Three hours later, as her watch alarm went off, Ella groaned and opened her eyes. Rose was standing at the door.
“You work too hard, daughter,” she said. “It’s Saturday. You need a day off.”
Ella wasn’t about to deny it. Moving slowly, and reluctantly, she got to her feet. “I’ve got to get back to the station.”
Rose nodded. “First there’s something I wanted to tell you. Your brother and I have been asking about that man you were trying to find out more about.”
Ella knew Rose meant Henderson Whitefeather. “What have you got for me?”
Rose motioned with her head toward the kitchen. “Your brother’s here right now. He’ll tell you what you need to know. I’ve put on a pot of coffee for both of you, but I have to get going.”
“What’s wrong?” she asked, accurately reading her mother’s worried frown.
“It’s my husband. We had a long talk yesterday and I found out that he went to see a doctor because he was having chest pains. He didn’t mention it to me because he didn’t want me to worry until he knew more. The doctor has now told him that it wasn’t a heart attack, it’s something called angina, but his blood pressure and cholesterol are too high. The doctor wants to see him again today so we’re both going this time.”
“High blood pressure and high cholesterol can be treated, Mom. Try not to worry too much.”
Rose nodded absently. “I know. I just wish he’d told me what was going on from the beginning instead of waiting.”
The hitch of helplessness in her mother’s voice revealed more than her words did. “And now that you know there are things he’ll keep from you, you’ll always worry.”
“Yes,” she said softly.
“Talk to him, Mother.”
“It won’t do any good. That’s the way my husband is. When something scares him, he won’t voice it, because then it has even more power.”
Ella nodded slowly, realizing that was part of the Navajo way, and there were some things that would never change.
“For now, I’ll just be happy that we’re dealing with something that can be fixed.” Hearing Herman calling, Rose hurried out the bedroom door.
Ella walked into the kitchen moments later and found her brother wolfing down a breakfast burrito.
“Mom made one for you, too. And there’s plenty of coffee,” he said. “Take time to eat, sister.”
“Good advice. I’m starving,” she said, sitting across from him.
“The deputy you’re looking for is engaged.” Clifford slipped her a piece of paper. “The top name is his woman’s, the bottom belongs to her brother who lives with her. The deputy can usually be found at her house. I’ve drawn a map to the woman’s place on the back.”
The brother’s name, Chester Tso, sounded familiar to her, but she couldn’t place it. The woman’s name she recognized immediately. Ella cursed herself for not having discovered the connection sooner. Mona Tso, Dr. Lee’s teaching assistant, was Whitefeather’s fiancée. She’d been in the ideal position all along to keep a tight watch on Jane for her boyfriend. He’d probably been the man Marianna had seen sneaking into the classroom that day, to be with Mona. He’d been on campus, out of uniform, the day Jane had met a man in the cafeteria. “Thanks very much for this.”
Grabbing the burrito off the table, Ella ran out to her pickup and drove east toward the highway. The tribal SUV she’d been assigned after her original had been shot up would be waiting for her at the station.
Once she was on her way, Ella called Justine on her cell phone. “I need everything you can get me on Mona and Chester Tso. I also need you to get an officer to watch their place,” she added, giving Justine the address. “There’s a chance Whitefeather’s there. Mona’s his girlfriend.”
“Got it.”
Justine met her at the side door fifteen minutes later, as Ella walked in. The look on her partner’s face told her that Justine had hit paydirt.
“Chester Tso does plumbing and electrical maintenance on tribal buildings—including the community college,” she said.
Now Ella remembered where she’d met him. “He was there after the bombing. He said he was checking the electrical connections and light fixtures, but I’ll bet he was trying to figure out how much damage the bomb had done.”
“He’s got a clear motive, too,” Justine said. “Turns out Tso’s father was a uranium miner who died of radiation poisoning. Their mother died six months later of unrelated causes. Chester raised Mona, and though they’ve kept away from any public protests, they’re very opposed to the Hogback plant. They believe that the tribe’s repeating the past, and other families will have to go through what they did.”
