Charlie Yazzie glanced sideways at Billy Red Clay, “You didn’t know any of this, Billy?”
“Not until just this moment.” Billy frowned at the FBI man, “It seems like you could have let me know this a tad earlier instead of letting me come in here looking like a dummy?”
Mayfield was unapologetic, “The reports went out earlier this morning, and they’re probably on your desk as we speak… You too, Charlie, I personally made a point of seeing you got one.” With a grim smile and wave of his hand the federal agent dismissed any further culpability and continued, “The prosecutor insisted it all be kept very hush, hush. We didn’t want this out before we make our second arrest this morning.”
Charlie’s eyes widened. “A second arrest? Who might that be…and for what?”
“The murder of James Erdric.”
“I thought you already had Jimmy John under arrest for Erdric’s murder?” Charlie was stunned.
“We do have Mr. Jimmy John under arrest, but there was another person involved. The prosecutor is calling it a conspiracy.”
Charlie lowered an eyelid at the agent, “I’m guessing you aren’t going to tell us who the second person is you are going to arrest?”
“No, not just yet,” Mayfield admitted and smiled while tapping the desk with a finger to emphasize his point. “But we will soon, I promise you that.”
~~~~~~
Billy Red Clay followed the Legal Services Investigator out to their units, parked in the shade of the Federal Building. “Well, that’s just something, isn’t it? They weren’t kidding when they said they weren’t going to put up with any more leaks from Tribal.” Billy slapped his hat against his leg. “You’d a thought they’d tell me though…I’m the goddamned Liaison Office for Christ sake.”
“Yes, well, at least we know where we stand now Billy, and no mistake.” Charlie half-grinned at the policeman, “On the bright side, this should finally let you off the hook in the Hoffman thing.”
Billy grinned too, “You’re right, I was so mad I didn’t even think of that.” Billy Red Clay put his hat on, smiled and flicked the brim with a forefinger. “I’m going back to the office and tell Captain Beyale I want back on patrol duty.” He hesitated and then shot Charlie quick glance, “I wonder if Beyale had any clue about the arrests before we did?”
“That, my friend is something we will probably never know.” Charlie’s mind was already chewing on the thought of the other arrest…the one Mayfield said was yet to come, and thought to himself, I think my dropped ball is about to come back into play.
“I hope the Captain didn’t know. Beyale has always been a good boss, and a fair one too. I would hate to throw that away.” Billy Red Clay was known for his penchant for giving credit where credit was due.
“Billy, how would you like to take a little run out to Martha Keyoni’s place with me?” Charlie grinned, “I might need a little official back-up this morning.”
“Martha Keyoni? She’s locked up according to Mayfield.” Billy wasn’t sure what Charlie meant.
“It’s not about Martha. I’d like to have a little talk with her husband, Hank, and her daughter Luanne, too. It surprises me Hank didn’t stand up for Martha in this thing. There has to be more to it than what I heard in the FBI report.”
Billy Red Clay didn’t hesitate, “Sure, I’ve got a few hours to kill this morning, and I don’t have to be back in the office until this afternoon.” The policeman nodded, “I’ll ride along with you, but it’s not going to be a happy place out there I’ll bet you that.”
“No, probably not, but I’ll bet Agent Fred Smith is already on his way out there. They would be wise to send Fred Smith; he grew up in this country and knows the Navajo better than most.”
~~~~~~
On the drive out to the Keyoni camp Charlie Yazzie couldn’t help but think how much Billy Red Clay was like his old friend, Samuel Shorthair, Billy had worked for the former Liaison Officer a little less than a year before his death, but had taken on a good bit of his old boss’s thought processes and general attitude. Charlie believed the young officer might someday go far. If I don’t get him killed like I did Sam Shorthair. Charlie had never really come to terms with the fact that he had been the one that talked the Lieutenant into going along on another one of his hunches…just as he had today. Rationally, he knew his friend’s death was not his fault, and he knew Billy didn’t blame him for it, either, but the thought was always there just the same.
