Page 33 of Deadly Revenge
Juniper whined, wanting to continue working. Maya agreed with her dog. They needed to finish clearing this vehicle. “Let’s use Juniper to check this van for anyone. She’s trained to apprehend.”
“I’ll keep Finn back,” Josh answered.
Maya noticed that Finn, even at a distance was sitting and staring at the van. He did a passive alert when he found remains to help protect evidence.
The fact that Juniper wasn’t indicating on the van meant that Finn was probably smelling the odor of someone who was deceased. Could it be Hope? Had Abigail already beat them there and killed her?
“Please, no,” Maya muttered.
Juniper gave a whine, ready to go help clear the vehicle and maybe even apprehend someone. Maya and Josh exchanged looks. She knew he was thinking the same thing—who was in the van? Was anyone alive?
“Why is your dog alerting and Juniper isn’t?” Nick asked.
Maya realized they’d never told him what each dog was trained to do. “Finn is certified in both live scent and human remains.”
Nick nodded, the color leaving his face. Maya didn’t have to say anything further.
“Let’s open the back doors,” she said, leaving out her thought that they might be too late. She dreaded what they would find.
Chapter Twenty-Two
Everyone stood ready as Rory knocked on the back van doors.
“Western River County Sheriff. Come out with your hands up,” Rory said.
Maya could feel the vibration and tension sizzling up and down the leash. Juniper was ready to go in and apprehend someone if needed. Maya had a bad feeling that wouldn’t be necessary.
Nick was on the other side and waited for Rory to nod. He pushed the handle and started to turn it. Maya had wondered if the door would be unlocked. It was. He pulled the door open and Rory was ready, gun pointed directly inside. Maya was ready to let Juniper go. But like a balloon deflating, Rory’s body language changed.
Maya knew then no one was alive. Was Hope one of the victims? Flies buzzed and the smell of early decomp wafted through the air. It wasn’t too strong yet, so whoever was inside hadn’t been deceased long. Being inside the vehicle on a hot day had probably increased the rate of decomposition. It always amazed Maya that flies would find their way in even with doors and windows shut.
Nick was staring inside. No emotion was on hisface. Maya stepped closer and peered in. Relief flooded through her: Hope wasn’t one of the bodies. But there were two people—a man and a woman—lying still. Maya pulled out her phone and brought up the picture the lady at the campground had given her that morning. This morning now felt like a million years ago. She stared at the picture and then the two people. The man was face down, but she was certain it was him. The woman was a match.
“That’s the kidnappers,” Maya said.
“How do you know?” Aaron said.
Maya was taken aback for a moment by him questioning her, but she made a quick recovery. “Remember the picture I sent you this morning? It’s the couple who had Hope.”
“I didn’t receive a picture,” Aaron said.
“Sorry,” Nick said. “I should have shared it.”
“Here’s the picture,” Maya said, holding out the phone so Aaron could see it.
Aaron shrugged and then with a twinge of sarcasm in his voice said, “It does look like them, but fingerprints will tell us for sure. That’ll be more accurate and I like accuracy.”
“Fingerprints will hopefully give us a solid ID,” Maya agreed, but she knew it was the couple and she knew who had killed them. She didn’t like the condescending tone of Aaron’s voice.
Maya put her phone away, biting her tongue for the moment. She had to remember that they were all tense. If Nick was close to Hope, then Aaron might be too and that could be why he was being a jerk. She alsodidn’t want to say the obvious. There was immense relief Hope wasn’t in the van with a bullet hole, but this probably meant Abigail had her. Now they really needed to find Hope and not waste time arguing about ways to ID remains. “You should reward Finn.”
Josh looked down at the Lab, who was sitting staring at the remains. “You’re right. I forgot.”
“I would have too,” Maya said, glancing at Aaron. He felt her look and stared back at her, flexing his muscles a bit. Maya wasn’t intimidated nor would she let him get to her. She’d worked with guys like him before, but the thought did enter her mind that Aaron was about ten years older than Nick. Did he know Abigail and had he worked with her? If so, how well did he know her? Why would he come and help when there was probably a lot of work for them in Montana? Maybe because he needed to be a part of the investigation and feed Abigail information. Maya didn’t want to jump to conclusions, but she’d be more observant. Maybe Kessler could find out more about Aaron too.
Josh threw Finn the ball. Maya gripped Juniper’s leash. She was going to be mad that Finn had his toy and she didn’t. Josh knew that too and took Finn a good distance away to play with him. With the heat of the day, their playtime was short. The sun was starting to set, the last rays of the day shining up into the sky. The sky was a mix of orange and red from the sunlight shining through the smoke.
Josh and Finn came back over. Juniper gave the Lab a look that said she’d be bugging him later since he got to play and she didn’t. Maya made a mental noteto try to hide some pseudo drugs—a training aid that smelled like the real thing, but wasn’t—for Juniper so she could have her toy too. Juniper kept score.
