Page 20 of Chasing Justice

“What?” Maya snapped.

“So, I was called to a bar disturbance where an off-duty officer needed backup. I was just down the road and said I’d respond.”

“Figures,” Maya muttered, noting that once again everything about Josh was perfect. His uniform was clean and crisp, his dark hair was styled in just the right way to show off his natural waves, and the inside of his vehicle appeared immaculate. Damn him. Why did he make her notice these things? And why did she care?

“You still need backup?” Josh asked.

“No, thanks. I’m good now. I supposed we could ticket or arrest him, but I think that’s more trouble than it’s worth.”

“I agree,” Josh said.

Josh and Maya stared at the Rays. Jenna and the mystery woman shoved Cody in the back of the truck cab. Maya could see he was still running his mouth off, but they were far enough away that she couldn’t hear what he was saying—which was probably good. It would probably only piss her off and then she’d change her mind about arresting him.

“I take it he was trying to start something with you?” Josh said, breaking their silence.

“He apparently doesn’t like feds or law enforcement.” Maya unlocked her cell phone screen and said, “You mind running some plates for me?”

“Nope, give me the plate and I’ll run it.”

Maya handed Josh her phone and he called into dispatch. While they waited for dispatch to respond, Maya said, “Have you seen that truck around town a lot?”

“Yeah. I’ve seen it. Never been a problem or had any reason to pull it over.” Josh’s radio crackled and the dispatcher gave him the vehicle’s information. Josh wrote it down. “Registered to a Roberta Lind,” he said.

“Okay, thanks.” Maya jotted down the information on a small notepad that Josh handed her.

“You think it has something to do with yesterday?”

“Doug and I passed it on the road,” Maya said. “Driver was definitely speeding and erratic. If we hadn’t been on the other call, we might have pulled it over. But the fact it’s connected with Cody Ray is interesting.”

“Yeah, he’s a real winner.”

“Since I saw that truck yesterday and Cody was just loaded into it, I thought maybe I should find out who it belongs to. Maybe I need to go talk to Roberta Lind.”

“If you do that, let me know. I’ll go with you for backup,” Josh said.

Maya was about to blow him off, but the look on Josh’s face had changed. It was serious. “What makes you think I should have backup?”

“Your grandfather and I have been watching the Rays. We have nothing yet to arrest them or even get a search warrant, but we suspect the Rays have illegal weapons, and the old man is starting his own militia. Ever since Carson Ray was laid off, your grandfather has been concerned about what’s been going on out there. For someone out of work, he seems to have lots of money. The property has changed. All sorts of stuff.”

“Maybe he’s dealing drugs too,” Maya said. “Might be more money in that than guns.”

“True. If you go out there, let me know.”

Maya reluctantly agreed. Josh was right; she needed to be careful. “I’ll let you know then when I go. For now, I’m headed home.”

“Need a lift?”

“Why?”

“You were drinking. You okay to drive? I’d hate to have to pull you over in a Forest Service vehicle.”

Maya rolled her eyes. “I had one beer and we’ve been standing here talking forever. I’m fine.”

“How’s Juniper?”

“She’s doing well. Vet wants me to pick her up in the morning.”

“That’s good. You ready for a psycho dog?”