by Aimée Thurlo
When they pulled up at the Quick Stop, Justine looked over at Ella. “How do you want to handle this?”
“I’ve known Clyde for a long time, so I think I’ll just play it by ear. Be ready to back up what I say.”
“Got it.”
As Ella went inside, she saw Clyde behind the counter watching a small screen color TV set. Seeing them enter, he smiled.
“Hi, ladies. Back again, Ella?” he asked, smiling. “I bet you came in for a snow cone, right? Everyone seems to be dropping by to try out the new raspberry vanilla flavor.”
Justine bought a small one, but Ella declined. “I need to ask you about Professor’s Garnenez’s visit last Tuesday.”
Clyde looked serious. “You want to talk about last Tuesday?” He shook his head and shrugged. “The man has come in several times since then, and my memory’s not too good, so take that into account, okay?”
“Remember that you told me he interrupted your TV show?”
His face brightened. “Oh, yeah, that I remember. I’d waited all week. It was the second episode of a two-parter.”
“Are you sure it was Tuesday? I thought that show was on Mondays?” Ella pressed.
His eyebrows knitted together. “Yeah, I think you’re right about that. Maybe I got the day wrong. But he comes by practically every day.”
“When does he usually come in?”
“Anytime between five and eight at night, depending on how late he stays on campus.”
“Try to think back to Tuesday. Was he here that day?”
Clyde considered it, then finally shook his head. “I can’t remember Tuesday from Monday or Wednesday. Days run together for me here at the store.”
“If you happen to remember Tuesday . . .” Ella said.
“I do,” a voice piped in from the back. A second later a skinny girl barely out of high school came in. “I filled in for you at the last minute, Clyde. Don’t you remember that your daughter was in her school play and you went to see her?”
He thumped himself on the head. “Oh, yeah, Maria, I totally forgot. I’m sorry, Ella. My wife and I went to see her, but I fell asleep. After it was over we went straight home. Not exactly a memorable evening,” he said. “I sure wish she’d gone out for basketball or track instead—not that I’d ever tell her that, of course.”
Ella turned to Maria and introduced herself. “Do you remember seeing Professor Garnenez that night?”
The young clerk thought about it for several long moments, then finally shook her head. “No. Sorry, officer. But that doesn’t mean he wasn’t here. I just don’t remember specific customers any particular night. After a few hours they’re all talking heads to me.”
“Thanks.” Ella considered what they’d just learned as she and Justine returned to the SUV. “Garnenez never said who the clerk was that night . . .”
“Then we should go ask him,” Justine said.
Ella smiled slowly. “Good idea. Let’s go pay him a visit.”
“Now? It’ll be really late by the time we get there. Since it’s not an emergency, let’s do it first thing tomorrow.”
“All right,” Ella said, wishing they could just continue working. Once she stopped, her thoughts would focus solely on Dawn and she’d dwell on what she’d been forced to do. And once she did that, anger would eat her alive. It wasn’t just that she’d left her child—it was that she’d allowed public opinion to dictate what she was doing. The only thing that made it even remotely tolerable was that she was doing it for her daughter.
“By the way, do you remember Reverend Campbell from the ceremony at the mines?” Justine asked.
“Vaguely.”
“He’s the pastor at my church, Fellowship Christian. He’d like to talk to you about your experiences in that mine.”
“Does he think he can convert me?” Ella asked with a skeptical smile.
Justine shook her head. “He’s not like that, believe me. I’ve known him for years. He’s interested because he sees it as nothing short of a miracle and wants to find out more about what happened.” Justine paused, then added, “You can trust him, partner. He’ll listen to you, but he’ll only give you his opinion if you ask for it.”
Ella nodded. “All right. I’ll stop by and talk to him when I get a chance.” Although she’d never categorize it as a miracle—at least not in the sense he meant—there was a possibility that he’d give her an insight that could help her get a better handle on things. At the very least, it was worth a shot.
