Ella recognized the cap and red and yellow uniform of the popular area fast food restaurant. “We’re not from CYF, ma’am, we’re tribal police officers.”
Ella opened her jacket slightly, showing the badge and weapon on her belt, then turned to look over her shoulder as she heard footsteps from inside.
A teenaged girl in faded jeans and a black t-shirt had come in through the back, followed by a boy around eight wearing baggy chinos, a faded knit shirt, and worn sneakers. The girl looked more angry than frightened, but the boy was clearly scared and hesitant to come forward.
“Del?” Ella asked softly as they came out. “You left one of your cars in the house up the street. The blue Jeep. Would you like it back?”
The boy kept his head down, avoiding eye contact. “It can’t be mine. I’m not allowed to play inside that haunted house….”
“What’s this all about?” Lois asked Ella, coming closer. “I saw all those police cars over by the fence line. Did somebody run off the highway? Are you two okay?” she added quickly, turning to look at her kids.
“We’re fine, Mom,” the girl said, and Del shrugged, his head still down.
“Can we come in for a bit, Lois?” Ella asked the mother. “We’re investigating a crime and we’d like to talk to people from the area.”
“Sure, but the place is a mess. Our housekeeper has the day off,” Lois said with a quick half-smile.
Ella stepped through, followed by Justine, then reached into her pocket and brought out the toy Jeep. “I think this is yours.”
Del started to reach for it, then pulled his hand back, and looked up at his mother.
“Go ahead, son,” Lois said with a sigh. “And thank the officer for finding it for you.”
As Ella held the toy out in the palm of her hand, she saw the red dot of a laser gun sight appear in the center of Del’s forehead.
This is a work of fiction. All the characters and events portrayed in this novel are either fictitious or are used fictitiously.
TRACKING BEAR
Copyright © 2003 by Aimée and David Thurlo
All rights reserved, including the right to reproduce this book, or portions thereof, in any form.
A Forge Book
Published by Tom Doherty Associates, LLC
175 Fifth Avenue
New York, NY 10010
www.tor-forge.com
Forge® is a registered trademark of Tom Doherty Associates,
LLC.
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Pulbication Data
Thurlo, Aimée.
Tracking bear / Aimée & David Thurlo—1st Forge ed.
p. cm.
ISBN: 978-1-4299-8179-8
1. Clah, Ella (Fictitious character)—Fiction. 2. Nuclear power plants—Fiction. 3. Police—New Mexico—Fiction. 4. Navajo Indians—Fiction. 5. Navajo women—Fiction. 6. Policewomen—Fiction. 7. New Mexico—Fiction. I. Thurlo, David. II. Title.
PS3570.H82 T7 2003
813'.54—dc21
2002035241
Tracking Bear Page 40