Red Mesa

by Aimée

  “And then where would I be today if I hadn’t? I guess I could have been a clerk at a store, or a waitress at a restaurant, but I need more than that to be happy. You, of all people, know how hard I fought to find an identity at all. With a Christian preacher as a father and you following The Way, I learned I was most comfortable when walking the line between both worlds. Being a cop allowed me to give my life some meaning and still remain true to myself.”

  “And what has all your training gotten you? You’re in a job where anything could happen to you at any time.”

  “But it’s a job where I can make a difference. And one where I can earn enough money to be able to provide for us. We’re not rich, but we don’t lack anything either and we never will. And when I retire, I’ll have a pension. I’ll never have to depend on anyone to help me provide for my family.”

  Rose sighed, then sat down in her easy chair. “I know we’ve had this conversation many times before, daughter, but I still worry about you.”

  “I know. You’re my mom. That’s your job,” Ella teased.

  Rose shook her head. “Go to the police station, if you must. Just bring my granddaughter back as soon as you can.”

  “You’ve got it.”

  Minutes later, as Ella headed down the highway, anger, then annoying tears, filled her eyes as she thought of Justine and everything that had happened. She would have to actively pursue whatever leads she had, and right now, only one seemed clear. Harry Ute was tracking a fugitive who had sworn to get his revenge on Justine and her, and recently he’d bankrolled himself, literally. She needed to talk to Harry about Samuel Begaye.

  The problem, of course, was how to find Harry quickly. An undercover cop had to be careful every moment, and for Harry that meant he’d be hiding and blending with others, doing his best to disappear among the Dineh. Any attempt to find him could have disastrous results for his own operation.

  As she weighed her options, Ella realized she had only one alternative open to her. When she reached the station, she called the Marshals Service and left a message for Harry to contact her as soon as he could. She did the same to the State Police Department, asking Rob Brown, the officer who was sharing his home with Harry, to contact her.

  Ella sat back, unsure what else she could do to speed up the process. There didn’t seem much, though she did leave a message with Blalock, who also knew Harry was in the area and might be contacted by him.

  Next, Ella went to Justine’s smaller office, in an alcove off the forensics lab, to try and find the note Justine believed Ella had written to her.

  The moment she stepped into her cousin’s office and saw the small pigs on a shelf above Justine’s desk, the sadness Ella felt became almost unbearable. Each pig was different. There was a ceramic pig “cop,” two cartoon characters in uniform, and a plain barnyard hog. There were four of them in total, one for each year Justine had been a police officer.

  It was so hard to believe Justine was gone. Even the scent of her perfume lingered in the room, and there was a slight indentation in her desk chair where she’d spent so many hours on paperwork. The tears Ella felt running down her cheeks slowly became hot, and thoughts of revenge started her heart beating faster. Taking deep breaths, and wiping away the tears with a tissue, Ella slowly forced herself to focus back on reality.

  She didn’t want revenge. What she would work for was justice.

  Ella couldn’t bear to sit in Justine’s chair, so she searched her late assistant’s desk while standing. Within seconds she found the note atop a stack of unfinished reports. The signature was nearly identical to Ella’s own, probably traced.

  Ella brought the note back to her office and put it in the folder along with the one she’d received, labeling and dating the folder. Perhaps an FBI handwriting expert could prove that they were forgeries. If not, she was sure that the notes would eventually be used as evidence against her. As she mulled over her situation, Ella realized that even if they were proven to be forgeries, a good attorney could argue that she could have made the forgeries herself as easily as anyone else, even tracing her own signature to construct phony evidence.

  Disgusted, Ella left the office and drove to Kevin’s home. Dawn was asleep on his couch when she arrived.

  Kevin held one finger over his lips. “She’s been out for hours. I had hoped she wouldn’t fall asleep so soon,” he said, glancing over at the child, covered by a small quilt.

