Stamping into my boots on the way down the stairs, I saw
'em all. Kabe, well, he was my Kabe, still in my flannel and his painted on jeans. Ranger Slokum wore full uniform.
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uniform, but he had dressed for hunting, as we said it: sidearm, badge and black cowboy hat.
"Heard about this morning." Myron called up to me as I thundered down the steps. "Don't look like you came out of it clean."
"The black eye," I shrugged, "or the citation for disturbing the peace?"
That got me a snort from Nadia. "Both." Nobody'd taken a seat yet, I didn't extend the offer. Figured it wasn't much of a social call, what with everyone in their finest. Although why the Sheriff had drug Nadia along to chew my butt, I couldn't fathom.
When I hit the ground floor, Myron took off his hat and spun it through his hands. He looked at me, then Kabe, then back to me. "Why, Joe, did you go and pick a fight with Ramon-Fucking-Piestewa?"
"Joe didn't pick a fight with him." Kabe sputtered it out.
My glare shushed the boy. He muttered something none of the rest of us was privy to and stalked over into the kitchen, flipped a chair around and dropped into it. Guess I wasn't the only one 'round here sulking. I propped my butt on the back of the couch. Not all that contrite, I offered, "Sorta stumbled up on it I guess." I was too darn busy feeling sorry for myself to actually be sorry about anything.
"Yeah, well, I got an earful from the chief over in Cedar City a couple hours ago." Sheriff Simple settled the hat back on his head. He was being official after all, gave him the right to keep it on indoors. "Says you were cooperative with them.
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to twist up his mouth, "once they caught him." Somehow I figured Ramon was in a lot more hot water than me. "Most of the witnesses though, they say you were trying to walk away when he threw the first punch. Can't say, Joe, that this'll make things much easier for you." As he shoved his hands in his pockets, he shook his head. It all seemed like he was sorta sad. "On top of everything else right now, I'll do what I can do. Well," he huffed out, "I didn't come over here to bust your chops. We'll save that for later."
If it weren't that, what else could it be? I wasn't so down that it'd killed my curiosity. "So why did you come?"
"Ranger Slokum and I are on our way over to the canyon."
Nadia, hearing her name, turned from where she studied the prints on my wall. Other than Jesus on the Mount, the rest were landscapes painted by my uncle and none of 'em qualified as high art. "Got our arrest warrant last night. Called the guy on Circuit and he signed off. But since Gunter's on the park's property we had to do a bit of faxing back and forth to Salt Lake, dot the i's and cross the t's and get the Feds' okay to take him on NPS land." Now he smiled. Sheriff Simple's smile was known to make grown men piss themselves. "You're on suspension." He stated the obvious.
"Can't be there, least not officially."
"I know." I appreciated though, him coming by and letting me know that they were gonna pick Gunter up.
"Thought maybe," he sniffed and cast a sideways glance at Ranger Slokum, "since it was all your doing, you might want to just ride along with me."
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"Just to observe." Nadia smiled. Hers was open and honest and all the scarier for it, 'cause I sensed the bobcat tasting blood underneath. "Huh, Sugar?"
First thing in a bit that pricked my interest. I ran my hand across my head and nodded. "I'd like to see him go down."
"Okay." Clapping his hands together, Myron added, "You ride with me."
Nadia looked over at Kabe. "Coming too, Sugar?"
"If its okay," he shifted in his chair, "and if Joe wants me to."
"Might as well." Kabe ought to have the chance to see what he'd put in motion. "You can keep me out of trouble."
"Sounds like a plan." Myron headed to the door. "Why don't the boy ride with Ranger Slokum, if that's acceptable? I want to talk with Joe a bit."
"Fine by me." She fished her keys from off her belt. "Come on, Sugar, you can tell me your life's story on the way."
