by Aimée
Ella picked up the phone and called Blalock. A gravelly voice answered the call, and Ella realized that she’d probably woken FB-Eyes up.
“Good morning, Dwayne. I know it’s early, but I needed to talk to you about someone.” She told him about Bobby Lujan and her interest in him, especially in regards to Jayne and illegal gambling. “I’ve got nothing on Lujan, but it’s possible he knows something pertinent to this investigation.”
“You’re thinking that he may have wanted to use Justine as leverage to collect a gambling debt and things got out of hand?”
“Yes. Jayne could be right in the middle of what happened to her sister.”
“I’ll look into it. And, Ella, don’t get caught working on this case. You hear me?”
“Perfectly.”
Ella then left a priority call for Harry Ute through the Marshals Service, telling him what she’d learned about Samuel Begaye from Daniel Benally. As she placed the phone down, she could hear the first of the morning-shift people coming into the station.
Ella decided to leave. Maintaining a low profile now was a matter of necessity. She was walking out the side door when Joseph Neskahi stopped her on the steps.
“Ella, I’m really sorry to hear that your brother’s having a difficult time right now.”
“What do you mean?” she asked, a touch of fear creeping beneath her skin.
“My uncle, who’s a friend of Loretta’s family, came by to visit me last night. He mentioned that Loretta had taken Julian and moved back in with her mother. Then, earlier this morning, I ran into your brother at the Trading Post. He sure looked like a man who hasn’t slept very much lately.”
Ella felt her heart sink. “He’s so used to playing things close to his chest, he didn’t tell Mom and me.” Ella rubbed the back of her neck, shaking her head at how things seemed to be unraveling around her.
“Maybe it’s a good a thing I told you, then. You should also be aware that there’s some nasty gossip about you going around. It’s just garbage about your family legacy and you turning to evil, and hints that you had something to do with Justine’s death. I’ve made it a point to come down heavily on anyone I hear talking about it.”
“I used to think that no one ever paid attention to that stuff except the old ones, but now I just don’t know,” Ella said.
“Well, the ones in our generation interpret ‘turning to evil’ as you going psycho. They don’t really buy the rest of the story. And the younger adults think you’re just another cop who’s flipped out under the pressure.”
“The gossip won’t stop until the truth comes out.” Ella exhaled softly. “I just wish I knew who hates me and hated Justine enough to do this to us.”
Ella thanked the sergeant and walked over to her unit. Moments later, she was on her way to the college. Wilson not only taught the college students, but he was spending a lot of time working with younger groups. Kids talked freely, the younger ones even more so than the older ones. Maybe he or Jeremiah had heard something that she would find useful.
Ella used the drive time to unwind, focusing on traffic and the warm, pleasant morning. By the time she reached the campus, she felt more in control. There was nothing like a plan to keep her mind focused on business. It was also the best way she’d found to keep her fear at bay.
Ella walked quickly to Wilson’s office and found him just closing the door, about to leave.
“I see I’ve come at a bad time. You must have a class now,” she said.
“No, actually I have to meet Jeremiah out by one of the portable buildings. He’s setting up an activity. We’re starting early because the middle-school kids have the afternoon off. Their teachers are having meetings today. Why don’t you walk with me?”
“Okay. That’ll give us a chance to talk.”
“Did you plan on staying for your brother’s and Herman Cloud’s lecture on the traditional way of life?”
That was the second reference to her brother that had taken her by surprise. But then again, none of it should have. Her brother and she led separate lives, and rarely compared schedules. “I’ve been so caught up in the things that have been happening lately, I didn’t even know he was coming.”
“He probably didn’t say anything because he didn’t think of it.”
“I suspect it’s a little more complicated than that.” She told him about Loretta taking Julian and going to stay with her mother.
Wilson stared at her in amazement. “And he still showed up today? Your brother never ceases to amaze me.”
Ella nodded. “He tries to be strong—for everyone’s sake—but sometimes Clifford forgets he doesn’t have to be a superhero.”
“Maybe you should talk to him. I know he’s already on campus somewhere. He’s probably in the auditorium reviewing some notes. You can catch up to me later at the portable building or the gym.”
“When’s he scheduled to give his talk?”
Wilson checked his watch. “In ten minutes or so.”
Ella shook her head. “I better let him finish his talk first. I’ll stick with you for now.”
When they reached the portable building, they discovered the door was propped open. The strong smell of solvent drifted from the entrance. Inside were five high schoolers, scrubbing two of the walls.
“What happened?” Ella asked, looking at the graffiti spray painted on the metal and hard vinyl surfaces.
“Someone broke in last night and wrecked our place,” Fred Billey said. “They came in through one of the vents next to the heater.”
The young teen looked like one of the gang members Ella had dealt with before, but she couldn’t be sure until she saw a tattoo on his hand.
