by Aimée Thurlo
She chuckled. “No one can fault you for wanting to get ahead.”
“Unfortunately some people do,” he replied somberly. “Councilman Hunt’s assistant called, wanting us to do a story about Navajo justice. When I asked if the councilman was trying to capitalize on the sentiment surrounding the death of his wife to justify the burning of George Branch’s home, she cussed me out real good.”
Hearing a commotion, Ella glanced down the hall. A door opened about then and an angry Anglo man in an expensive suit stormed out. George Branch came to the door and tried to call him back.
“Jack, wait a minute—”
The man brushed by Ella and Hoskie, then continued out the front door without comment.
Branch’s scowl intensified when he saw Ella. “My day isn’t bad enough?” he muttered, then added, “What brings you here?”
“I need to ask you a question.”
“First, did you catch Cardell Benally? That lunatic might set fire to somebody else’s place if he doesn’t happen to like what they say. Lewis Hunt is stirring him and a lot of others up by calling for ‘Navajo justice’ when the court system fails.”
“My investigation is still ongoing. But I need to know something concerning the first arson. I’ve been told that Bruce Smiley, the man who set the fire that killed the councilman’s wife, was an avid listener of yours and, in fact, visited you at your home more than once. That might explain why Benally and Hunt have you in their sights. You and Hunt have a way of inciting people.”
“That’s such a distortion of the facts, Ella. And I don’t invite listeners into my home. Smiley was a nut job who somehow managed to get my address. He came by to talk to me a couple of times and really pushed to be invited inside. But each time I told him that I really valued my privacy and if he wanted to talk, he should call while I’m on the air.” Branch paused suddenly. “Wait. Come to think of it, things did get a little weird the last time he stopped by. Smiley wanted to talk about my gun collection, and was so interested in the details I was afraid he was planning to break in later and try to steal something.”
“Did you ever discuss the councilman with him?”
“No. I’m telling you, our conversations lasted only long enough for me to get him off my porch so he’d go home.”
By the time Ella left the radio station she was convinced that Branch had told the truth about Smiley—especially because she’d confirmed the story with Hoskie before leaving. Apparently Branch had grilled everyone at the station trying to determine who’d given out his address, but he’d never managed to get an answer.
Glancing at her watch after she pulled out into traffic, Ella decided to stop by her home once she reached Shiprock. She needed to ask her mother for a favor. As a traditionalist, Rose knew every single rumor that concerned that group. With a little luck, and using her own connections, Rose might be able to get a lead on the sniper for her.
As she pulled up at the house forty-five minutes later, she saw her mother hanging up some laundry outside.
Ella went to join her. “Mom, why are you doing that? I thought part of Boots’s job is to help you with the housekeeping.”
“She asked for some time off today, and I gave it to her. To be honest, I like having the house to myself sometimes.”
Ella smiled ruefully. “And so today of all days, I decide to come home.”
Rose chuckled softly. “I’m glad you’re here. A friend of yours dropped off a small gift for you.”
“Who dropped what by, Mom?” Ella asked, instantly on her guard.
“She said she was a sergeant in the sheriff’s department and her uniform and badge looked real.” Rose led the way inside, then reached for the small flowering potted plant. One long shoot had a half-dozen purple, white, and yellow orchids.
“Here’s the gift she left for you,” Rose said, handing it to her. “I’ve never tried to grow an orchid in this desert, but I’ve heard that they can thrive in a bright window.” She touched one of the petals. “Your daughter will love it so make sure she doesn’t water it to death.”
Ella looked at the beautiful plant and sighed. “I wouldn’t worry about that if I were you. I’ll kill it long before she does.” She glanced at Rose. “You know it’s inevitable.”
Rose sighed. “You’re probably right. I still remember when you were going to the Plant Watcher meetings with me. I gave you a cactus I knew needed almost no attention at all. Although it had the exact same sun exposure in my room, it died three weeks after you took it to your room.” She shook her head, still perplexed. “This type of ornamental plant doesn’t have a prayer. It’s downright delicate in our environment.”
