by Aimée
“You’re right,” Ella conceded. “Here’s what I propose. We do our best to find out if John Doe was involved in Lisa’s murder, and who might have been with him. I also want all of us to do some serious digging into the religious lives of all the theft victims. This is an extremely sensitive matter, so we’ll have to handle it with discretion. None of the families will thank us, and if word of what we’re doing gets out, we could ruin the lives of some of these people. We all know how fast gossip travels on the Rez.”
“This type of investigation will require that we ask each victim’s neighbors some pointed questions,” Justine said.
“I know. Just tread softly. Choose your words carefully. And Justine, see if you can track down your cousin, Thomas. I know you’re having problems because he’s a relative, but it would be a real help if you could get him to talk. At least, see if he can identify our John Doe. That wouldn’t compromise any of his gang loyalties that I can see.”
“I’ll certainly make an attempt,” Justine agreed.
“I suppose you’ll want Lisa Aspass’ religious background included?” Neskahi asked.
Ella nodded. “Just don’t approach Wilson Joe on that. I’ll handle that interview myself.” She glanced at Justine. “Don’t worry. I’ll clear going solo for that with Big Ed.”
Justine nodded.
As her investigators left, Ella sat back, mulling things over, but soon the telephone rang, interrupting her.
Ella picked up the receiver and recognized Carolyn Roanhorse’s voice. “I’ve got something useful for you,” Carolyn said. “Our John Doe was burned with a flammable powder of some kind. Though I haven’t been able to identify it specifically, I’ve extracted a few grains from the blistered area on his chest. I also extracted some tiny fibers from within the wound. We can see if they match up with any from the scene. That would help place him there.”
“I’ll have my team check Lisa’s house again for a powder that would do that, and also see if the tests on the carpet debris we vacuumed up are ready. Thanks for the info.”
“Did your people ID him yet?”
“No. Justine ran his prints, but we didn’t get a hit locally or with the FBI database, and they didn’t match up enough with the one on the yellow glove to be conclusive. She’s going to see if Thomas Bileen, her cousin, can identify the victim. Do you have anything else that might help?”
“I’m checking dental records.” Carolyn paused for a moment. “Off the subject. Are you coming in to the hospital today? I think Rose really missed not seeing you yesterday.”
“My brother said she was feeling down again.”
“It’s the physical therapy, I think. She’s finding excuses for skipping sessions. It’s uncomfortable for her, and the crutches are rubbing, but she has to continue it regardless of how frustrating it can be. Unless she keeps at it, her legs won’t maintain enough strength to allow her to stand at all, much less progress to a cane.”
Ella said nothing for several long moments.
“Hey, are you still there?”
“Yeah, I’m just thinking of something my brother told me once, a long time ago. He said that when a patient lived with a condition for a certain amount of time, the patient made his peace with it. It then became easier to accept the infirmity than it was to fight to get well. I think that’s what Mom’s doing. Physical therapy involves pain for her, and is very tiring. On the other hand, she’s comfortable when she stays put. Since the nurses take care of all her needs, it’s simpler for her to do nothing for herself. What we have to do is make things a little more uncomfortable for her.”
“How? You can’t ask the nursing staff to ignore a patient, or force her to use the crutches.” Carolyn said.
“True, but we can try and give Mom more incentive to want to leave the hospital, even if it means sore muscles and discomfort for her with the crutches. And she’ll have to convince Dr. Natoni that she’ll continue physical therapy, or he won’t consider releasing her.”
“You’ve got another plan, I presume?”
“Yes, but I’ll need your help with this.” Ella heard Carolyn sigh, and knew she was probably rolling her eyes. “Can you get the floor nurse to call you whenever my mom has visitors?”
“I think so. Why?”
“I want you to go to her room and join her guests as often as possible.”
“Why? Her friends aren’t going to want me anywhere near them. Don’t you remember? I’m still known to the traditionalists as the Death Doctor. The tag has become a way to describe what I do.”
