Celilo's Shadow

by Wilcox, Valerie

  Curiosity got the best of Tony. He’d even drink coffee if that’s what it took to discover what Mildred had in that scheming mind of hers now. He couldn’t trust her any more than he could trust Clarice, but at least he could listen. He might even pick up a tactic or two. “Okay,” he said after Freddie had brought the coffee to their table. “What’s the latest con you’ve got hatched up?”

  “It’s not a con. It’s an offer. I propose that we use the money in my account to not only pay off the twenty-five thousand promised to Clarice, but offer to buy her out completely.”

  “We? You’re including me in this?”

  Mildred grinned. “Of course. You didn’t think I’d taken the Destiny Group funds just for myself, did you?”

  Tony slurped his coffee. Eying her over the rim, he asked, “Tell me the truth, Millie. This isn’t another one of your clever switcheroos that I’ll regret later, is it?”

  “The only thing you’ll regret is if you don’t buy out Clarice and open the resort yourself.”

  “What makes you think she’ll take the money and run?” Despite his earlier misgivings, he liked what Mildred had said. If what she proposed was on the up and up, then everything might work out after all. “Why not just pay her the money she wants and go forward as partners like we’d already agreed?”

  “Listen, I know you have a thing for Clarice, but it’s time you woke up and faced facts. Your sweetie pie is a schemer, not a lover. I don’t think she’ll stick around even for you as soon as we start waving the greenbacks in front of her. She must be a little worried, now that Warren got caught. I wouldn’t be surprised if she killed that foreman instead of him. Maybe she’d rather not take a chance that her hubby turns on her. I think she’ll take the money in a flash.

  “Well,” Tony said, “I guess there’s only one way to find out.”

  After she left the bar he wondered if he should’ve told her about his other problem. She was so good at coming up with plans, maybe she could figure out how he was supposed to deal with Sam Matthews. If Tony had only known Matthews was a Fed from the get-go, he’d never have come within six feet of his daughter. What was done was done. He could still blame the Longstreet kid. Everyone in town believed he was single-handedly trying to shut down the dam. That he’d attacked an innocent white girl was certainly possible, too. Besides, Tony reasoned, who’d take an Injun’s word over his, a respected member of the community? A traumatized girl’s account wouldn’t hold any weight, either.

  He smiled as he sauntered back to the barstool. Mildred and Clarice weren’t the only clever ones around. “Forget the coffee, Freddie,” he told the barkeep, “and bring me some whiskey.”

  “Are you celebrating or commiserating?” Freddie asked.

  “Neither,” Tony answered. “Just getting ready.”

  “Ready?”

  “Haven’t you heard? The Reburial Ceremony for the Injuns is this Sunday. I plan to be there with bells on.”

  Freddie shrugged, a puzzled look etched on his usually placid face. “Whatever you say, man. Whatever you say.”

  Chapter Forty-Two

  There was a commotion at the village when Danny arrived home. Oscar stood outside their house talking to several villagers who’d gathered around a familiar looking government vehicle. Reba had warned Sam Matthews not to return to the village, but Danny figured the warning would have no effect. What father could stay away from his daughter, a daughter who’d suffered as much as Ellie? It was only a matter of time before Matthews showed up.

  Now that he was on their turf again, the overriding sentiment at Celilo was “to hell with him and his government.” Danny felt the same way, but he had an additional score to settle because of Ellie. He’d fight Matthews himself if she didn’t want to see him. She’d been adamant about not wanting anything to do with her father and Danny was only too happy to oblige.

  He nodded at Oscar as he exited his truck. His grandfather nodded back. The message was clear: “We’ve got a problem here.” To make matters worse, more than a few of the men had been drinking; the stench of liquor and sweat was overpowering. Danny noticed that Sam’s truck tires had already been slashed. The tires would be the least of Mitchell’s worries. The guys were itching to give Ellie’s father a nasty beating. Danny knew every one of the men who were standing around the truck acting more and more agitated. He’d even gotten into a scrape with one or two of them himself and knew what they were capable of. They would turn on him or Oscar faster than a woman changes her mind if Danny didn’t do something to diffuse the situation.

