Chapter Thirty-Eight
Maya was at her patrol vehicle when Josh’s family arrived.
She hadn’t even thought to call Spencer when she heard about the jail transport crashing, but Pops had probably filled them in.
Doc’s coroner vehicle was right behind them and pulled ahead.
The road had been closed until the deceased victims could be removed from the scene and the jail van pulled out by a tow truck with a very long winch.
Maya waved at Doc. She’d catch up with him later.
For now, she needed to talk to Josh’s family, although she wasn’t certain what she could tell them.
A part of her, as Josh’s girlfriend, wanted to fill them in completely, but the law enforcement side of her wanted to be vague and not tell them too much.
Another vehicle parked behind Josh’s family and Maya paused.
The senator and his family? Why were they constantly showing up?
Although Maya knew why. They wanted to know what was going on with this investigation.
Or at least the senator wanted to know. His son would probably stand there and say nothing while his wife would exclaim over the poor victims. It seemed to be their MO.
Where were their security guys? Maya was wondering what they were doing at the time of the hit-and-run.
“Be patient,” she muttered to herself. Patience was something she was always working on. Dr. Meyers would tell her that this was a good opportunity to work on her skills.
Maya closed her patrol vehicle’s door. Juniper started barking indignantly. The Mal had been certain that Maya was going to get her out and work her.
“I promise, I’ll be right back,” Maya assured her.
Bianca was the first to get out of the car and come over to Maya. “Is it Josh? Is he okay?”
Maya didn’t answer at first, trying to pick her words carefully.
“Oh, God. It is him, isn’t it?” Bianca asked.
Maya knew she better speak up fast, as Josh’s parents arrived with the Bradfords right on their tail. “There’s been an accident and there are a few fatalities, but not Josh.”
“He’s okay? Where is he?” Josh’s mother, Natalia, asked.
“That’s the thing,” Maya said, again trying to think about what to say. “Josh is missing.”
“Missing?” Natalia asked.
“Yes, but we’re going to find him. I’m sure he’s fine,” Maya said, trying to believe what she said.
“How are you going to find him?” Natalia asked. “He could be anywhere out here in the mountains. What if he’s injured? Why did he have to move to Colorado?”
Ignoring the part about moving to Colorado, Maya said, “I have Juniper. She’s the best and she loves tracking.
She also loves Josh. She’ll find him. If he’s injured, then she’ll take me to him.
I also have his dog, Finn, coming with another officer who knows how to work him.
Between Finn and Juniper, we can trade off all night long if need be until he’s located.
I need to get to work. The best thing you can do is go back to where you’re staying.
As soon as I know something, I’ll contact you. I promise.”
Natalia nodded, tears streaming down her face. Laura stepped over and embraced her, telling Natalia she was certain it would be okay. The senator was already back in their vehicle, on the phone, and he seemed upset. Maybe someone had called him to say that Josh had escaped.
Maya needed to find him first. And then Elena. Two missing people in the mountains were like a needle in a haystack. Luckily, with both Finn and Juniper, she had a great way of locating them.
* * *
Elena was munching on a granola bar, unaware of what Josh had seen. He unholstered his gun and she turned to him, eyes wide. He put a single finger up to his lips, hoping she wouldn’t scream.
“We’ve got company,” he whispered.
Elena shoved the granola bar in her pocket and Josh waved her over to him, relieved when she came. She was so tiny compared to him, but she’d proven that she was a survivor.
“You still have your knife?” he whispered.
“Yes.”
“Good. I saw them on the back deck coming around to the front. There’s a door to another deck off the master bedroom. Let’s go out that way. You have everything you need?”
Elena slipped on the jacket Josh had found for her and her backpack. “Yes.”
“Let’s go. Stay behind me. They still have their weapon, and if I need to, I’m going to shoot them. Okay? I don’t want to scare you.”
“Got it.”
Josh and Elena crept down the hallway and he saw the door where they needed to go. The only flaw with their plan was that the window shades were down and he’d need to put one up to get out the French doors. That could alert someone as to where they were.
“Stay here in the doorway until I get those blinds up,” Josh told Elena. He was glad when she did what he told her to, no questions asked.
He raised them, slowly and carefully. There was no one that he could see.
Quietly turning the lock and opening the door, Josh cleared right outside.
He didn’t like it. They were sitting ducks here, but they needed to keep moving.
Obviously, whoever this was maybe had some tracking skills and had followed him to this house.
He waved to Elena to come. Quick and nimble on her feet, she was by his side in a heartbeat.
Josh signaled to her to stay behind him, glad to see she had her knife ready.
It was as good as it was going to get for his backup.
Plus, too many people underestimated knives and how fast someone could stab another person.
Elena was agile with good skills, based on the dead gang member she’d left behind.
They crept down the stairs, Elena staying right behind Josh. They came around the corner and face-to-face with one of the people. The man turned, shotgun muzzle pointing up. Josh didn’t hesitate—he knew the man wouldn’t either. He fired two quick rounds, hitting him center mass.
Josh wanted to grab the shotgun, but as he headed toward the man, another person beat him to the weapon.
A woman. She turned and had the gun pointed at them and Josh fired at her, but missed.
He and Elena ran—his only thought was finding cover before the lady shot at them.
Elena stayed right behind Josh as they headed into the thick woods before they pulled up, both out of breath.
“Who the hell were they?” Elena asked.
“I don’t know, but I’m certain they were the ones who crashed the jail transport and killed the guards. I saw a man and woman. Come on, we need to keep moving. I think we’re safe to walk now, but we need to keep our ears open tonight. Somehow they found us and I don’t like that.”
They took off on foot and Josh found his way back to the creek, but made sure they stayed about twelve feet away from it.
He didn’t want to step in mud or anything else that would give away their position.
Elena walked next to him. Josh really wanted to ask her about the case, why she’d reopened it, and learn everything she knew, but he also didn’t want to make any noise.
He’d find out more later. For now, they needed to get to Maya’s property and the camper. There was more food and water there and maybe they would have a chance to talk.