“That’s precisely why I want you to go. Her friends will find reasons to leave in a hurry if you’re around. And if they keep running into you whenever they visit, they’ll cut back on their visits, or stop coming altogether. That’s going to really aggravate Mom. She’ll never tell you not to visit, and risk hurting your feelings, but it’ll make her crazy. And it’ll sure give her incentive to get out of the hospital in a hurry, even if it means working at those crutches.”
Carolyn chuckled softly. “You’ve got an evil mind, girl.”
“Yes, I do, don’t I?” Ella said. “And I really do want what’s best for Mom. Well, let me get a few things straightened out here, then I’ll be free to go pay her a visit myself.”
Thirty minutes later, Ella drove to the hospital. With each passing day, everything seemed to get more complicated. If her mother was released from the hospital while still in a wheelchair, she might need more than the ramps. Rose might also need someone at home to help her out, at least for a while.
Ella considered what taking an extended leave of absence would do to the cases she had pending. There was no way she’d be able to ask for one with a clear conscience, not with three unsolved murders on her desk.
She thought of her duty to the tribe, then of her responsibility as a daughter, feeling like a failure on both counts. No matter what she chose to do, it would result in letting someone down. Her mother might understand if someone besides her daughter stayed with her, but would it be the right thing to do?
She wondered what it would have been like if she’d gone into another career field, with set hours and the chance to take time off for family responsibilities. But what kind of job would it be? She’d been a cop practically all her adult life. She’d never wanted any other career.
Later, as she walked down the hospital corridor, she watched the nurses. That was one job she’d never be able to do. She despised hospitals, but not because she was in any way a traditionalist. She hated the smells and the atmosphere of impending doom that surrounded hospitals. Of course that was her perception, and probably entirely psychological, but it was the way she felt.
As she entered her mother’s room, Ella noticed that Mrs. Pioche and Mrs. Clani were both there. The two women, part of the Plant Watchers group, greeted her warmly, then continued the story they were telling Rose, filling her in on the latest gossip.
Just then Carolyn Roanhorse entered the room holding a jar of jelly beans. “I thought you might enjoy these,” she said, offering them to Rose, who took one. Carolyn then offered some to the other women, but they declined, scooting back in their chairs and putting a little distance between themselves and the ME.
As if oblivious to their reaction, Carolyn proceeded to monopolize the conversation, not allowing even Ella the chance to get a word in edgewise.
“I’ve managed to decorate my new trailer with some great antiques. I found a great little store in Farmington that has wonderful prices. I bought a trunk that dates back to the 1800s that still had some of the owner’s clothing in it!”
Ella almost burst out laughing. These women would consider antiques of a personal nature repulsive and dangerous. The clothing of one who had died would be seen as contaminated by the chindi. She saw the horror on their faces, and realized that hearing this from the Death Doctor made it even worse for them.
It wasn’t long before Mrs. Pioche and Mrs. Clani excused themselves and hurried out.
Ro
se gave Ella a bewildered look, but Ella pretended not to notice. “Those antiques sound beautiful. I’m going to have to make time to come by some evening. Maybe tomorrow? I can come right after work. Oh, wait. I’ll have to stop and feed Two. On second thought, I’m sure he can hold out for an extra hour. I’ll just set out extra chow at breakfast.”
“You most certainly will not,” Rose snapped. “That dog needs his food, particularly in this cold weather. Don’t you dare neglect him like that. You have been making sure he has food and fresh water?”
“Sure, I feed him every morning and evening, regardless of when I get home from work. He might have skipped a few night feedings here and there though. I’ve got so many things going on right now it’s hard to keep track of everything.”
Rose’s eyes blazed with anger. “You make time for him, regardless of your job. He needs to eat on a regular schedule, and deserves some of your attention every day. I don’t want excuses. Is that very clear?”
“Well, yes, Mother. I’ll do my best. By the way, I was talking to my brother, and we’re making arrangements to add ramps in case you decide to keep the wheelchair instead of the crutches. The handyman can also pour a big concrete patio where your herb garden is. You can go out there in the wheelchair without getting stuck in the sand. We know how you like fresh air.”