“Who’s your source?” Ella asked.
“One of our officers dated Mona Tso when she was in high school. He’s the one who filled me in on her background.”
“That’s good intel. Now we have to find Whitefeather. Any sightings?”
“None. Whitefeather’s not at home, nor is he at work. He called in sick. We’ll have officers watching the Tso residence soon. Right now both Mona and Chester are at the community college, working.”
Big Ed came out into the hall. “Shorty, my office.”
Ella started down the hall, then stopped and turned to her partner. “Justine, get me a list of all upcoming ceremonies related to the installation of the reactor vessel and the opening of the plant.”
Ella joined the chief in his office, sat down at his invitation, then proceeded to make her report.
Big Ed listened. “Time’s the enemy now, and it looks like they’ve gone to ground. Do you think you can get a bead on Whitefeather?”
“Either he or Baker will surface soon. They’ve gone this far, and experience tells me that they won’t cut and run until they finish what they set out to do.”
Justine came back into the office and gave them each a copy of the schedule she’d printed out.
Big Ed glanced at the sheet, then back at Ella. “I’ll send plant security what we have on our suspects, and contact the officials in charge of the reactor vessel delivery. But there’s an army of security covering these events—not only private, but state, county, and tribal officers. I can’t see them targeting any of these.”
“Convoy security should be checking for potential bombs at every bridge and possible bottleneck, and be on guard for a sniper attack.”
“Those truckers have DOE training, satellite communications systems, and a couple of carloads of heavily armed security,” Big Ed said. “Attacking them is practically suicidal. With the protection that’s in place it’s going to be nearly impossible for anyone to stop the opening of the plant.”
“I know,” Ella admitted, “and that’s what bothers me about this. Whitefeather would know that, too. To stake months of planning on the hope that they’ll penetrate those kinds of defenses . . . and with what? Less than a half-dozen people with dubious training? We’re missing something, Chief.”
“The plant must be the target,” Big Ed said. “All the evidence points to that. Let’s take a look at the schematics again,” he added, calling them up on his computer.
“The only vulnerable area is the parking lot, and that’s fifty yards outside the complex,” Justine said.
“Even if they had a bomb large enough to take out all the vehicles there, that still wouldn’t get them inside,” Big Ed noted.
“And taking out the cars wouldn’t make any difference anyway, not to plant operations. Wait a minute,” Ella said slowly. “That’s it. All this time we’ve been working under the assumption that their target is the facility, or its equipment. But the easiest way to stop the plant from opening is to target the workers themselves.”
“Yeah, but they won’t be at the plant for several more days, and, more importantly, they’d never all be there at the same time,” Justine argued.
“Prior to the installation of the reactor vessel, what’s on the agenda for the workers?” Ella asked Justine quickly.
&nb
sp; “I have no idea. Let me go back and check,” Justine said.
“Good thinking, Shorty,” Big Ed said as Justine left. “This is the first plant of its kind in the country. Without trained personnel, the tribe will be stuck for months with nothing more than a billion-dollar monument.”
“That’ll make the StarTalk fiasco seem like kid’s stuff, and put the tribe in deep financial trouble,” Ella said. “If that’s Whitefeather’s plan, he’s been two steps ahead of us all along. He even misdirected his own people.”
Justine hurried back inside the office moments later. “The entire staff is meeting today and tomorrow at the community college auditorium. They’ve been receiving extensive training for the past six months so they can operate our country’s first pebble bed reactor. This is their final orientation before taking charge of the facility. The first session begins in . . . fifteen minutes,” she said, looking at her watch.
“Without them, the plant won’t be able to open. They’re the target,” Ella said.
“If you’re right, then it’s the perfect inside job. He’s got the help of his future brother-in-law—a man with keys and unlimited access to the community college’s buildings,” Big Ed said. “Get over there, Shorty. I’ll make sure you have as much backup as you need.”
