Page 54 of Chasing Justice

“You ever see that vehicle around town?” Maya asked.

“No, but it’s not like I memorize every vehicle I see.”

“I know, but Pinecone Junction doesn’t have a lot of new rental cars, especially fancy SUVs.”

“True, but I can’t be suspicious just because someone rented a really nice car.”

“Sure you can,” Maya said. “And now that they’re coming down the driveway of the Rays, we can be even more suspicious.”

Josh laughed. “I see you learned Cop 101 in the military.”

“It’s the truth. The Rays are trouble. You know it. I know it. But no one has been able to prove it.”

“I agree,” Josh said.

Maya stared back through her scope. The blue vehicle parked near the Rays’ renovated outbuilding. She hadn’t been near the Ray Ranch in years, but she knew at one point, it needed many repairs and the Rays didn’t have the money for the upkeep. Now it appeared to have been updated. The house and outbuildings all had fresh coats of paint. All the fencing was new, but there were very few cattle in the pens. The place appeared neat, tidy, and well-maintained. Perhaps running drugs had helped remedy that issue.

The driver’s door opened and a tall blonde woman with no curves stepped out. She wore tight leather pants, high heels, and a white blouse.

“Who do you think that is?” Maya asked.

“No idea. I’ve never seen her around.”

The lady approached Carson and shook hands. Bobbi stayed back, still rubbing her cheek where Carson had hit her. The black truck that Bobbi had been driving when Maya pulled her over was parked near the outbuilding.

Jenna came out of the building and spoke with her father and the stranger. Then she went back inside. A few minutes later she and Cody came out and drove the truck around to the back of the building, out of Maya’s sight.

“What do you think they’re doing?” Maya asked.

“I don’t know.”

“Damn, that doesn’t help our case.”

“Well, maybe not for finding your grandfather, but we need to find out more about this lady,” Josh said.

Yet another blonde.Maya continued peering through her scope.Could Doug have been involved with either Bobbi or this visitor? Maybe a love triangle, and Carson found out that Bobbi was seeing Doug and that’s why he was killed? And then there’s Jenna. She’s also blonde.

“You look like you’re thinking about something. What is it?” Josh asked.

“How do you know that I’m thinking about something?”

“Basic body language. Spit it out.”

“Doug was in a relationship, but I don’t know with who. There were blond hairs at his house. I’m wondering if he could have been seeing Bobbi and Carson got jealous, and that’s why Doug was killed. Maybe it has nothing to do with the drug trafficking.”

“It’s a possibility. How well did you know Doug?”

“We grew up together and I thought of him as my best friend, that we could tell each other anything. But I guess I was wrong,” Maya said. “The more I learn about him, the less I think he considered me a friend he could confide in. I’ve realized I didn’t really know him.”

“I guess we all have our secrets. Doesn’t mean he didn’t love you or consider you a good friend.”

“Thanks... Can I ask you a question?”

“As long as I don’t have to reveal any of my secrets,” Josh laughed.

Maya shook her head. “No secrets. I was just wondering, why did you become a cop? What made you want to do this job?”

Josh continued peering through his binoculars as he answered, “I always played cops and robbers as a kid, and liked to antagonize my sister by handcuffing her stuffed animals. I wanted to keep doing that.”