“You tell your brother and that handyman to stay away from my house. Nobody’s touching my herb garden. I’m walking out of this place on my own two feet, not that stupid chair.” Rose’s face was animated now, her face flushed with anger.
“I’ll tell him exactly what you said, Mother. Does that mean I shouldn’t be looking for someone to take care of you when you’re released?” Ella was on a roll.
“Nobody is going to follow me around in my own home like some baby-sitter. I’m already sick of not having any privacy here. If I need your help, I’ll ask for it. Now you two leave me alone. Don’t you have work to do?” Rose turned away and looked out the window.
As soon as they were out of earshot, Ella and Carolyn burst out laughing.
“What a team we make!” Carolyn managed, laughing. “First the antiques, and then her herb garden.”
“Everything worked like a charm. And if you keep your end up, pretty soon nobody will be staying long when they visit. Between us, we’ll have her cooperating with the doctors and literally on her feet in no time. Mom will be fighting to go back home.”
Ella drove back to the station, worry clouding her features. Now that they were actively working to get Rose ready to come home, she wondered if she really would need to find someone who could come in and take care of her mother. Guilt assailed her until she remembered the hospital also had a social worker. Maybe they could find somebody Rose knew to come in and check on her from time to time. With Ella’s irregular hours, there wasn’t any other choice.
From the moment she walked inside the station, she knew something was up. The mood had lifted somehow. She was walking past Big Ed’s office when he called out to her.
“Ella. We’ve finally got a break on a case, one that links up with that note you got in the mail,” he said waving her to a chair.
“What’s going on?”
“The preliminary hearing for the bank robbers is set for later this afternoon. FB-Eyes called me about five minutes ago. In exchange for reduced sentences and new identities, Joey and Barbara Baker will testify that the heist was arranged by The Brotherhood, and the operation was an organizational ‘fund-raiser.’ The one hitch is that they’ll only give their statements to you.”
“Me? Why?”
“I don’t know, but they’re behind bars and no threat. I say you go over there and play this hand out. Maybe we can get enough information from them to follow up on the threat to you.”
Ella nodded. “Enough to find the hit man before he finds me,” she said. “I’ll give Blalock a call and set up the meet.”
Ella phoned Blalock and then got underway. They’d both agreed that the Bakers’ stipulation that she be present was unusual, but the payoff would be worth it. As an extra precaution, Ella decided to have Justine tail her, rather than ride along, but the trip was uneventful.
Ella parked next to the courthouse. Blalock’s car was only two rows away. As she made her way around to the entrance, she saw a drunken street person leaning against the side of a store front that was adjacent to an alley. Hearing the dirty-faced Anglo woman retching loudly, people walked by quickly, turning away and trying to ignore her.
As Ella approached, a strange feeling spread over her. Her skin tingled, her heart pounded, and she felt the certainty of danger. Her badger fetish was warm, almost hot against her flesh.
Instead of looking away, like the other pedestrians were doing, instinct told Ella not to take her eyes off the woman. Something wasn’t quite right, though the smell of alcohol and the bottle of cheap whisky seemed consistent with the image being projected.
She studied the vagrant carefully and realized what it was. The woman had one hand in her pocket, and the other was covered with well-made, skin-tight leather gloves. The pricey accessory didn’t fit with the old, moth-eaten coat and worn scarf, and it was too warm today for gloves, even for someone who’d been outside all day.
Ella also noticed that the woman kept looking in her direction, but always avoided making eye contact. Most street people she’d come across used eye contact to keep others at a distance, because they trusted no one.
Hoping Justine would have the sense to keep back, Ella took a step into the alley to see what would happen. The woman suddenly spun around, pulling a silenced automatic pistol from her pocket. In a fluid, reflex action, Ella grabbed her attacker’s wrist with her left hand, forcing the gun down and away. Simultaneously, she stepped across the woman’s path, bumping into her heavily and, throwing her off balance, pushed against her while she grabbed the gun with her right hand. Using her assailant’s body to gain extra leverage, Ella was able to wrestle the weapon from the woman’s grip. It fell to the sidewalk.