Ella read the note attached to the pot. “She says to put the pot in a tray of gravel and keep that moist, then stick it in a bright window and water it every five days.” Ella looked at Rose. “She’s trying to be helpful, but this is her hobby, not mine. I barely have time to do the things I have to do now, let alone nursemaid a plant.”
Rose remained thoughtful for a moment. “The closest to a hobby you have is that thing,” she said, pointing to the computer. “At least your friend’s hobby cultivates beauty.”
“And I cultivate . . . pixels?”
“Pixies?”
“Never mind,” Ella said with a chuckle. “Mom, I don’t have leisure time so I can’t have a hobby.”
“It’s not good to work to exhaustion and nearly pass out every night, Daughter.”
“It’s not always like that, just when I’m working on a pressing case.”
“As your daughter grows older, she’ll be spending a lot more time with her friends and maybe even travel with her father. You’ll need to find something to do with yourself when you’re not working and she’s not there. This isn’t the big city, so you have fewer choices, but I can’t see you as a couch potato, watching mindless TV.”
Ella grimaced. Her mother had just pointed out a fact of life she just didn’t want to face—Dawn growing up. “I’ll think about it, Mom,” she said at last.
“Oh, and here’s the telephone number the Hollywood producer left for you,” she said, reaching for the pad of paper beneath the phone.
“Thanks, Mom.”
“Call him now. I’m dying of curiosity.” Ella spent about fifteen minutes on the phone, and had just hung up when she saw Rose standing at the door.
“Well?” Rose asked.
“The man I spoke to is the producer, and he owns his own production company. He gave me a list of credits—which meant absolutely nothing to me—then offered me sixty-five thousand dollars for exclusive rights to my story.”
Rose’s eyes grew wide. “That’s a fortune. Did you say yes?”
Ella shook her head. “There was more to it, Mom. I wouldn’t get that money unless a TV station or network actually decided to film the project. Then he threw at least half a dozen terms at me that I’ve never heard of. It would have been crazy for me to agree to anything without an attorney at this point.”
“Will you talk to your child’s father?”
“Yes, absolutely.” She remained silent for a few more moments, then at long last added, “It’s not going to be easy, Mom. The bottom line is that I hate letting outsiders into my private life and that’s exactly what will happen as soon as I say yes. The only reason I’m considering it at all is in hopes of giving my daughter a nest egg she can rely on someday. That’s it.”
“Then talk to your child’s father before you sign anything, and get as much money as you can,” Rose said flatly.
“My thoughts exactly. Now I need a favor from you.”
“Name it.”
Ella led her mom to the couch in the living room and sat down beside her. “Someone took a shot at my car, Mom,” she said and explained about the bullet and the flat tire. “I want you to ask around and find out if there’s anyone out there who believes that the only way I won’t pose a danger to the tribe is if I’m dead.”
Rose weighed her daughter’s request. “
What you’re asking won’t be easy. People won’t speak freely to me about something like that.” Rose considered it, then smiled as a new thought occurred to her. “But they might talk about it to another friend of mine, Boots’s grandmother. Despite the fact that she’s a traditionalist, she knows you’re doing your best to find the hataalii and is on your side.”
Ella knew who she was referring to. Lena Clani and Rose were very close friends. Lena wouldn’t refuse Rose. “Great, Mom. If you hear anything, let me know right away, okay?”
Rose nodded. “Do you think this sniper is also the person who was watching our home?”
“I don’t know,” Ella replied honestly.
“Then I’ll ask my friend to work fast.”
Ella went back to her office at the police station, then spent the next hour filling out reports, her least favorite duty. When the intercom buzzed, she reached for it with the eagerness of a drowning man grasping for a log.
“Shorty, come to my office.” It was Big Ed.
