Page 85 of Hunting the Truth
“Go ahead. Then you’ll never know where the evidence is stashed. You can keep killing people, but until that evidence is gone, you’ll never be free,” Eric said. “But I guess if I’m going to serve life in prison for murder, then what’s one more?”
“What do you mean?” Abigail asked.
“I mean I’m done with this. With you. I’m tired of you and I’m ready to end this,” Eric said, moving his finger to the trigger.
Maya couldn’t let him kill Abigail. Not until she knew exactly what had happened to her mother and grandmother. She rushed out from behind the tree. Juniper flew out in front of her, and Maya yelled, “Drop the gun!”
Eric turned, surprise showing on his face.
“Don’t do it,” Maya pleaded. She kept an eye on Abigail, not trusting her. “I need to know more. I have questions I need her to answer. Please don’t shoot her.”
Abigail smiled, and Maya could see she was missing some teeth. Eric must have caught her with his fists at some point, but he also had scratches and a black eye starting to form. Abigail wouldn’t go down without a fight.
“Officer Thompson,” she said. “I’m so glad you’re here. Please tell this psycho to put his gun down.”
“I heard everything,” Maya said. “I heard what you said, so don’t try to play games. Juniper hasn’t had a bite for a while. She’s itching for one.”
“So scary,” Abigail said. Her eyes darkened and even though she smiled, this time it wasn’t friendly. Her pleasant demeanor was replaced with coldness.
Maya turned back to Eric. “Please don’t shoot her. Let me arrest her and have her pay for her crimes. I heard everything. I’ll testify on your behalf. I promise.”
Eric’s eyes flicked back and forth between Maya and Abigail.
“Fine,” he said, lowering the gun.
Chapter Forty-Three
Relief swept over Maya when Eric put his gun in a low ready position. She still needed him to set it all the way down.
“Place your gun on the ground,” Maya said.
“I’d rather keep it until you have her in cuffs. I don’t trust her, and neither should you,” he said.
“You two know I’m here? I can hear you,” Abigail piped up. “Come and get me, Maya, I’m ready to turn myself in.”
Maya knew better than to trust either of them, but at this point, if she was going to place trust in one over the other, it was now Eric.
“I don’t want to approach her with my back to you while you’re still holding a gun,” Maya said. “Please put it down.”
Eric hesitated and then slowly set his gun on the ground. “Okay, I understand, but watch yourself.”
Juniper stayed by Maya’s side, and she unclipped the leash. Juniper was her best bet for backup and protection. Maya turned her attention to Abigail. “I need you to put your hands behind your head.”
“You think I don’t know the drill? I’ve been doing this job since before you were born. Yeah, I’ve done things I shouldn’t have, but I paved the way so little snots like you could have things easier. You should be thanking me, not arresting me.”
Maya took a deep breath. Abigail wasn’t going to make this easy. “I appreciate what you’ve done, but we need to end this now.”
“You don’t have any idea what ‘this’ is. You think this ends with me? Think again,” Abigail said. “You’re just like your stupid mother, who was nothing better than a low-life drug addict. You’re no better than her.”
“You’re right. I am just like my mother because we’re both resilient,” Maya said, still working on approaching Abigail so she could get a handhold on her and cuff her. “My mother was strong. She overcame her addiction and she gathered evidence that will put you away for life. She was smart and kind. She was raising me as a young single mother, so if I’m like her, then I’m good with that. It’s a compliment.”
Maya stepped toward Abigail. Juniper stayed with her, her eyes locked on Abigail, waiting for her to make a move against her handler.
“When I killed your mother, I enjoyed every minute of it. I was even kind. I gave her what she wanted, one last high on her way out. I could see it in her eyes, she loved it when I shot her up with heroin.”
Maya hoped her phone was still recording. She worked to detach herself from what Abigail was saying, but it felt like she was getting stabbed and old wounds were ripping open. She was getting her answers, but also paying a price. Maya had to keep Abigail talking.
“You’re wrong about my mother enjoying the heroin,” Maya said. “I was there, remember? You failed. You couldn’t find me, and you couldn’t kill me because you’re worthless too. I was hidden right in front of you. You opened the closet door, but you didn’t see me, but I remember my mother fighting you every step of the way. She fought to stay alive, and you had to give her heroin to subdue her. She didn’t want it and she certainly didn’t enjoy it. She just knew she had to sacrifice herself for me. She’s nothing like you,” Maya said, glancing to see what Eric was doing.