Billy Red Clay hadn’t said much since they left Farmington, but now, looking out the window at the Colorado Plateau, wondered out loud, “Do you really think there’s anything we can learn from these people the FBI hasn’t already asked?”
“Well, that’s what we are about to find out, Billy. There’s generally some difference between what a Navajo will tell an FBI man, and what they might say to another Navajo, even a Navajo Lawman.” Charlie didn’t mention he occasionally had to send Thomas Begay or Harley Ponyboy to talk to a witness in a legal aid case. There was a difference.
They were almost to the Keyoni’s turnoff when Billy Red Clay remembered that according to Thomas, the Keyoni cousins were living in the camp now. He wondered if Charlie had taken that into account. Thomas once told him the pair was about on a par with Danny Hat but not as smart. Harley Ponyboy, on the other hand maintained the two cousins were considerably worse. Billy suspected they were about to find out and hoped he was up to it.
The camp, when they pulled up to the main hogan, appeared deserted, and as Billy Red Clay eased up to the door, Charlie tooted the horn twice more before someone finally came to the door. When Hank Keyoni opened it a crack he was drunk, otherwise he might have been able to slam it in Billy Red Clay’s face. Billy got his foot in the door and bulled his way on in. Charlie was right behind him and the first thing that hit him was the acrid stench of vomit. As their eyes adjusted to the darkened interior they saw one of the cousins passed out on a cot against the far wall and the other of the pair slumped over the table on the other side of the room. Luanne was nowhere in sight.
Charlie Yazzie eased past the Tribal policeman who was still keeping a wary eye on Hank Keyoni. Hank stood eyeing them from the middle of the room cussing under his breath. “Where’s Luanne, Hank?” Charlie tried to keep his voice calm but thought there might still be a slight tremor to it.
Hank shook his head and tried to focus. “That’s what the FBI wanted to know, too,” the elder Keyoni said with a dour grin. “They were here earlier and told us they had arrested Martha when she got to work this morning; said they wanted to talk to Luanne…but they didn’t say why. I told Martha she had better leave well enough alone. ‘Danny’s dead,’ I told her. ‘There’s nothing you can do to change that, so just leave it alone,’ I said.” Hank dropped his head. “She’s been knowing what Danny and Luanne were doing for months now…and they thought they were so smart, too. ‘That’s when you should have done something about those two kids,’ I told her. ‘Back when they were still young.’ But there’s no talking to her when she’s in one of her moods.” Hank got a sad little look on his face. “Now she’s in jail and they didn’t even say what for.”
Billy Red Clay pushed right up in front of Hank and despite the man’s bad breath, got right in his face. “She’s in jail for murder Hank, and I doubt they’re through with you people yet. What did they want to question Luanne about?”
“I a’ready told you I don’t know,” Hank replied, his voice steady but sullen. “They just needed to talk to her they said. I told them I didn’t know where she was… She didn’t come home last night.”
Charlie moved in, “She didn’t say where she was going? Yesterday, I mean when she left the house?”
“Naa, she didn’t say, she never does, just comes and goes, never tells anyone anything. That’s the kind of girl she is.” Hank was still drunk, but not nearly as bad as he had been earlier. “I think there’s something we need to get straight right now.” He looked at both lawmen and lifted his
chin, “Me and Martha are about through…have been for awhile now. She was moving back to her Hopi relatives––her son was going to go with her she said.” Hank shook his head, “After Danny died she just sort of went crazy; said several times, someone was going to pay for him going the way he did. And she thinks Luanne is partially responsible too, she thought Luanne was the one who got Danny started.” Hank’s shoulders slumped, “She thinks Luanne might even be a witch.” The man turned slightly away and Charlie thought he saw a tear slide down his cheek.
Billy Red Clay asked in a softer voice, “Hank, is there anywhere you think Luanne could be? Who’s she been going with lately?”
Hank thought a moment before turning back to them, his voice angry. “It’s like I don’t even know Luanne anymore; she has been acting like she’s living in some other world. She says she don’t have any boyfriends. Hank stopped right there, as though he thought he might already have said too much but then seemed unable to quit talking. “She’s mentioned a few times that she needs to make up with an old friend, but hell, I don’t even know who that would be.”
