Forbidden

89. United States GP

The next morning Olivia woke up earlier than usual, tangled in the bed sheets with Max. She got up, put on one of Max's t-shirts on and some underwear, then she walked to the bathroom to make herself look more presentable. She had her first meeting with her new lawyer that morning, and since her lawyer was in Spain, she needed to have a zoom call at 5 am. 

She brushed her hair, her teeth, washed her face and walked to the living room quietly to not wake up Max. She made herself some coffee in the kitchen and then got on her zoom call with her headphones on. 

Smith's trial would take place in Spain, where the first assault happened. Therefore, Chilli and his father had helped Olivia get a really good Spanish lawyer. Her name was Martina Alvarez and during their first meeting together Olivia felt very at ease. She could tell Martina had everything under control and it made her rest assured that Tom Smith would not be walking out of prison anytime soon. However, there was one loose piece of the puzzle:

"Now, about Ashley Williams" started Martina as they spoke in spanish.

Olivia felt her stomach contract at the mention of her name "Yes, what about her?" she could tell by Martina's tone that something was wrong.

"We still haven't been able to locate her. Everyone is looking for her. In Monaco, France, Belgium, Spain, The Netherlands, the U.S. border control" she said exasperated "Nobody can find her".

"Well she has to appear eventually doesn't she? She can't hide away forever" said Olivia.

"Right now even the police are monitoring her family's bank accounts, they are making sure they cut off her resources so she has to come up for air, but there's still ways she can get what she wants. And that's not all Ms. Perez" she said "Right now the evidence we have against her is circumstantial at best. We need proof that she was directly in contact with Smith or making direct transfers to him, which we don't have".

"Wait, so even if we find her she walks free? What the fuck?" said Olivia outraged.

"Not exactly, there's also another way. We need a confession, either by Smith or herself or her lover. But we would have to wait to trial so we can extract that confession from Smith, because so far he has remained silent when going on record" she continued "This is a very strange case Mrs. Perez I gotta tell you I'm not quite sure how she's pulling it off"

"But she did this, I know she did!" said Olivia getting desperate. 

"I know, I know, I believe you. But organizing all of this, which must have taken months, pulling it off without evidence against her and then disappearing without a trace before the police got to her apartment. This girl must be some kind of mastermind" said Martina shaking her head in disbelief.

"Max told me from the beginning her family is very powerful, I don't doubt she got their help to do all this" she said. 

Martina nodded "He was right about that. That's why we are tracking their activity as much as the law allows us to, we will find her, but it may take us some time". 

"Well I guess we have until October" said Olivia.

Martina nodded "You keep yourself safe Ms. Perez and let us know if you hear anything new about her". 

"Thank you Martina, I appreciate all your help" said Olivia with a small smile but with her stomach in knots. 

As she was shutting down her laptop Max came out of the bedroom. It was still quite early.

"I'm so sorry did I wake you?" asked Olivia. 

"No worries love, how did it go?" said Max as he walked over to her, kissed her forehead and then sat next to her on the couch, his face groggy.