Page 96 of Chasing Justice
The dog stepped next to Maya, tilting her head, waiting to see where they were going.
Maya started dragging Pops, but she couldn’t go quickly enough. There was no way to know how many explosives Jenna had rigged, but Maya would bet it was enough to flatten the compound.
Where’s Josh?
“Josh!” Maya yelled. She saw him giving directions to the deputies who were arresting Carson. Josh didn’t know about the explosives. He peeled off from the group and ran toward her, picking up speed when he saw her trying to drag Pops.
Josh sprinted, his long stride quickly covering the ground over to them. “Don’t move him. We’ll get the paramedics to come down here.”
“No, we have to get out of here. This whole place is rigged with explosives.”
His face was blank at first, and then Maya could tell what she had said registered with him. Josh yelled at the other deputies to get everyone out. Then, together, they started pulling Pops again, hearing him make noises of agony as he bumped along the ground.
“We need to get back to the giant boulder on the hillside,” she said. “I think that’s our best shot. We need distance and shielding.”
“Okay,” Josh said. “How much time do we have?”
“About two minutes.”
Instead of answering, he began pulling harder. Maya’s adrenaline surged and she found more strength. Together they gained speed. Juniper jogged along with them.
One minute.
The large boulder was only a few more feet away.
I won’t fail this time. I’m saving Pops. It won’t be like Doug.
Maya strained to move Pops the last few feet. Josh helped her, and they managed to get her grandfather behind the large boulder.
“Juniper. Come. Down,” Maya said. Juniper listened and lay down next to Pops. “We need to help shield each other. This is going to be a big explosion.”
Josh nodded in agreement, and he and Maya lay over Pops. She made sure Juniper was tucked underneath her.
This sucker’s going to blow any second now—
The air around them suddenly whooshed back, like a giant tidal wave.
The explosives kicked off, each boom sending more debris raining down on them.
Maya kept her head down. Juniper shifted underneath her, but she clung to her collar harder. “Juniper, down. Stay,” she said.
Juniper still wriggled underneath her.
“Pfui,” Maya said, using the command that was reserved for letting the dog know she needed to listen.Now. Juniper quieted.
The bombs sounded like a freight train thundering down the tracks toward them. Rocks pelted her body with the force of baseballs thrown at high speed.
Then silence.
Maya’s ears were ringing.Did I shatter my eardrums?
Darkness. More silence.Am I still alive?
She couldn’t move.Is Pops okay?
Juniper shifted underneath her.Is Juniper okay? What about Josh?
Maya’s eyes closed.Did I lose consciousness? How much time has passed?
