Page 68 of Hunting the Truth
Maya pushed back the covers and sat up. The room was pitch-dark, so she turned on a light. Juniper stared at Maya through the crate and wagged her tail, making a thumping sound. Maya was glad that they were in the guest bedroom since Josh might still be asleep.
“Give me just a second,” Maya said, trying to find something to wear. She located her jeans and threw back on her T-shirt. Josh had lent her a sweatshirt too, and she pulled that on as well. The morning air was chilly.
Maya let Juniper out of her crate, and they headed to the backyard. This time she would supervise Juniper. No more holes or other damage. She grabbed her phone off the table to check her email while Juniper took care of business.
Juniper scampered around the yard, enjoying stretching her legs and getting some energy out. Maya realized she was technically off today, but she should probably follow up on some of the things on her to-do list, including the booby traps.
She enjoyed watching Juniper play and have fun. No matter where they stayed, Maya would have to get another dog run or something to let Juniper be outside. Maybe there was a spot near the yard for a large dog pen that didn’t involve Josh having to redo landscaping.
Maya was enjoying the sunrise and watching Juniper sniff around when her phone buzzed. It was a text from an unknown number.
This is Eric Torres. I would like to speak with you on the phone, but it needs to be somewhere private where your boyfriend can’t listen in.
Maya didn’t know how to respond. Was this really Eric? Or was this Blake setting up a trap? Of course, if it was Eric, he might also be tricking her. But she could call him if it was on her terms. She typed back:
Give me five minutes. I have a spot I can go, and you can call me.
He responded,Where?
Not information I’m giving out but call me in exactly five minutes.
Maya’s phone buzzed again. His response was two letters—OK.
She whistled to Juniper and the dog came running. Obviously, Eric Torres knew where she was staying since he’d mentioned Josh. Five minutes only gave her a certain radius to go, but she would have Juniper with her in case he was nearby. Juniper would warn her.
Juniper followed Maya back inside the house where she grabbed her holster, radio and Glock. She wouldn’t be on the phone and be unarmed. Maya put on her work boots and snapped on Juniper’s leash, then headed outside. She stopped at her patrol vehicle and grabbed some flex-cuffs. There wasn’t a universal key to those and they would make it harder for Torres to escape. There was an aspen grove a little bit down the road. It also sat up on higher ground where she had a better vantage point and cell phone service.
Maya glanced at her watch. She had about thirty seconds to get there before he called. If he was punctual. She had a feeling he was. He came across that way. In an odd way, she felt like she knew Eric Torres. There was a strong pull, like he could answer questions about her mother no one else could. He had arrested Zoey several times and remembered the bracelet. Maybe she could get more information out of him even if it had nothing to do with the case.
Zoey Thompson was like a ghost for Maya. She remembered her mother in flashes and small memories, but in so many ways she didn’t know her. Even now, as an adult, she craved information about her mother. Anything that would help Maya remember her better.
Maya and Juniper arrived up on the small ridge in the aspen trees as her phone rang. She answered but didn’t say anything. She wanted to see if he was watching her right now. If he would give away anything.
At first there was only silence. Then Eric said, “I want to meet in person. There are things you need to know. I’ve stayed silent for all these years, but it’s time to tell someone the truth. I feel like I can trust you.”
“Why me?” Maya asked, thinking that while Eric might trust her, there was no way she trusted him. Juniper sat by her side but didn’t react like anyone was coming near them.
“Did you look into the murders of the cops and the judge?”
“Maybe, but you didn’t answer my question. Why me?” she asked again.
“What did you find?”
“I’m the one asking the questions,” Maya said. She decided to try a different tactic. “How’d you get my number?”
“If you read the reports, you saw what I wanted you to see. Let’s meet in person and I’ll answer your questions.”
Maya sighed. She had to play his game. Juniper was still quiet.
“I saw that Blake Conner signed off on the reports for the murders,” she said. “His cousin was the guy in the woods. He was the responding officer. Is Blake a higher-up in this crime ring?”
There was silence. She checked to make sure her phone hadn’t dropped the call.
Then Eric spoke again. “Blake Conner signed off on those reports?”
“Yes, isn’t that what you wanted me to find?”
“We need to meet as soon as possible,” Eric said. “You could be in danger.”
