by Aimée
Another uniformed deputy soon appeared at the door, and Ella went to meet him.
“I’m Deputy Schutz. I was sent to provide additional backup here. What do you need?”
The blue-eyed, sunburned deputy in his late forties filled out his tan uniform almost to the bursting point, but he wasn’t overweight, just muscular. “Join Deputy Walker and talk to the nearby tenants. I want to know if anyone, besides the resident, was seen entering or leaving this apartment this past week.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
Lost in thought, Ella watched him go. Sooner or later, she’d have to meet with Sheriff Taylor and discuss the case. She’d coordinated many investigations with county over the years, and had found the sheriff an exceptionally good ally, even under the most trying circumstances.
“No luck,” Teeny said, catching Ella’s eye. “There’s a clear spot free of dust on the desk that indicates where his laptop was at one point. The charger’s on the floor, unplugged, but no computer.”
“Maybe he moved it elsewhere,” Ella said. “Let’s search the place from top to bottom.”
Ella worked alongside Teeny and Justine, opening drawers, searching the closet, even looking under the bed and mattress, and behind the furniture. She’d just finished searching the kitchen area when Deputy Schutz came back into the room.
“Walker’s going back to recheck the apartments that didn’t answer our knock the first time, but I’ve got a hit from the man in apartment 107. He just came home from work.”
Schutz handed her a piece of paper. “This is the witness’s name and phone number. Below that is a description of the woman he saw with the victim the night before last, at about 2100. Mr. Alan Sanchez knew the victim well enough to be on a first-name basis with him, and according to him, they’d gone out for a beer several times.”
Ella read the neat script describing a “tipsy,” leggy Navajo woman in her twenties, with a shapely figure and short reddish hair. She’d been wearing ultra-tight jeans and a halter top.
“The neighbor, Mr. Sanchez, suggested from their coziness and age difference that Mr. Ute had picked her up at the bar just down the highway—the Horny Toad.”
“Did he think the woman was a hooker?” Ella asked.
“Not his exact words, but that was the implication, yes,” the deputy said.
“Do you have a full list of the people you spoke to?” Ella asked.
Schutz handed her two small sheets of paper neatly torn from his notebook. “Names and numbers.”
She looked at her watch, noting it was nearly seven. “Okay, thanks for your help. If Deputy Walker finds anyone else home on his second try, let us know, otherwise you’re free to go. Thanks for your help.”
Schulz nodded, said good night, then left.
Ella shut the door, then briefed Teeny and Justine. “If our friend had a woman guest here the night before last, her fingerprints are probably around. I’ll ask Big Ed to put in a request for the county’s crime scene unit. We need them to go over this place. There are bound to be prints around the bathroom and the bed, and maybe on one of the beer bottles in the trash. Once we ID the woman, I’d like to question her.” Ella looked over at Teeny. “You wouldn’t happen to know if he was seeing someone regularly, would you?”
“He wouldn’t have spoken to me about something like that,” Teeny said. “We were friends, but he also worked for me. There was a line there he didn’t like to cross.”
“A Navajo woman with red hair? It was either a wig or a dye job,” Justine said.
“I’ll see if I can get a lead from the county’s vice unit. I’d also like to bring in one of their detectives to help us work the case whenever we’re on this side of the Rez border,” Ella said. “Dan Nez might be willing to give us a hand.”
She’d been dating Detective Nez for months. Dan had served for several years as a Winslow, Arizona, cop, but recently relocated to the Four Corners.
The attraction between them had been fast and strong, maybe too much so. Dan wasn’t relationship shy, but Ella was, after her breakup with Reverend Bilford Tome. Sensing it, Dan had suggested that they shouldn’t take things too fast, and she’d agreed, grateful that he was willing to give them the time to really get to know each other.
“Justine, if Officer Walker is still out there, ask him to place a crime scene notice on the door before he goes and thank him for his cooperation.”
