Page 40 of Deadly Revenge
Parker stared down at the ground. Maya could tell he was beating himself up. “Don’t be too hard on yourself. You’re not the first person that Abigail has messed with this way. Trust me.”
He nodded and said, “Okay.”
“It also seems based on recent tire tracks that there was another vehicle waiting for Abigail,” Kessler continued. “Right now we have no idea what she’s driving.”
The other two agents came over and joined the group.
“I think we found the spot where another vehicle was stashed,” Ross said. “There’s footprints from outside the window going down the gravel road a way and then tire tracks to the pavement.”
“It’s convenient that someone left her that car. And we need to figure out who,” Maya said. Now she knew why Abigail had come to this town. She’d thought it was a little out of the way and odd when Juniperhad tracked this direction. The fact Abigail was gone meant that she’d been tipped off.
“Thanks for stating the obvious,” Ross said.
Bernardo gave a short laugh. “We also need to see if we can figure out where they’re going. She left the note and emailed the picture, but nothing else.”
Maya glared at them. If it were up to her, Ross and Bernardo would be sent home. But it wasn’t up to her. “She’ll be in touch.”
“Oh yeah?” Ross asked. “What makes you think that?”
“She wants me to come to her so she can have her moment of revenge,” Maya said. “Hope will probably stay alive until then.”
“We’ll work on this tonight,” Kessler intervened.
“I can get Juniper. We can run a track,” Maya said.
“No,” Kessler said. “This time I’m going to ask you to leave. All of you. You’re too close and I’m calling the jurisdiction. The FBI needs to work this case. I know that’s not what you want to hear, but if Abigail makes contact, let me know ASAP.”
He was right. Maya didn’t want to be sent home, not when Hope was still missing. She was trying to think through a way to argue.
Kessler beat her to it. “You know I respect you, Maya.”
“I know,” she said. He was telling the truth. And he was probably right.
“Go home, get some rest. Let us investigate. If Abigail contacts you, call me immediately. Don’t doanything impulsive,” Kessler said. “I’ll update you first thing in the morning.”
“Me? Impulsive?” Maya said, trying to joke to help ease her frustration. Kessler was right. She knew it. “Call me at oh dark thirty or if you find her tonight.”
“I will. Promise,” Kessler said turning to Nick. “Same to you and your partner.”
“Don’t you want the marshals helping?” Nick asked.
“I would love the help, but I need officers who aren’t emotionally tied to the victim. Sergeant Parker, you can stay. We need to talk to your brother.”
Nick was about ready to argue, but Maya interrupted. “Come on. Let’s get going.”
She turned and walked away. Nick followed, muttering more choice words. Maya understood how he felt. She might be sent home for the night and part of her was only agreeing because Juniper needed the rest, but come tomorrow, she would be researching more about Aaron and be back to hunting Abigail.
Chapter Twenty-Six
The next morning, Maya was up before her alarm. She’d come home, fed Juniper, showered and crashed. Josh had arrived home at about the same time. Right now, he was still asleep, so she slipped out of bed. Luckily the predicted thunderstorms weren’t as bad as they thought and the fire had died down for the night. But it wouldn’t be long before the giant smoke plume would probably start to rise in the air again. The fire, now named Wolf Peak for the location where they thought it started, was far from under control. Both Maya and Josh had left their go-bags in their vehicles just in case evacuation orders came in the middle of the night.
She padded down the hall to the kitchen, started a pot of coffee and leaned against the counter. How was Hope doing? Had Abigail fed her? Allowed her to have water? Sleep? What kind of torture was she enduring? Rubbing her temple with her fingers, Maya let out a sigh. Juniper heard her and gave a little whine. Finn followed suit, so she let them outside.
The coffeepot beeped that it was done as Josh came into the kitchen. Maya grabbed another cup and poured him some coffee too. He looked exhausted with circlesunder his eyes and his hair sticking out in different directions. She figured she didn’t look much better.
“I don’t know how you get up before your alarm,” Josh said.
“It’s a marine thing,” Maya answered, teasing him, but knowing it was also true. She could sleep better now, but at times the PTSD she dealt with still meant she had nightmares. At least she was able to manage it better. How much PTSD would Hope have after her experience? “I also couldn’t stop thinking about Hope.”
