Changing Woman

by Thurlo, David

“What’s up?”

  “John Yabeni’s going to be fine. He’ll have to stay in the hospital for a few days while they watch him for signs of infection, but they think he should be able to recover completely.”

  “That is great news.”

  “I’d like your permission to personally follow up on this incident and see if the others who were victimized can give us any more information. Also, I’d like to talk to people who live in the Narbona Pass area and see if anyone knows anything.”

  “Go for it. This is a deadly game, and it has to stop before somebody is killed or maimed.”

  Ella glanced up as Big Ed walked into her office. “Chief, can I help you?”

  “Shorty, you and I have to attend a Chapter House meeting tonight. I understand they’re discussing the police department’s failure to put a stop to the crime wave we’re experiencing. From now on, I want to make sure the PD is present at any meetings where this is on the agenda. I don’t want anyone to think we’re afraid to confront the issues head on.”

  “I’ll be there,” Ella answered, “but I sure wish we had something concrete to share with those people tonight.”

  “We can only tell them what we’ve tried—the extra patrols, the concentrated sweeps in targeted neighborhoods at night, and that we’re following leads now that may point the way to whoever’s responsible,” Big Ed said. “But we’ll have to keep any specifics to ourselves. For all we know, the perps will be sitting in the front row taking notes.”

  “The only thing most people are interested in are results,” Ella warned quietly.

  “I know, but we need to confront this issue or we’re going to lose even more credibility.” He paused, then continued after a moment. “Also, I’m getting a lot of pressure from the Tribal Council to make sure this department remains high profile. They think that even if we don’t catch the criminals, we need to show people that we’re out doing something.”

  “I’ll be there, Chief,” Ella said. Maybe she could prevail on Jennifer to stay a little longer tonight.

  As Big Ed walked out, Justine’s gaze stayed on her. “If you need a babysitter, Ella, I can take care of Dawn tonight.”

  Ella smiled. “We really have become great partners if you can read my mind that easily.”

  Justine laughed. “Oh, I’ve been doing that for a long time.”

  “Cocky, aren’t you?” Ella teased as she placed several folders back into the file cabinet. “And thanks for your offer to baby-sit, but I think I’ve got Dawn covered tonight. I’m going to try and get Jennifer to stay a while longer. But, if she can’t, I’m sure Mom can take care of her for a few hours.”

  Hearing approaching footsteps, Ella looked past Justine’s shoulder and saw Harry. “Hey, how’s it going?” she asked, wondering if her voice sounded just a little too eager.

  Justine stood. “Well, I better get back to my office. I’ve got reports stacked miles high.”

  Harry strode in and smiled at her. He was dressed in dark blue slacks and a tan pullover sweater. It was a far cry from the man who used to live in blue jeans when he’d worked for her.

  Ella watched him sit down in the chair Justine had vacated. “Bad news on the green van,” he said. “It was wiped clean. And the plate on the pickup used by the guy who made a delivery to the hogan turned out to be stolen.”

  Ella looked down at the report on her desk. It was Sam Pete’s paperwork on the explosion at the hogan. She remained quiet for a long moment, analyzing, probing, and weighing the information. “From what I see here, there’s nothing particularly noteworthy about what we recovered around the hogan. But Sam’s getting some tests run on the explosives residue.” She slid the report across the desk to him.

  “I know you’re facing multiple problems on the Rez now, Ella, and I heard you and Justine have already had a long, rough day. I sure wish I could lend you a hand,” he said while scanning the report.

  “Catch Manyfarms and that’ll take one big load off my mind. I’d like to lose this thick FBI vest I’m supposed to wear all the time now.”

  “I’ll catch him, Ella,” he said in a deep, sure voice. “You can count on that.”

  Ella saw the gleam of determination in his eyes. “You’ve always been very good at your job, Harry. I could really use you back on the SI team, you know.”

  He shook his head. “Being a U.S. marshal suits me. I have more responsibility, and I like the respect I get wherever I go.”

