Chapter Eight
Juniper came back over to Maya and shoved the ball against her leg, pushing it, begging for Maya to throw it for her. It was
hard to turn her down. If there weren’t a fire heading their way and a possible kidnap victim, then she would have given in
and thrown the ball a few more times.
“Sorry, girly,” Maya said. “You need to drop it.”
Juniper tilted her head, asking if Maya really wanted her to do that.
“Drop it,” Maya repeated. With a heavy sigh, Juniper spat the toy out. “You get to track again.”
Juniper perked up. Maya clipped Juniper’s leash back on and they returned to the trail. She hoped they would be able to find
the scent again and that they could find this missing teen. Backup would be good, but this fire was moving fast and by the
time someone arrived, everyone could be dead. Maya needed to find this couple and girl. Juniper would be her backup.
Whoever these people were and whatever reason they took the girl, they were certainly not betting on a K-9 finding this phone.
There was no cell signal in the area, so before Maya cast Juniper out, she radioed dispatch.
“This is FS 28. I believe we have a kidnapped child. I’ll be tracking with K-9 Juniper to see if I can locate the missing child.”
There was a moment of silence as one of the dispatchers probably had to stop thinking about the fire and switch gears.
“Roger that, FS 28. Be advised, the fire is moving fast in your direction.”
“10–4. There’s a phone number to trace. Might be a relative of the missing child or someone who can provide more information.”
Maya recited the phone number and signed off. Once they were back in cell service, Maya decided she might also call the number.
Maybe even with good news that she and Juniper had found this girl. Maya turned to Juniper.
“Let’s see if you can go find ’em,” Maya said, allowing some slack in the leash and sending Juniper out in the direction where
she’d last had a scent. Juniper’s body language immediately changed. “Good girl. Let’s go. Find ’em.”
Muscles tight and nose to the ground, Juniper lunged ahead. Maya was ready for the sudden movement that was like a racehorse
coming out of a starting gate. When they’d first partnered, Juniper had taken Maya by surprise with the way she shot off starting
a track. Now, Maya was ready and fell into a steady jog to keep up.
They wound their way through the trees. Maya had to stay quick on her feet as rocks jutted up on the trail or tree roots provided a tripping hazard.
Luckily, she was used to this environment and able to navigate it while keeping up with her dog.
The smell of smoke increased and a few ashes flew by them as a breeze picked up.
Please don’t get too windy. I need Juniper to be able to keep tracking and less wind will help the firefighters gain control
over this fire.
Maya’s radio crackled.
“FS 28. Please evacuate immediately.”
She ignored them for now. The area she suspected the couple might be holding the girl was not far ahead.
Juniper surprised her, though, with a sudden turn on another trail. Maya kept up with her dog, but knew that the fire was
gaining momentum and they’d need to turn around soon. And she’d also need to check in with the dispatchers. If she didn’t
radio back that would create another situation with an officer not answering.
Just a little bit farther. I have to try. There’s lives at stake.
They continued their steady pace until Juniper arrived at an area where it was obvious someone had been camping. There were
tire tracks indicating a vehicle had been there too. While this wasn’t the area Maya was thinking of, there was access to
several roads. Disappointment that no one was there flooded her. The kidnappers had probably been spooked when they were seen
at the campground.
Maya coughed as the air thickened with smoke. It was dense and to the point she and Juniper needed to get out of there. It wasn’t good for either of their lungs, but with Juniper sucking in air to work, it was even worse for her.
“FS 28 to dispatch.”
“Go, FS 28.”
“Campground is empty. I’m calling the search for now and heading out,” Maya said, trying to keep her message short to keep
airwaves open. Normally, being in such a small town and mountain area, she didn’t worry about that, but right now with the
fire, there would be a lot of chatter.
“Roger that, FS 28.”
The only good thing about not finding anyone was that if they followed the roads that led to this area, then they’d be driving
away from the fire. The roads were closed by other agencies like State Patrol. If they could get more information, she could
issue a BOLO. Maybe they’d get lucky and the kidnappers would drive by one of the officers manning the road. When there was
a kidnapped child, time was of the essence.
