Page 6 of Chasing Justice
“I’m going up to the top of the hill to see if I can get a radio signal,” Maya said.
Doug gave her a weak thumbs-up and Maya sprinted off, ignoring her own aches and pains as she moved up the hill, checking in to see if she had a signal. The mountains often messed with the ability to get radio signal or make a cell phone call.
Maya reached the top of a nearby hill, out of breath, and radioed dispatch. “This is FS 28. Need immediate assistance. Officer down. Needs medical due to explosion.”
Letting go of the button, Maya waited. To her relief, static came through and the dispatcher at the local sheriff’s office answered. Maya confirmed her location and the need for a medical helicopter for Doug and Juniper. She told the dispatcher the suspect had escaped and deputies in the area needed to be on the lookout. She also let the dispatcher know she would lose signal down by Doug and Juniper. Then she scrambled back down the hill.
Juniper’s long brown tail thumped in the grass as Maya approached. She crouched down to check Doug’s vitals. Doug grabbed Maya’s hand and tightened his grip, surprisingly strong for the injuries he’d sustained.
“I need to... I need to tell you something,” he said.
Maya clutched Doug’s hand. “There’s something I need to tell you too.”
“You? Saying something?” Doug tried to chuckle. “Never.”
Maya clung to Doug’s hand and sat down next to him, reassured that he was teasing her. That was a good sign. Could she get the words out? Let him know how much he meant to her?
Instead, she said, “You need to try to stay quiet. Save your strength. There’s an air ambulance coming for you and Juniper.”
Doug shook his head and struggled to speak. Maya ready to tell him to be quiet again when he squeezed her hand and said, “Listen to me. This may be the only chance I get—”
Maya tried to cut him off, but he continued, “Please promise me you’ll take care of Juniper. Be her handler. You can do it. I don’t trust anyone else.”
“I don’t know—”
“Promise me,” Doug said.
“Okay, I promise, but you’ll be fine. She won’t need me as a handler.”
Doug reached up and took a piece of Maya’s hair that had come loose and tucked it back behind her ear. “Thank you. You’re my best friend, you know.”
“Ditto,” Maya said. “You’re my best friend and you’re not leaving us.”
“Listen to me. Your grandfather knows the truth. About all of this. The explosion. Everything that happened here today. Go talk to him.”
“What are you talking about? You’re not making sense.”
“Just go talk to him. Talk to him about your grandmother too, Maya. He knows more than he’s telling you.”
Maya froze.
What about my grandmother?
Her grandmother had taken her own life when Maya was deployed. What information could her grandfather be holding back?
“You’re going to be all right, Doug,” Maya said, choking back tears. Doug was probably delirious from his injuries. What did he know about her grandmother’s death that she didn’t? Frustration and grief coursed through her body. Maya took a deep breath. “But if you know something, you can tell me.”
A smile slid across Doug’s face. He gazed at her and said, “You’re beautiful. I love you. I’m sorry, this is all my fault.”
Then he closed his eyes.
Maya rubbed his chest. “Doug. Doug?” She leaned over him. He was still breathing, but his pulse was slow and weak.
“I love you too,” Maya whispered.
Did she feel his hand squeeze hers or was she imagining it?
The wind gusts had died down, making it easier on the helicopter to get to them. In the distance the sound of rotors echoed off the mountains. Thewhop, whopnoise disturbed the quiet meadow as the blades cut through the thin mountain air.
