished she hadn’t brought the subject up in the first place.
Erica opened her mouth to speak again but paused when she heard a knock at the door. “That’s probably Jake. I’ll get it.”
Dropping her head back against the sofa, Olivia stared into the flickering flames of the fireplace. She’d always found fire soothing, maybe because it was her element, but as she watched the flames separate into strands of gold, red, and yellow, her breathing and heartbeat slowed. Her mind drifted and she felt peace for the first time in days.
“Olive.” Jake shook her gently.
“Sorry,” she murmured, blinking to focus her eyes on Jake crouched in front of her, concern in his eyes. “Must’ve zoned out.”
“Are you okay?” He tugged a loose curl that had escaped the messy knot on top of her head.
“I am now.” She gave a small smile. “Thanks to Erica.”
“Now that Jake’s here, can you fill us in on what happened?” Erica glanced down at her watch. “I don’t want to rush you, but I’m supposed to be meeting another client soon.”
Olivia tapped her finger against the rim of her cup. “I’m assuming what I say here is in confidence?” She placed her cup down on the floor and sat up a little straighter, fixing her gaze on Jake. “I know I’m putting you in an awkward position, Jake, but I don’t trust Chief Walcott, and there are things I don’t want him to know.”
“Whatever you say will stay between us,” Jake promised, his expression troubled. “Something is going on with the chief, and I don’t know what. I hate to admit it, but I’m not so sure I trust him at the moment, either.”
Nodding, she took a moment to organize her chaotic thoughts. “You were right, Erica, when you said this wasn’t just about Brody Walker. Walcott brought up information about my dad, just to see how I’d react.”
“Your dad?” What has he got to do with this?”
“You know about my family history?”
Erica nodded. “I made it my business to know when I took you on as a client.”
“After my father murdered my mother and grandmother, he was sentenced to a high-security mental institution rather than prison. He ended up at a facility called Morley Ridge.”
“You kept an eye on him?” Jake murmured.
“Yeah. Self-preservation or curiosity, maybe,” Olivia replied. “As soon as I was old enough, I found out as much as I could—about him, the murders, the trial. I guess I was looking for answers, but nothing I learned brought me any kind of understanding or peace. So I got on with my life and tried not to think about it.”
“What changed?” Erica asked.
“He escaped yesterday morning.”
“What?” Jake stood abruptly. “How?”
“He had help. Chief Walcott had security footage of the escape. It looks like everyone in the building was knocked out somehow, and my dad basically strolled right out the front door.”
“Jesus,” Jake muttered under his breath.