Ella contacted Vera Hunt, the head of campus security, as she ran out to the tribal cruiser with Justine. Updating Vera as quickly as possible, Ella added, “I’m sending you a copy of Whitefeather’s photo ID, but be aware that if he’s on campus he may be in his deputy’s uniform or wearing a disguise. He’s been known to use a mustache and a beard. Since that would call even more attention to him during the day, I’m guessing he’ll opt for a hat or cap of some sort, and sunglasses.”
“Okay, I’ll get my people out looking for him.”
“It’s likely their plan will make use of an explosion and/or fire,” Ella added. “The heating and electrical units are vulnerable, especially to Chester Tso. Working maintenance, he has every key he needs. Where exactly are the heating and cooling units in the auditorium building?”
“The basement,” Vera answered in a flash, “in the rear, north end. Should I evacuate the campus, or at least the auditorium?”
“If we start evacuating, we could force them to act right now with whatever they have. Worst-case scenario, they might have an alternate target that we know nothing about. Let’s stay low key for now. That’s the only way to guarantee we won’t start a panic and warn off Whitefeather and the others.”
Ella thanked Vera, then glanced at Justine. “You and I need to check out the auditorium. I’ll take the basement while you watch the front and ground floor. Make sure the exits remain open. If the plant employees really are the target, one possible strategy would be to block the exits to maximize the body count.”
Less than five minutes later, they arrived at the rear of the building and parked in a red-zoned space near the loading dock. After finding the rear door locked, they walked along the side, and stopped at the corner of the building. Glancing ahead, Ella saw a twin-door entrance at the front. Both doors were wide open. Someone was standing there beside a heavy-looking canvas book bag. Ella recognized Mona Tso and saw her slipping a big chain through one of the door handles.
“Mona’s chaining the doors,” Ella told Justine.
“We need to take her out without tipping off the others,” Justine whispered.
“She’d recognize me, but not you,” Ella said, thinking fast. “Can you get the drop on her?”
“Sure thing.”
Justine brought out her cell phone, held it up to her ear, then turned the corner, looking away, toward the street, instead of at Mona.
Ella watched as Justine approached Mona, phone still at her ear, and smiled. “Hi, need some help with that door?”
Mona stared at Justine in surprise for a moment, then dropped the chain, and reached into her jacket pocket.
Justine lunged forward, punching Mona in the throat.
Mona gagged, throwing her arms up in vain, then sagged to her knees, grasping her throat in agony. Ella was there in a flash, grabbing Mona’s hand in a painful pinch-hold and yanking her off the steps.
“You!” Mona gasped, her eyes bulging and wet with pain.
“Check her pockets!” Ella ordered.
Justine reached into Mona’s jacket and brought out a Taser.
“Police brutality! I’ll have your badge,” Mona croaked at Ella.
Ella increased the pressure on Mona’s hand, forcing her to her knees again. “Check the lobby, Justine.”
Justine looked inside, then stepped back. “She must have Tasered the guard. I can see him on the floor just down the hall to the left. The auditorium doors are shut but not blocked. Nobody else is around, but I smell gas.”
“Where are Chester and Henderson?” Ella demanded, still applying the pinch hold.
“I have no idea,” Mona said, her face contorted in pain.
“Cuff her,” Ella said, maintaining the pinch hold while Justine worked. “Chain her to the door, then get everyone out as quietly as you can. Tell them there’s a small gas leak and order them to stay off their cell phones until they’re well outside. While you’re at it, prop open every door you can. Just don’t flip any light switches. One spark might set off an explosion. I’m going down the hall, then taking the stairs to the basement.”
Mona suddenly jerked free of Justine, kicking out. Justine took a blow to the shin, but shook it off, punching Mona in the gut and doubling her over. Ella helped with the chain, and within ten seconds, Mona was held fast. Justine, thinking quickly, stuck her scarf in Mona’s mouth, effectively gagging her.
