Page 52 of Hunting the Truth
Torres’s finger moved to the trigger.
With that change and Torres intent on shooting Harold, Maya couldn’t wait. She and Juniper stepped out from behind the trees.
“I’m a Forest Service Law Enforcement officer. Both of you put your guns down or I’ll send my dog.”
Torres smiled. Maya was about ready to let Juniper go apprehend him when Harold pointed his gun at Maya and Juniper. “Get downnow!” Torres yelled.
Maya dropped down, grabbing Juniper and pulling her down with her.
Torres fired off several shots in a row and then there was silence. Juniper was trained to automatically apprehend someone when shots were fired, so Maya clung to her harness, but Juniper got away from her, locking onto Torres as a target.
“Juniper! Off! Down!” Maya yelled, since Torres didn’t have his gun aimed at them and had, technically, just saved her life. She hoped Juniper would listen. They had to run scenarios like this in training and for certification. It was a weak area for Juniper and the one part of certification they almost didn’t pass, as Juniper loved taking a bite. Especially after a long track. Juniper listened and dropped to the ground, but stared at Torres.
Maya scrambled to her feet and kept her Glock out in front of her. Juniper trembled on her down-stay, waiting for the command to go apprehend him.
“Forest Service Law Enforcement! Drop your gun! Now!” she screamed.
Torres had his gun pulled into a low position, ready to fire again, but he didn’t turn toward Maya.
“I said drop your gun or I’ll send my dog.”
Torres started to pivot toward Maya. She saw him scan the area where he had fired his gun. Just when she thought she would have to send Juniper or take a shot or both, he placed his gun on the ground and raised his hands. Maya strained to see Harold, but after he’d been shot, he had fallen back into some tall grass down a slight slope and was out of sight.
“Put your hands behind your head and get down on your knees.”
Torres just smiled back at her. Maya didn’t like his demeanor. It was off. Something wasn’t right. He was different than what she expected. It was like he was enjoying this moment to a degree, but also completely on guard.What does he have planned? I have to remember that Abigail said he’s a good manipulator.
“I said, put your hands behind your head and get down on your knees or I’ll send the dog.”
Juniper kept an intense stare in Torres’s direction. She was looking for any reason to apprehend him. The silence stretched on, and Maya was about ready to send Juniper when Torres finally laced his hands behind his head and got down on his knees.
“Now, get down on the ground.”
Torres shook his head and laughed but complied.
“Juniper, watch and guard,” Maya said, as she slowly approached. Eric stayed in place, but she didn’t trust him. He continued to let out little snickers. “What’s so funny?”
“Go ahead and handcuff me. Then I’ll tell you,” Eric replied.
Maya didn’t completely trust him, but his gun was out of his reach. She holstered her gun, now really wishing she had a backup officer. But this was her own doing so she would finish it. Hopefully Josh would arrive soon. Torres was making this too easy, though. Maya’s gut feeling was that he was up to something, but she didn’t know what. She pulled her handcuffs out of her back pocket and took his arms one at a time, snapping on the cuffs. Then she patted him down.
Juniper continued to stare at Torres, probably hoping he would do something wrong so she could go for a bite. Maya found a knife in one pocket and another ankle gun. She confiscated both items, grateful that Torres hadn’t pulled the other gun on her. Then she rolled him over and helped him sit up.
“We have a lot to discuss,” she said.
Torres’s eyes darkened, but he kept a cool expression. “Do we?”
“Yes, we do.”
“I don’t suppose you’d like to thank me first?”
“For what?” Maya asked.
“For taking out a complete asshole cop and murderer.”
Maya stared at Torres. Hehadsaved her life. If Harold had been able to get a shot off, he would have hit her. In one respect she should thank him, but whenever Maya had killed someone in the line of duty, she always felt like a piece of her died too. Torres seemed so nonchalant about it all, like a cold-blooded killer and yet, he had saved her.
She should go and see if Harold was still alive. Torres was in cuffs and Juniper could watch and guard, but Maya froze in place. Here was her chance to find out more, but she also needed to provide medical attention to Harold.