  “Maybe you should try to schedule time with her earlier in the day, Kevin.”

  “It’s hard for me to get away unless I have a last-minute cancellation or schedule change.”

  Ella nodded, distractedly.

  “You look like you’ve been through hell and back. What’s going on?” Kevin motioned for her to join him at the kitchen table.

  Knowing he’d hear all about it by tomorrow morning at the very latest, she told him about her meeting with Justine and the subsequent events. “I still can’t believe she’s gone. It doesn’t seem real, you know?”

  “I received a note from her recently. You can have it for handwriting comparison, if you think it’ll help.”

  “Are you sure it was from my second cousin, and not a forgery?”

  “It was real,” Kevin assured. “She followed it up with a phone call. She was worried about the problems her aunt Lena was having with the Hopis over water.”

  “Did you meet with her?”

  “No, I only spoke to her on the phone. We’d scheduled a meeting for later this week.” Kevin paused, then continued. “Is it possible that she made some bad enemies stemming from that Hopi-Navajo dispute her aunt had?”

  “I can’t see how. That took place way over in Arizona, and seemed like a local problem,” Ella said. “There was a prisoner transfer from Window Rock that same day, too, but neither she nor I was the focus of that.”

  “Okay. It was just a thought. If there’s anything I can do to help, just let me know.” Kevin touched her gently on the arm.

  “Actually, there is. As an attorney for the tribe, you have your own contacts in the legal system, and you also have access to tribal investigators. Can you find out if any criminals we’ve put away have made threats against either her or me recently, or if there are any rumors that may shed light on what’s happened?”

  “Okay. I’ll get on it first thing tomorrow.”

  Ella looked at Dawn, who was sleeping so comfortably, she almost hated to move her.

  “I know you don’t really want to disturb her now, but we don’t have a choice. I have to be in court early tomorrow. That means waking up in time to rush out the door and race to my office. I won’t have time to take care of the baby in the morning.”

  Ella nodded. “I couldn’t leave her here tonight anyway. Mom would kill me. She really misses Dawn when she’s not around.” Yet, despite that, Kevin’s admission still bothered her. Sometimes she got the feeling that fatherhood was only okay with him when it was convenient.

  Dawn fussed a little when Ella picked her up and put her in the car seat, but before long, she drifted off to sleep again. By the time Ella pulled up in front of her mother’s house, Rose was sitting on the darkened porch in her rocking chair, Two beside her.

  A minute later Ella lifted Dawn out of the car and handed her to her grandmother, who was waiting with open arms.

  “Hatsóí, my daughter’s child,” she whispered as Dawn began to fuss again. “Sleep now.” The little girl settled quickly in her arms.

  After Dawn was safely in her own bed, tonight without the need for a bedtime story, Ella said good night to her mother and went to her room. Although she suspected that Rose wanted to talk, she just wasn’t up to it. The details of Justine’s death were bearing down on her, and it was hard to think of anything else, even for a moment.

  In hopes that her Internet contact “Coyote” had sent her a message, she checked her E-mail, then remained logged on to the Internet provider where she’d received the previous instant message. After about fifteen min
utes she received E-mail, but it was just spam asking her if she’d like to become rich working at home. She deleted the message, its contents obvious from the subject line.

  Knowing that she had to remain on-line to receive an instant message, Ella cruised the basic services of her provider, checking local weather and reading the news updates on national and international events. Local news was still only available from radio, newspapers, and a local cable TV station that ran a teletypelike service.

  Tired of seeing the same old information repeated endlessly, she decided to call it a night. She was about to log off when she heard the electronic tone signaling an instant message. A brief message flashed on the screen in the little white box.

  Your partner’s death may only be part of a larger picture. I’m trying to uncover the truth. Watch your back.

  Coyote

  The instant message stayed on her screen, but the sender was gone before she could reply. Irritated because she hadn’t been able to ask him some questions, she printed out the message, switched off the computer, and crawled into bed.