The “night squirrels”—what Rose called the random thoughts that often scampered back and forth through one’s mind late at night while lying in bed—kept Ella awake for hours.
As soon as the lights were out and her head hit the pillow, Dawn’s beautiful face appeared in her mind as clearly as if her eyes had been open. Dawn was safe at home, well cared for and loved by her grandmother. And after her experience at the mine, Ella believed in her heart that her own father watched over all of them as well. She couldn’t prove that what had happened to her was real—no more than others who’d had similar experiences, but something inside her compelled her to trust what she’d experienced.
Rolling over onto her side, she pushed back the blanket and sheet, hoping cool air would drive away the nagging thoughts that were keeping her awake. Ella imagined herself walking into Rose’s kitchen tomorrow and with the mental picture came the realization that it was her mom’s kitchen, not hers. Dawn and she needed a home of their own. Her mother had made a life for herself and it was time for Ella to do the same. They were happy at Rose’s house, of course, but after having raised two children, her mother deserved to have more privacy than life with a small child could give her. Ella, too, wanted a home where there was enough space for her to have an office, and where her own likes and dislikes would be reflected. She needed to make a home with Dawn—and she needed a second horse.
As Ella’s thoughts continued to drift, she remembered the special men who’d come in and out of her life. There had been so few—only Eugene, Kevin, and now Harry. Gene’s death had robbed them of a future together. Kevin had been the wrong man for her, and now Harry . . . it just hadn’t been meant to be.
She turned over again, punching her pillow and trying to get comfortable. Justine’s pillows were just too soft, or fluffy, or something.
Harry’s image popped back into her mind—those damned night squirrels. If he had remained on the Rez or if either of them had been willing to make some major career changes, they might have been able to stay together. The attraction had certainly been there. But Ella knew that neither a physical attraction nor genuine friendship and respect were enough to sustain a long-term relationship. The fact that she and Harry were both cops hadn’t been a good thing after all. The thought that Dawn could end up with two parents in constant danger had placed a very real obstacle between Harry and her.
She lay there for a while, looking at the ceiling, then glancing at her watch. Harry was probably still awake, and they needed to have an uninterrupted talk. Their relationship had gone as far as it could and it was time for them to call it quits.
As Ella reached over for the cell phone, attached to the recharger plugged into the wall outlet, she nearly fell out of bed. Catching herself in time, she sat up. This bed was higher than hers.
Taking a deep breath, she punched out his number. The phone rang four times, then she got his voice mail. “Pick up, Harry, pick up,” she urged, not wanting to have to do this twice. Finally, with a sigh, she realized he wasn’t going to answer. “Uh, Harry, it’s me, Ella. I’ve been thinking, and I wanted to talk, you know . . . Don’t worry about calling back, I’ll try again tomorrow or whenever. Bye.”
“How lame can you get?” she groaned, ending the call. She was looking around for the cord to the charger unit when the phone rang.
“Hi, Ella, I’m here. I think I know what you wanted to talk to me about.”
Harry’s voice faded a bit, and Ella wished they could be face-to-face r
ight now. It would be harder, of course, but at least not as cold as over the phone.
A half hour that felt like an eternity later, she hung up, feeling sad but also relieved. They were still friends, and there was something to be said for that. The truth was that she’d miss what might have been more than what they’d actually shared.
Ella turned off the cell phone and plugged it back into the charger. Flopping back down onto the pillow, she kicked the covers off, then curled up into a ball and closed her eyes. The night squirrels were finally gone.
The following morning Ella and Justine set out to Professor Garnenez’s home right after seven.
“It’s going to be a long haul, Ella. He lives south of Bloomfield over by the Huerfano Chapter House. Why a college professor would live way out there is beyond me. He’s a new traditionalist and most of them prefer living closer to town where the houses have more amenities.”
“He could still have electricity and gas. A generator and propane would be all he needs.”
