Page 42 of Chasing Justice
Josh shrugged. “I saw your grandfather had pulled out another file. It was your mom’s. He was looking over both her and your grandmother’s cases. I asked him about the files, and he said he was just looking into a past case, but I saw a picture and at first I thought it was you. He closed the file fast. I was being nosy, so I pulled up the file later. Saw it was an OD like you said, but you look just like her, you know. Your biological mom.”
“I have one picture of her that my grandmother gave me. It is kind of eerie how much we look alike. We never talked about her much when I was growing up. I realized at some point it was too painful, so I quit asking, but I kept that picture. I barely remember her. What I can remember is the night of the fire—the flames and the heat and Pops pulling me out and holding me in a blanket while our home burned. But I can’t remember her. Sometimes I’m glad I can’t, and sometimes I wish I could. I wonder why Pops is looking at her file again.”
“I don’t know,” Josh said. “He might never tell us.”
“Well, that would be my grandfather... Speaking of things my grandfather doesn’t want to talk about, do you have any new intel on the Rays?” Maya asked, changing the subject and filling Josh in about the black truck at the funeral and the person she followed out the back of the church, including the threatening gesture.
“So that’s what was going on. I know Wayne is keeping an eye on them. He’s pretty certain they’re doing something illegal, but he has no proof.” Josh shrugged. “That’s all I know right now.”
“What about your case with the Krokodil?”
“That didn’t go anywhere. The wife decided not to charge her husband,” Josh said. “And we didn’t have enough evidence to charge him. The hospital cleaned up the guy’s wounds and now he’s back home. Not much of a lead.”
“Okay. Well, ready to take a bite? Thought we’d just do one, so we don’t overdo it.”
“I’m ready,” Josh said, standing up. Juniper lapped up some more water and then turned and stared at them. Maya swore a smile crept across the dog’s face.
She handed Josh the bite sleeve, and they went out into an open area. She put Juniper on a down-stay, and then she and Josh worked out a scenario. Maya approached Josh like he was someone she had just asked for information, much like she would do approaching campers or hunters and asking to see a permit. Josh played the role of cooperating, and they shook hands and walked away.
Maya was happy to see that Juniper remained in her down-stay as she should. Some dogs might get excited seeing the bite sleeve and be ready to come flying in and apprehend someone when they shouldn’t. The bite sleeve was as much a toy as a ball to a working dog.
“You ready for the fun now?” Maya asked, realizing that not only was Josh easy to talk to, but he made a fun training partner.
“Bring it on,” Josh said.
Maya and Josh approached each other again, repeating the same scenario, only this time Josh didn’t cooperate. He pretended to escalate and became angry, finishing by giving Maya a big shove. Maya stumbled backward as a streak of brown flew by. Josh made sure he had the sleeve presented so that he didn’t get bit somewhere else.
Juniper latched on with force and speed. Josh pushed back and forth, encouraging Juniper to stay on the bite and shake harder. He made high-pitched noises, mimicking a squeaky toy.
Maya praised the dog and heard Josh saying something about the fact she could get Juniper to release now. Maya gave Juniper the command to let go, but Juniper ignored what she said. Maya corrected her and Juniper released.
“Guess we need to work on that,” Maya said.
“You think?” Josh asked, waiting for Maya to walk Juniper a few steps away. “I haven’t had a dog hit that hard and grip so well with her back teeth. She’s awesome. No one is going to get this dog off a bite unless she wants to release.”
“Yeah, sheispretty awesome,” Maya said with a grin. Juniper gave a sharp bark in agreement. “You did good, girl. Now let’s get Josh some more coffee. Time for you to rest.”
Juniper groaned. Then she grabbed her teddy bear and lay back down.
Chapter Twenty-Four
Carson paced around the bunker, arms crossed, stopping to glance at Jenna. She sat on the new leather couch, staring off at the wall. Their eyes locked and Carson thought she looked like a rattlesnake ready to strike.
“This is my last batch. I want out,” Jenna said, her voice tight and icy.
“I told you, you are part of this family and you’re not leaving. Not yet. You’re my daughter and you’ll do as I say. I know you want to leave, but we need you. The family needs you.”
“I could turn you in.”
“You could,” Carson laughed. “And then what? Tell them that you had nothing to do with it? No, you’ll go to prison too and then all your little dreams of having a college degree will be done. No more. Finished. I’ll let you go back to college, but first you have to help here.”
“I’m not Mom.” Jenna stood, her fists balled by her side. “I won’t take your bullshit. And when Mom was sick, I was the one who came home. I helped nurse her. I helped you with this stupid business so you could pay off the bills. I understood it then, but now it’s just stupid. This money has consumed you. I want out.”
“You can go back to college next year. Help me out now and you won’t have any student loans. Things like that are why the money has consumed me. It’s better this way.”
The door opened behind Carson. He whirled around and saw Cody sauntering in, sunglasses on, a greasy ball cap stuck over dark hair that jutted out. A few of the men came in behind Cody. Some of them had on cowboy hats, some had on ball caps. Everyone had on jeans and boots, creating a loud marching sound as they headed toward their seats.
“We’re done talking about this,” Carson said to Jenna. “Don’t get any ideas either or try anything stupid.”