  Ella remembered her days in the Bureau. She felt proud flashing her gold badge and seeing the awareness in people’s eyes. “Yes, I understand what you mean. But do you feel you’re part of a team? Among your own people that was never a question.”

  He considered it for a long moment before replying. “I maintain a little distance from the others, but it’s something I’ve always done—here or in the Marshal’s Service.”

  Ella nodded slowly, remembering how it had been when he’d worked with her. Harry had always been friendly enough, but he kept to himself, and rarely socialized with other cops outside the job.

  “In that one respect, we’re very different. I don’t like feeling separate from my team or being perceived as different, and that’s the way it was for me a lot of the time at the Bureau.”

  “Your problem is that you analyze everything too much and you never give your instincts as a cop a rest,” he said with a grin.

  Ella laughed. “This from another cop? Get real. There’s no such thing as an eight-to-five cop. The job becomes part of who we are and we carry it with us even after we go home. Don’t tell me you’re not the same way.”

  “I am,” he admitted. “But it gets to be a problem at times.”

  “Yes, it does.”

  “I’ve heard talk about the Chapter House meeting tonight. It could bring out a lot of bad feelings toward the PD.”

  “Big Ed and I will be there. Maybe that’ll help defuse the anger,” she said, not really believing it. Ella stood up and grabbed her keys. “I was going to invite you for dinner, but what I plan to do is pick up a pizza and take it home. Mom will have apoplexy, but Dawn loves pizza, and so do I.”

  He walked her to the side doors. “Normally, I’d love sharing some pizza, but I’ve got a meeting with Blalock. I’ve had a tough time hooking up with him today, but he’s agreed to meet me at the Totah Café in a half hour.”

  “In that case, we both better get going.”

  Ella phoned home to let them know not to cook supper, then picked up a pizza on the way. The smell of pepperoni and melted cheese made her mouth water. Her mother usually avoided these kind of meals. She was convinced that half the problems on the Rez could be fixed by banning the sale of all fast food, even fried chicken. Nothing encased in cardboard appealed to her in the slightest.

  As Ella walked in the door, Dawn let out a squeal and ran toward her in her half-stumbling fashion. “Shimá, pizza!” Dawn carefully took the big box from Ella and with Jennifer’s help carried it to the kitchen.

  Ella smiled at Jennifer. “Gee, I think I’m running second place to pizza these days.”

  “You realize that kind of food isn’t good for her,” Rose said, glowering at Ella.

  “It’s just one meal,” Ella protested, placing a slice on Dawn’s plate, cutting it up into tiny pieces, then allowing her to eat it in front of the television set.

  As soon as her daughter settled down, Ella joined Jennifer and Rose in the kitchen. “I need to talk to you both,” she said. “I have to attend the Chapter House meeting tonight,” she explained. “I’d like you to stay a while longer,” Ella added, looking at Jennifer. “Can you manage it?”

  Rose chuckled. “I’ve already asked her to stay.”

  Ella looked at Rose, surprised. “Did you know I’d be going?”

  Rose gave her an exasperated look. “No, daughter, but I intended to go to the meeting, and I wasn’t sure when you’d be home.”

  “Why are you going?” Ella asked, still trying to figure it all out. “You usual
ly skip them unless there’s a question that affects us directly.”

  “The issues that will be discussed there tonight will affect all of us, daughter. I’m going. I intend to keep up with what’s happening on our land. A friend will be picking me up in an hour.”

  “Who?”

  “Bizaadii,” she answered.

  Ella recognized Herman Cloud’s nickname.

  “Oh, well, good for you,” she said lamely.

  Her mother was going on a date. The news shouldn’t have taken her by surprise, but despite the fact that she knew Herman was perfect for Rose, she just wasn’t ready for this on an emotional level, not just yet. Ella took three slices of pizza and placed them on her plate, encouraging her mother and Jennifer to help themselves.

  The world around her was going insane, but it wouldn’t benefit any of them to meet it on an empty stomach.