Kabe looked at me like he needed permission or something. Could be he just didn't want me to have to suffer the sheriff on my own. Still, I was big enough I didn't need protecting from my own boss, "Get." I ordered him off. "I'll be fine. See you in like thirty." Watched him sulk over to the Ranger's pickup; Kabe acted like a puppy who'd been scolded.
I clambered into Sheriff Simple's car. We pulled out, hit the road right behind the NPS truck. Didn't say nothing for a while, as nothing seemed right to say. Finally, I asked it. "So, sir, what'd you need to talk to me about?"
Simple stared out at the road. Late sun and summer weather, Lord it was beautiful up here. He kinda glanced at 221
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me and offered another one of his scary as all get out smiles.
"You done good work on this one."
Not much more to do than take the complement. "Thank you, sir."
"Should be able to use this to keep you on," his finger tapped the wheel with a lot more agitation than his voice held. "But you know it ain't gonna be easy, Joe."
Easy and I didn't really have much to say to each other these days. I shrugged and watched the world go by past the window. "Figured it wouldn't."
"Up until this morning, I thought I had it figured out." He pushed his hat back a bit. "Week off, without pay, reprimand in your file and drop you a grade in pay." A good few minutes passed before he blew out his breath long and hard. "Now I got a whole 'nother hornets' nest to sort through. Don't want you to lose your POST, but you got to know you might with that fight."
Lord, if they pulled my Peace Officer Standards and Training certification I couldn't even work corrections no more. I swallowed, "I know."
"It goes good for you that you tried to walk away." It hit me that this might be the corrective counseling session that the Sheriff had to put me through. Sounded like it. If that was so, then maybe we weren't talking me losing more time. "And you took it just far enough to back Ramon down. And thank Sweet Jesus neither of you boys was stupid enough to rack a shell ... although I hear tell that a few people thought that's what Ramon was heading for when they heard the police coming and he ran off." To be shot in the back by Ramon 222
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Piestewa, that would have been low. I sure didn't have that much hate for him. Simple growled out the next question,
"What did you do to piss him off like that?"
"He had a thing for a gal. That gal had a thing for me." Not that I'd known it before Ramon'd come after me. Still, that's what he'd said.
"You two was fighting over a girl?" The Sheriff sounded like the White House was about to be painted chartreuse.
"Didn't say that, sir." Stamping down the laugh I didn't think would be appreciated, I explained to the best I could figure. "I guess he thought he was defending her honor or something by coming after me, since I pretty much turned her down." I stared out the widow some more. The rocks started turning the bright red giving Red Rock its name. "Just not in so many words."
"'Cause of that boy?"
"Yep."
"Well all right then." He snorted a couple times as he thought it through. We pushed on closer to Bryce. I wasn't certain which campground Gunter was at, but the Ranger would know. A few more miles passed under the wheels before the Sheriff spoke again. "Diamond's got the cruiser." I guess we were finished, at least for now, with my talking to.
"She and Jess'll take him with a couple of the Rangers."
"Lot of people for one skinny, German guy."
"Got to transfer him." Simple spared me a glare and then returned his at
tention to the road. "Park Rangers will serve the warrant and then we'll transfer custody at the edge of NPS territory."
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We pulled through the park gates just behind Nadia's truck and turned south past the Visitors' Center, heading for Sunset Campground. Knew that was it, as there were only two real campgrounds at Bryce ... for North Campground we would have headed the other direction. First to pull in behind us was Diamond and Jess in the cruiser. They'd been stationed in the big visitor's parking. We met up with the other Ranger a little after we turned onto the loop road. Nadia Slokum pulled up next to the NPS patrol car idling near the campground host station.
I'm sure we made a sight for the tourists to write home about. Four law enforcement vehicles cruising through, heading for loop C. Ponderosa pine and a little bit of scrub was broken by cleared areas. Tents peeked through here and there. Not a whole lot of privacy from your neighbor. About halfway 'round the loop, Nadia pulled over and so did we. The other cars moved a little farther along. No way for any vehicle to get by any of us.
