Chapter Twenty-One
Maya stayed and helped with anything extra, including going back to the house where Juniper had tracked and putting up a small piece of plywood over the window.
Not only did the house need to be protected from the elements, but a critter could break in through the plastic.
She and Deputy Wilson ran crime-scene tape around the property and around the tire tread on the street.
He agreed to stay there until Miranda or one of the CBI crime-scene techs could come process the house.
Maya felt bad for the homeowners. They would come this summer and need a window repair and a deep cleaning to get fingerprint dust off everything.
When Maya returned to the main crime-scene area, she saw that the SAR teams had arrived.
There were a couple more dogs. Even though Lucas was in charge, he’d asked Pops to talk to the search-and-rescue volunteers since he knew the areas and the team members.
Maya approached the tent someone had put up as Pops was finishing talking about the situation.
“I’m short-staffed,” he was saying. “I have a deputy who can go out with one team, but my other deputy is securing another scene that pertains to this case. I’ve called a couple of other deputies who were off duty today. They should be here soon and will be able to accompany you.
“I’ve put in a request for a helicopter and they’ve agreed, but with the sunny day, there are a lot of shadows and that can make it difficult to see anyone.
It would be nice if the day became cloudy.
We believe the missing person is Elena Pierce, but we’re not certain yet.
We also believe she witnessed this crime.
I don’t want anyone else to get hurt, so if at any point, you don’t feel comfortable or come across someone suspicious, do what you think is best. You do not have to engage.
You all have radios. Use them and call us if you need to. Any questions?”
Maya observed the SAR team members. They were avid outdoorsmen and women. They were the people she would want to come looking for her if she was ever missing.
“Okay then,” Pops said. “If there’s no questions, let’s get started. We’ll search until nighttime and then evaluate the situation and any leads. I don’t want all of you out in the wilderness when it’s dark if we can help it.”
Maya heard several people agree and then the teams split up and headed out in different directions.
She hoped they could find Elena, or at least some more clues that would lead them to her.
If that was truly who they were looking for.
Maya had to remember they didn’t know for sure, but the probability was high.
Juniper had been asleep for a while and so far, the blanket had survived, but Maya knew there would come a point where the Mal was rested and ready to go again.
She started over to her patrol SUV to check on her dog when a couple cars and a news van pulled up by the yellow tape and stopped.
She rolled her eyes at the news van. Not what they needed right now, but a homicide drew reporters out.
She turned her attention back to the other cars.
Maya recognized the first vehicle, but not the second.
In the first vehicle was Josh’s family. Josh had stayed over by the small tent, helping with anything the SAR team needed from handing out water bottles to making sure everyone had their radios on the same channel.
Had he called his dad to come? Did Josh think he would need him as Lucas’ crime techs gathered more evidence with Miranda?
Stop it, Maya told herself. You don’t know that he called. This is a small town and gossip travels fast. Plus, Spencer knows a little bit about what’s going on from Josh contacting him and who knows what Pops said. But who’s in the other car?
In answer to her question, the Bradfords stepped out of the other vehicle. The whole crew was getting ready to go under the crime-scene tape. Maya rushed down the hill toward them.
“Stop,” she said. The words came out harsher than she meant them to, but she couldn’t have them coming into the scene. That would mess things up. Spencer and the senator, being lawyers, should know better. Luckily, they all listened and waited until Maya could get closer.
“Thanks,” she said. She peered around Spencer, a big guy and where Josh had inherited his size. Bianca stood behind him. “Bianca?”
“Yep, it’s me, sis.”
Maya stepped under the tape and gave Josh’s sister a big hug. There was a time that hugging was awkward for Maya, but now she was used to it and she felt Bianca was like a sister to her. She’d never had siblings, so Maya enjoyed time with Bianca. “I thought you weren’t coming for a few more days.”
“I wasn’t, but then I was able to finish a work project early and I decided to come out and enjoy some Colorado time.”
“Glad you’re here,” Maya said. “I’m sorry I yelled at all of you, but this is an active crime scene. You can’t come under the tape.”
“No problem,” Spencer said. “We should have known better.”
“If you want to see Josh, he’s in an area you can enter. Follow me.”
They all trailed behind her. Maya was both annoyed and curious.
Right now, the last thing they needed at a crime scene was more people.
She glanced toward the news van. They were still setting up.
Someone was going to have to monitor them as well.
Once one reporter showed up, it wasn’t long before there were more.
Usually in the mountains and in the small town of Pinecone Junction, they didn’t have many people who came to see what was happening.
That was starting to change, since Pinecone Junction had experienced more crime recently.
It seemed the town was going through growing pains.
Even the small mountain towns weren’t immune to criminals realizing they could head to the mountains to escape.
It was easier to disappear when you had millions of acres to roam.
Look at my own father. Who knows if he’ll ever be caught, and I even know he’s in the area.
Feeling like a mother goose with her goslings following her, Maya arrived at the tent with the Coltens and the Bradfords right behind her. Pops gave her an inquisitive look and as Josh noticed the crew arriving, his face tightened.
Don’t shoot the messenger.
“Look who came to visit us,” Maya said.