  Ella left shortly after dinner, knowing she’d arrive before the meeting began. She told herself that the reason she was leaving home early was to gather information. She wanted to hang around and eavesdrop on the unguarded conversations of people when they first arrived.

  But deep down she knew she was lying to herself. The truth was that she would feel strange seeing her mother driving off with Herman for the evening, and she was determined to hide her feelings from Rose until she learned to cope with it. Her mother deserved to start living her own life again. She’d remained alone for too many years already.

  As Ella got out of her unit, she saw Cecelia Yazzie waving at her.

  “I’m surprised to see you here tonight, Ella,” she said coming over to join her. “Your mother comes once in a while, but I don’t remember the last time you were here.”

  “I was told that police protection was going to be discussed, and the chief felt that we should be here to explain what we’ve been doing.”

  “That’s a really good idea, but you might have a fight on your hands. I don’t think the police will have many friends here tonight.”

  Seeing another acquaintance drive up, Cecelia waved at the other woman and with a quick good-bye to Ella, hurried away. Ella noted the relief on Cecelia’s face as she left, and suspected she’d been happy for an excuse to put some distance between them if the department was going to be on the hot seat.

  As Ella approached the group of people clustered by the front door, no one said hello, made eye contact, or even nodded, though she was well known in the community. She realized then that her first impression had been right on target. People were intent on avoiding her. It was irritating to have the public treating her like the plague, but she kept to herself, not speaking to anyone and, instead, listened to the snatches of conversations going on around her.

  It wasn’t until nearly everyone was inside and seated that she saw Mrs. Yellowhair, the late senator’s wife. Ella looked around for Big Ed, and spotted him slipping in a few minutes later. He gave her a nod as he took one of the few remaining seats in the back.

  The meeting opened with the Pledge of Allegiance, with everyone standing and participating. Ella was reminded again how patriotic the Dineh were, especially the elders, but there were a lot of modernists in the gathering tonight, and they were equal participants.

  The Navajo equivalent of a town meeting evolved into a report and discussion of the latest incidents of vandalism and the rising cost of auto repairs and insurance as a result of those events. With many Navajos unable to afford insurance, the price of a new windshield seemed astronomical.

  Ella noted that the speakers, taking their turns, spoke English, mostly, and probably considered themselves non traditionalists. As talk shifted to the role of the police the discussion grew heated, and people began interrupting each other, a form of behavior usually not present on the Rez except when emotions ran high.

  Then one man stood up and the room fell silent. He had a presence that commanded the attention of everyone. Ella recognized Rudy Brownhat as a member of the Fierce Ones, the traditionalist group that, until recently, had held a lot of power on this part of the Rez.

  As he looked around the room before speaking, the silence was nearly absolute. “This entire crisis has tested us,” he began. “But instead of banding together to identify these criminals, we’ve allowed the incidents to divide us. That has weakened us far more than the actual crimes ever could. The Dineh have survived through the generations by working together as one and that’s what we need to do now.”

  Cecelia Yazzie stood. “I don’t think the problem has anything to do with a lack of unity. Most of us have day jobs and, at night when we’re tired, that’s when the vandals hit. What we need is a strong police force, but the protection we’ve been given so far is weak and ineffective.”

  Ruth Tsosie stood up then, taking the floor. “I think our police department needs new leadership—someone like Lieutenant Manuelito, perhaps. My niece lives over in Window Rock and she tells me that he’s found ways to stop the lawlessness. His district is quiet and peaceful. No one dares stir up trouble there. Although other places on the Rez are having problems, the Shiprock district is, by far, the worst.”

  Ella hadn’t planned on speaking, but she couldn’t let this slide. Big Ed didn’t deserve to be shown so little respect. Manuelito was a grade A jerk and if he’d had success curbing crime around Window Rock, it was mostly due to luck, and because communities in that part of the Rez were totally different from theirs. Shiprock was a much bigger population center.

