“I wasn’t going to talk to her, but she brought up a case that involved me in Chicago. There’s supposedly a prosecutor that wants some evidence I have—pictures and notes. We were supposed to meet outside of town near the turnoff and parking area for Dead Man’s Pass. I went there and waited, but no one showed up.”
“She didn’t call you from her phone?” Maya asked, placing the food on the table. They sat down and Maya started to eat. Josh stared at his food.
“No, she called me from another number.”
“Why do I get the feeling there’s more?” Maya asked, noticing Josh picking at his food. Not his usual big-guy appetite.
“Because there is. It’s the case.” Josh set his fork back down.
Maya hadn’t seen him like this before. She knew he had demons, but he had faced his for much longer than her. She always thought he had better control, but whatever this case was about, it bothered Josh. “Do you want to talk about it?”
“Yes. I promised I would always tell you everything. It was a homicide, after I was gone from the department. I found the victim. I’d grown up with her. I was high and not thinking straight, so I acted like I was still a cop and took pictures and notes. I also called 911. I kept all the pictures and notes, but I don’t know why. It’s not like it’s a case I had as an officer where I could still be subpoenaed or something.”
“I’m sorry that you found a friend murdered. That must have been terrible,” Maya said. This was definitely a part of Josh’s past she didn’t know much about. He didn’t like to talk about when he was at his lowest. She didn’t blame him.
“It was, but there’s more…”
Maya stayed quiet and let him have a moment. She could tell this was hard for him.
“She was my dealer, Maya. And the governor’s daughter. I think her dad is a senator now. I don’t know. My family has probably stayed in touch. I’ve tried to distance myself from anything Chicago.”
“What was Amber’s interest?” Maya asked.
“She claims some prosecutor wants to reopen the case, that the wrong person was convicted. She wanted to meet me and get the evidence.” Josh pointed at an envelope that he’d set on the counter. “I pulled into the area, where we’d agreed to meet, but I was late. I glanced at my phone, but didn’t have any messages from anyone. The phone had bars, showing I had service. I gave Amber another twenty minutes and then headed home, because I worried Amber might’ve called me out there to try to get you alone.”
“She’s lied before—she was probably pranking you.”
“I know, and I feel like an idiot.”
“Don’t. She’s a manipulator. And she’s good at it,” Maya said.
“Thank you for listening and understanding,” Josh said. “I think the hardest part is all the memories this brought back. Things I’ve worked hard to move past. I know I can’t change anything I did, but I’m not that person anymore. It’s like the old me keeps haunting the new me.”
“You’re not that person anymore,” Maya agreed. “But I understand. About the haunting part. It’s a part of our lives and some memories hit hard.”
“Speaking of memories, you mentioned another note from Eric.”
She nodded. “Yes, he didn’t just leave a note this time.”
“What did he leave?”
“A picture.” Maya stood and walked to the desk in the living room. She tenderly picked up the photo and then brought it back, setting it down in front of Josh. “That’s me as a baby and my mother.”
“Every time I see a picture of your mother, I’m blown away by how much you look like her. She was beautiful, just like you.”
“Thanks,” Maya said, sitting back down. Now she was picking at her food too. “I know I should probably turn it in for evidence to help catch Eric, but there’s a part of me that doesn’t want to.”
“I don’t see why you’d have to,” Josh said. “I mean, it’s not like any of these notes are convicting him of a crime. We’ve only let the FBI and the marshals know because he’s a felon on the run. I think you should keep this. If it turns out there’s something with this picture that’s needed for evidence, you can always turn it over later.”
“Thanks,” Maya said, leaning back in her chair. “I love it, and I don’t have much from my mother. You know, I’m not that hungry, at least not for food. You want to quit talking and make up for some lost time?”
“I’d love to,” Josh said, standing up, walking to Maya’s chair and gently pushing a strand of her long auburn hair behind her ear. “That sounds perfect to me.”
CHAPTER NINE
Nighttime had settled into the mountains. Elena had stopped shaking from the adrenaline, but she could feel the cold from sitting on a damp rock seeping into her. She was freezing, wet, tired, and scared. How long had she been waiting here? Was it safe to try to get back up the mountainside? She hoped the men were gone and she wouldn’t slip and fall. If she tumbled off the cliff, all this waiting would be for nothing.
Her legs were stiff after huddling in the cramped place. She wiggled her toes and made circles with her feet, hoping to get some feeling back. At least this rock ledge seemed stable. That had been a lifesaver.
