Chapter Eight
Headlights illuminated the backyard where Maya was supervising Juniper and Finn playing together.
Juniper loved Finn and would run circles around him, but the Lab just wasn’t certain that he wanted to play at Juniper’s level.
Now the Malinois was down on her front end, butt up in the air, tail wagging trying to entice Finn to reengage and have some more fun.
Finn ran to the back door. Juniper’s pointy ears drooped slightly in disappointment.
“I don’t blame him,” Maya said. “He’s probably exhausted. And you did have lots of fun time at the cabin. You should be tired too. Come on. Josh is home. Let’s go say hello.”
Juniper’s answer was to zoom around the yard one more time and then jump up on the back step.
Hitting a patch of ice, the Malinois flew off the step and landed in the snow, leaped to her feet and then raced back up the stairs again.
Maya shook her head. Her dog had had a quiet winter, which was why Maya had been taking Juniper to the cabin to burn off energy.
And to also see if her father had left her any more notes. Maya had stared at the picture Eric left her before getting the dogs out. She loved seeing her mother holding her and appearing so happy. Nana had told her that her mother loved her, but somehow, this made it more real.
But going to the cabin so Juniper could burn off energy was important, especially for the survival of the kennel area in the house.
Juniper would be happy to tear things up, including her crate, and Finn would be happy to eat whatever Juniper tore up.
Maya and Josh had made plans for a nice kennel with plenty of room when they rebuilt the cabin.
“Working dogs,” Maya muttered under her breath, walking inside as Josh came in the garage door. Both dogs ran over to him, tails wagging. Juniper started jumping up and down yipping in joy. Finn sat in front of Josh, staring adoringly.
“I’m glad to see you too,” Josh said to the dogs. Then, looking at Maya, he said, “And no offense to these two, but I’m really glad to see you. I missed you.”
Maya grinned and, with the dogs between them, leaned over and kissed Josh, taking a while before parting, savoring the moment with him.
“I missed you too,” she said. “Let me put these two away.”
Hearing the words put away, Finn went to his bed and lay down. Juniper bounded over, lifted a paw, and smacked it down on Finn’s head. Maya knew the Mal wanted to play, but she felt sorry for Finn. “Come on, Juniper. Go kennel.”
Juniper tilted her head and then sighed, taking her paw off Finn, and meandered over to her kennel.
“Way to take your time,” Maya said.
Juniper’s ears drooped some more as she entered her kennel area and then turned her back to everyone, peering over her shoulder until she knew that despite her sulking, Maya wouldn’t be opening the gate.
“You too, Finn,” Maya said, opening the other kennel door. “You’re a working dog too.”
Finn went to his spot without any trouble. Maya figured after his certification and Juniper’s pestering, he was ready to rest.
“How about me?” Josh asked with a grin, exposing his dimple that Maya loved. “Do I have to go kennel?”
“Maybe. Depends,” Maya said with a chuckle as she went over and, without dogs between them, gave Josh a better kiss.
Her heart rate increased as she smelled his cologne and his arms wrapped around her.
“I missed you. A lot. I figured, rather than go out to the Black Bear Café, we should stay home. I don’t want to leave tonight.
I hope you don’t mind, but I took the liberty of picking up our favorites from the café and bringing them home.
I’m keeping everything warm in the oven because I’m hungry for other things first.”
“No complaints here,” Josh said, pulling her close and nodding toward the bedroom. “But before we go in there, I need to talk with you. Maybe we should eat first.”
“Sure,” Maya said. “I need to tell you about the latest note from Eric too. I’ll get our food while you fill me in.”
Josh sat down at the table and didn’t speak at first.
“What’s wrong?” Maya asked, now starting to feel concerned.
Josh let out a big sigh. “Amber called me today.”
“What? Why? She’s not back in town, is she?”
“I don’t know. Has she contacted you?” Josh asked.
“No, what did she want?” Maya started plating their dinners.