Gunter's tent sat at the back of the space. Both bikes leaned against the metal picnic table. Unless he was off hiking, he'd be around. All of us, 'cept for Kabe, got out. I could hear Nadia scolding him to sit tight. Diamond and Jess got out and stood alongside their car. This was the Rangers'
scene so they would hang back unless needed. I might have been on suspension, but I wasn't a civilian, so I just ambled along after Sheriff Simple, who had the arrest warrant, like I had every right to be there. It didn't take long to spot Gunter lounging in one of those fold-out camp chairs and reading a book.
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As Nadia walked around the little rental car parked in the space, she called out, "Alban Gunter Warner?"
Seemingly unconcerned, Gunter looked up. "Ja." His eyes got just a little bigger when he counted the number of cops heading his way. He scrambled to his feet and dropped the book into the chair. "What is this?"
Charisma and command presence—Nadia radiated both as she walked up the campsite. "I'm Ranger Slokum, National Parks Service Law Enforcement. We met up at the Harding Ranch when your wife fell." With a jerk of her head, she introduced the other NPS Officer. "This here is Ranger Carbright." Pointing to the battered metal table the government installed years back, Nadia instructed, "Please turn around and put your hands on the picnic table there."
Nadia stood off to the side and back, directing him with her voice. Ranger Carbright, wary, ready and focused, moved off to the other side a bit, his hand on his sidearm.
Gunter did not move. "Why?"
"Sir, please do as you're instructed." Both Nadia and Carbright advanced. "Alban Gunter Warner," her tone was measured, even and commanding, "I have here a warrant to arrest you for the murder of one Anya Warner in Garfield County, Utah." Yet again I realized I wouldn't want to get crossways with Ranger Slokum.
Gunter bolted.
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I'd still have a little gas in the tank. Nadia pounded along near me. Didn't say nothing about me not supposed to be there.
I never quite understood people who ran. Maybe in some big city where there's lots of places to go. But we were in the back country, the land of hoodoos, thousand foot drops and rattlesnakes. Where the heck did Gunter think he was going to get off to?
Up and over a berm, then skittering around another camper's tent, Gunter stayed just a step ahead. I tore through a thorn bush behind him. My legs in jeans took it a lot better than his in shorts. I could see the little dots of blood along his calf. I ducked under branches and jumped logs trying to keep him in view. People scattered as we careened through their campsites.
Nadia and Carbright kept calling after him to surrender.
What did I care? We now had a charge of resisting arrest tacked on to murder. Saved my breath for just keeping him in sight. When Gunter hit the brush at the very edge of the campground, he lost almost all of his head start. Good shape or no, he wasn't used to running over scree and duff.
The land pitched and he stumbled. I poured on a burst and caught him around the middle. Can't say I looked like a hot shot, since my own feet went out from under me and we rolled down the hill in a pile of knees and elbows. I don't know what the heck Gunter was screaming at me in German.
Probably something about police brutality and he didn't do nothing.
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Wasn't more than a moment and Nadia was there yanking him off. Woman was a damn sight stronger than she looked.
She, Carbright and I all wrestled the man down. I reached for my cuffs and didn't find 'em. That's about when I remember I shouldn't really have been in that chase. Carbright didn't suffer my problem. He whipped out the cuffs and ricked them down.
Nadia stood. She jerked Gunter to his feet by grabbing his arms and pulling. Carbright took him in hand, leading him off.
Nadia turned to me as we walked back. "Thank you, Deputy."
Smirking, she drew out my title. "We can take it from here."
"Glad to be of help." I half-walked half-climbed back up the rise. Sheriff Simple stood there as I got to the top, his hat pushed back and his arms crossed over his chest. He shook his head while I walked toward him. "Didn't think, sir." I apologized.
He barked a laugh and waited for Carbright to pass him with Gunter. "Three years under me and now ... now you're going to be a pain in my side."
