Chapter Fifty-Six
They all stared at the locked door. It was steel, so it would be harder than a wood door for bullets to get through, but still possible.
“A muzzle strike isn’t a bad idea,” Kessler said.
“What is that?” Rory asked.
“I’ll put a muzzle on Juniper. That way when we make entry, she doesn’t apprehend Bianca by accident.
Instead, she’ll still rush like she’s going to apprehend, but Juniper will knock them apart.
We haven’t trained much on this scenario, but I think it’s our best option and Juniper can do it.
We’ll have to be right behind her to constrain Laura and arrest her. ”
Maya fought back the fear and apprehension building in her, knowing that she was putting Juniper at risk.
This was where being a handler was hard.
This was Juniper’s job and what she was meant to do, but it was terrifying to think of anything happening to her.
But it could also mean saving Bianca. “It’s dangerous.
For Juniper. For all of us. We’ll try talking Laura out first, but I’m betting we’ll have to go in.
Maybe there’s a way to distract her. I wish the hostage team was here, but they’re not and we need to save Bianca.
We know Laura has the gun—any other weapons? ”
“I don’t know about anything else,” Josh said. “But I wouldn’t put it past her to have more. I’ll back you up.”
“No, you won’t,” Maya said. “Not this time. Rory and Kessler will help. You have a conflict with Bianca, and technically you’re still a fugitive.”
She thought Josh might argue, but instead he said, “You’re right. I’m staying, though, and if things don’t go as planned, I’m going to help.”
“Deal. Rory, will you go get the muzzle out of my vehicle?” Maya asked. “Take Elena with you too. She can sit my patrol unit with it running and the heat on.”
Rory nodded. She and Elena headed out into the snow.
“Let’s see if we can talk her into letting Bianca go first,” Agent Kessler said. “Before we put Juniper and ourselves in danger.”
He walked over to the door and stood to the side.
Maya, Juniper, and Josh had moved to where they would be out of the way if Laura started shooting.
Kessler knocked on the door. “Laura, I know you’re in there and scared, but we need you to let your hostage go.
If you allow her to come out unharmed, we’ll discuss further options for you. ”
Nothing. Silence.
“Laura,” Agent Kessler said again. “If you don’t come out, we’re going to send in the dog.”
There was silence and then Laura said, “I want my lawyer.”
“I can help you with that, but you need to let Bianca go,” Agent Kessler said.
“No,” Laura answered.
Juniper glanced at Maya, and Maya swore she had a doggy grin on her face.
Maya knew that unlike the humans in the room, Juniper was hoping the person in the bathroom wouldn’t comply.
Rory came back into the building and handed Maya Juniper’s muzzle.
Maya placed it on her dog, praying that everything would go as planned and no one would get injured… or worse.
“This is your last chance,” Agent Kessler said.
“Go to hell,” Laura answered.
“Okay.” Kessler stood back.
Josh had found the keys to the buildings when he and Eric were in the dorms and given them to Maya.
Knowing that the bathroom was the one spot in this building where someone could barricade themselves, she had made sure she knew which key went to which door.
Maya handed the keys to Agent Kessler. She and Juniper went to one side while Kessler slid the key in and started to slowly turn it.
Maya locked eyes with him and gave a little nod.
Kessler turned the handle as Juniper flew into the bathroom.
Maya and Kessler rushed behind Juniper. The Mal shot forward with incredible speed in a short amount of space and built up momentum to hit Laura and Bianca.
The strike had perfect timing and the two split apart, each falling to the side and onto the floor.
Juniper spied the gun, and even though she couldn’t apprehend, she kept slamming into Laura until the gun was dropped.
Maya took the opportunity to grab Laura’s arm, twist it back, and put her in a lock.
Laura started screaming, but Juniper stayed by Maya and continued to bark and growl. Maya was able to get handcuffs on her.
Rory was there to assist too. They stood Laura up and walked her out of the bathroom. Kessler was helping Bianca. Josh stepped forward reaching for his sister and pulling her into an embrace.
Maya breathed a sigh of relief. Bianca was safe. So was Juniper.
“That muzzle strike worked perfectly,” Agent Kessler said with a smile. “You mind patting her down for weapons since you’re a female officer?”
“I don’t mind at all,” Maya said. She took off the muzzle and put Juniper on a stay. Maya asked her to guard as well. If Laura tried anything, Juniper would happily come in and help again.
After frisking Laura, Maya didn’t find anything and stood back. Agent Kessler grabbed Laura by her arm and marched her to his vehicle.
“It’s going to be another long night,” Maya said to Josh, who still had his arm around Bianca as the protective brother. Juniper stood by him, wagging her tail and giving Josh kisses on his hand.
Bianca stepped forward and hugged Maya. “Thank you for saving me.”