Not wasting any time, Ella ran down the hall and checked the guard. He was unconscious, but alive. Noting that his handgun was missing, Ella touched the butt of her own pistol, wondering if a gunshot would set off the gas in the basement.
Ella reached for her baton, then, finding the door labeled “basement,” opened it slowly and peered inside. The gas smell was much stronger here.
Ella heard footsteps from the bottom landing and stepped back, suspecting they’d placed another lookout below. Continuing quickly down the hall, she reached another door also labeled “basement.” She went in slowly and sneaked a look down the stairwell. Nobody was in sight, and the air was fresher here.
Ella went down two flights, then stopped at the bottom step and listened, breathing through a handful of tissues now. The basement itself was a maze of pale green concrete walls, overhead pipes, and utility lines. Directly in front of her was a long hallway with doors on each side.
Ella crept down the corridor, making sure her boots didn’t clack against the concrete floor. At the hall junction, she looked to her left and saw an open storage area filled with carts, folding chairs, and tables.
Ella moved to her right, aware that she was circling around toward the rear of the building where the heating and cooling systems lay. Using the intensity of the odor to guide her, she walked quietly toward the source of the gas.
Ahead was another junction in the hall system, and as she approached, she heard a muffled curse and the sound of metal against metal. Moving carefully, Ella homed in on the sound. As she turned the second corner, she saw a man in a gas mask loosening a pipe from a big heating unit. He had his back to her, but from his size and build she knew it was Chester.
Before she could make her move, Ella saw a sudden flash of fabric ahead. Moving a few steps forward, she spotted Whitefeather, in dress slacks, white shirt, and tie, at the bottom of the other stairway. He was the one she’d heard earlier, standing guard.
As Chester struggled with the hissing pipe, using a wrench with plastic jaws to avoid a spark, Ella crept up behind him. He turned just as she brought the baton crashing down on his skull.
As he sagged to the floor, Ella reached out and grabbed the wrench from his unfeeling hands. Moving quickly, she reattached the pipe, then located the shut-off valve. Once she’d turned off the gas, the h
issing sound dropped in intensity. That leak was plugged, but more gas was still flowing into the basement from elsewhere.
Ella handcuffed Chester, then dragged his inert body into a utility closet about ten feet away. Working quickly, she removed his gas mask and slipped it over her own head. She was straightening the face mask when a sixth sense warned her of danger.
Ella turned quickly and saw Whitefeather standing less than five feet away, mask over his face, gun pointed straight at her.
“You shoot, and we’re both dead. One spark will set off the gas,” she warned. As Ella called his attention to another hissing pipe, she spotted a timer, lantern battery, and electrical detonator taped to the wall above it. The detonator would be more than enough to set off the gas.
When Whitefeather hesitated, Ella realized that he wasn’t a fanatic after all. The man wanted others to die for his cause, but he hadn’t planned on including himself in the body count.
Whitefeather jammed his pistol into his belt and raised his fists, and Ella leaped to one side, reaching for the power switches on the main electrical panel. Whitefeather blocked her path, but Ella caught him in the chin with the tip of her right boot. He fell back, the mask knocked halfway off his face, and blood gushing from his mouth.
Ella dove for the panel and pulled the big-handled switches, turning off all power to the building. Almost instantaneously, pale emergency battery-powered lights came on along the top of the wall. Whitefeather kicked out, keeping her at bay while he struggled to place the gas mask back over his torn lips.
Ella knew she’d have to disable the bomb. The gas was building up quickly. She caught Whitefeather as he lunged at her, kicking his knee. As he fell, she ripped the device from the wall, yanked the wires off the terminals, and threw the battery as far as she could down the hall.
By the time she looked back at Whitefeather, he had a knife in his hand. Ella tossed the detonator and timer into a trash can in the utility closet and turned to face him. He’d have to get past her now to retrieve the detonator.
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