Chapter Thirty-Nine
They went around a corner, Juniper ready to go apprehend if need be. Josh was on the other side of the door, to back them
up and help clear the room. The ballroom was large with a wooden floor and enormous window that framed picturesque mountain
ranges in the distance. Only with the fire raging, the top peaks were hidden by smoke.
At first glance, the ballroom was clear, but then Juniper turned and focused on the area closer to the stage where live bands
would perform every Friday. The room was eerily quiet compared to how it should have been in the height of tourist season.
Maya could see the outline of a person in a chair up near a window. The window was facing roughly the direction she and Josh
had been when they were doing surveillance.
“This isn’t right,” Maya said, her chest tightening as her anxiety rose.
“I know,” Josh whispered. “Is that Hope over there?”
Maya tried to see better. All she could see was an outline.
Even though the smoke made the day hazy and filtered out sun, the person was still a silhouette against the daylight from the window.
What Maya could make out was that the person was in a chair, arms tied back and head hanging down.
The figure seemed petite. While Abigail wasn’t large, Maya knew that this person was smaller. But she wasn’t moving.
“I think that’s Hope,” Maya said. “Juniper isn’t reacting. I think Juniper would be much more agitated and ready to apprehend
if it was Abigail. She hasn’t forgotten her. I think she’d like to have another chance to bite her.”
“Why don’t you go over with Juniper and I’ll keep watch over the entrance? If it’s Hope, we need to get her out of here.”
“There’s a back door,” Maya said, keeping her voice low. “It’s on the other side of the stage. I’ll get Hope and head out
that way. You can follow us.”
“Got it,” Josh said. Maya was about ready to move forward when Josh reached out and touched her shoulder. She paused. “If
anything happens, just get Hope and get out of here. Get her to safety. I can take care of myself.”
Maya wanted to argue. She would do anything to protect him and didn’t know what she’d do if something happened to him. Maya
wouldn’t be able to go on. She wanted to say all that, but she could tell by the look on Josh’s face that there would be no
discussion right now. She just needed to get going. “I love you.”
“I love you too. Now go.”
Juniper and Maya stepped forward and headed over to the figure.
Juniper’s nails clicked on the old wooden floor.
With the empty room, everything seemed to echo.
Maya tried to walk softly, but even her boots sounded like loud drums with each step.
If Abigail was anywhere near, she would certainly hear them.
Josh was still waiting by the doorway, gun drawn and ready if Abigail appeared. As Maya came closer, she could see the person
on the chair was indeed Hope. What Maya couldn’t tell was if she was sleeping or knocked out. Or maybe just in shock.
“Hope?” Maya said, trying to keep her voice low.
The girl slowly lifted her head. Their eyes locked. Maya could see the fright mixed with anger—a look she knew well. Having
only seen the girl in pictures, she didn’t expect to feel a connection, but this was her niece. Her family. Abigail had once again crossed a line, just like when she killed her mother and Nana. Maya would make sure she paid
for it.
Hope had bruises and her eyes were puffy from crying. Her hair was matted and her clothes were dirty.
Hope stared at her and then her glance went to Juniper. Much to Maya’s surprise, Juniper tilted her head and then gently put
a paw on Hope’s lap.
“Are you Hope Dawson?” Maya asked, already kneeling to see how Hope was tied to the chair. Even though she knew it was Hope,
she wanted to get the girl talking and determine if she was in shock.
Hope nodded.
“We’ve been looking for you.” Maya saw some rope around Hope’s feet, binding them together.
Her hands were bound behind her back with plastic cuffs.
Maya slipped a knife out of her pocket. Hope saw the weapon and her eyes widened.
“I’m not going to hurt you. My name is Officer Maya Thompson and this is my K-9 Juniper.
Over there is the undersheriff for Western River County, Josh Colten. I’m going to cut you free, okay?”
“Okay.”
Hope’s voice squeaked a bit, but Maya was glad that she was talking at all. Sometimes people in shock couldn’t speak for a
while. Maya sawed back and forth with the knife, trying to get the tough plastic to break. She was finally able to break through
and take the cuffs off.
“We need to go now. We’re going out the door over there by the stage.” Maya pointed in that direction as Hope stood. “Are
you okay to walk?”
“Yes, I think so,” Hope said tentatively. “Did my uncle send you?”
Maya didn’t want to take too much time chatting, but she knew Nick and Hope were close so she answered, “Yes. He sent me.”
“I knew it,” Hope said with a smile. “I knew he would find me.”
“And Juniper found the phone you typed your message on,” Maya said. And I’m your aunt, but that’s a long story for later. She didn’t want to waste any more time. The longer they were there without Abigail coming, the more uneasy she was. “Let’s
go.”
Juniper took her paw off Hope’s lap as they stood and headed for the door. Maya helped steady Hope as she took some tentative
steps. Her legs were probably numb and sore from being tied up. Luckily, since Hope was young, she got her legs working quickly.
Maya had her hand on the door handle when she heard the loud bang of gunshots and Josh yell, “Get out! Go! Go!”
“Crap,” Maya muttered. She pushed Hope in front of her and fought the urge to tell her to run while she and Juniper turned
back around to help Josh. But he was right, she had to get Hope to safety first and then she could come back. She’d made a
promise. A tough one that could break her heart, but she couldn’t think about that.
Josh was on his own. For now.