After driving east along the river valley through Farmington and the small community of Bloomfield, they headed south up and across a high, dry plateau. There were many natural gas wells in the area, and to the west were large circular-sprinkler irrigated fields that were part of the Navajo Irrigation Project. Tall mesas mainly to the east dotted the landscape and relatively flat desert stretched out to the west.
Ella knew this part of the Rez like the palm of her hand. She’d come out here often as a kid. Her father had spent a good portion of his life trying to convert the Dineh to Christianity and he’d held many revival meetings south of Bloom-field. She still remembered those clearly. There’d always be plenty of fire and brimstone talk, as well as a free dinner—which was the only reason many attended.
“This section of the Rez would be an ideal place to raise kids,” Ella said thoughtfully. “They would have lots of room to play without ever worrying about street gangs or traffic.”
Justine glanced at Ella, then back at the road. “You’re really bugged about having to move away from your family, aren’t you?”
“You bet.”
“How’s Dawn handling it?”
“A hell of a lot better than I am.”
“Then let it go, partner.”
“Easier said than done.”
“If you don’t, Ella, it’s going to make you crazy and it still won’t change anything.”
“Speaking of change, I broke up with Harry last night.”
“I thought I heard your cell phone. Do you want to talk?”
“There’s not much else to say about it.”
Ella remained silent for the rest of the trip. At long last they arrived at a small stucco home nestled in the shadow of a solitary mesa near Huerfano. As Ella had predicted, there was a generator and a huge propane tank.
Ella glanced around. The professor didn’t have any livestock and there were no dogs visible. All she could see were five crows pecking at the ground where a garden had been at one time, judging from the rows of dried-out plant stalks.
“Looks kind of dead around here, doesn’t it?” Justine commented.
Ella nodded. “Maybe ‘Garny’ has a black thumb.”
They’d just stepped out of the SUV when Professor Garnenez came out to meet them.
“Is there something I can help you with?” he asked coldly. The professor was dressed in jeans and a sweatshirt and looked as if he’d been up awhile.
“We came to ask you a few questions,” Ella replied, noticing he wasn’t wearing his medicine pouch. “Shall we go inside?”
“No, let’s not. I wouldn’t feel comfortable with you inside my home,” he said pointedly.
“I understand you’ve had quite a bit to say about me in your classes,” Ella prodded.
“What I’ve said there, I’ll gladly say to your face. Your blatant disregard for our beliefs is an affront to everyone on this reservation. And your willingness to risk the safety of children—even that of your own child—”
“You don’t want to bring my kid into this,” she warned.
“Easy, partner,” Justine said softly.
“As the sister of a hataalii you should show more caution, not to mention respect.”
“It’s strange that you should mention my brother. I understand that you don’t approve of him either,” Ella shot back.
“When he actually does his job, I hear he’s a skilled hataalii.”
“Meaning?”
“He should be spending more time looking for the Singer who’s needed for your ceremony. He knows the circumstances and the urgency involved. As a hataalii nothing should be taking precedence over that for him. But then again, he seems to have a problem with priorities.”
Ella took a step closer to him. “Listen, you little weasel, I know you’re trying to make a move on my brother’s wife. She may not realize what you’re up to, but I do. So watch your step.”
“Or what? You can’t touch me. I’ve broken no laws.”
“Your alibi for the time someone shot at me doesn’t hold water. You’ve also made it quite obvious that you consider me a threat, which explains why you’ve been stirring up trouble. The question that remains is whether you’re capable of attempted murder as well.”
He backed up a step. “You’ve lost your mind.”
“Who was the clerk at the Quick Stop when you were there on Tuesday?” Justine asked.
He gave her a bewildered look. “I have no idea. I think it was probably Clyde.”
“Wrong. He wasn’t there that night.” Ella held his gaze. “Someone’s been taking shots at me. And you have no alibi . . .”
“You think it was me?” His voice rose an octave and he looked at her in horror.
