“Let’s go,” Maya said, pushing him forward and making sure she kept a good grip on his hands. He might be cuffed, but he was law enforcement. He knew too well how everything worked. Maya wouldn’t let her guard down until he was in the hands of someone else.
They were all trudging down the road, exhaustion hitting, but Maya fought through it. There would be time to sleep later. Even Juniper looked like she wanted a long nap.
“She wanted it, you know,” Ross said.
“Who wanted what?” Maya asked, wondering if she was going to regret the question.
“Abigail. She wanted to be shot. She didn’t want to go back to prison. I was only doing what she wanted.”
“That’ll be an interesting defense,” Maya said. “I doubt it will work. I’m just glad you get to go to federal prison. That way you can hang out with all the people you’ve put in there. Since you’re feeling so chatty, how’d you get involved with Abigail?”
Agent Ross didn’t talk for a few seconds and then to Maya’s surprise, said, “I was teaching a class up in Montana. Helping the police department. Abigail walked in and I was in love. I know that sounds stupid.”
“No,” Maya said, “It actually doesn’t. But at some point you had to realize that she wasn’t a normal person. Or are you just like her?”
“I wasn’t dirty. Never wanted to be. I just loved her.”
“Shooting her was some way to show that.”
“I had to. Like I said, it’s what she wanted.”
“I’m having a hard time believing you about that. I can believe that you loved her and that she manipulated you. But at some point you had to realize that she was never going to let you be free. Not while she sat in prison,” Maya said.
“I’d like to think she did love me. I can’t believe she’s gone...”
“Believe it,” Maya said. “And she’s dead because of you. So is Agent Bernardo and countless others. If you’d ever thought about doing the moral thing, maybe all those people would still be alive. Maybe a young cop named Drew Levinson would be making a difference in his community. I do believe you two loved each other, but to say you had a messed-up relationship is an understatement. And you know, when I read your Miranda rights, I told you that you had the right not to speak. Why don’t you use that right? I’m tired of hearing your excuses.”
To Maya’s relief, Ross stopped talking. She could see the helipad up ahead. This was almost over. Each step seemed harder than the last. She was overheated and dehydrated. What about Juniper? She seemed fine, but even so, when they got back to town, Maya would take her to the vet and double-check that Juniper didn’t need fluids.
They came to the area to wait for the helicopter. Hopefully they would arrive soon. How far away were the other officers? Maya knew it was a good hike from the lake to here. She didn’t know where the fire was burning at this point. Off in the distance she heard the echo of a chopper.Thank God. This nightmare is almost over.
Maya kept a good hold on Agent Ross. Thankfully, he’d quit talking and wasn’t trying to get away. They waited in silence. Juniper lifted her head and then turned around. She gave a slight tilt and then her tail started to wag. Maya glanced back to see what Juniper was looking at. She didn’t want to betoo distracted and give Ross any chance of getting away or hurting her or Juniper. But there was only one person other than Maya that brought out the head tilt and tail wag in Juniper. That was Josh. Or Pops. She’d be thrilled to see either one, but God, she hoped Josh was okay.
She turned Ross to the side so she could watch the trail and not have her head turned away from her detainee. Juniper’s tail started wagging quicker and Maya swore she was grinning. A few minutes later, two figures came jogging out of the tree line. One was in uniform and the other was in plain clothes. It appeared they each had their guns drawn. Maya recognized Josh’s tall stature. Relief flooded through her, making her tremble slightly. He was alive. Joshwasokay.
As they approached she realized the other guy was Nick. To think at one point, she’d wondered if he was Abigail’s partner. It now seemed crazy. But the fact he was here meant a lot to her. She wanted an update on Hope if he had one.
The guys jogged down the trail. As they approached and saw Maya had Ross under control, each of them holstered their weapon.
Nick came up to Maya and said, “If you want me to take over watching him I can.”
“That would be great,” Maya said, happy to see him and relieved to hand Ross over to someone who wasn’t so tired. She would work through being worn-out any day, but exhaustion led to mistakes and the last thing she wanted was for Ross to get away or hurt anyoneelse. He needed to pay for his crimes. In her mind, he could pay for Abigail’s too.
Nick stepped in and Maya made sure he had a secure hold before she moved out of the way. As soon as she was a safe distance away, Josh wrapped her in his arms and just held her. Maya couldn’t get enough of him. Tears rolled down her cheeks as all the emotions she’d held in came out.
“I was so worried about you,” she said. “I didn’t know if you’d been shot or able to get out of the lodge or what. I don’t know what I’d do without you.”
“Ditto to you,” Josh said. “I saw Abigail take off after you and Hope. I was trying to follow and the fire moved fast and cut me off. Then there was radio silence. Pops and I were desperately trying to find you.”
“I didn’t have signal at first and then I didn’t want to use the radio and tip off Abigail,” Maya said.
“That’s what Pops and I were guessing. But we were worried about you.”
“Sorry to make you worry.” Maya wrapped her arms around Josh and held tight. She never wanted to let go. “We need a vacation.”
He laughed. “Yes, we do.”
Juniper nudged Maya on the leg with her nose. “I know, girly. If we take a vacation, you can come too. You’ve earned it.”