After leaving the key with the manager, Teeny and Ella found Justine waiting in the courtyard. Together, they walked back toward the parking lot.
“So what’s going on with you lately, Ella? I’ve heard some talk about the Public Safety Director wanting to phase out the homicide division at Shiprock and have it based in Window Rock.”
“Yeah, we’ll see how that plays out. I can tell you this—I’m not moving to Window Rock and ending up behind a desk. If it comes to that. I’ll retire first.”
“If you finally get a bellyful of department politics, come work for me,” he said. “The job will pay better than what you’re earning now and you can work full- or part-time. Whatever you decide.”
“Is this a serious job offer?” she asked, interested.
“Of course. I could really use someone with your experience.”
“Thanks,” she said. “I’ll give it some thought. I don’t like the direction the department has taken on a whole range of issues lately. Politics and law enforcement are a bad mix.”
“Then go while the going’s good. That’s what I did, and I’ve never regretted it.”
“I hear you, but before I can do anything else, I’ve got a murder to solve,” she said. “Talk to your client, explain the situation, and then tell me what I need to know.”
“I’ll see what I can do,” Teeny said.
“Keep the skinwalker angle between us, at least for now, okay? I want to talk to Big Ed about that first,” Ella said. “And remember that the clock’s working against us. If a skinwalker’s involved, there’s no telling what lies ahead.”
FOUR
Teeny walked with Ella and Justine back to the tribal SUV. “Before we start heading back, there’s something I want you to know, Ella. I’m going to be working this case, too—H was one of my people. The only open question is who’ll catch the killer first,” Teeny said.
“Whatever it takes,” Ella said. “Is there anything you can give me right now that wouldn’t break your client’s confidentiality agreement?”
Teeny stared at an indeterminate spot just beyond the tribal SUV, then after a long moment, spoke. “H has handled several cases for me this past month, including one where our client’s ex-boyfriend was threatening her.”
“Was that solved?” Ella asked.
“Supposedly settled to our client’s satisfaction,” Teeny said with a nod, then after a pause, continued. “Currently, H was on the trail of a thief.” He looked around carefully—with his eyes, not turning his head—and made sure that they were still alone. “I shouldn’t be telling you this, but the circumstances warrant it. H was on the trail of someone selling stolen San Juan County property on the Internet. The thefts haven’t been reported yet, because we don’t want to tip off the thief, who’s believed to be a county employee. My guess is that H was there to meet an informant, or maybe following a lead.”
“Give me a little more to work on, Teeny, like what was being sold and who first discovered the losses,” Ella pressed.
“Not without talking to my client. For what it’s worth, you probably would have had all that information if you’d been able to retrieve H’s notebook or find his laptop. I’d be willing to bet it’s all in there.”
“Which explains the theft of the computer, his notes, and even his cell phone,” Justine said. “It looks like our friend was getting too close and someone decided to take him out.”
“Who’s your client, Teeny? It has to be a county worker, someone who doesn’t want publicity of any kind,” Ella said.
“Reach your own conclusions, Ella. I
can’t tell you anything more. If the investigation reaches a critical point, I’ll insist my client tell you his or her identity. Until then, walk carefully and run with what you know.”
“Which isn’t much.”
“I can’t give you the name of my client unless you can prove that the case H was working on is directly linked to his murder, and at this point, I still have my doubts, especially with that skinwalker angle.”
“Okay, but I still want you to ask your client for permission to disclose his identity,” Ella said, then nodded to Justine. “Let’s get back. Maybe Ralph and the others have found a witness who knows or has seen something that’ll be useful to us.”
* * *
They arrived at the station around 8 P.M. Justine, who was their on-site tech as well as Ella’s partner, went straight to her lab to process the evidence collected at the crime scene.
Ella didn’t make it past the lobby before being directed to the chief’s office. Big Ed Atcitty, whose name said it all, rose from his swivel chair as she arrived at his open door.