  With a reassuring nod to his grandfather, Danny quickly made his way through the crowd to seek out Clarence Thunder Clouds. “Hey, brother, what’s going on?” Danny asked. Clarence was the best drummer in the village and was well respected by everyone. Danny had danced to his beat many times at the Long House and knew him to be an even-tempered guy. Not today. He was as worked up as the rest of the men milling about.

  Clarence glanced toward the house and scowled. “You got uninvited company inside there.”

  “Is that right? Who?”

  “That no-good liar, Sam Matthews. He didn’t do nothin’ to protect George like he said he would.”

  Danny nodded. “Since when has a white guy ever done what he said he would? Especially if it involves us.”

  Clarence hooted. “You got that right, man!”

  Danny gestured to the crowd. “So, you guys plan on teaching him a lesson, or what?”

  “Yep,” he said, patting the knife sheath he had strapped to his leg. “You joining us?” He pointed to Oscar standing guard duty at the front door. “Or are you gonna play peacemaker like your grandfather over there?”

  “Hell, no,” Danny said. After getting out of jail, he’d made no bones about wanting to beat the living daylights out of Matthews. “I’m going inside right now and drag the S.O.B. out here. Tell the others to give me a few minutes and he’ll be all yours.”

  Oscar took Danny aside at the door and said, “You in with these boys?”

  Danny shrugged. “I know what I’m doing.”

  His grandfather raised a doubtful eyebrow. “He’s FBI, Danny. Taking him on won’t be good for any of us.”

  “I get that.” Danny looked out at the growing crowd and frowned. “But I’m not so sure they care.” After a short pause he asked, “Does Reba still have that medical stretcher?”

  Oscar nodded, but the question threw him. “What are you—”

  “Don’t worry, Grandpa. I’ve got this covered.”

  Chapter Forty-Three

  Reba knew Sam wouldn’t stay away from the village while his daughter was here but she hadn’t expected him today. She’d warned him that his presence at Celilo would enrage the villagers, but he’d come anyway. He lied just like all the other shuyapus but he wasn’t a coward. The only thing he feared was losing Ellie. Reba had refused to let him see her the first time he came by because it was too soon. Ellie had insisted that she wanted nothing to do with her father and Reba had honored her tearful demand.

  Reba didn’t want to see him, either, but she felt he had a right to know what had happened to his daughter and George. He needed to understand what his betrayal had cost them. Reba could tell he’d been crushed by the news, but she’d felt no satisfaction in seeing his pain. She’d seen enough suffering and she was tired of it. She might never forgive him for using her—and Celilo—to further his career, but she didn’t seek the revenge that Danny and the others clamored for. Reba was a healer and healing was what she wanted.

  Caring for Sam’s daughter was a responsibility she’d willingly taken on, but it would take time to repair the loss Ellie had suffered. The damage to her body was temporary, but the d
amage to her heart and soul was permanent. The best Reba could do was to be there for her. She could keep her safe and secure and even loved, but what she really needed was her father so Reba wasn’t inclined to refuse Sam’s entry a second time. Although Ellie didn’t realize it, sending him away again would have just prolonged her recovery. She was a strong girl but the ordeal she’d been through had nearly broken her. She’d hardly spoken in the few days she’d been at Celilo and preferred to be by herself. She slept a lot but it was a fitful, unrestful sleep. She said she had no appetite and it was a struggle to get her to eat at all. Ellie had basically shut down and Reba was very concerned about her long-term health. How she’d react to seeing her father again was problematic but Reba had to believe it was for the best.

