Page 30 of Hunting the Truth
“Well, she can’t have him until I have a crack at him,” Lucas said. “Don’t worry, we’ll keep him here in Colorado. He can get transferred to Montana later.”
Josh got off the phone and headed their direction. When he was in earshot, he said, “The sheriff wants to have a task force meeting as soon as the detectives arrive so we can create a plan to find Eric Torres. Hey there, Lucas.”
“Good to see you,” Lucas said.
The building superintendent came around the corner and handed Josh a key. Josh thanked him. “Let’s see what we can find,” he said.
He put on gloves and then opened the door. All four of them stepped inside and Maya gasped. She took in what was in front of her little by little. The far wall was covered in notes and photos.
All of Maya.
“What the...” she said.
Josh didn’t say a word. Neither did Lucas. Both of them went over to the wall and began studying the pictures. Maya trudged forward, feeling the shock of seeing her image plastered up in someone else’s apartment. But why? Already instead of more answers, there were only more questions.
Miranda set down her case behind Maya. “Holy moly...” she muttered. “We’ll figure out what’s going on, Maya.”
Some of the pictures included Maya and Juniper out on walks, Maya and Josh together at dinner at the Black Bear Café and then Maya saw some of what appeared to be the latest photos if they were in order—of Maya and Juniper taken through her cabin window.
Josh followed Maya’s gaze. “Maybe Juniper is barking at more than foxes,” he said.
Stunned, she didn’t know what to say. Why did she ever trust anyone? Kendra didn’t want to be a friend or get a job—she was only trying to get close to Maya.
“Are you okay?” Josh asked.
“No.”
He put his arm around her shoulders. “We’ll get to the bottom of this and find out why Kendra was surveilling you.”
Maya stood still, not sure how to react. She started to read one of the notes pinned up. It was a summary of their veterans’ support group. Things Maya had shared that were personal. Not only did Kendra violate Maya, but now this would all be evidence and her personal thoughts and feelings would be out there for others to see. She clenched her fists, fighting the urge to put her fist through the drywall. Damaging a crime scene wouldn’t go over well and she leaned a little bit into Josh.
Miranda cleared her throat. “I don’t mean to interrupt, but if it’s okay, I’m going to start processing this apartment starting with all these photos. Maya, I can’t imagine how you feel right now. Are you okay with me doing that?”
“Yeah, that’s fine,” Maya said, trying to not show any emotion or vulnerability. “It’s not that big of a deal. So, she was stalking me, but now she’s dead, so I guess I don’t have to worry about her. Let’s just determine how she’s connected to Torres and why she was following me.”
“Okay, I’ll get to work then,” Miranda said. She carefully opened her kit and started taking out crime scene equipment and evidence markers.
“We’ll start processing evidence and try to make sense of all of this,” Lucas said. He put on gloves and went with Miranda to lend a hand processing the scene.
“Maya, can I talk to you outside?” Josh asked.
She nodded and followed him. They walked through the door and then Josh turned and stared at her. His dark eyes were intense, and Maya wanted to both lean into him for support and at the same time tell him she didn’t need anything from him. She could take care of herself.
“Look,” Josh started. “I know how you are. You’re a strong person and you have fought more battles than I ever will.”
“Just get to the point,” Maya snapped. She felt bad after saying that, but she knew where Josh was going with this. He’d want her and Juniper to stay with him. She wasn’t ready for that on so many different levels.
“Stay with me, Maya. Bring Juniper over and stay at my house so I know you’re okay.”
“And what if you get hurt because of that? What if something happens to you? I couldn’t live with that,” Maya said, crossing her arms. She was being stubborn, but she couldn’t help it.
“I’m not worried about me.”
“And I’m not worried about me. I can take care of myself. I don’t need some macho guy coming in and taking care of me,” Maya said.
“It’s not like that. I’m not trying to be a macho guy or tell you you’re incapable. I just worry that you’re in danger and vulnerable on your own at the cabin.”
“Well, I’m fine. If Kendra was the one watching me, then she’s no longer a concern.”