Ella stood, glad for a chance to stretch her cramped muscles, and walked to his office. When she knocked lightly on his opened door, he glanced up from his paperwork and waved at her to come in. “I’ve had something on my mind I need to discuss with you.”
“Shoot,” she said, sitting down.
He rocked slowly back and forth in his chair, indicating that he hadn’t made up his mind about something yet. “You went through quite an ordeal in that mine,” he said after several long moments. “I know I encouraged you to return to work, but I want to make sure I haven’t been pushing you too hard. I’ve seen officers who’ve had a close call seem perfectly fine for several days, then all of a sudden lose it. Everything gets all scrambled in their minds.”
“I’m doing okay,” Ella assured him quickly. “Really. I won’t tell you that the accident didn’t affect me at all. It has. For example, I’m going to be getting life insurance, even though it costs an arm and a leg, and I’ve tied up some loose ends I should have never ignored. But I’m back on the job and dealing with the usual pressures pretty well.”
“Okay, you’ve always been honest with me so I’ll accept your answer. But if you change your mind and feel like you want to talk to a doctor,” he said, pointing to his head, “just let me know.”
“No shrinks or counselors,” Ella said with a groan, “but thanks anyway.”
Ella returned to her office and found Justine waiting there for her.
“Hi, Ella, is there anything you need from me today? I’d like to head out,” her second cousin said.
“Hot date?”
“No, nothing even remotely exciting, unfortunately. My sister Jayne is repainting her house and asked all of us to come help. Since she asked us in front of Mom, it’s not exactly an option anymore. Mom expects us all to be there tonight.”
“A command performance.”
“Exactly.”
Ella picked up her keys from the top of the file cabinet. “Well, I’m going to head out now too while it’s still daylight. I’d like to spend some time with Dawn this evening.”
Ella arrived home at six and found that Dawn had already eaten dinner and had gone outside to ride her pony in the arena. Boots was standing in the middle, holding the pony’s tether line.
“Sit up straight and don’t hold the reins so tight. And remember to cue him with your legs,” Boots said.
Ella watched for a while, remembering her own riding instructor telling her the same thing. But Dawn moved with the animal fluidly and seemed more attuned to her mount than she’d ever been. Although Ella loved being around horses, she’d hated riding them.
“She’s a natural,” Rose said, coming up behind Ella. “But if memory serves, you weren’t so bad at it yourself.”
“You’ve got me confused with my brother, Mom. I was dreadful. He was the one who could ride. I just sat on the horse and let it carry me.”
“That’s not true, Daughter. The real problem was that you were always competing with your brother. If he wanted to learn how to rope, you wanted to learn, too. But you weren’t satisfied unless you could be even better than he was.”
“True,” she answered, laughing. “But whenever my brother rode, you could see his oneness with the horse. I never achieved that.” Ella looked at Dawn as she leaned forward to pet the pony’s neck. “My daughter, on the other hand, has the same gift for riding my brother did.”
Rose nodded. “She does have a way with animals.” Rose paused and glanced at her daughter. “I have a great idea. Why don’t you take up riding again? It would be something you two could do together.”
“You know, I’d been thinking the same thing. But it’s been ages since I’ve been on a horse. And finding the right animal . . . well, it takes time. You need to locate one that suits your personality and abilities. In my case, one with the energy of a slug.”
Rose laughed. “You’d hate a horse that didn’t challenge you every once in a while. But, for now, why don’t you just go see what’s available? Or, better yet, have your brother do the ground work for you. He’s got a good eye and he knows a lot of people who own horses.”
“I’ll think about it.”
“Daughter, have you noticed how much of that you’re doing lately?”
“How much of what?”
“Thinking. You keep postponing nearly every decision you have to make. One example is the Hollywood producer. It’s as if you’re afraid of making a mistake. That’s not a good thing.”
“I am afraid of making mistakes that’ll come back to haunt me, Mom.” Ella watched her daughter and thought of all the time they could share if she did take up riding.