  As Ella stood up she felt everyone’s gaze shift to her. “Everyone here has been quick to complain, but it’s time to set the record straight. Our local officers have all been working double shifts, putting in long hours because we just don’t have enough manpower to deal with everything that’s been happening. We’ve given up time with our families and done our duty because it’s our job. But we need—and deserve—community support. We want people to keep their eyes open and report suspicious vehicles and individuals. If we work together, we can stop what’s been happening.”

  “We’ve called you,” one woman challenged, “but by the time the officers show up, it’s all over.”

  “Our police department is on a shoestring budget, and because we don’t have as many officers as we need, we’re spread too thin sometimes. That’s why we’re asking the public to take a more active role,” Ella answered. “Try to get descriptions of the vehicles and the drivers, so that when an officer arrives, they have something tangible to go on.”

  “So the heart of the problem is that there aren’t enough police officers, and that’s due to lack of funds?” Brownhat asked.

  “That’s it in a nutshell,” Big Ed said, standing. His deep, resonant voice commanded respect, and the room grew silent. “We’ll do the best we can with what we’ve got, but we need the support of the Dineh. The way things are now we can’t do it alone.”

  Mrs. Yellowhair stood up and, in the cool, calculating manner of a politician, waited, looking over the crowd and making eye contact. “What Chief Atcitty has just told you is a hard fact we all have to face. The tribe has had to cut the budgets of nearly every branch of government. No one needs to be reminded that this has been a hard year and many of our people have needed help with food and heat for their homes. Those efforts have depleted our treasury to the point where, now more than ever, the basic needs of the Dineh are not being met. That’s what finally convinced me that we need a new source of income, and that it’s time to institute tribal gaming. Until we do, we’re going to be facing one crisis after another.”

  Ella saw the exchanged glances and nods people gave each other. If there was one thing that could be said for Abigail Yellowhair, it was that she knew how to work a room.

  “With the additional funds well-managed gaming would provide,” Mrs. Yellowhair continued, “we’d have enough money to hire more officers and give them better equipment and training.”

  “Throwing money at the problem is an Anglo way of thinking,” Brownhat said.

  “We need additional polic
e officers and firemen, but we can’t hire them. Money—or more specifically, the lack of it—is the real problem,” Mrs. Yellowhair argued. “We expect miracles from our police officers but they’re human beings and no one can be at their best when they’re outnumbered and exhausted.”

  Rose stood up and Ella stared at her mother in surprise, not having seen her come in earlier. “Gaming could bring in more money for the police force—a very good thing, since they’ll need even more officers to combat the rise in crime that accompanies casinos and onearmed bandits,” Rose said, her voice strong and insistent. “Some will get rich—and our tribe may have bigger bank accounts, but it will be at the expense of others—some who will lose everything pursuing their get-rich-quick dream. That’s not living in harmony. How can anyone walk in beauty knowing that’s the path our tribe will be walking down?”

  As her mother continued speaking, Ella saw a side of Rose she’d always been too close to notice before. Ella knew how much others respected her mom, but it was clear that Rose was a force to be reckoned with. No one seemed inclined to argue with her—a sentiment Ella sympathized with enormously.

  “It’s true that we need to find money to meet the needs of the Dineh,” Rose continued. “But let’s not do that by destroying the very people we’re trying to protect.” She looked at Mrs. Yellowhair squarely. “Our tribe can find other ways to get the funds we need. There are federal programs, grants, and loans available if we choose to ask for help—programs supported by the taxes we all pay. But, in the long run, part of the answer lies in demanding a greater share of the profits from the fuels and natural resources that leave the Dinetah. And if the outside companies mining our land refuse, then we have to take over those businesses and run them ourselves.”

  When Rose finally sat down, it was quiet for some time. At length Mrs. Yellowhair stood up again. “Okay, Chief. Talk to us. How bad is the situation in the police department and what kind of financial support do you need right now?”

  “We believe that the vandals are monitoring police radios, so we need to raise money so our officers can be given scrambled cell phones. This will give us an edge—one we need very badly.”