Ethan looked at Brody. Brody’s face was pale.
“We need to check that,” Brody said. “Now.”
They left Maya with Carla, who locked the door and promised not to let anyone in. Ethan and Brody took flashlights and headed into the sanctuary. The night was cold and clear. The path to the waterfall was overgrown. They had to duck under branches and step over roots. The sound of the waterfall grew louder. Behind it, a narrow opening led into a small cave. It had been used for bears years ago, but now it was empty.
Except it wasn’t.
A woman was sitting on a bedroll, wrapped in a sleeping bag. She was thin, with dark circles under her eyes and hair that hadn’t been brushed in weeks. When she saw the flashlight, she scrambled back.
“Please,” she whispered. “Don’t hurt her.”
Brody lowered his flashlight. “Ma’am, we’re not here to hurt anyone. We’re here about Maya.”
The woman’s eyes filled with tears. “Is she okay?”
“She’s safe,” Ethan said. “She freed a wolf cub from a snare. She’s brave.”
The woman covered her mouth. “Oh, God. I told her to stay away. But she never listens.”
“Who are you?” Brody asked.
“Elena. Elena Reeves. Harlan’s wife.”
Ethan frowned. “Harlan said Maya’s mother died.”
Elena laughed bitterly. “He would. He told everyone I died in a car accident. But I didn’t. I found out what he was doing—selling animals to private collectors, poaching from other sanctuaries. I was going to go to the police. He found out. He locked me in the basement. I escaped. I’ve been hiding here ever since.”
“Why didn’t you leave?” Ethan asked. “Go to the police?”
“He has friends,” Elena said. “He threatened to kill Maya if I talked. I couldn’t risk it. So I stayed close. I watched her from the trees. I taught her how to feed the cub. She’s the only reason that wolf is still alive.”
Brody shook his head. “This is insane.”
“We need to get you out of here,” Ethan said. “And we need to call the police. For real this time.”
Elena nodded. “There’s a journal. In the bear den. Behind the loose stone. It has everything. Dates, names, bank accounts. I kept a record.”
Ethan found the journal. It was wrapped in plastic. He also found a USB drive. They took Elena back to the office. Carla called the sheriff. The sheriff, a no-nonsense woman named Deputy Ortiz, arrived within twenty minutes. She listened to Elena’s story, read the journal, and her face grew darker with every page.
Harlan was arrested at his house. He tried to deny everything, but the evidence was overwhelming. The snare matched others found in his truck. The bank records showed payments from known animal traffickers. The private collector he sold to was already under investigation. Harlan was led away in handcuffs, screaming that he would be back.
Maya watched from the office window. She didn’t smile. She just watched.
Then Elena walked in.
Maya’s whole body went still. Then she ran. She ran across the room and crashed into her mother’s arms. Elena held her so tight it seemed she would never let go. Both of them cried. Ethan stood by the door, wiping his eyes. Brody cleared his throat and looked at the ceiling.
“I thought you were dead,” Maya sobbed. “He said you were dead.”
“I’m not,” Elena whispered. “I’m here. I’m not going anywhere.”
They sat together on the couch. Maya wouldn’t let go of her mother’s hand. Elena told her everything—why she hid, why she couldn’t come out, how proud she was. Maya listened, her eyes wide.
“The cub,” Maya said suddenly. “Is he okay?”
Ethan nodded. “He’s fine. The vet checked him out. He’s going to be released into the wild once he’s strong enough.”
Maya bit her lip. “Can I say goodbye?”