I shrugged. "Didn't ever figure to be." Kabe came jogging up about then. His eyes were all big. "What's wrong, Kabe?"
"Are you okay?"
The sheriff answered for me. "He's fine. He's gonna be a little busy in a bit with some paperwork on this citizens' arrest he just pulled." Simple adjusted his hat. "Come on, boys.
Joe's gonna come on back to Panguitch with me. We'll see if Ranger Slokum can arrange a ride back to T's for you." When Kabe opened his mouth to protest, Sheriff Simple shut him down. "Police business. Just got to happen that way. If you're 227
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going to be around Joe for a while," I got a sideways glance then he smiled, "you're just going to have to learn to live with that."
[Back to Table of Contents]
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Chapter Fifteen
I pulled into the courthouse lot wishing I'd eaten. 'Course then that'd just gimme something to throw up. Since I got there early, I sat in my truck and waited a bit. Doors didn't open 'till eight, had five or so minutes to go. Wasn't quite the historic two-story red-brick building I was used to over in Panguitch. Lots of red brick, but all done a square modern way with smoked glass windows and big multicolored rock wall that told me I was at the Hall of Justice. Not that I was there for the sights, anyhow.
I jumped when someone thumped the side of my truck.
Looked over and caught sight of Ranger Slokum all gussied up in her best uniform. When I popped the door and slid out, I got a low whistle. Since I couldn't be in my uniform I'd opted for Sunday-go-to-meeting wear: blue shirt, yellow tie and dark suit off the rack.
"You clean up nice." She grinned then looked back at Kabe who yawned and stumbled up next to us. "Don't you think, Sugar?"
I'd never seen Kabe in anything but jeans or climbing clothes. Don't know as I'd call what he wore dressed up ...
dark chinos, loafers with no socks, and an unbuttoned red shirt overtop a buttoned up white one. Both had their sleeves rucked up and showed off a set of forearms so cut with muscle I could have mapped 'em. I don't think I'd ever seen him scream city
so big ... nor look so darn fine.
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"Yeah," he finished off another massive yawn with the word.
Somehow I managed to mumble out a coherent piece of the conversation, "Whatcha'll doing here?"
"Didn't figure you needed to do this all by your lonesome."
Nadia reached over and pulled a bit of fluff off my lapel. "So I drug lazy-bones here outta bed."
"I didn't ask you to come."
"Hey," Kabe shrugged, "what are friends for? If I can't get up early for you..." He let the tease trail off.
I couldn't tear my eyes off Kabe. He just smiled, like he knew he'd got me. Lord, what was I in for if'n a two-bit, citified, pretty boy could gill me on a trotline with just a look?
Nadia bumped my shoulder, "Yes, he's cute. He knows it.
You know it ... quit gawking and let's go." She started to walk off. I couldn't quite look away and Kabe smirked. "Both y'all stop the mutual admiration society and get your asses in the courthouse." That whip-crack voice stung my pride. I slammed my truck door shut as Kabe sauntered on past me.
Least it gave me an excuse to watch his butt move in those chinos.
We made our way past security and found the right courtroom. Pretty much courtrooms looked like courtrooms once you were inside. Two tables for defense and prosecution, witness box and prosecutors' table on the same side as the jury sat, and all of it covered in cheap wood paneling. They never ever seemed to have enough light in these places. A bunch of people with the same arraignment date as me sat behind the bar, the wooden rail that separated the legal 230
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minds from the Hoi-Polloi. Felt real odd sitting where I was instead of up in the jury box where law enforcement usually hung out.
They swore us in—witnesses, defendants, anyone who wanted to speak—all together. Got to watch the little video on all my rights and how I could plead. Seen it all before, although this was the first time I'd ever been on this side of the action. Nadia shot me one of those stern looks when I signed off on the constitutional waiver form without even reading it. Not like I didn't know what the darn thing said.
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