“Moments pass and then they’re lost forever, Daughter,” Rose said softly.
“I’ll take care of things, Mom. But I’m not familiar enough with Hollywood to make a snap decision. If we were talking about something I know, it would be different. I wouldn’t have to take things at a snail’s pace.”
“I’m so glad to hear that! You certainly know horses, so buying one will be easy! I’ll call your brother and ask him to help you find one.”
Ella burst out laughing. “Mom, you set me up!”
“Yes, I did.”
“Okay, Mom. I’ll consider buying a horse. But I’ll make the arrangements myself, understand?”
Rose nodded, smiling.
The moment Dawn’s riding lesson was over, she ran over to Ella and threw her arms around her. “Did you see me, Shimá?”
“I sure did! You were great!”
“Your shimá is going to get a horse so she can go riding with you,” Rose said. “Won’t that be exciting?”
“Really?” Dawn squealed.
Ella’s eyes grew wide and she turned to look at her mother. By then Dawn was jumping up and down.
“Now you can’t change your mind—just in case you were considering it,” Rose said with a smile.
“Mom, shouldn’t you be looking for a horse too? We wouldn’t want to leave you behind when we go riding.” Ella smiled wickedly at her mother.
“Wow! Three horses?” Dawn looked back and forth from Rose to Ella expectantly.
“Absolutely not!Someone has to stay home and have supper ready when you young people return home from a long trail ride,” Rose announced, then turned and walked toward the house.
Dawn snickered. “Never argue with your mother, Mom.”
“You’ve got that right, Pumpkin.”
Ella was up early after a restless night. Around two in the morning, she’d woken up from a sound sleep for no apparent reason. As she’d lain there staring at the ceiling, she’d come up with an idea for finding Cardell Benally. It wasn’t something that Big Ed would approve of wholeheartedly, so she’d have to sell him on it. Still, it would be one way to get the job done.
Ella had just walked into the kitchen when Rose came through the back door, anger etched on her face. She held the contents of a paper sack away from her in disgust.
“What’s that?” El
la asked.
“I was looking out the window while adding water to the teakettle and caught a glimpse of something odd in the backyard. I went out to see what it was and found this.” She opened the sack and showed it to her.
To Ella, it looked like ground beef at first, but then she spotted tiny slivers of shiny glass hidden in the meat.
“It was meant for Two, obviously,” Rose continued. “Good thing I found it before he did.”
Ella glanced out the kitchen window. “Where did you say you found it?”
“There.” Rose pointed to a sunny spot against the side of the shed where Two often lay.
“Keep it in the sack,” Ella said. “I’m going to take it to the station for analysis. In the meantime, I’m going to see if there’s anything else out there.”
“Good. I’ll keep Two inside with me until you’re finished.”
Ella was hoping to find footprints, but the area around the shed appeared devoid of any fresh prints except those of her mother and Two.
Walking a loose spiral search pattern out from the location of the meat, Ella quickly discovered recent footprints leading away in the opposite direction of the road in a trail that led to the big arroyo. They were boots in a size and pattern nobody from her household wore.
Hurrying along, she noted the footprints seemed to be farther apart just ahead, though the person hadn’t been running. She stopped short of the first footprint to think about it.
The space between the two footprints was about six inches more than the ones on either side, as if the person had decided to take one giant step among the regular ones.
There was nothing in the trail to step over, just a small bush that looked tilted to one side. Inching forward, Ella disturbed the loose ground slightly with her foot. Suddenly a large piece of metal flew up from the ground and snapped with a horrible crunch.
Ella jumped back, her heart pounding. It was an old bear or wolf trap, and she’d just set it off with a touch of her shoe. The jagged jaws of the cruel device gleamed, having recently been sharpened.
Ella froze, trying to calm down as she searched the ground all around her for a second trap. She didn’t dare take a step now. The meat for the dog had served two purposes. First, to possibly take out Two, and secondly, to take out anyone who tried to follow up on the bait.