Charlie looked at Billy Red Clay and nodded. The tribal officer turned toward the door. “Hank, the FBI will likely be back at some point, you boys had best get this place cleaned up and the booze out of here before they come, or you’ll all be in jail.”
Charlie nodded briefly at Hank as he passed and then followed Billy out the door.
Back in the truck, Billy Red Clay let out a long slow breath. “I guess that explains a lot of things. Like you said earlier, I couldn’t figure out why Hank didn’t stand up for his wife. Now maybe I understand a little more where he’s coming from.”
Charlie nodded, “At this point it doesn’t seem like Hank’s involved in any of it––he seems to want that made plain right up front.” He started the truck, but watched the hogan in his rear view mirror, wondering what would become of the Keyonis now. “I guess the next question is where Luanne has taken herself off to. The FBI must know something or they wouldn’t be coming out here to question her. Not to say she’s being targeted in the murder, but I imagine there’s some reason they made this their first stop this morning.” Charlie didn’t like it, but he said it anyway, “I wonder if Martha’s been talking to them?”
Charlie’s truck was still a good distance from the highway when the men spotted a government car parked at the turnoff.
Charlie turned to the policeman, “Looks like someone’s watching the place.”
Billy Red Clay snorted, “Or…they knew those people out here were through talking to them, followed us figuring we might do better.”
Nosing the truck up to the government car, the two Navajo were surprised to see Agent Fred Smith get out and head back to Billy’s side of the truck. The tribal policeman rolled down the window and put on a smile for the FBI man. Fred was all right in his book, he was just glad it wasn’t Mayfield.
“How are you, Billy?” The agent looked across at Charlie Yazzie with a wave of his hand, “You doing all right Charlie?” Both men nodded in return and waited for Smith to continue. “I’m waiting for Mayfield, he’s determined to see what he can get out of the Keyonis. I was halfway back to town when he called and said I should turn around…wait for him here. He didn’t know you boys were out here of course, but I doubt that would have made a difference. Eldon’s been talking to someone about the Keyoni girl…apparently has reason to believe she’s connected to the Erdric murder.” The agent saw the looks on their faces and was quick to add; “You boys have probably already heard what old man Keyoni’s willing to tell and I doubt Mayfield will come up with anything better.” Fred paused and looked from one to the other, “If there’s any way you can help us out on this one it would be appreciated. Mayfield may not be here much longer and I think he wants to go out on a high note. This is important to him–could have a major bearing on his next posting.” He smiled, “I don’t think that’s going to be New York.”
Charlie leaned across Billy to look up at the agent. “We were sort of hoping you would be the next agent in charge out here.”
Billy nodded, and added, “We’re on this, Fred, and if there’s any way we can help make that happen you can count on us. Right now I doubt we know any more than you people do…maybe not as much actually, but like Mayfield, we are not without our resources.”
The FBI man stroked his chin and nodded. “I’m not going to say anything about seeing you boys out here today.” The agent turned to go but then paused. “It’s time our agencies worked together for a change, it’s not a contest.”
Back on the highway, Billy Red Clay smiled as Charlie took a cutoff leading back to Farmington with less likelihood of running into Mayfield. He liked the idea of Fred Smith at the helm of the Bureau’s local office, made a mental note not to be too hasty in giving up his place as liaison officer…not just yet anyway. A thought occurred to the young officer that made him uncomfortable. “Who do you suppose was the little bird that made Mayfield aware of this information regarding Luanne Keyoni?”
“I can’t even imagine, unless Martha thinks her daughter will testify against her in the murder of Karl Hoffman.”
Charlie left Billy Red Clay off at his truck in Farmington, then on a whim decided to drop by Professor Custer’s small office facility. Someone, he thought, should be finishing up the sorting and packing of specimens from the dig. When he opened the door he was surprised to see the entire crew there, Thomas and Harley were crating things up and old man Paul T’Sosi was putting labels on the boxes. George Custer was at his desk speaking to someone on the phone and didn’t look up as the investigator entered.