  Oscar was more concerned with the trouble that Sam would cause them, than with Ellie’s health. He was right to insist that Sam hurry inside the house. By tacit agreement, Oscar would try to defuse any hostile actions by the villagers and Reba would try to unite father and daughter. Neither task would be easy.

  Reba set a pitcher of water and glasses on the table. “Water is my blessing on both of you,” she said. “Drink.”

  After they’d taken a few sips, Ellie addressed her father in a soft but firm voice. “I can’t believe you came here again. You knew I didn’t want to see you.”

  “I understand that you don’t want me here. No one at Celilo does. But no matter how much you hate me right now, no matter how much I deserve your hatred, you are my daughter.” His voice broke as he looked at his daughter’s bruised and swollen face. “You’re all I have, Ellie. I promised your mother before she died that I’d always protect you. But when you needed me the most, I failed you. And for that I will never forgive myself. I don’t expect you to forgive me, either. The best I can hope for is that you will let me into your life again.”

  “What life is that? The real one or the one you made up?”

  Sam faced Reba. “It’s a question that you deserve answered as well.” He pulled his wallet out of his back pocket and withdrew his FBI badge. Tossing it on the table, he said, “I’m not an agent anymore.”

  Ellie shrugged. “I don’t believe you. You’ll just say whatever you think we want to hear.”

  “You’ve really quit?” asked Reba.

  “Not yet. First, I have to—”

  “I knew it. Ellie said. “You’re not quitting.”

  Reba took hold of her hand. “Let’s hear him out.”

  Danny opened the front door and stomped into the room. “Yeah, let the man spin us another tall tale.”

  “Sit down, Danny,” ordered Reba. She poured him a glass of water from the pitcher. “Drink and then you can join the conversation.”

  Danny glanced at Ellie, who’d folded her arms and pointedly glared at her father. He downed the water in one long gulp. “Matthews can have his say,” he said. “But we’ve got a big problem outside.” He held his hand palm-side up to reassure his mother. “Don’t worry, I’m on it.” He turned to Matthews. “Whatever story you have in mind, you better spit it out fast.”

  Sam nodded. “I realize full well that I don’t deserve the trust of anyone here, but what I’m going to tell you now is the absolute truth.” Sam ignored Danny’s derisive snort and continued. “When Reba told me what had happened to Ellie, I was determined to kill Tony Rossi. I didn’t care about my job or anything else. I wanted revenge and I wanted it now.”

  Danny didn’t say anything, but the hard edge in his eyes and jaw softened a bit. Reba’s son knew about revenge.

  “As soon as I left Celilo, I headed straight to Rossi’s office, but he wasn’t there. The place had been ransacked—chairs upended, files scattered across the floor, and desks raided. It was a thorough trashing.” Sam looked at Danny. “My first thought was that you’d beat me to the punch.”

  “Naturally I’d be the first one to blame. The savage Indian strikes again.”

  “The blame actually belongs to Tony’s uncle, a man named Solomon Rossi. He admitted that he’d torn the place apart.”

  “What for?” asked Danny.

  “Turns out he owns the business and had long suspected that his nephew was cheating him out of money that was rightfully his. He tore the office apart looking for the proof.”

  Danny looked at Ellie. She had begun to shiver at the mention of Tony Rossi. “So, what? We all know Rossi is a no-good bum.”

  “I’m getting there. Solomon Rossi claimed he sent Nick to work in the office so that he could learn the business from his cousin. But Nick was really sent to spy on Tony. He was supposed to get evidence that proved Tony was cheating his uncle. Unfortunately, Nick was killed before he could do so.”

  Ellie sighed. “So, Nick was just like you—claiming to be someone he wasn’t.”

  Sam winced and continued. “I think Nick found the ledgers, which was the proof his uncle wanted, and Tony caught up with him before he could act on it.”

  “You think he murdered his own cousin?” asked Reba.

