“No.”
“What?”
“Don’t worry, they’re in a safe spot,” Josh said. “I don’t want to say too much, because the more you know the more danger you’re in. But it had to be a cop who changed the scene. I see from your notes that Ian Bachar was the first patrol officer on scene and Tony Lancaster was the detective. I didn’t remember that.”
“Is that significant?”
“Yes, Tony and Ian are now both the senator’s security detail,” Josh answered. “They probably make a lot more money, and if they did help cover up the real killer’s identity, then they have a lot to lose. More than just a good job. There’s nothing worse as a cop than thinking you might be locked up with the criminals you’ve arrested over the years. You’ll either be killed or kept in solitary to keep you safe.”
“Do you think they’re the guys after me? Do you think one of them killed Amber?”
Josh hesitated. “It’s hard to know for sure, but I wouldn’t be surprised. Did you get a good look at the person who shot Amber? Any details you can remember?”
“The sun was in my eyes, but I could tell he was a big person, about your size.”
“Tony and I are the same height and build,” Josh said. “Do you trust me enough to do something that might seem crazy?”
“Maybe. I mean, you don’t seem like a psycho killer trying to cover everything up. But what are you thinking?”
“We need to get your notes and photos to someone who can take the evidence and do something with it.”
“Like who?” Elena asked. “And how? It seems like every time I think I’m safe, these guys find me again.”
“My girlfriend, Maya. If we hide your backpack and leave something like one of your gloves, she can use her K-9, Juniper, to find the backpack. She will know what to do with your evidence, who to give it to and who to trust. If Maya has this, she could figure things out and go from there.”
“Okay,” Elena said. “At this point, I don’t think I have much to lose, and even though you’re an escaped jail detainee on the run, you haven’t done anything to make me think you’re lying. Plus, I saw the shooters at the jail transport and it wasn’t you. Let’s do this. Let’s hide the evidence for your girlfriend’s K-9 to find.”
Josh went to the cabinet and found a large Ziploc plastic bag. “Here, take off your gloves and put them in here. I’ll give you some more gloves. Maya has some stashed in here.”
Elena followed directions and Josh sealed the bag up and put it on the small table in the camper. He placed a note underneath, hoping that Maya and no one else would find this first. The gloves would give Juniper Elena’s scent. That way, the dog wouldn’t be confused by his track, which would be all over the place.
Then Josh took Elena’s backpack. “Wait here, I’ll be back. This will only take a minute. I know exactly where to put this.”
Heading outside, Josh went to the one remaining part of Maya’s cabin—the stone chimney. He was able to push the backpack up in the chimney until it wedged into place. Not only would it not be an obvious spot, the scent would drop down and pool below by the time Juniper came. Standing, Josh was ready to head back to the camper and see if Elena was rested enough to hike.
Something out of the corner of his eye caught his attention. A movement. Then a man stepped out from behind the camper and said, “Hello.”
CHAPTER FORTY-THREE
Josh stopped in his tracks. He could see his breath in the cold night as his respiration increased. He reached for the gun in his holster.
The man spoke up again. “Don’t shoot.”
That voice.So familiar, but the man was staying in the shadows. Josh undid the safety strap on his holster. Newer holsters didn’t have this strap, but the one Josh took from Larry was old-school. “Who are you?” he asked, debating if he should go ahead and draw the weapon out.
“I’ll come out, hands up,” the man said, walking forward and doing what he’d promised. “See? No weapons.”
“I can’t see under your jacket,” Josh said.
“Okay, I’ll open it slowly.”
The man did and then came closer. He stepped out into the moonlight and Josh took a deep breath. “You’ve got to be kidding me. Eric?”
“Yep, it’s me. See, you can take your hand off that gun.”
“I don’t know yet if I can. What are you doing here?” Josh asked. “Leaving another note for Maya?”
Eric shrugged. “It’s been nice to do that. At least I feel like I have some sort of relationship with her.”