Only Harley Ponyboy glanced at him and smiled, then gave a little salute before saying, “Well, looky who’s here, just in time ta help load the trailer, too.”
Thomas raised his head at this and asked, “What have you been up to today? Not wasting the taxpayers money on wild goose chases I hope?”
Charlie grinned. “I guess that’s debatable, it doesn’t feel like I accomplished much, but that remains to be seen, I suppose.” Charlie looked around the room and appeared to think about his next question, “Anyone seen anything of Luanne Keyoni the last day or so?” No one answered; that was the Navajo way of saying they didn’t know anything.
Paul T’Sosi looked across at the investigator and changed the subject. “You and Billy Red Clay catch any crooks today?” The old man smiled at the surprised look on Charlie’s face, “I saw you two leaving town as I came in with my daughter this morning. We waved but you must not have seen us.”
“No, I guess we didn’t. We were on our way out to the Keyoni place.” Charlie watched Harley’s face as he said this, and thought he saw a slight tightening of the man’s jaw, and just for a second felt sure he was going to say something. If that was Harley’s intention he apparently thought better of it. He didn’t look Charlie’s way and continued wrapping bits of pottery.
Paul moved around the table and was quite close to Charlie when he whispered, “I think Lucy was on her way out to see Sue when she dropped me off… What are those two up to? They’re on the phone all day long.” He paused and canted his head to one side. “She tells me you and Sue are having trouble?” The old man didn’t seem embarrassed to bring this up.
Charlie rolled his eyes and looked annoyed at the old singer. He knew the old man wouldn’t have asked if it weren’t already common knowledge.
“Like everyone else I guess, Paul, we have a few little problems but nothing serious…nothing to be concerned about.” Charlie knew the old man saw through him and was instantly sorry he’d said anything at all.
Paul T’Sosi smiled and considered the younger man with a calculating eye. “I’m just asking because I’m the one who married you––at least the Navajo part of it. I would hate to think I did a bad job of sticking you two together.”
“No, you didn’t do a bad job; it’ll be fine. I’m working on it.” Charlie owed the old man this much, and knew he had only inquired out
of an honest concern. The investigator tended to listen more closely to what Paul had to say these days, and again resolved to broach the subject with Sue when he got home that night. They would get whatever the problem was out in the light and fix it. “By the way Paul, when was the last time Luanne Keyoni came out to your place?”
Paul didn’t hesitate. “Oh, I guess it was about three or four days ago. She still wants to do that cleansing. Funny thing though, she ask me if it could cure someone of being a witch, she’s a strange one. I’m glad Harley didn’t get hooked up with her.”
George Custer finished his phone call and finally looked up to acknowledge Charlie Yazzie. “That was Eldon Mayfield on the phone. He said I might be interested to hear that they have a warrant out for William Crawley and wondered if I knew where they might find him. He’s going to be charged with trafficking in illegal antiquities, he said.” The professor chuckled, “Not that it surprises me; it’s been a long time coming. He also asked if I would be willing to testify concerning what I knew of Crawley’s business. I told him I didn’t know how much help I would be but let him know I was happy to oblige.”
Charlie now understood Mayfield’s good humor that morning. It appeared things were going his way. Eldon Mayfield was on a roll, and this caused Charlie to wonder how the head agent made out at the Keyoni camp with Hank and his two nephews. He was fairly certain those boys had been no help.
After Charlie said his goodbyes, Harley Ponyboy followed him out to his truck, then just stood there, obviously uncertain how to go about what he had to say. Charlie turned to him and almost smiled at the look on the little man’s face. “What is it Harley? …Just spit it out, I need to get home.”
“Uh…well, maybe you could give me a ride home… I know it’s out of the way but I need ta talk to you about something…you know, a little legal advice. Thomas has ta take the old man ta see a sick person and that might take half the night. I don’t have no way home.”
Wolves of Winter: A Navajo Nation Mystery Page 17