You can’t think that way, Maya reminded herself. The past was the past. There was no changing it.
The note read, “I thought you should have this. Your mother would be so proud of you. I am proud too—Eric.”
A breeze picked up, escalating to a small gust of wind that whooshed through the trees. Maya shivered and put the note with the other one in the evidence bag. Not like it would really be helpful as evidence. They knew Eric was in the area and this was his way of corresponding, but Maya also knew that he was skilled and could hide in the mountains for months. Maybe even years. He’d only be caught if he wanted to be.
The law enforcement officer in her wanted to put on Juniper’s tracking harness and find him. Arrest him. Make him serve the time he was supposed to. But the part of Maya who was his daughter and had grown up without parents wanted to know her father. Ask questions. Hear stories. Learn more about her mother. But it was hard to be a daughter when you were an officer of the law and your father was a wanted felon.
Sighing, Maya noticed that Juniper was slowing down. She was hopefully tired, although she’d probably sleep on the twenty-minute drive back to town and then find more energy by the time they arrived home. At least Finn would be back tonight.
And Josh.
But they would only have a night to themselves before Josh’s family showed up. Maya enjoyed Josh’s dad, Spencer, and sister, Bianca, but she hadn’t exactly hit it off with his mother, Natalia. Oh well—she’d do her best to get along with Natalia because Spencer was here to represent Pops, her grandfather and local sheriff, in his own trial for violating the law enforcement code of ethics.
If Pops was found guilty, he could go to prison. And Maya would lose another person she loved.
CHAPTER TWO
Pontiac, Illinois
Prison.Junior prosecutor Elena Pierce strode toward the Pontiac Correctional Center with a confidence that she hoped hid the fact she was shaking inside. The dreary day with cloud cover and humid cold made her shiver and wish that she could vacation somewhere warm and sunny. But for now, she had to work hard, prove herself. This case might be just that—a chance to show that she deserved to move up the ranks in the prosecutor’s office.
She was meeting with a prisoner named Diego Perez, otherwise known to his gang members as Ref. From what Elena knew, Ref had been tough and not someone you messed around with even though that nickname usually indicated a member who helped keep peace. But keeping peace in a gang came in different ways, which only made her more nervous.
She refused to show it.
Elena had learned long ago it was best to put on a facade if needed. The fake-it-until-you-make-it technique. This was no different. Entering the prison, she showed her ID and confirmed the appointment asking for a meeting with Ref. Usually it was the prisoner’s lawyer, not a prosecutor, that requested a private room. Elena didn’t even know if Ref would meet with her, but she had questions and she wanted answers.
She thought about the case that had made her travel almost two hours south—a drive-by shooting. Not that a drive-by in Chicago was anything out of the ordinary, unfortunately, but this one had included many innocent bystanders. That sadly wasn’t out of the ordinary either. It was the fact that this innocent victim happened to be a six-year-old boy eating dinner when bullets pierced his house.
He’d died instantly.
That was four years ago and no one had been prosecuted in this case. But the boy’s mother was persistent and never gave up hope that her son’s killers would be found. After lots of persuading, his mother had found a witness. The witness actually had photos of the shooters on their phone. That witness had been terrified to come forward. Gang retaliation was a real thing. But the boy’s mother had talked them into it.
The pictures had helped, and the Chicago police had arrested several of the car’s occupants. The problem was, one of the passengers was identified as Ref. Ref was serving time for a murder of a young woman that had happened across town about the same time on the same day. No one could be in two places at once. Elena wanted to know why he had pleaded guilty to the other murder. If there was a killer on the loose, she wanted to find them and have them arrested. Then she wanted a promotion.
Her boss had given her permission to find out more.
As she entered the room in the prison and sat down, her mind replayed going to the evidence storage and looking over Ref’s case. She’d discovered missing evidence and that it was a former cop who had found the young woman Ref supposedly killed. The ex-officer said he had information and evidence about the victim, but no one had taken him seriously.
The sound of the door opening and a prisoner being escorted in by a guard interrupted Elena’s thoughts. Even though Ref had only served four years, he had aged dramatically from his mug shot. Cuffs and chains made a clinking sound as he took a seat. The guard secured him and let Elena know he’d be outside the door if she needed anything and to let him know when she was done.
The door shut behind him with a loud clang and then Elena was alone with Ref. The mug shot had made Ref appear cocky with a hard stare. The expression of someone who probably grew up on the streets and learned how to survive. The man in front of her now still had that hard stare. He had gang tattoos including angel wings with a skull that had cascading blood drops, the signature emblem for the Dark Angels. But the cockiness was gone.
“Thanks for meeting with me, Mr. Perez.”
Ref took a moment to answer. “I’m not Mr. Perez. Call me Ref. Why are you here? What does some bitch from the prosecutor’s office want with me?”
Elena worked to maintain his eye contact and not look away. She had to show no fear. She too had grown up as a survivor, and she needed those skills more than ever right now. “I want to ask you about a case we’re getting ready to prosecute.”
“I didn’t do it.”
“Didn’t say you did, although pictures say otherwise.” Elena took a photo out of a file folder and slid it across the table. “Several people died that day. Kids included. One in your car and one eating dinner in his house.”
Ref glanced at the photo. “Rough neighborhood. Shit happens.”
Elena nodded and left the photo out. She pointed at the time stamp. “This is the issue.”
“What?”
