Chapter Fifty-Two
The helicopter landed on the pad. The whoosh of the blades flattened the grass around the landing zone. Nick escorted Ross
onboard and made sure he was secured. Maya grabbed a basket muzzle from the pilot who’d brought it along. Juniper had only
been in a helicopter one other time when she was injured. Maya didn’t know what she’d think of flying. She was guessing that
Juniper would like it, but the muzzle would help make sure everyone onboard stayed safe. Including Juniper.
They loaded up. Maya and Josh sat on one of the bench seats. Juniper lay in between Maya’s legs on the floor. The bird lifted
off and Maya leaned her head against Josh’s shoulder. He put his arm around her and pulled her close.
Maya didn’t remember falling asleep but it seemed like only a few minutes later they were landing and Josh was waking her
up. “I want to get Juniper to the vet to have her examined and see if she needs any fluids and run tests for any bacteria
or parasites from the lake water.”
“I’ll go with you,” he said. “Nick, you good with taking care of Agent Ross?”
“Very good,” Nick said, with a smile. “I’m happy to help lock this guy up.”
“What about medical attention for my arm?” Ross asked, nodding toward the arm that Juniper had bitten.
“You’ll get that too,” Nick said. “You know better than that. Don’t start being a dumb prisoner after a career in law enforcement
and stop looking for ways for your lawyer to get you off.”
Maya figured it gave Nick some satisfaction that he could book Ross after everything the guy had done to Hope. Maya still
wouldn’t mind seeing Juniper hang off his arm again. At least after all of this, someone was going to jail and eventually
prison. Maya couldn’t imagine a judge would grant any kind of bail. And with the evidence they had, Ross would never see the
light of day again. That brought some overdue satisfaction to Maya.
“Let’s get Juniper to the vet and then home. I’m sure you want a shower,” Josh said to Maya.
She finally felt a sense of relief like she could let down. There were so many questions she wanted answered, but first, Maya
wanted Juniper taken care of and then she agreed that a shower sounded heavenly.
A few hours later, Maya felt like a new person. The vet had examined Juniper and didn’t think she was too dehydrated, but
had given her some fluids anyway. They’d run tests as well after being in the lake. The vet said she’d call with results,
but thought Juniper was fine. Juniper was now home resting and content. When Maya last checked on her, she was sound asleep
curled up next to Finn in their kennel.
A shower had never felt so good and now that she was refreshed and clean, Maya wanted to go visit Hope.
From what she heard, the girl was doing well, just shook up as anyone would be.
Hope was staying the night at Doc’s clinic in town.
He didn’t feel like she needed a hospital, but he wanted to keep her for observation.
Maya and Josh headed into Doc’s office. Ever since they’d returned home, Josh had seemed nervous and twitchy again. Just like
before they were heading out on their trip. She wanted to chat with him later, but first, she’d visit with her family. Family.
She couldn’t believe she was saying that. Doc waved hello to Maya and Josh.
“Hope is in the back room,” he said. “I’ll show you there.”
“Thanks, Doc,” Maya said.
They followed him to a room where Hope was lying on a bed. She’d also had a shower and was wearing some scrubs. Isabelle and
Nick were sitting next to her. Maya wondered about Hope’s dad. Had he already left? At least he’d been there when she was
missing. That was tough if he was that type of father, but Hope had other family members to support her—Maya included.
Everyone looked up when Maya and Josh walked into the room. To Maya’s surprise, Nick and Isabelle came over to give her a
hug. Nick and Josh shook hands and then did a “bro” hug. Isabelle also gave Josh a hug. Joy filled Maya as she realized that
Nick and Isabelle had accepted her and Josh.
She turned to Hope. “How are you feeling?”
Hope shrugged. “Good. Bored. There’s nothing on TV and my phone was lost.”
“That’s a problem,” Maya said. “Maybe you can find a movie on pay-per-view or something. I know Doc pretty well. I’ll tell
him I’ll pay for it. And I’ll see if your phone is in evidence. I thought I heard that someone found it near where you were
abducted in Montana. Maybe you can get it back. If not, I’m sure your mom will help you get a new one.”
