Chapter One

Olivia walked into the office of her partner on the third floor building of the Los Angeles Police Department, breathing heavily as if she’d run a marathon. “I need those files,” She said, glancing around the crammed office.

“What files? What are you talking about?” Jake pretended like he had no idea of what she was talking about. Olivia could only be demanding desperately for one file and he knew exactly what file she wanted.

“I need the files of my parents murder.” She said, narrowing her eyes as she scanned the office. Unfortunately, the files were not arranged according to alphabetical order.

Jake breathed, holding out a hand to halt her. His gaze was steady on Olivia. “I thought we talked about this. The case is closed already. There’s nothing I can do. My hands are tied here.”

Olivia scoffed. He had been saying that for weeks. She had no idea why everyone was trying to stop her from reopening her parents case. She seemed to be the only one who believed that their death was not investigated properly.

“Oh, come on.” The heel of her hands pressed into the mahogany table cluttered with files and papers of different kinds. There was barely any space for her to level in. “I've worked so hard to get here. I did everything I could to be a detective because of this case. Someone killed my parents and I want to be able to put the killer behind bars. Surely, you’d understand that.”

Jake lowered his head in slow defeat. Of course. Olivia had done some digging of her own into his private life and knew that her emotional talks would affect him.

He had also lost a daughter and could not put her killer behind bars. It had been a fatal gunshot to the chest aimed at him. But his daughter was so unfortunate. She’d died almost instantly.

As he snapped out of his thoughts, he found Olivia already shuffling through the folders for her parents file. He expected her to give up soon but he had been disappointed. Since she was transferred to the unit, she had been so invested in her parents death. He didn't blame her but he was also trying to protect her.

“Olivia,” Jake called, a slight warning in his voice as he got up to try and stop her. Olivia didn’t pause for a second. “This case is too deep and complicated. It's a risky thing to go digging up the past. You're messing with the wrong people. They could kill you.”

Olivia paused midday and turned to face him. Beads of sweat had broken out on her forehead as she stared at him.

“Do you think I am scared of death ?” She asked. "Don't you think I know the risks? Do you think I haven't spent sleepless nights deliberating? But if dying is the only way to get their killer or killers, then let me die. They didn't deserve that. They were good people!!"

Her chest was rising and falling as she spoke. She was furious but she was trying to keep it all in.

What did Jake mean by she was messing with the wrong people? Who were they? He had confirmed her suspicion that her parent's case was closed due to involvement with high profile individuals.

“I’m telling you, this won’t end well for you.” Jake warned, before turning away. "I won't hand the file over to you. You'll have to take it yourself and keep me out of it." With that, he walked out of the office.

Olivia nodded and watched as he walked away. Pulling his chair to herself, she sat on the plush leather, thrusting her upper body forward as she looked through file after file searching for her parents’.

She had to find it. It was the only clue she had to solve the case. Although it had been eleven years since the murder, everything about it was compiled and kept in the files.

She had worked hard to become a detective, hoping that someday, she would be able to get justice for her parents. As a child, she was unable to decipher what really happened the night they were murdered. But as a detective, she could make use of the clues.

Olivia poured over several more files with the bit of strength left in her and was about getting up to take a break when she pulled out a heavy green folder.

It nearly slipped out of her sweaty palm and she had to grasp it with both hands. The minute she turned a page, Olivia knew she had finally found her parent's file just as her gaze fell on the name.

A flood of relief surged through her, washing over her like a tidal wave and she reminded herself to stay calm.

Olivia went through the details that was written, taking note of everything important. Suddenly, her eyes fell on a paper containing the witness report.

According to the witness, the suspects had super human strength. Olivia pondered over what it could mean. It didn't make any sense to her.

But as she continued reading, she was disappointed that the witness was dismissed because he was drunk on the night of the event. But she felt something was wrong. The investigation wasn't incomplete and she knew it.

Olivia took that paper out and a few others that could pass off as relevant. Then she took pictures of the papers she couldn't take. Then, she assembled the rest of the pages as it had been and put the file back in place, straightening out the mess she’d made on the floor.

Exiting the office, she bade Jake good bye and hurriedly left for home. Finally, she was one step closer to the truth. She was finally doing what she had planned for years.

Throughout the ride home, Olivia thought about how she was going to find her parents' killers. Where would she start and who could she trust? The evidence hadn’t pointed out anything specific but she knew the answers within those pages. All she had to do was look well for them.

There was a reason no one wanted to reopen the case no matter how much she had offered. There was a reason her partner was so frightened whenever she mentioned the case. The police department wasn't telling her something but she was going to find that out herself. Even if she had to die trying.

She drove into the driveway and killed the car engine. She was met with complete silence. She lived alone on a very lonely street. It had been the only apartment for rental that wasn't so distant from her work place.

Also, she had been very broke and for some reason, the owner agreed to let her pay rent at installment.

Olivia blew out a breath, taking a moment to herself before she clambered out. Sometimes, she didn’t like the way her street was too quiet but she had no choice. With no love life and friends, she was bound to be lonely.

Taking the rest of the steps to her wide front porch, Olivia fumbled in her bag for the keys. After some minutes of searching, she realized she had left them in her glove compartment. With a sigh, she walked back to get them.

Letting herself into her small apartment, Olivia closed her eyes, allowing the familiar warmth to envelop her before she immediately flung them open.

Something wasn’t right. She had a guest, an intruder. She rushed to turn on the lights. Her gaze was darting back and forth as she searched her apartment carefully.

“Who’s there?” She shouted, her voice shaky. "Come out with your hands in the air."

“Expecting someone?” A deep voice asked from behind her.