  Although she wanted to sleep, slumber eluded her. Her mind raced with thoughts of Justine, the crime scene, and a thousand other details.

  Trying to relax, Ella let her thoughts shift to Dawn. Her little girl meant everything to her. It was really a shame she’d never have the kind of dad Ella would have wanted for her. And from what she could see, Kevin’s family wasn’t interested in Dawn either, at least not enough to play an active part in her life. Wondering if she should be relieved or sad, she drifted off to an uneasy sleep.

  * * *

  Ella woke up the following morning ready to tackle the murder investigation once more. There was a lot for her to do, and there was no time to waste. One day had already passed, and with each additional hour the chances of catching the killer or killers grew more distant. Dressing quickly, she said good-bye to her mother and Dawn and went to work early.

  By nine, she’d questioned every officer and civilian staff member who’d been in the building the day Justine and she had received the notes that had lured them to what was rapidly becoming known as Red Mesa.

  It seemed a lot of people had come and gone that day. Although the officers could recall who they’d personally seen there, no one had noticed anything that could help her identify who’d delivered the notes. The only thing she was certain about was that the person responsible for those notes couldn’t have been Begaye. The last place he would have gone to was a police station. Too many of the officers would have known him, even if he’d been in disguise.

  But that left her with no other real suspects, unless Begaye had recruited one of his relatives for the job. But that seemed unlikely. Begaye wasn’t a team player. Not willing to overlook any possibility, however, Ella checked the names she’d collected from the officers against the information she had on the fugitive’s relatives and known associates. There were no leads there.

  Ella then made a list of prisoners and suspects who had been brought to the station, and decided to check and determine who was related to those individuals. Unfortunately, the only prisoner on hand, besides a few in the drunk tank who had already been released, was Zah. But he hadn’t been allowed any visitors except for his attorney because of the earlier incident at Window Rock.

  Ella had just sat down, going over the lists one more time, when Big Ed showed up at her door. “Ella, you probably already know about this, but just in case you don’t, there’s going to be a memorial service for your cousin at one this afternoon, over at St. John’s Chapel. The Christian side of her family will have the remains interred privately, but they want this service done right away. They notified the department and asked that the officers all be informed so those who don’t find it offensive can attend.”

  “I’d really like to be there, but I wasn’t invited, and I’m not sure how her family will feel about that.” She told the chief how Angela and her daughters had reacted when they learned of Justine’s death.

  Big Ed seemed to consider the matter for an eternity. “Okay, it’s probably a good idea for you to lay low then, maybe sit in the back. But I think you should still attend. You’ve done nothing wrong, and you shouldn’t let innuendo and rumor wear away at your reputation or the reputation of this department.”

  Ella nodded once. Though she wanted to attend, she wondered if Big Ed was wrong to pressure her into going. Harsh words and bad feelings would have no place at that service, out of respect for Justine if for no one else.

  Ella spent the next few hours filling out reports on her most recent activities. It seemed like an incredible waste of time now with everything she was facing, and so much left to be done on Justine’s murder investigation. But there was no escaping the bureaucracy.

  Later, in the parking lot, as she was unlocking her car door to leave for the church, Ella heard her call sign come over her handheld radio.

  “We have a situation,” the dispatcher said. “Gladys Zah, the wife of the prisoner you transported, is at the Desert Moon Motel. She’s been threatening to kill her two children and then commit suicide. Management called us when she refused to let housekeeping inside her room and threatened to shoot whoever bothered her. They saw a rifle.”

  The Desert Moon was a rough place known for attracting trouble because of its cheap rates and reputation for illegal alcohol. “How old are the kids?” Ella asked in a taut voice.

  “There’s a five-month-old girl and a four-year-old boy.”

  Ella knew that the kids’ presence pretty much ruled out tear gas. It would be mostly negotiation. “I’m on my way to my partner’s memorial service. Is there someone else you can send?” Ella turned around in the parking lot, looking for other police units. There were none at all except for the car assigned to the watch officer.

