Page 71 of Deadly Revenge
“I’m sure they were fueled and ready to go. It’s about a twenty-minute flight from Pinecone Junction,” Maya answered.
“Will you be okay?”
“I’ll be fine,” Maya said, knowing she was making a promise none of them could ever keep. Life was that way, but she also knew that she had the best partner in Juniper and that made a big difference. “Will you do me a favor?”
“Yes,” Hope said.
Maya thought Hope was starting to sound less shaken, which was good. “Tell your uncle and anyone else who comes about Abigail and that I’m responding to the shooter. Also, will you tell them that Josh, the other cop at the lodge, was separated from me and I don’t know where he is? They may need to look for him. I don’t want to use my radio. Will you do that for me?”
“I’ll give them a full report,” Hope said.
“I think you have a future in law enforcement,” Maya said. “Just like your uncle.”
“And you,” Hope said.
“Me?” Maya was surprised. It wasn’t like Hope knew they were related.
“My uncle is cool, but seeing you and Juniper in action, another girl, that’s badass. I mean, that’s inspiring. Sorry about my language.”
Maya laughed. “I was a marine and I’m not your mother. I’ll pretend I didn’t hear anything and thanks.You’re a survivor and pretty inspiring, yourself. I’ll see you soon.”
Hope gave a small wave and then tucked herself down into the grass. Maya and Juniper headed back on the trail toward the lake. Now, they needed to find the track that would lead them to Abigail’s partner. Maya couldn’t wait to see who it was and have a Malinois hang off his arm.
Chapter Forty-Eight
Maya wasn’t certain where to start the track. She only had an idea of where the shooter had been. The echo of the gunshot made it hard to pinpoint the location. But she roughly knew the angle of the shot based on where Abigail was hit.
They would hike up in that direction. What Maya didn’t like was that the fire had come over the ridge. It was starting to get close and she didn’t want to run a track and get caught off guard by the flames. Fires had a mind of their own and she’d heard Pops talk about a horrible incident before she was born where a fire turned back on some firefighters, killing them all. Since then, most wildland firefighters carried special tents they could get in to help save them if that happened. But Maya didn’t have one of those. And she didn’t want to put Juniper in danger.
They had to walk along the shore again and leave themselves exposed. Maya didn’t like that feeling. They hurried past where Abigail was lying. Her face was pale. Cold. Lifeless. The easy way out for her. Now that moment seemed like a million years ago. Would this day ever end?
Even though Maya had thought about revenge all these years, seeing her dead really didn’t help either. Maybe catching her partner would make her feel better. He had as much blood on his hands as Abigail. Agent Bernardo would go home to his family in a casket because of this bastard. Maya and Juniper would find him and make sure he was locked up for the rest of his life. She didn’t want him to have the easy way out like Abigail.
As they went along the shore, she did her best to keep an eye out for any signs of a person up on the mountainside waiting to shoot them. Not that she’d see them very easily. Especially as the smoke rolled in and thickened, blocking out the sun. It was like a dark shadow had come over them. They made it back to the rocks where they had taken cover earlier. Maya figured they needed to go back to the stone canyon where they’d tracked Abigail. From there, she was guessing that if they went up the ridge, they might find the track. If you hiked up far enough, that ridge cleared out and you could see over the lake. The fire was the big question as far as where they could track. There were flames, but it was hard to tell exactly where they were. Maya knew they were close enough that she would normally get the hell out of there, but this was a different circumstance.
They made it back through the stone canyon. Maya realized she was almost holding her breath. Not from the smoke, but from all the different areas she and Juniper were vulnerable from a rifle shot.
Letting her air out, she felt sweat dripping downher back again. The heat level had intensified. She really needed to get Juniper water, but they didn’t have any. But Juniper seemed fine. The dip in the lake had probably kept her body temperature down, but Maya couldn’t ask her to go much longer.
They headed up the mountainside. Maya watched for where the fire might have reached. Even though she could see flames, they were still off in the distance. They arrived at an area overlooking the lake. If you were a good shot and had a rifle it would be the perfect spot. They walked over together and Maya examined the area. There was a shell casing for a .223 on the ground.
Normally she’d mark it for evidence and bag it, but she didn’t have anything for evidence with her. Even if she did, it would probably be soaked with sweat or lake water after Juniper dunked Abigail. The best she could do was take pictures and make notes on the location. That way hopefully an evidence team could get back here and gather it.
Maya checked over Juniper, making sure her gums were a good color and she didn’t seem dehydrated. As much as she wanted to get this man, she didn’t want to hurt her dog. Juniper wagged her tail, gave Maya a slurp on the nose and then let out a small yip.
“You’re sure you’re up for this?”
Juniper danced around Maya and gave another short, sharp bark.
“Okay, let’s do it.” Maya took a deep breath and then cast Juniper out near the shell casing and smushed-down grass. She motioned with her hand to get Junipersniffing in the area where Maya thought she’d find the scent. Of course, Juniper would know best. “Go find ’em, girly. Let’s go get him.”
Juniper instantly put her nose to the ground and Maya could tell she was in odor. The scent was still strong since even though it felt like a long time, the shooting hadn’t been that long ago. They were well within the time for the scent to still be very fresh. Maya knew Juniper was feeling the heat because she didn’t take off quite as fast as usual. If at any point Juniper slowed down too much, she would pull her up. But for now, she would go with her dog.
As they headed away from the lake, Maya heard a helicopter in the distance. Good. Someone would be with Hope soon and her nightmare would be over. Nick and Isabelle would be thrilled to see Hope again.
So would Maya and Juniper.
The thought of Josh came to her.He has to be okay. There’s no way something happened to him. I love him and he’s my one and only. I can’t imagine life without him. When this is over, we’re getting away where there’s no cell service and no way for anyone to find us. I know we’ll be able to do that because I’m sure he’s safe.