“I wasn’t going to talk to her, but she brought up a case that involved me in Chicago.
There’s supposedly a prosecutor that wants some evidence I have—pictures and notes.
We were supposed to meet outside of town near the turnoff and parking area for Dead Man’s Pass.
I went there and waited, but no one showed up. ”
“She didn’t call you from her phone?” Maya asked, placing the food on the table. They sat down and Maya started to eat. Josh stared at his food.
“No, she called me from another number.”
“Why do I get the feeling there’s more?” Maya asked, noticing Josh picking at his food. Not his usual big-guy appetite.
“Because there is. It’s the case.” Josh set his fork back down.
Maya hadn’t seen him like this before. She knew he had demons, but he had faced his for much longer than her. She always thought he had better control, but whatever this case was about, it bothered Josh. “Do you want to talk about it?”
“Yes. I promised I would always tell you everything. It was a homicide, after I was gone from the department. I found the victim. I’d grown up with her.
I was high and not thinking straight, so I acted like I was still a cop and took pictures and notes.
I also called 911. I kept all the pictures and notes, but I don’t know why.
It’s not like it’s a case I had as an officer where I could still be subpoenaed or something. ”
“I’m sorry that you found a friend murdered. That must have been terrible,” Maya said. This was definitely a part of Josh’s past she didn’t know much about. He didn’t like to talk about when he was at his lowest. She didn’t blame him.
“It was, but there’s more…”
Maya stayed quiet and let him have a moment. She could tell this was hard for him.
“She was my dealer, Maya. And the governor’s daughter. I think her dad is a senator now. I don’t know. My family has probably stayed in touch. I’ve tried to distance myself from anything Chicago.”
“What was Amber’s interest?” Maya asked.
“She claims some prosecutor wants to reopen the case, that the wrong person was convicted. She wanted to meet me and get the evidence.” Josh pointed at an envelope that he’d set on the counter.
“I pulled into the area, where we’d agreed to meet, but I was late.
I glanced at my phone, but didn’t have any messages from anyone.
The phone had bars, showing I had service.
I gave Amber another twenty minutes and then headed home, because I worried Amber might’ve called me out there to try to get you alone. ”
“She’s lied before—she was probably pranking you.”
“I know, and I feel like an idiot.”
“Don’t. She’s a manipulator. And she’s good at it,” Maya said.
“Thank you for listening and understanding,” Josh said. “I think the hardest part is all the memories this brought back. Things I’ve worked hard to move past. I know I can’t change anything I did, but I’m not that person anymore. It’s like the old me keeps haunting the new me.”
“You’re not that person anymore,” Maya agreed. “But I understand. About the haunting part. It’s a part of our lives and some memories hit hard.”
“Speaking of memories, you mentioned another note from Eric.”
She nodded. “Yes, he didn’t just leave a note this time.”
“What did he leave?”
“A picture.” Maya stood and walked to the desk in the living room. She tenderly picked up the photo and then brought it back, setting it down in front of Josh. “That’s me as a baby and my mother.”
“Every time I see a picture of your mother, I’m blown away by how much you look like her. She was beautiful, just like you.”
“Thanks,” Maya said, sitting back down. Now she was picking at her food too. “I know I should probably turn it in for evidence to help catch Eric, but there’s a part of me that doesn’t want to.”
“I don’t see why you’d have to,” Josh said.
“I mean, it’s not like any of these notes are convicting him of a crime.
We’ve only let the FBI and the marshals know because he’s a felon on the run.
I think you should keep this. If it turns out there’s something with this picture that’s needed for evidence, you can always turn it over later. ”
“Thanks,” Maya said, leaning back in her chair. “I love it, and I don’t have much from my mother. You know, I’m not that hungry, at least not for food. You want to quit talking and make up for some lost time?”
“I’d love to,” Josh said, standing up, walking to Maya’s chair and gently pushing a strand of her long auburn hair behind her ear. “That sounds perfect to me.”