“That would be great,” Hope said.
They sat in awkward silence. Maya wasn’t sure what to say to the teen. When they’d been out together fighting for their lives,
she knew what she needed to say to keep Hope focused and out of shock as best as possible. But now what?
Hope was the one to break the silence. “So you’re like my aunt?”
“I am,” Maya said, remembering that she’d promised Hope an explanation on why Abigail had targeted her. “And that’s why Abigail
went after you.”
“I know.”
“You do?”
“Yeah,” Hope said. “My mom and uncle explained some to me, but they let Grandpa come and visit. He explained a lot.”
Maya was surprised that Eric would be allowed to visit. Josh spoke up and said, “Pops brought him over. Said grandfathers
need to be a part of their granddaughters’ lives.”
“Of course he did,” Maya said with a smile. “If you have any more questions, let me know, okay?”
Hope stared down at the bed and then said, “Do you see it in your mind? Over and over?”
“See what?” Maya asked.
“Abigail getting shot.”
Maya took a deep breath. She understood PTSD and how sometimes memories flashed nonstop. Or they’d hit you at a moment you
weren’t expecting. Something unexpected might trigger a flashback. Maya had worked hard to manage her trauma. “I see that.
And other things too. I don’t know what you know about me, but I served in the marines and went to Afghanistan.”
“Whoa, that’s badass. I mean, that’s dope.”
Maya smiled at Hope trying to correct her language. “It is in that I was able to serve my country. But it isn’t in that I
saw a lot of difficult things like watching my friends die. I came home with what’s called PTSD. You ever hear of it?”
Hope shook her head.
“PTSD or post-traumatic stress disorder comes from events like what we just witnessed. I’m sure a therapist would give you
a better explanation,” Maya said.
“I don’t want to go to a therapist,” Hope said.
“You’re stubborn, just like me, but you know what?
I wouldn’t be better today or able to do what I do without therapy.
That can help with those images that haunt you because honestly they won’t go away very easily .
. . if ever. I go to a support group and do a session with my therapist at least once a week.
I had to learn that it was okay to say I wasn’t all right.
That’s what’s actually badass,” Maya said, glancing at Isabelle hoping that she didn’t mind the language.
But she thought it would help get through to Hope better.
She pulled a piece of paper out of her pocket.
“Here’s my personal number. If you need to talk anytime, give me a call, okay? ”
Hope took the paper and stared at it like it was going to give her answers. She finally looked up and said, “Okay. You really
think I have that PT whatever thing?”
“I’m not qualified to diagnose you,” Maya said. “But with what you went through and saw, there’s a good chance you might.
But I’m proof you can learn to overcome and manage it. I’ll be honest, it never goes away, but it can get better. Call me
anytime, okay? And let your mom take you to a therapist. It’s sometimes easier to talk to someone who’s not family.”
“Okay. What about Juniper? Can I see her at some point? Meet your other dog too?”
“Of course. Your mom and uncle and I will keep in touch and you can come over before you leave.”
“That’s fire.”
Maya smiled. “I’m not up on the latest slang, but I’ll go with fire and dope being good things.”
“They are,” Hope said.
“We’re going to head out. We have some things to follow up on, but we’ll see you before you go,” Maya said.
Hope smiled and nodded. Maya gave Isabelle and Nick another hug.
Josh spoke up and said, “How about a barbecue at our house tomorrow? Can everyone come?”
Maya tilted her head, realizing she was mimicking her dog. This was unusual for Josh, but she was up for it.
“We can,” Nick said, then he turned to Josh. “I’ll make burgers and brats. Sound good?”
“That sounds great,” Maya said. She swore she saw Nick wink at Josh, but she was also so tired, she wasn’t certain. “Did you
guys really bond or something?”
Josh said, pushing her out in front of him, “We bonded while looking for you.”
Maya wanted a better answer, but as she took in Josh’s expression, she knew she wasn’t going to get one.