“Come in, Shorty, and tell me what your team’s got so far,” he said, using the nickname he’d given her years ago, though at five foot ten, she was taller than he was. “I’m behind you one hundred percent, so if you need more manpower, or whatever, just say so.”
“Thank you. I will.” She took a seat and gave him a rundown of what they’d learned. “I think that the murder’s related to one of his current investigations, but I can’t rule out the possibility that his past caught up to him. He made enemies as an officer for the tribe, and later as a U.S. Marshal.”
“How long had he been working for Bruce Little?”
“A little under a year, but it’s his latest case that concerns me most. His pocket notebook and laptop have both gone missing, so I’m guessing that’s the motive behind his murder. Why else take them, especially the notebook?”
“Do you have anything more on that skinwalker connection?”
“Other than the corpse mutilation, no. I intend to talk to my brother and see if he can help me come up with a list of possible suspects.”
“Keep that part of the case under wraps for as long as you can.”
“That’s not going to be easy, but we’ll try,” Ella said.
“Tell me more about the woman he was with Monday night,” Big Ed said.
“She was the last person known to have seen him alive,” Ella said. Sensing someone behind her, she stopped speaking and turned her head.
The stocky duty officer was accompanied by a tall, good-looking Hispanic woman in her late thirties wearing a visitor’s pass.
“Sorry to interrupt, Chief Atcitty,” he said. “This is Mrs. Selina Ute, the former wife of the deceased. She’s asked for a moment of your time.”
Big Ed walked around the desk as Ella stood. “Of course. Please, come in,” he said. “Your former husband has some very good friends in this department, Mrs. Ute. We’ll do all we can to find his killer.”
Selina Ute nodded to Big Ed, but as she glanced at Ella, her expression hardened in an instant. “I’ve seen you on TV. You’re Ella Clah,” she said, her voice filled with contempt. “Surely this woman isn’t leading the investigation into Harry’s murder,” Selina added, looking back at Big Ed.
Ella studied the unfamiliar face, wondering if her attitude came from grief or anger, or if that even mattered right now. Clearly she wasn’t the Navajo woman who’d been with Harry the night before his death. The description was way off.
“This woman had a relationship with my ex-husband,” Selina stated. “She ruined my marriage and is the last person on this earth who should be working on his case.”
Stunned, all Ella could do for a moment was stare. Finally she got her voice back again. “My relationship with him ended ten years ago, ma’am, months before your marriage.”
“It was never over for him, and you know it,” Selina said, then looked back at Big Ed. “This woman was personally involved with my ex-husband, and I insist that another investigator take charge.”
“Not going to happen. Investigator Clah is the head of our homicide division, and investigating this crime is her responsibility,” he said coldly.
Selina stared at Ella with narrowed eyes. “You messed up his life, then lured him back here to his death. Haven’t you done enough?”
Ella was unsure of how to handle such irrational behavior. Grief often distorted people’s perceptions, and in a situation like this, she knew it was better to remain calm. “I’ll do whatever’s necessary to find the person who killed him, Mrs. Ute, you can count on that.”
“I’m not interested in your assurances.” Still standing, Selina looked at Big Ed. “I know my husband was murdered. My daughter and I are visiting relatives in Farmington and right now my five-year-old child is with my sister, less than thirty miles away. Are we in any danger?”
“We have no reason to believe that.” Big Ed sat down, and finally, Selina did the same.
“No one with personal ties to my husband, past or present, should be involved in the investigation,” Selina said, more calmly now, though she avoided looking at Ella.
“Investigator Clah is the leader of our major crimes team, and I stand behind her,” Big Ed said. “She’s your best hope if you’re really here to find justice and closure.”
As it always had been, Big Ed’s loyalty to his people was unwavering. Ella smiled.
Selina rose to her feet. “Then I’ll have to take this up with someone in a position to force the issue. My cousin Nelson Natani works with Gerald Bidtah. Gerald’s in charge of all the police agencies on the Navajo Nation, and I’m sure he’ll be interested in how you’ve chosen to handle this matter.”