The boy saw where she was looking. “Yeah, I was in the Many Devils once. So were these other guys. But after all the trouble and shootings, we quit that way of life. Not officially. We’d be their enemies if we did that. We just don’t hang out with them anymore.” He looked at Wilson Joe. “Professor, we’ve got some more solvent and paper towels in the truck. Want to give me a hand while these guys keep scrubbing? We’re trying to get it all off before it sets up hard.”
“No problem.”
Jeremiah Manyfarms came out of a storage closet with a mop and bucket with a wringer just after Wilson left. “They’re really good kids,” he said. “They’ve been working their butts off all morning, and have cleaned two of the walls already.”
“Have you had this kind of trouble here before? Did any of the other buildings get hit, too?”
“No, this room was the target, probably to make a point. But don’t worry. This is actually a good sign. The gangs are seeing that they’re losing this battle and they’re worried. That’s why they attacked us. Trust me, I know how they think.”
“I wouldn’t make any assumptions if I were you. The behavior of the few boys you’ve met and have brought over to your side doesn’t tell you much about what the rest are doing or thinking. This is a tricky issue. As an officer, I’ve battled this for quite a while.”
“I know. But I’ve also worked with kids for a long time.” He paused, then continued in a low voice. “I moved to California several years ago. Back then I was so heavily involved with Indian rights, I stopped paying much attention to my family. That was when my teenaged boys joined a gang. Then, two years ago, we came home to the Rez to visit relatives. My youngest boy was wearing gang colors, and looked at a local gang kid the wrong way, I guess. That got him shot and killed.”
Jeremiah was gripping the mop handle so hard his knuckles were white. “That’s when I realized what was happening to the kids—my own as well as the other children here on our land. Indian rights were suddenly a lot less important to me. I knew that to stand up for Indian rights, our kids have to know that they’re Indian, and today, half of them haven’t got a clue what it means to be Navajo. To them, it’s skin color and living on the Rez—if that. Since they don’t know who and what they are, they’re lost between two worlds. Our kids then reach out to t
he Anglo world for identity and end up destroying themselves.”
“They watch television shows and see the Anglo world—one that really doesn’t exist—and want to experience that life. The media, especially movies and TV, are powerful models,” Ella said.
“And there are those, like you, who bring the Anglo world in, meshing our way and theirs, and blur things even more for everyone.”
“But we need that blend. That’s the key to our own survival,” Ella said.
“Maybe, but before you can blend, you have to know what you have to gain and what you stand to lose. Our kids don’t know enough to make the right choices. They’re just plain lost. They desperately want to belong, not understanding that they already do. They’re part of a tribe that has lived through horrors few can ever imagine, and endured to this day. Our strength as a people is something they can be proud of, but they have to be taught to take pride in who they are.”
Jeremiah started mopping some of the dissolved paint that had made it to the floor. “Some people think I harp on family involvement too much. But we need to have strong families. Moms and dads are too busy working to pay attention to what’s happening at home, and that’s where we have to start. We have to get the parents involved. Tonight we’re having the kids bring their families to watch them practice, then we’re going to have a cookout.”
Wilson came back into the room carrying a cardboard box containing cleaning supplies. “Ella, I just saw Herman Cloud and your brother leaving the auditorium. They’ve finished their lecture. I must have gotten the wrong time for their presentation.”
Ella excused herself and went outside to find her brother.
TWENTY-TWO
Clifford was surrounded by young men and women. At least here, among students who were constantly exposed to new ideas, unsubstantiated lies and the threat of the legacy didn’t carry much weight.
Ella saw Clifford leave Herman Cloud to answer the students’ questions and come toward her.
“It’s good to see you here,” Ella said. “You must have been a hit,” she added, gesturing to the small crowd around Herman.
Clifford shook his head and spoke softly. “Don’t kid yourself. They wanted more than knowledge about our ways. Some of them had heard about the hataalii who is known to have special powers, and they wanted to take a look for themselves. A lot of the knowledge they gain at this college tells them to rely only on what they observe, yet in their hearts, they know that the world is comprised of far more than what can be measured and touched. I think they were hoping to see a little magic and a miracle or two, or at least have me read their minds.”
“I wish I knew how to put a stop to the gossip about me and our family.”
“It’ll die down eventually.”
Ella could see the sadness in Clifford’s eyes. His personal life was even worse than hers at the moment, and that was saying something. At least her daughter would be home when she quit work today.
When Herman called out to him, Clifford excused himself and went to join him. As Clifford walked away, Ella felt the chill of despair envelop her. She had to find Justine’s killer soon, because the biggest danger she faced wasn’t an empty home. It was being placed in a cell until her daughter had children of her own.
When the crowd of students around Clifford dwindled, Ella walked back to where her brother was standing.
“He really loves this,” Clifford said, gesturing to Herman Cloud, who was still speaking to two young men. Herman was a longtime friend of their family. His shoulder-length hair was all white, but he stood tall, like a warrior. “I think he’s been lonely since his wife died. With Philip and Michael working and busy with their own families, he spends too much time alone. I suggested that he take part in this lecture series about living a Navajo life in the new millennium because I felt he needed to get involved in something. At first he turned me down, but now he’s always ready and waiting for me to pick him up whenever we give talks.”