Abigail Harper leaned back against the cold, drab concrete block in her prison cell. A cell phone was tucked into a hole in
her mattress. She’d just received an update. She’d told Jake and Vicki that the local officers still on her payroll had seen
the little snot vaping every day during her summer school lunch hour. Taking her had been easy, but the stupid girl did have
more gumption than she’d expected. Other than that, everything was going according to plan.
Abigail had been sitting in this hellhole over the winter waiting for her trial and that was only going to end one way.
The evidence in her case was as concrete as the walls surrounding her.
Being a former detective, she knew that.
But she also knew the system and people.
Everyone had a breaking point and it often had to do with money—especially in the justice system.
Sure, there was money to be made in the right career, but there were also a lot of jobs that didn’t make squat. Hardworking
people came into them hoping to make a difference only to find out they’d be working long hours with individuals who hated
and resented them and bosses who didn’t give a shit. That’s where Abigail knew she had an advantage with understanding the
system.
And she’d found a guard who fit the profile along with wearing the same size clothing. That would become important in Abigail’s
plan.
The first time she’d met the young guard, Lexie, she knew she’d found her target. Lexie was new and getting used to dealing
with a tough population. For the most part, other detainees waiting for their trials would cooperate. It helped their case,
but there were others who were indifferent. Maybe they knew they were headed for life without parole. Or maybe they really
didn’t care. Abigail understood that. She was headed for a long sentence based on the crimes she’d committed. She’d be a tottering
old lady by the time she got out. Unless she did something about her situation.
She’d helped influence and control some of the women who were giving Lexie a hard time. In exchange for keeping them in line,
Lexie brought Abigail a cell phone.
And that was how Abigail was able to get in touch with Jake and Vicki. They owed her. She’d told them that if they would take Hope Dawson and bring her to Colorado, Abigail would never bother them again. Their debt to her would be repaid.
They’d stupidly agreed.
That was the thing about criminals. They were all stupid. Of course, Abigail knew the irony of that since she was sitting
in scrubs marking her as a federal prisoner. But she was intelligent and that’s why she needed to and could get out. She wanted
revenge on a lot of people, but there were two in particular who she had in her sights—Maya Thompson and her father, Eric
Torres. They were the ones responsible for her arrest.
Little Hope Dawson was Eric’s granddaughter and Maya’s niece. Maya was the do-gooder type who would go to great lengths to
save someone—especially a kid. The one thing Abigail knew for certain about Maya was that she suffered from survivor’s guilt.
And that was perfect for Abigail’s plan. She couldn’t wait to make the call to the Western River sheriff’s office and say
she had Hope Dawson hostage.
She’d played the plan over and over in her head and knew that Maya would want to use her stupid mutt to help. Then when Maya
learned the girl was her niece, the urge to save someone would kick in harder. The survivor’s guilt would drive Maya to do
things other officers wouldn’t. Abigail was counting on that.
With any luck, Eric would join in, but Eric was also a fugitive so Abigail wasn’t as certain about him. Although she did think that Eric was the type to accept his own death, but not the death of his loved ones. She might get lucky and get them all.
There was one thing she was certain about and that was wanting revenge. No one put Abigail in prison or on trial without paying.
Especially not some female officer whose partner was a mutt. And she was certainly not rotting in prison the rest of her life.
The sound of boots on the hard floor interrupted her thoughts. Abigail pulled the phone out of its hiding place and put it
in her pocket. She took a few cocky steps to the front of the cell by the door and waited.
Two guards arrived.
“Hello, officers,” Abgail said. “What’s up?”
Lexie pulled the keys out and unlocked the door. “It’s your lucky day. You’re getting moved to minimal security.”
“That is lucky,” Abigail said, smiling. Lexie had come through to get her transferred. In less than twenty-four hours, she’d
be free. “Very lucky, indeed.”
Her plan was in motion. Soon, Eric Torres and Maya Thompson would lose everything—including their lives.