“At an active crime scene,” Josh said, irritation creeping into his voice.
Maya shrugged and stepped back. She knew enough to get out of the middle.
“Sorry to intrude like this,” Dale said. “But I heard there was a murder and maybe a missing person and they might be from Illinois?”
“Dad, did you tell Dale this? You know better,” Josh said. “You can’t tell people about an ongoing investigation.”
Maya knew he was annoyed and upset. She went over to him and gently placed her hand on his arm. “Maybe Pops should deal with what information is given out right now.”
“Yeah,” Josh sighed. “I think that’s a good idea.”
Pops stepped forward and shook Dale’s hand. “Thanks for your concern. I can’t share much with you. I’m sorry.”
“I understand. If you need anything, though, please let me know as one of Illinois’ senators.”
Maya could see that Pops was also annoyed. Politics. He always said he hated politics and the fact he had to even run in an election for sheriff always annoyed him. Of course, no one ever ran against him.
“Thank you. I appreciate that,” Pops said as a big gust of wind whipped up and blew dirt at them.
Maya and everyone else had to turn away and let the wind hit their backs to protect their eyes. The small grains of dirt felt like someone was shooting her with little pellets. The wind died back down as quickly as it came up, but a slight breeze remained.
“Oh, that poor girl,” the senator’s wife, Laura, exclaimed. “She’s lost in these woods and there’s wind and cold. I hope she can be found before it gets dark.”
I appreciate her concern, but something doesn’t seem genuine.
Maybe she’s learned to act this way since her husband is a politician.
Maya kept her thoughts to herself. She also noticed the woman seemed like she was trying to fit in with the mountain environment a little too much.
Her perfectly manicured nails, hair that didn’t move even with the wind, caked makeup that covered some wrinkles, and diamond jewelry didn’t go with the flannel shirt, jeans, and boots she was wearing.
Especially not the diamond tennis bracelet.
Maya wouldn’t have been surprised if Laura normally wore a white pantsuit or something along those lines.
Not that she had anything against wearing makeup or fine clothing—it just wasn’t the usual style in the area.
Plus, wearing any kind of jewelry, especially diamonds, out in the mountains was just asking to lose something expensive and meaningful where it would never be found again.
Their son, Miles, stood behind everyone, hands in his expensive coat, and didn’t say a word.
He probably wasn’t that much younger or was even maybe the same age as Maya and Josh, but he came across as almost a teenager—like he’d never left high school.
A sullen expression stayed on his face, and he kept staring away from everyone, absolutely no interest in what was going on around him.
With his leg twitching nervously, he pulled out his phone a couple times and checked it.
Finally, he put the device away and put a piece of gum in his mouth, chewing hard.
He seems like he’s coming down off a high. Sydney supposedly sold Josh drugs. Maybe she got her brother hooked too. The two extra guys must be his security details. The former officers Josh worked with.
“Are you the security detail?” Maya asked the extra men with the senator. They nodded in response and continued to survey the surroundings.
“Yes,” one of the men answered. He was about Josh’s size and height. He didn’t say anything further, but kept looking around.
Josh glared at the man who answered. He had asked about the men working for the senator at breakfast and seemed to know them. Yet another piece of his past coming back to haunt him. Now she really wanted to speak with Josh alone and find out more.
“I asked them to come back on protection because of all this danger,” Laura said. “I can’t believe someone was murdered. I didn’t think things like that happened in the mountains.”
Maya raised an eyebrow. It wasn’t like they were in danger.
They weren’t the ones lost in the woods or burned in a slash pile.
Although if Amber was the victim, this could tie into their daughter, which made the Bradfords showing up a little bit suspicious in her mind.
“This is an active crime scene and investigation. I can’t say anything further right now. ”
“I hope you can figure out who did this,” Laura said.
Maya nodded. The day darkened as the sun set another notch and was blocked by some of the mountain peaks. A few rays illuminated up against the clouds. Normally she would love to watch a sunset like this, but right now, there was a missing person to find and a killer to catch.
“Oh dear,” Laura exclaimed again, pulling her jacket tight around herself. “It’s going to be so cold tonight. Dale, you need to do something to help find this girl.”
“Seriously, ma’am,” Pops said. “We have a good team out looking for her. If anyone can find her, it’s them.
I appreciate your offer of help, but right now, what I need the most is for all of you to head back to your Airbnb tonight.
I can keep Spencer updated and let you know if we find the missing person. ”
Spencer spoke up. “I think we’re all set for tomorrow, Sheriff. Make sure you get some rest so you are ready for your day in court.”
Maya swallowed hard. The rescue mission had helped her avoid thinking about the next day, when Pops’ trial would start.
Hopefully Josh’s dad was as good of a lawyer as he was supposed to be.
Josh had come over and stood next to Maya while his family and the Bradfords were talking to Pops.
She leaned into him now, feeling his strength and a bit guilty because while she needed him, the evidence they had found was still going through her mind.
The stocking cap and sports drink bottle could possibly be circumstantial or even a coincidence. But the gun was most likely Josh’s, and if it could be confirmed as the murder weapon, that was not circumstantial. That was strong evidence. Hopefully Josh wouldn’t need his father’s help too.