Ella weighed his reaction carefully. Garnenez was as much surprised by the news of the sniper as he was by the fact that he was a suspect. She had a strong feeling he was holding back on them.
Deciding on a tactic, Ella turned wordlessly and headed back to the vehicle with Justine. As soon as they were under way, Justine glanced over at Ella. “I don’t think he’s the sniper. I thought he was going to faint when you mentioned murder.”
“He may not be the sniper, but gut instinct tells me he knows something about the incidents. Let’s let him sweat for a while. Then we’ll try again. His own fears will work against him far more effectively than we could.”
EIGHTEEN
They stopped by the station next. As she entered her office Ella found Joseph Neskahi placing something on her desk. “Hey, Joe, what brings you here on a Sunday morning?”
“Since I was planning to come in today, Justine asked me to finish the background check you’d asked her to do on Raymus and Daniel Smart. I completed it just a few minutes ago and there’s nothing particularly significant about Raymus. He’s had a few DWI arrests, but that’s about it. Daniel’s another story. The guy’s been in trouble for years. He got a ‘less than honorable discharge.’ That’s not a ‘dishonorable discharge,’ but it’s the next step up.”
“I’m almost sure he’s the tracker Branch hired. But I’ve got to go talk to Branch and squeeze some information out of him,” Ella said.
“Branch is currently staying on the Rez at the Lazy Pony Inn,” Neskahi said.
“Thanks for the tip. I’ll go pay him a visit right now.”
Ella made sure Justine would be able to catch a ride with Neskahi, then left the station. It was nearly ten in the morning. The motel Branch had picked was an upscale one on the Rez that catered to tourists. What had surprised her most was that he’d chosen to come to the Rez—that this was where he’d felt safest despite the political muscle of Councilman Lewis Hunt. The pull that the four sacred mountains had on those of her tribe, even those of mixed ancestry, was as real and tangible as the sand that covered the desert.
As Ella pulled into the motel’s parking lot, she searched for Branch’s luxury sedan and found it parked in front of a door at the end.
Leaving her SUV next to hi
s Mercedes, she went to the motel-room door and knocked. Branch came to the door moments later and peered out. He was wearing a half-open, untucked shirt and slacks that, even with her limited perspective, looked as if he’d slept in them.
Branch’s reddened eyes were narrowed into slits. “What do you want, Clah?”
“I’d like to talk to you about Daniel Smart.”
Branch rubbed his eyes, then gave her a heavy-lidded look. “What’s he done?”
Ella took half a step back. His breath could have qualified as a biological weapon. “The real question is, what have you done?” Ella slipped past him and stepped inside his room. Stopping by the window, she opened the blinds.
He groaned and covered his eyes with one hand as light streamed in. “Are you here to torture me?”
Ella leaned against the wall and regarded him thoughtfully. “Why don’t you sit down and tell me what’s going on?”
“I have no idea what you’re talking about,” he said, stepping around her to close the blinds.
“Did you hire Daniel Smart to go after Cardell Benally?”
He sat down on the bed, then poured himself some water from a pitcher on the nightstand. “You’re wasting my time, Clah, and even more tragically, you’ve interrupted my sleep. Go away.”
“You do understand the term ‘accessory to murder’?”
“Do you understand the term ‘harassment’?” he countered, now fully awake.
Ella remained quiet for a moment, trying to find yet another way to get through to him. Finally, she opted for the direct approach. “You hired someone to go after Cardell. We have a witness to that,” she said, though she knew that what she really had was a lot less substantial. “But Daniel’s not as reliable a partner as you might think. Do you know he was kicked out of the military because he was unstable?” she challenged, taking some liberties with the truth. “I wonder what charges he would have faced had he been a civilian?”
George Branch’s breathing became heavy and she could see the vein on his forehead pop out. “You checked him out with the military? No wait—more to the point—why did you take the time to check Daniel out?”