Ella knew her brother had purposely avoided mentioning Loretta and Julian, but she could see that Neskahi had been right. Clifford hadn’t slept much. He looked weary and sad, the kind of emotional burden that settled over a person like a lengthy shadow.
“I heard about your wife,” she said quietly.
Clifford nodded slowly. “I expected that you would.” He looked at Ella. “You know that I’ll have to go and bring her back, or if she won’t come, then stay with her. I can’t let my son go without his father’s protection, especially now.”
Herman Cloud came up and joined them before Ella could ask what her brother meant. “It’s good to see you,” he said. “Now that your brother will be gone for a while, I was hoping that you would come by and join me once in a while when I’m scheduled to speak.”
“If I can, I’d be very happy to.”
“It’s been working out so well. Your brother speaks to them about being a hataalii and I speak to them about living day to day like a traditionalist. Of course, now that your brother has received those threats, he’ll have to protect his wife and son.”
“What? You’ve received threats? From whom?” Ella frowned at Clifford.
“I’ll be leaving now, nephew.” Herman walked away quickly before Ella could question him.
“I need to know what’s happened,” Ella said.
“I went for a walk late last night, trying to get tired enough to sleep, and two Navajo men ambushed me near my hogan when I returned. I knew someone was there, but I thought it might have been my wife, so I walked right into it. They had their faces covered. I took a few punches, but nothing serious. Then they told me to stop protecting my ‘killer’ sister, or I’d share in the punishment that was in store for you. They left me tied to the bumper of my truck, and by the time I got free, they were gone.”
“Why didn’t you call me after it happened?”
“What could you have done?”
“Look for a vehicle, search the area, watch the highway. Something!”
“I had no description of any vehicle to give you, I only heard it leaving in the dark. And you know how few neighbors we have. They could have gone in any direction. There wasn’t much you could have done.”
“Well, by not calling me right away, you certainly made a fact out of that statement.”
Clifford looked at his sister sadly. “You still don’t know when to fight and when to hang back. You better learn quickly, sister. More trouble is on the horizon.”
As Clifford went to retrieve some items he’d brought to the lecture, Ella walked away toward her vehicle. She knew that she could no longer count on her brother’s help. He would go to protect Loretta and his son, which was as it should be, but she had to continue the battle.
Her most important ally had now been taken from her. Ella wasn’t sure how much more she could endure before she finally lost heart.
Ella arrived at her patrol unit, and as she slipped behind the wheel, her cell phone rang. It was Harry Ute.
“I got your message. And I got a brand-new lead just a few minutes ago. I’d like you along as my cover officer. Can you swing it?”
“You bet.”
“I’ve got a tip that Samuel Begaye is going to meet his wife at the West Farmington Mall at noon. I’d like to be in place before they arrive.”
“I’ll be there. Where shall we meet?”
“Go to the coffee shop just across the street on the east side. We’ll meet there. And wear sunglasses and a cap or something. Try to be shorter, too,” he joked.
“What about you? Will you be wearing a disguise?”
“Yeah, but don’t worry. You’ll still know me.”
Ella stopped by the house, and after picking up her daughter and saying hello, she went into the bedroom to change. First she took off her boots and removed her backup holster rig from her right leg. That went into her closet, but she placed the derringer inside her jacket pocket. Running shoes took an inch off her height, but masking her taller-than-average stature was something she
could do only with limited success. Ella brushed her long, black hair so it cascaded around her shoulders, then put on a tan cowboy hat. With her dark glasses on, she looked like another person.
Rose came in and looked at her daughter. “You look beautiful and not at all like a cop. Is that what you were aiming for?”
“Yep, but the problem is that close up I still look like me. I may be able to fool someone who doesn’t know me very well, though. I guess I’ll just have to try it out and see.”
When Dawn went back to the living room to get her doll, Rose gave Ella a worried look. “Another team operation? Things are getting too dangerous right now for you to trust anyone, maybe even the people you usually work with.”
Ella sighed. “Yes, I know, but I have to be able to trust somebody, or I’m already lost.”
Rose nodded. “Your brother is going to join his wife, in spite of the fact that she’s staying with her mother. He called me earlier today. I never thought things would go this far.”
Ella knew that Rose had taken the news that Clifford had to leave, perhaps for a long time, very hard. She’d always been close to her son, and she adored Julian.
“This will have an end, Mom. He’ll be back.” Ella said good-bye to her daughter and mother, then left to meet Harry in Farmington.
Ella arrived at her destination forty minutes later and parked in the rear parking area. As she started to go inside, a man in a brown jacket approached her. She took a defensive stance, her hand in her pocket atop the derringer, wondering if he was about to try to rob her or attempt a carjacking.
It took her a second, but she quickly relaxed. With the mustache and baseball cap, Harry looked more Hispanic than he did Navajo. “Wow. You’ve learned a trick or two in the Marshals Service, I see.”