Page 63 of Chasing Justice
“Just how you’d be out on a mission and that food was all you had. They were simple, like chicken and rice or chicken and noodles in some sort of sauce. None of us really knew what kind of sauce it was. It didn’t matter because when you got really hungry, they worked. But overall, I’m glad to be home and have a burger right now.”
“I think that’s the first time I’ve heard you talk about anything with the military.”
“Well, most of the shit over there isn’t worth talking about,” Maya said.
“You know, I deal with PTSD too.”
“What?” Maya stared at him in surprise.
“That’s why most of the guys don’t trust me. Your grandfather gave me a second chance and they know it. Guys like Sam are old-school and don’t want me around. They think I’m a ticking time bomb...uh, maybe a bad way to put it. But I’ll give you a piece of advice.”
“I didn’t ask for advice or say I was dealing with PTSD,” Maya said.
“Maya, sometimes it’s pretty obvious. I’ve been through enough myself. I can see it in you.”
Maya was about ready to interrupt, but Josh held up his hand and stopped her. “It’s okay. Shit happens. We’re allowed to have baggage in our jobs. All I’m going to say is that it’s okay to ask for help. We don’t always have to be tough.”
“I don’t need help,” Maya said. “So why do you have PTSD? How did my grandfather give you a second chance?”
Josh leaned back in his chair. His expression changed, and Maya could see the story was still hard for him to think about, much less talk about.
“You don’t have to tell me if you don’t want to,” she said.
Josh finished his burger and wadded up the napkin throwing it in the trash. “No, it’s okay. After college, I joined the Chicago PD, much to my parents’ dismay. My dad is a DA in Chicago and wanted his only son to go to law school. I, of course, didn’t want anything to do with that, so I completed my degree in criminal justice and then joined the force. I loved my job. One night my partner and I were on a call, and I didn’t do my job correctly. He was shot and killed. He left behind a wife and daughter. Their faces still haunt me every night. His wife forgave me, but I never forgave myself.”
“I understand,” Maya said. She wanted to know more about Josh after what Sam told her. She decided to try opening up to get more out of him. “Night is the hardest. I hate dreaming. So how did you end up here in small-town Colorado?”
“Your grandfather is a buddy of my grandfather’s from the military, so I reached out. I told him the truth about the shooting and the fallout from it. Your grandfather was willing to give me a second chance, and for that I’ll always be grateful.”
“I’m sorry you went through all that, but I’m glad Pops hired you. You deserve it. Sometimes I wish he’d give me another chance. Coming home has been difficult. Everything is different now. Even a waterfall can trigger memories that I want buried,” Maya said. She reached down and stroked Juniper on the head. “I think when I’m a mess it’s hard for my grandfather to look at me because then I remind him of my mom. I just wish he could give me the second chance he gave you. Be proud of me, you know?”
“I came here about the time you were deployed to Afghanistan. He would show everyone pictures of you with your K-9 and talk about what an amazing handler you are. He’s proud. Know that.”
Maya fought back tears again. “Then I owe it to him to find him. We need to figure out where he went or who took him and why and how it connects with Doug’s death.”
Doug. Everything seemed to circle back to Doug and the Ray family. Find Doug’s killer and maybe they’d find her grandfather too. There was still the unknown girlfriend Maya thought could shed some light on the case. Maybe it was Bobbi. If they could figure out who this mystery girl was, she might have answers.
Maya opened her top drawer and took out the ring case, setting it on the desk in front of Josh.
“I’m flattered, but don’t you think we’re moving too fast?” he asked.
She shook her head. “I hate to break your heart, but it’s not for you. I found it in the patrol vehicle. Based on what I saw at Doug’s house, I think he had a secret girlfriend.”
“He never told you about this?”
“No, he never said anything. Seems like he kept the relationship well hidden. I didn’t even hear rumors around town. If we can figure out who this was meant for, then we can talk to her and get more information about what Doug was into. Maybe this will be the break in the case we need.”
Josh opened the case and let out a low whistle, which got Juniper to come over and climb up in his lap. He rubbed her behind her ears and said, “This is an expensive ring. Where did he get the money? You think he used some of the cash you found?”
“Maybe. Without access to his financial records to see if he used a credit card or something, I don’t know for sure,” Maya said. “But there was certainly a lot of money there.”
“The last time Doug came in, he and your grandfather got into a huge fight. The office door was closed, but I could hear them yelling.”
“Why didn’t you tell me this before?”
Josh shrugged. “I didn’t know what they fought about, and your grandfather didn’t say anything, so I left it alone.”
“It seems like everything leads back to Doug and the bombing.”
