Juniper had been asleep for a while and so far, the blanket had survived, but Maya knew there would come a point where the Mal was rested and ready to go again. She started over to her patrol SUV to check on her dog when a couple cars and a news van pulled up by the yellow tape and stopped. She rolled her eyes at the news van. Not what they needed right now, but a homicide drew reporters out. She turned her attention back to the other cars.
Maya recognized the first vehicle, but not the second. In the first vehicle was Josh’s family. Josh had stayed over by the small tent, helping with anything the SAR team needed from handing out water bottles to making sure everyone had their radios on the same channel. Had he called his dad to come? Did Josh think he would need him as Lucas’ crime techs gathered more evidence with Miranda?
Stop it, Maya told herself.You don’t know that he called. This is a small town and gossip travels fast. Plus, Spencer knows a little bit about what’s going on from Josh contacting him and who knows what Pops said. But who’s in the other car?
In answer to her question, the Bradfords stepped out of the other vehicle. The whole crew was getting ready to go under the crime-scene tape. Maya rushed down the hill toward them.
“Stop,” she said. The words came out harsher than she meant them to, but she couldn’t have them coming into the scene. That would mess things up. Spencer and the senator, being lawyers, should know better. Luckily, they all listened and waited until Maya could get closer.
“Thanks,” she said. She peered around Spencer, a big guy and where Josh had inherited his size. Bianca stood behind him. “Bianca?”
“Yep, it’s me, sis.”
Maya stepped under the tape and gave Josh’s sister a big hug. There was a time that hugging was awkward for Maya, but now she was used to it and she felt Bianca was like a sister to her. She’d never had siblings, so Maya enjoyed time with Bianca. “I thought you weren’t coming for a few more days.”
“I wasn’t, but then I was able to finish a work project early and I decided to come out and enjoy some Colorado time.”
“Glad you’re here,” Maya said. “I’m sorry I yelled at all of you, but this is an active crime scene. You can’t come under the tape.”
“No problem,” Spencer said. “We should have known better.”
“If you want to see Josh, he’s in an area you can enter. Follow me.”
They all trailed behind her. Maya was both annoyed and curious. Right now, the last thing they needed at a crime scene was more people. She glanced toward the news van. They were still setting up. Someone was going to have to monitor them as well. Once one reporter showed up, it wasn’t long before there were more.
Usually in the mountains and in the small town of Pinecone Junction, they didn’t have many people who came to see what was happening. That was starting to change, since Pinecone Junction had experienced more crime recently. It seemed the town was going through growing pains. Even the small mountain towns weren’t immune to criminals realizing they could head to the mountains to escape. It was easier to disappear when you had millions of acres to roam.
Look at my own father. Who knows if he’ll ever be caught, and I even know he’s in the area.
Feeling like a mother goose with her goslings following her, Maya arrived at the tent with the Coltens and the Bradfords right behind her. Pops gave her an inquisitive look and as Josh noticed the crew arriving, his face tightened.
Don’t shoot the messenger.
“Look who came to visit us,” Maya said.
“At an active crime scene,” Josh said, irritation creeping into his voice.
Maya shrugged and stepped back. She knew enough to get out of the middle.
“Sorry to intrude like this,” Dale said. “But I heard there was a murder and maybe a missing person and they might be from Illinois?”
“Dad, did you tell Dale this? You know better,” Josh said. “You can’t tell people about an ongoing investigation.”
Maya knew he was annoyed and upset. She went over to him and gently placed her hand on his arm. “Maybe Pops should deal with what information is given out right now.”
“Yeah,” Josh sighed. “I think that’s a good idea.”
Pops stepped forward and shook Dale’s hand. “Thanks for your concern. I can’t share much with you. I’m sorry.”
“I understand. If you need anything, though, please let me know as one of Illinois’ senators.”
Maya could see that Pops was also annoyed. Politics. He always said he hated politics and the fact he had to even run in an election for sheriff always annoyed him. Of course, no one ever ran against him.
“Thank you. I appreciate that,” Pops said as a big gust of wind whipped up and blew dirt at them.
Maya and everyone else had to turn away and let the wind hit their backs to protect their eyes. The small grains of dirt felt like someone was shooting her with little pellets. The wind died back down as quickly as it came up, but a slight breeze remained.
“Oh, that poor girl,” the senator’s wife, Laura, exclaimed. “She’s lost in these woods and there’s wind and cold. I hope she can be found before it gets dark.”