The woman retaliated quickly, landing a hard left to Ella’s stomach. Seeing the right hand coming as she tried to catch her breath, Ella dodged and grasped the woman’s arm as it passed by. Moving quickly, she forced it behind the woman’s back in a lock.
The woman continued to struggle and kick, though the pain must have been considerable. “Keep it up, and you’ll break your own arm,” Ella warned.
The woman didn’t seem to hear her, or maybe just didn’t care. She jerked back, hitting Ella on the chin with the back of her head. Ella tightened her grip, forcing the woman down almost to her knees. The woman tried once again to jerk free. Ella heard and felt a snap, and the woman groaned.
“You just broke your arm. Don’t make this harder on yourself than you already have. Quit struggling so I can get you some medical attention.”
The woman leaned forward and kicked back again, catching Ella in the stomach. As Ella staggered back, losing her grip, the woman fumbled around with her left hand inside her blouse, reaching for a backup gun in her bra.
“Leave it,” Justine said.
Ella turned around. Justine had her pistol aimed right at the woman’s chest. “Took you long enough,” Ella muttered.
“I couldn’t find a parking space.”
Ella removed the backup pistol, handcuffed the woman despite the probable broken bone, then read her her rights. The woman never gave any indication that she was in pain, nor in any mood to talk. Her single-mindedness frightened Ella. Justine quickly took the names and addresses of the startled witnesses for later followup.
Blalock met them as they came through the courthouse/police station door, took one look at the prisoner, and gave Ella and Justine a surprised look. “What’s this?”
“One second.” Ella turned their prisoner over to a pair of Farmington cops at the booking desk, and explained briefly what had happened. Surrendering custody, after they agreed to lock up the prisoner and have a doctor look at her injury, Ella returned to
where Blalock stood.
“Okay. Now we can talk,” she said.
“What the hell was that all about? Did the woman throw up on your Jeep? She looks awfully pale.”
Ella scowled at him. “Save it.” She recounted what had taken place, showing him the backup gun and silencer-equipped pistol, both of which Justine had wrapped in a handkerchief, pending further investigation.
“Well, with those weapons in custody, and several witnesses, this won’t turn into another excessive-force suit,” Blalock muttered. “You think it was a set up from the beginning?”
“Yeah. The promised statement from the Bakers was probably just a way to throw me off. This must have all been part of the contract The Brotherhood put out on me.”
“Let’s go have our little talk with Joey and Barbara Baker,” Blalock said.
“Right. I’ll bet my last dime that they were the ones who put me in the path of that assassin. How else could the killer have known I was coming?”
“Let’s push them with a murder-conspiracy charge and see if they crack.”
“I have another idea. Shepherd seems to be the weakest link in this chain. Leave the Bakers out of the loop for a while longer. Have Shepherd brought in to us.”
“Done.”
Blalock led them to a conference room, just off the judge’s chambers, then left to make arrangements for the prisoner to be brought in. As soon as they were alone, Ella requested a Farmington officer join them and turned to Justine. “I want you and the officer to make sure those guns are entered into evidence. Then you should go back to the booking desk and find out everything you can about the woman who attacked me. And make sure she’s getting medical care. I don’t want another brutality suit coming my way. Then track down the witnesses and get their statements. Blalock and I will work on Shepherd. If you find out anything that’ll give us an edge, let me know right away.”
As soon as the Farmington officer arrived, Justine hurried out. Blalock returned, accompanied by another Farmington officer leading Shepherd, who was handcuffed and had a chain connecting his handcuffs to leg irons. The prisoner had to walk in short, shuffling steps. Shepherd’s court-appointed attorney, a young man who appeared to be fresh out of law school, entered the room a moment later, out of breath.