Maya didn’t know what to say. Words left her, but she was able to get out, “You’re welcome.”
“Let’s get out of here,” Josh said. “I’m ready to go home and I’m sure Bianca is too.”
Juniper gave a quick bark and Maya smiled.
“We both want you home. Let me get Juniper back to her compartment and then we can start sorting through this mess. Bianca, I’m sorry, but you’re going to have to talk to someone and write up a statement.
I know that’s probably not something you want to do. ”
“I can do it,” Bianca said, with a slight shiver showing that she was doing her best to be brave but was shaken.
“Rory will help you to her patrol vehicle and get you to the station,” Josh said. “I’ll check on you soon.”
Bianca gave a small smile and went out the door with Rory.
Deputy Wilson was still administering medical aid to Tony. Maya and Josh went over to help him.
“I haven’t had a pulse since I started CPR,” he said.
Maya leaned over and gently touched Deputy Wilson’s arm. “He’s gone. No pulse, and look at his eyes. No breathing, plus the amount of blood is too much. It’s okay, you can stop.”
“Okay,” the young deputy said, conflicted feelings showing on his face as he stood.
Maya stared at Tony and then turned away, understanding what Deputy Wilson was experiencing.
Death. It was a funny thing. Somehow at the end of the day, no matter how or why, she knew that death would find them all.
Once that had scared her, but the longer she worked in this job and after serving in Afghanistan, she was beginning to realize how out of their hands it was.
“Come on,” Josh said as if he’d read her mind. “Let’s get out of here. We need to clear it for Miranda and the other techs anyway. Plus, I’m still technically under arrest and need to get cleared.”
They stepped outside, where the snow was falling softly as the wind had died down. The beauty of the mountains versus what had happened. Another part of life Maya would always think about. How could there be so much beauty along with so much tragedy?
Arriving at Maya’s vehicle, she opened Juniper’s compartment and the Mal jumped in with no hesitation. Maya took off the muzzle, grabbed her blanket, and put it in the compartment for Juniper. Giving a contented sigh, Juniper turned a few circles and then curled up on the blanket.
Josh pulled Maya aside. “Before we get busy doing everything we need to do, there’s something I need from you.”
“What’s that?” Maya said.
Josh leaned over and gave her a kiss. Maya wrapped her arms around him, returning the kiss, not wanting to let go. Her body warmed even though they were outside, and Maya let herself go.
Finally parting, she stared at Josh. “I love you.”
“I love you too.”
* * *
Maya and Rory helped Agent Kessler with the scene, doing everything from taping it off to calling Lucas to come help.
Ian was given medical treatment for Juniper’s bite.
Laura was fine after Juniper had knocked her down.
Maya was happy to see Laura in handcuffs knowing the next stop for her was jail booking.
Agent Kessler had agreed to let Maya drive Josh back to the sheriff’s office to turn himself in and be cleared of his charges.
None of them could be transported together or with Elena or Bianca, so Maya was relieved Lucas could come help too.
Pops had called her and said with Ian and Laura arriving, the cells were full.
There would be no transport tonight due to the weather.
He also filled Maya in about the conversation with Arianna, the gang member.
“I think we still have a killer to catch,” Maya told him, telling him what Josh and Elena had said about Laura claiming she didn’t kill Sydney. “They believe her, but she won’t talk.”
“Yeah, I heard she wanted her lawyer. In fact, she asked Spencer to represent her, but he said no, obviously. I guess we’ll get her transported when the weather clears and she can figure out her lawyer situation later.
I’m having Deputy Wilson and Rory pick up Dale and Miles and bring them in for questioning. I want to see if they’ll talk.”
“I’ll come as soon as I can,” Maya said. “I’m just doing what Agent Kessler needs me to, but mostly he’s just muttering about what a nightmare this is.”
“He’s right,” Pops said. “Talk later.”
Maya hung up and went over to where Josh was standing with Bianca, who wrapped her in a big hug. “Thank you again for saving me.”
“I’m just relieved that you’re okay,” Maya said.
They stepped apart and Bianca looked at them, shaking her head.
“What?” Josh asked.
“You two are nuts,” Bianca said.
“I agree,” Maya said with a laugh, “but why do you say that?”
“Because you two want to do this crazy job for a living. I’ll be fine if I never see another situation like this one.”
“True,” Josh said. “But I can’t imagine doing anything else.”
“Me either,” Maya said.
Elena had walked over to the group, wrapped in a blanket. “Thank you for all you’ve done.”
“You’re welcome,” Maya and Josh said in unison.
“I can’t wait to take a shower, but I was wondering. Could we go to the sheriff’s office and listen in when Lucas questions Dale and Miles Bradford?”
“I don’t see why not,” Maya said. “Let me check in with Agent Kessler. If he doesn’t need me anymore, then we can head back to the station.”