“You’re free to discuss my professional judgment with whomever you wish. But my decision stands,” Big Ed said, crossing his arms and leaning back to signal he was done talking.
As Mrs. Ute spun on her heels and stormed out, Big Ed’s gaze returned to Ella. “Is there something I should know?”
“Harry and I broke up when he left the force to join the U.S. Marshals, about ten years ago. Several months later, he married Selina and that was the last I heard from him until he moved back to the Four Corners. I doubt I’ve said more than a dozen words to him since he came back.”
“She believes that he still had feelings for you.”
“If he did, I never heard him say so, and he never acted on them. It’s more likely that Harry mentioned me from time to time and that made her jealous. It’s also possible I may have become a convenient scapegoat for the failure of their marriage. I don’t know.”
“Sounds like Mrs. Ute isn’t ready to let this go,” Big Ed said, his voice somber.
“I could try to talk to her, but if her mind’s already made up, that might make things worse.”
“Leave it to me,” he said. “Concentrate on your job. Skinwalkers…” He shook his head. “That’s going to frighten people, and nothing good ever comes from fear.”
“I’ll keep you updated every step of the way, Chief.” Ella hurried down the hall to her own office, thinking about Harry’s ex, trying to see the situation through her eyes. Coping with grief was never easy, and maybe lashing out was the only way Selina could deal with it.
As Ella sat in front of her computer, she pushed Selina Ute from her mind. It was time for her to get to work.
* * *
The paperwork was overwhelming and it was nearly midnight by the time Ella got home. As she climbed out of the truck, she saw a light on in the kitchen and a familiar dark shape close to the ground, waiting for her on the porch.
“Hey, Two,” Ella whispered, greeting the sixty-pound mutt. The dog came up, tail wagging, and Ella gave him a hug. The elderly stray was protective of all of them, and he usually didn’t go to sleep until she was home safe.
Two followed her inside, then went to his own bed in the kitchen.
As Ella opened the fridge door, Rose came in.
“I was wonde
ring if you’d make it back tonight at all, daughter,” she said, braiding her silver hair. “I stayed up, thinking you might need someone to talk to.” Rose tried to tie a rubber band around her hair, but her rheumatoid arthritis was making the motion painful.
“Let me help, Mom,” Ella said, then fastened the band for her. “You don’t braid your hair much anymore. When was the last time?”
“I can’t remember, but it got pretty hot this evening and I need some way of cooling off,” Rose answered. “You want some herbal tea?”
Seeing Ella nod, she walked to the refrigerator and brought out a gallon jar half full of her special blend.
Ella found two glasses in the drain rack, and her mom poured.
They sat down at the table and sipped their tea for a full five minutes before either of them spoke.
“Your daughter spent hours talking to her friends on the phone. They all seemed to know what was going on,” Rose said. “I made her hang up and go to bed around ten.”
“Then you probably already know what kept me,” Ella said, avoiding mentioning Harry specifically. Rose was a Traditionalist, and they all respected Navajo ways in the house in deference to her.
“You lost an old friend today. I’m sorry about that,” Rose said, looking into her eyes.
“I seem to have a problem with men, don’t I?” Ella said with a thin smile.
“To Anglos, romantic love is everything, but we’re Navajos. We’re taught to value lasting things like compatibility and shared goals. Romantic love is all too often a cheat.”
Ella smiled. “Maybe so, but I’d rather keep looking than settle.”
Rose sighed. “What happened to that county detective? I’ve seen the way you look at him when he isn’t watching, but it’s been a while since you had him over for dinner. Did you two have a fight?”
“No, it’s nothing like that, Mom. I like him, and he likes me, too, and we’ve been dating. I just want to take things slow, and he supports me on that.”
“The Navajo Way teaches that a man and a woman need each other to be complete,” Rose said. “Don’t keep finding excuses until it’s too late—for you and for him.”