Chapter Forty-Four
Maya had assumed that Abigail wouldn’t comply. She ducked behind the large boulder as Abigail turned and fired two shots in
her direction. Luckily, the shots went wide. Maybe Abigail didn’t know where Maya was now. Maya peered up over the boulder.
Abigail was waiting for her.
As soon as Maya’s head appeared, two more shots were fired. Maya crouched and shot back from the side of the rock. She peeked
down the canyon and saw Juniper was breaking her stay to come help. Maya gave her dog the hand signal to stop and stay. Juniper
listened perfectly, but the thing was, Juniper was now in a bad spot and an easy target if Abigail noticed her.
She needed to get Abigail to step her way so Juniper could help her out. Maya was amazed with all the gunfire that Juniper
was staying in place. After Maya shot back, there was silence. She took the opportunity to try to coax Abigail out of her
hiding spot.
“I thought you wanted to talk,” Maya said.
“I offered, but you want to arrest me. Told me to put my hands up.”
“So if I come out, you’ll talk? You won’t shoot me?” Maya knew the answer would be a lie.
“That’s right.”
“I’ll do that then,” Maya said, figuring she could lie too. “But you first.”
“Why would I come out first?”
It was like a game of chicken, Maya thought. “Because you fired first.”
“You tried to arrest me.”
“Okay, come out, and keep your gun pointed to the ground. I’ll let you keep it.”
“Where’s your dog?” Abigail asked.
“She’s not with me. Too hot.”
There was more silence. Would Abigail believe her? Probably not. But Maya also knew Abigail wanted something before she tried
to kill Maya. What that was she wasn’t sure, but Maya had to try to get Abigail in front of the area that led through the
small canyon.
Abigail finally spoke again. “I thought K-9s were always with their handlers. And I thought you and your dog had some sort
of special bond or something.”
Maya did her best to sound annoyed at having to repeat herself. “I told you. It’s too hot and the fire is creating too much
danger for my dog.”
Juniper is actually waiting to bite the heck out of you. Just come out to the entrance of the small canyon and let Juniper
have her revenge too.
Maya’s knees were starting to kill her as she continued to crouch behind the boulder.
The fire had moved closer. She could feel the heat and the smoke had become thicker.
She needed to end this. Had Hope made it to the spot she was supposed to?
Maya had promised to radio dispatch, but right now wasn’t a good time.
If Hope had listened and made it to where the chopper could land, then Maya could get control over Abigail and radio in.
If she survived.
Stop it, she told herself. I lived through a war where every day someone wanted to kill me. Abigail will not be the one to end my life. I am stronger
than her.
She took her eyes off Abigail and started to take in her surroundings. There were some thick old trees not far away. Maya
could try to come out, draw Abigail to where she wanted and get behind those trees. It was worth a try.
“You there, Thompson?” Abigail asked.
Maya knew she’d been quiet as she went through her options. Keeping Abigail talking was a good idea. “I am. I was just thinking
again about how you could have left when you escaped prison. You must really hate me to go to all this trouble.”
There wasn’t an answer. Maya thought maybe Abigail had changed position. She knew Abigail wouldn’t leave even though that
would be the smart move on her part. Maya peeked over the rock and saw that Abigail had taken cover on the other side of the
path. That was good. Abigail wouldn’t be able to spot Juniper from there.
“You’re right. I do hate you.”
“That’s the first thing you’ve said that I believe,” Maya said. “I don’t understand. I mean, I know that I had the evidence
that my mom collected that proved your crimes, but I think the hate runs deeper.”
Silence again.
Maya stared over at the grove of evergreens. Were they big enough to take cover? She had to get Abigail out in the open. Back to talking . . . and lying. “I’ll come out and talk if you promise not to shoot.”
“I promise,” Abigail said.
“You’ll tell me why you hate me so much?”
“I will.”
“I’m coming out now then,” Maya said. She didn’t put her gun down, knowing that Abigail would wait for the perfect shot. But
if Maya could get to the trees, then it would change Abigail’s position. She’d have to step onto the trail with her back to
the canyon area. Her legs ached. Would she be able to run over to the trees? Taking a deep breath, Maya counted and then stood,
gun aimed toward Abigail.
As soon as she stood, Abigail fired shots. Maya had been expecting that and shot back, pulling the trigger rapidly as she
ran to the other side. A burning sensation hit her arm, but it wasn’t bad. Maya managed to get to the grove of trees and behind
the largest one. She glanced at her arm. The bullet had grazed it, but not a direct hit. It was enough to burn and hurt, but
Maya didn’t care. Adrenaline overrode any pain.
“I knew you were lying,” Maya said.
“And I knew you were too.”
Maya’s gun was lighter. Based on the weight she was running low on ammo.
Once she was in the trees, she did a tactical reload.
The change in position had helped draw Abigail out.
Now she’d stepped more onto the path trying to get a better angle toward where Maya was hiding.
This was as good as it was going to get.
Maya gave a shrill whistle as she poked her head around the tree trunk.
Abigail saw Maya and started firing, but Juniper came flying down the path, between the stone walls and leapt in the air, knocking Abigail’s gun out of her hand.
The weapon landed on the ground about ten feet away. Abigail must have suspected Maya’s plan, because somehow, she had managed
to step out of the way of Juniper’s flying attack. Juniper would come back around and bite, but now Maya was worried that
Abigail might have another gun.
Maya stepped out, ready to fire, but to her surprise, Abigail took off back down the path, through the stone canyon and back
toward the glacial lake. Juniper was right behind her. Maya knew her dog would catch Abigail, but she needed to be there.
If Abigail had a knife or another gun, she could seriously injure Juniper. Maya sprinted as fast as she could, trying to catch
up.
She came through the stone canyon in time to see Abigail pull a knife out as Juniper once again went after her arm. They were
near the shore of the lake. Maya ran toward them, hoping to catch Abigail before she could stab Juniper. Especially since
Juniper wasn’t wearing her vest. Maya could only hope that she could reach them in time.