  “Not on this. And you should know that Gladys Zah asked for you specifically. She claims you destroyed her family when you arrested her husband, and said she wants you to see the harm you’ve done.”

  Frustration and anger made her body shake. It was truly amazing how quickly people blamed the arresting officers when their relatives broke the law. “I’ll take the call. Send backup if you can find any, even if you have to get the county sheriff.”

  “I’m trying to get hold of Sergeant Neskahi. He’s on his way in from Teece Nos Pos,” the dispatcher said.

  “Ten-four.”

  Ella switched on her flashers, then sped down the highway toward the motel.

  FOURTEEN

  Trying to stay focused, Ella reached Neskahi on the radio. After verifying that he would arrive at approximately the same time she would, she called dispatch and asked the woman to tell Big Ed she might have to miss the memorial service for Justine.

  Then Ella mentally began to review hostage procedures. In these situations what was needed most was clear thinking and a lot of luck. The obvious danger to the children terrified her.

  She arrived at the scene within twenty minutes, and saw Neskahi waiting outside one of the motel rooms, standing behind his patrol vehicle. People were milling about the doorway of the main entrance, watching curiously.

  Ella approached cautiously, noting someone peering through the curtain of the motel room window in front of the sergeant’s vehicle. “What’s the situation?” she asked.

  “I tried to open negotiations, but Mrs. Zah demanded to speak to you. Her speech is slurred, so I suspect she’s been drinking. I wouldn’t trust her not to try and shoot you, and maybe her children, too. The motel manager said that when he went to talk to her he saw that she’s got a hunting rifle, a Winchester lever action. That’ll penetrate everything but the real heavy SWAT vests.”

  Joseph offered to let her use the speaker system on his car radio, but she decided just to shout. It might be less frightening to the woman and her children if she didn’t magnify her voice. “This is Special Investigator Ella Clah, ma’am. Why don’t you set the rifle down and come out now. We can talk.”

  “No, you come in h
ere,” Gladys shouted back.

  “If you come out unarmed and stand by the door where we can see you, I’ll approach.”

  “You’ll just arrest me, just like you did my husband. You won’t listen or even try to understand.”

  “I can help you, ma’am. I know this is a difficult time for you, but think of your children and their safety. I’ll make sure they have someone to take care of them while you get the help you need. There are counselors and lawyers that will listen to you, too,” Ella said, trying her best to reason with her.

  “You lie. That’s all the Tribal Police has ever done,” Gladys yelled.

  “We don’t want anyone to get hurt, including you. Your children need their mother. Why don’t you at least send the kids out and show us you’re thinking of their safety?”

  “No. They stay with me.” Mrs. Zah said something to one of the children that Ella couldn’t hear.

  “If you want me to cooperate with you, you have to meet me halfway on this,” Ella insisted. “Send the kids out and the sergeant can watch them.”

  “Will you talk to me then?”

  “If your son and daughter come out safely, I’ll come and talk to you. But you’ll have to do exactly as I say.”

  “Like what?”

  “I’ll leave my weapon with the sergeant, but you have to place your rifle on the ground outside the door before I walk any closer. I won’t talk until we’re both unarmed.”

  “You’re not serious, are you?” Neskahi whispered.

  “I’ll have my backup, but if I can get her to surrender her rifle, the biggest problem will be solved.”

  “We don’t know if she’s got just the one rifle.”

  “It’s risky, I’m not denying it. But we can’t fire off tear gas, or try to take her out, without the risk of hurting the kids. Do you have a better plan?”

  Neskahi said nothing for several long moments. “No,” he said finally. “But leave your radio on so I can hear what she’s saying to you. If you spot another gun, say something about the chief. If she has a different kind of weapon, mention my name. I’ll at least know what you’re up against. Okay?”