  “Maybe,” Sam said. “I definitely think George Featherstone was at the wrong place at the wrong time and got picked as the scapegoat. Nick was killed at Tony’s office, not Baker Bluff. Someone had cleaned up a bloody mess but the leftovers were still in the storeroom. Whether the murder was by Tony’s hand or someone else’s, remains unclear. There was blood all over the incriminating ledgers.

  “Poor Nick,” said Ellie, shuddering. “Even if he was a liar, he didn’t deserve to die.”

  “But Tony does,” said Danny.

  “I felt the same way when I found out what he’d done to Ellie,” Sam said.

  Reba noted that when Sam reached for her hand, Ellie didn’t pull away. A good sign.

  “I’m so sorry all this has happened, Ellie. I meant it when I said I was quitting the bureau. I hope with all my heart that we can start our lives over. I have just a couple of things to do first.”

  “Like what?” asked Ellie.

  “Like overseeing the Reburial Ceremony on Sunday.”

  “Ha!” Danny said. “Never mind Tony Rossi. Getting those old bones into the concrete pit is a bigger priority.”

  “No,” said Sam. “The reburial is my responsibility and I plan to make sure that it’s conducted with the respect your ancestors deserve. My priority is to arrest Tony Rossi. He’s going to jail for rape and suspicion of murder.”

  Danny exploded. “That’s chicken shit! I thought you were going to put him in the ground. What happened to your so-called need for blood revenge?”

  Sam glanced at Ellie. “Oh, I still feel the need. I could act on it just like I could act on the need I still have for whiskey. I almost gave myself permission to do both. As an FBI agent, I could even make killing Tony look justified under the law. My assignment gives me vast latitude in determining proper action.”

  “So, why didn’t you do it then?” asked Danny. “Don’t tell me a trained G-man like you couldn’t find the lowlife?”

  “No, I stopped looking for him.”

  Danny threw his hands in the air. “You’ve got to be kidding!”

  “I don’t have to look for him. Thanks to a reliable source, I know exactly where he’s going to be on Sunday—the Reburial Ceremony.”

  “Good,” said Danny. “Then I know where to find him, too.”

  “You might want to think about that some.”

  “Why?”

  “Because the more I considered it, the more I realized that killing Tony, like my drinking, was the easy way out.” Sam turned to his daughter. “Believe me, Tony will pay for what he did to you. A court of law will guarantee that.”

  “Not if I find him fir
st,” said Danny. “I will guarantee that.”

  Oscar opened the front door and shouted, “You ‘bout done? Things are getting ugly out here.”

  Danny said to Reba, “We’ll need your medicine bag and plenty of bandages. And the medical stretcher, too.”

  Reba wondered what he had in mind, but didn’t ask any questions.

  “Ellie,” Danny said. “Go get a blanket off one of the mattresses and bring it in here.”

  “What’s going on?” asked Sam.

  “I’m going to help you leave the village in one piece.”

  Sam pushed his chair away from the table and stood up. “I’m not afraid to face whoever’s outside.”

  “It doesn’t matter. You’re going to go along with me on this. Just know that I’m doing it for Ellie and my mother, not you. The truth is, I hadn’t decided for sure when I came in here whether I’d help you, even for them.”

  “What changed your mind?”

  “Ellie is still angry and confused, but even I can tell she loves you.” Danny caught Reba’s eye as she carried the supplies back to the table. “The same goes for my mother. And that’s good enough for me.”

  Reba smiled. My son is a wise warrior. Sam wasn’t convinced. “I don’t need you to protect me, Danny.”

  Reba laid her hand on Sam’s arm. “Let him help you. It will do you both good.”

  A few minutes later, Danny and Oscar carried Sam out of the house on the stretcher. He was covered in a thin blanket and bandaged from head to toe. “Sorry, guys, Danny said to the waiting crowd. “I got to him first.”

  Chapter Forty-Four

  “Okay, let’s get this bird in the air,” said Gross, swinging his legs into the pilot’s seat.