Chapter Sixteen
Abigail continued to navigate the mountain roads. The small sedan wasn’t the right vehicle for this area. It was meant for
higher clearance SUVs. But she had managed to avoid the larger potholes and rocks so far. The route hadn’t been marked four-wheel
drive on the map, but she knew that didn’t mean it was well maintained either. Especially in the national forest.
The good thing was she hadn’t seen anyone else. With the fire burning nearby, all emergency resources should be headed to
help fight it. She hadn’t run into any roadblocks yet.
Abigail turned off the road into a camping area where she was meeting Jake and Vicki and taking the girl. Abigail already
knew her plan. She didn’t love it. Once again, she preferred to not get her hands dirty. But there was no other choice.
She saw the van ahead. Jake sat on the back bumper with the doors open, vodka bottle in hand. Some things never changed. Vicki
was sitting in a camping chair drinking out of a glass. While the liquid was clear and one might think it was water, Abigail
knew better.
She parked and pulled Lexie’s handgun out of the center console.
Abigail checked the magazine and made sure the weapon was loaded with one in the chamber ready to go.
It was a Glock, which worked for Abigail.
No safety to click off. Reliable. Overall good guns.
Lexie had gone for the large caliber .45 which would work well and put everyone down fast.
She holstered the gun and put the jacket she’d grabbed from Lexie on over the weapon so Jake and Vicki wouldn’t see it. Of
course, if they’d had enough vodka, they might not have thought about it anyway. They still thought of Abigail as the cop
they owed favors.
Abigail stepped out of the vehicle and approached the couple. “Hello, Jake. Vicki.”
Vicki glared back at her. Jake stood and said, “Hi.”
Behind Jake, Abigail saw the girl tied up in the van. The girl’s face was smeared with dirt and tear streaks. Her knees were
pulled toward her chest and her hands were behind her back. Good. That would make it easier to control her. She’d deal with
her first problem, which was Jake and Vicki.
“We’ve done everything you asked,” Jake said. Vicki stood and came to be by his side. “She’s a wild one. A real pain. We’d
like our debt to be paid off now . . .”
“No,” Vicki said, interrupting. “Our debt is paid off. What we done taking her is worse than anything you ever caught us doing.
We’ve delivered and now it’s time for us to leave. We’re through with this crap.”
Abigail gave a little snort. “What did you expect? She’s a teenager. Did you think this was going to be easy? And you’re right. Your debt to me is paid off. We’re even. You can go.”
“What?” Jake asked.
Abigail figured he was expecting her to argue with him. He didn’t know yet that she had other plans. “You heard me. I appreciate
you two. What you did really helped me out. There was no way I could have taken her when I was in prison. I didn’t have time
to get home and bring her back. You’re done. Free. Just hand her over to me.”
Vicki narrowed her eyes. She’d always been the least trusting of the two of them and maybe the smarter one.
“I’m serious,” Abigail said. “Help me get the little snot out and in the car and then you can leave.”
She needed to get them to look away from her so she could grab the gun and take them by surprise. “Let’s get her. You’re the
ones who tied her up so you know how to best grab her. Get her out of there and into my car.”
They turned their backs to Abigail. She drew the gun and fired two shots—one apiece in their back. They dropped quickly, which
meant the bullets struck them where she wanted—their hearts. Fitting for a couple who’d fallen in love committing crimes together.
Hope, terrified, had tried to scramble backward but was tied enough she couldn’t move far. Abigail smiled and turned the gun
toward her, finger on the trigger.
Maya was restless and couldn’t stand sitting or standing around anymore.
She wanted to be tracking with Juniper and looking for Hope.
Knowing that she needed to wait for Agent Kessler and the others to arrive, she’d gone back to her vehicle and let Juniper out.
The Mal was joyfully running around, sniffing at things and getting some energy out.
Although tracking in the heat had been hard on her.
Maya could tell Juniper wasn’t quite as full of herself as she might have been in cooler temperatures.
She did have to be careful with her dog.
Juniper would never tell her when she’d had enough.
She’d heard about dogs collapsing from exhaustion and dehydration while working.
Maya whistled and Juniper bounded her direction. She clipped Juniper’s leash on and took her into the station with her. Other
than the front desk and dispatch, the only people there right now were Pops, Josh and Eric. They all knew Juniper and loved
her. Josh had taken Finn on a walk too and Maya figured the two dogs would be happy to hang out since they now often curled
up together at home in their kennel.
As she went in the front door, she saw a couple black SUVs pull up and park. Agent Kessler stepped out and waved. Maya almost
put Juniper back in the vehicle, but she figured her dog would be fine on leash. She always had to be careful. Juniper was
friendly and loved people, but if she thought Maya was being threatened, the Mal would have no qualms about biting someone.
Maya waited in the lobby for Kessler to come inside.
She told Juniper to sit and stay and went over to shake his hand.
Two other agents were coming in behind them.
They seemed a little older than Kessler.
One looked like he could be heading toward retirement age.
Maya didn’t care as long as they could help with this case.
Although Eric’s warning came to mind. She would be careful and not trust anyone.
“Good to see you, Thompson,” Kessler said. “Juniper too.”
“Same here,” Maya said.
“This is Agent Jim Ross and Agent Lee Bernardo,” Kessler said as Maya shook their hands.
“Nice to meet you both,” Maya said.
“They’re two of our best,” Kessler said.
“You’re only saying that to suck up since I trained you at Quantico,” Agent Ross said.
Kessler shrugged. “You have a lot of experience, especially with kidnappings. I’m glad you’re back in the Denver field office
and can help us.”
“We appreciate all of you coming,” Maya said, going back over to Juniper and picking up her leash to release her off the stay.
Juniper jumped to her feet and eyed each agent as if she was sizing them up.
“Nice dog you’ve got there,” Agent Ross said. “Malinois?”
“Thanks,” Maya said. “Yep, she’s a Maligator.”
“I’d like to start by talking with Eric,” Kessler said, cutting through the small talk and getting straight to the point.
This was one of the reasons Maya liked him. “Sure. He’s back this way waiting in an interrogation room.”
Eric himself had suggested being moved to an interrogation room before the FBI came.
He didn’t want anyone at the sheriff’s office getting in trouble for not restraining him properly.
Pops had agreed, but hadn’t put on his cuffs.
He’d also made sure the AC was turned on and Eric had a sandwich and some water. Maya had appreciated that.
They all headed down the hallway, Juniper by Maya’s side. Maya had to wonder, could she trust the two agents with Kessler?
How far had Abigail’s reach gone? First chance Maya had, she’d pull Kessler aside and find out more about Agents Ross and
Bernardo.