Page 55 of Hunting the Truth
“No,” Maya said. “Actually, I do know that. Juniper and I found your parking spot where you’d leave your oil-leaking truck and hike in to watch me like some pervert. That was you the other day on the road passing me, wasn’t it?”
Juniper let out a bark at hearing her name. Maya knew the dog had to be frustrated at sitting and guarding this whole time.
“It was,” Torres said.
“Finally, an honest answer.”
He shook his head. “Why don’t you let me try to explain?”
“Please, I’m listening.”
“Are you?” Torres asked. “Let’s start with your cabin. I’ve been watching you because there’s a dangerous criminal after you and it’s not me. I knew you were in trouble. I wanted to make sure you were okay. I know this person and I knew it was a matter of time before they showed up and went after you either themselves or with their favorite hit men. Harold over there is one of this person’s favorite go-to guys. This person wants the evidence your mother collected. They’re crazy and probably decided that the evidence was at your cabin and burning it down would get rid of it. If you died in the process, then that was too bad.”
“So let me get this straight. Your story is that someone else is after me—a criminal mastermind who has hired hit men. You, the person wanted for homicides, are protecting me and everyone seems to think I had some evidence. That’s your answer?”
Torres shrugged. “Pretty much, yeah. Do you have the evidence?”
“What? No. I don’t have any evidence and if I did, I wouldn’t tell you.”
“You think your grandfather does?”
“Leave Pops out of this. He doesn’t have anything either. He would have told me if he did,” Maya said, not totally believing her last statement. Pops was known to keep things to himself if he thought it would keep others safe. Juniper took a step toward Torres. Maya put a hand on her head, settling the dog back down.
“Well, your mother had it and it’s probably around here somewhere.”
“Or else you and your pyromaniac friend already burned it. Maybe my mother had it at her house and it’s been gone that long.”
“No, I think she had it stashed somewhere, but if you don’t know where it is then that’s not good.”
“Why isn’t that good?” Maya asked.
“Because you’re going to be in danger until we can find that evidence.”
“We? I don’t think so.”
“I saved your life.”
“And for all I know that was a setup. You could have staged that to try to gain my trust.”
“It wasn’t a setup,” Torres said. “And if it was, then it obviously didn’t work. I can tell you don’t trust me at all. Not that I blame you, but there’s something you haven’t considered.”
“And what’s that?” Maya asked.
“Think, Officer Thompson. What makes me difficult to catch? It’s the fact I used to work in law enforcement. I know how the system works. I know how investigations work. Why would I leave so much evidence behind? Could it be that I was being framed?”
For the first time in the conversation, Maya realized he had a point. Once again, her questions were answered by more questions. And Denise had said that Eric was the one cop she trusted. Was there actually a chance he had been framed?
“If you’re telling me the truth, then I have more questions. And I need honest answers,” Maya said.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
“I’ll give you answers. Know that when it comes to killing your mother and grandmother and trying to murder you, I didn’t do it. I’ve been set up,” Torres said. “This whole deal is a lot bigger than one person. There are so many people involved in Montana. You have no idea. I was also framed for murdering those cops and judge. You should get the file on that case and look into it more.”
“You have my attention,” Maya said. “Keep talking.”
“In your mother’s and grandmother’s cases, think about the evidence. I bet you had something with my DNA and a fingerprint. The clothing you used to track. All of that was probably planted by someone who wants to make me look guilty. What else have you found?”
“Why should I tell you?” Maya asked.
