Page 91 of Hunting the Truth
The next day, Maya pulled up to the hospital in her patrol vehicle. Juniper was back in her compartment and not happy about it. She much preferred the front seat of Pops’s truck. Maya let her stick her head through the door that opened to the cab to try to make up for being back in the patrol vehicle.
“Behave yourself. No jumping and don’t mention to Josh that you dug another hole in the yard,” she said to Juniper. “I think he’s in a lot of pain still. He’ll see the hole soon enough.”
Juniper whined and gave her a slurp.
“Okay then,” Maya said.
She knew that Josh had refused any type of narcotic painkiller. He didn’t want to be tempted into using again, so he’d insisted on Tylenol. Maya understood, but Tylenol didn’t kill the pain he was in. She was looking forward to having him back home, though. She’d stayed at the house without him, and it felt odd. She still felt like a guest.
Josh came out in a wheelchair, and he stood with the help of crutches. Maya helped him into the front seat. Then she climbed into the driver’s seat and headed away from the hospital.
“I’ll be glad if I never see that place again,” Josh said.
“Me too,” Maya said.
Juniper gave a bark in agreement and stuck her head back through to say hi to Josh. He rubbed her face and she made happy grunting noises in between trying to lick him.
“How’d your arrest go this morning?” Josh asked.
“It actually went well for an arrest,” Maya said. “But it was tough since I arrested a juvenile.”
When she had been disarming the booby trap, she’d found a high school ID belonging to Ethan, the son of Daryl, the hardware store owner. Maya did some more digging and discovered that the kid had a history of problems in school, including sending death threats and smoking marijuana. Miranda had called Maya and left a message that the drug paraphernalia Juniper found did have a fingerprint that matched Ethan.
“Did the kid admit to doing it?” Josh asked.
“At first, he totally denied it, but then I showed him the ID I’d found along with the fingerprint on the marijuana, and he knew he was busted. I feel for Daryl and his wife. They seem like good parents. They moved up here hoping it would help their son, but he needs more help than a change in location. I suspect Daryl knew it was his son when I went in the store to question him, but he was probably trying to protect him.”
“That’s tough. Hopefully, they can get the kid the support he needs.”
“I hope so,” Maya said. “I’m glad to have that case wrapped up, but I hate seeing someone so young getting into that type of trouble.”
“I agree,” Josh said. “Any news on the other case? Has the FBI made arrests yet?”
“I heard from one of the agents that they were going to do some warrants and arrests today. The evidence was overwhelming and made several cases open and shut. My mom had photographs, voice recordings and even some physical evidence with DNA and fingerprints. Some of the judges were about ready to retire. Same with some of the lawyers. I can’t believe they were still involved in all these activities,” Maya said. “It’s crazy. But the FBI was happy to have everything I handed over. Lucas did give me one item from the bag, though. He didn’t think it would help with the case and he thought I’d want it.”
“What’s that?” Josh asked.
“A picture of me and my mother. I was probably about eighteen months old. I need to have it framed. Maybe I can get a copy made and give it to Pops.”
“That’s great. I’m glad he let you have that.”
“Me too. I went to my cabin and loaded up the dog run. I’m bringing it to your place and setting it up somewhere outside of your nice yard.”
“Does that mean Juniper did more landscaping work?” Josh asked.
“You could say that,” Maya said, thinking about the holes she’d found this morning. She’d gone back inside to get more coffee, and in minutes, Juniper had dug another hole. Maya thought Juniper had looked quite pleased with herself. She would pop her head out of the holes like a prairie dog.
“Do I want to see it?” Josh asked.
“Probably not. I’ll be buying you some trees if you really want to plant them or at least filling in holes and buying you sod,” Maya said, deciding to change the subject. “Did you hear that Eric Torres escaped?”
“I did. How are you doing with that?”
“I’m okay. I’m going to find him, though. I don’t care what it takes, but I also feel like the more Lucas goes through the evidence, what little he can share with me points to Abigail being the ringleader in all of this. At least she’s sitting in jail with no bail. The feds and the state investigators are talking with prosecutors trying to determine how to move forward and how they want to charge her. I think it will be a while before they get that all figured out.”
“That’s right where she deserves to be,” Josh said. “What’s going on with your grandfather and the investigation?”
“The sheriff’s committee decided to put him on paid leave. Doc Clark talked to him and said the DA is planning to have him arrested soon. I’m so nervous for Pops, and I know that means you’ll have more on your plate.”
