Changing Woman

by Thurlo, David

  Ella raced down the slope and quickly reached the shuttered window at the east end of the cabin. She stood to the side, and directed her voice toward the window. “Kevin, it’s me, Ella. Open the window.”

  To her left, behind the cabin, was Wilson somewhere in the brush. Her back to the wall, she saw Justine nod from farther up the hill.

  She heard the window being opened, then the shutters were unbolted and swung open with a creak. “Okay. Climb on in,” Kevin mumbled, his voice weak and weary.

  Ella put her rifle on safe and placed it inside, standing in the corner of the window, muzzle up and away from her. Then she pulled herself up and over, landing on the wooden plank floor in a crouch. Looking around as she grabbed her rifle, she saw that Kevin had moved down to the far window, looking back and forth between the outside and an opened half door in the floor that apparently led down to a cellar. Fumes from the burning vehicle had drifted in through the broken windows, but the circulation caused by the air from the additional window she’d just entered through was helping disperse the smoke.

  “Where’s—”

  “Down in the cellar, covered by a dozen or more blankets. She’s got a flashlight ’cause she hates the dark, but she’s okay,” Kevin said.

  Ella set down her rifle and hurried across the room. She quickly climbed down the crude wooden steps into the cool darkness. The place smelled earthy, as with all old cellars. A flashlight beam shined in her eyes.

  “Shimá!” Dawn dropped the flashlight and scrambled out of the covers of an old bed just as Ella reached her, jumping into her mother’s arms.

  Ella held her close, comforting Dawn even as it comforted her to hold her daughter. But there was no time for more than that now. “Stay here, under the covers, just a few more moments, pumpkin.” Ella set her back down on the bed, covered her with blankets, then handed Dawn the flashlight. Quickly she ran back up the stairs.

  “It’s me, I’m coming in!” Justine yelled, then opened the front door. The lock had been shot away already. “We have all but one of them in custody now. Whoever it was slipped past Wilson and Blalock somehow. Wilson caught a glimpse of him as he ran into the woods, and thinks it’s Blueeyes. He’s headed down the road toward our vehicles. Blalock’s following him.”

  “Guard my kid, Justine. I’ll be back,” Ella said, anger in her voice as she checked her pistol.

  “You going to join Blalock?”

  “You bet. Jefferson Blueeyes made my life and my daughter’s a living hell. He’s not getting away, and freezing up on this mountain would be too good for him.”

  “Better let FB-Eyes know you’re coming,” Justine yelled out as Ella headed out the door.

  Ella nodded to Clifford and Wilson, who had the prisoners sitting on the ground with their backs to the wall, but continued past the vehicles and downhill.

  She contacted Blalock on the handheld as she hurried along the trees at the left side of the road, following the tracks in the road itself but staying out of sight from anyone covering the open area.

  “I’m ahead of you, on the right side,” Blalock whispered, “but I’m going to try to intersect the road just past where we parked, and cut him off from below. With luck, we’ll trap him between us.”

  “I don’t want this sleazeball to get away. Good hunting.

  Ella pushed forward for a hundred yards, and spotting something in the road, stepped out briefly from behind a tree to take a closer look.

  “Ella, get back!” Blalock yelled over the radio.

  She heard the gunshot almost at the same time she felt the bullet strike her chest. The force knocked her back into the snow-covered brush alongside the road. Pain made it impossible for her to take a breath, and her eyes teared as she tried. Afraid that she might lose consciousness any second, Ella tried to raise her weapon to defend herself. But her hand was empty. The pistol was somewhere in the snow.

  TWENTY-SIX

  Blalock came up to the road on the other side, then sprinted and slid across the narrow lane, firing toward the tree line where the shooter had taken cover. Grabbing Ella by the collar, he dragged her farther back among the trees, where he sat her up.

  “I feel as if I’ve been kicked by a bionic mule,” Ella gasped, looking down at her jacket to take a look. Although the round hadn’t penetrated the special vest, she’d been struck right above the breastbone and her entire chest ached. “I’m going to have trouble moving for a month.”

  “You’re alive and you haven’t sprung a leak. Take it as a win,” Blalock said, his eyes now glued on the trees again. Spotting something in the snow in a footprint he’d left, FB-Eyes crawled over and retrieved her handgun. “You might need this, Clah.”

  She nodded, checking the weapon for any blockage of the barrel or action automatically. “Blueeyes was in the road. The round couldn’t have come from him. It was someone on the other side.”

  “It was Manuelito. I saw the SOB. He was using Blueeyes as bait to lure us out into the open. I was trying to get a clear line of fire so I could take him out, but I lost him for a second, and that’s when he fired.”

  Ella struggled to her knees with a groan. “We have to split up. Go after Blueeyes. As much as I want that weasel, I should take Manuelito instead. He’s a Navajo cop and deserves to be taken down by one of his own.”

  “Before you go, Ella, keep in mind that Manuelito was probably the one who fingered Kevin and your daughter. After he was spotted near Lukachukai, Big Ed found out Manuelito had provided security a few times for tribal meetings up here. He knew Kevin had been to the cabin, and must have guessed he would head here.”

  Cold anger strengthened Ella’s resolve. “Let’s go.” They took positions on both sides of the road, and advanced downhill, covering each other as they moved from tree to tree.

  When they reached a switchback in the road, Ella spotted someone trying to start one of the vehicles that had brought her reinforcements. She moved forward, but the man saw her, jumped out of the SUV firing, and ran behind cover, ducking behind a large rock. Catching a glimpse of his face, Ella saw that it was Blueeyes, but someone else was across the road dead ahead, hiding in the brush. She could see the shoulder of his jacket from where she was crouched. That had to be Manuelito.

  Ella came up with a plan and called Blalock. “I’m going to sprint across the road,” she whispered into the radio. “That should draw fire from Blueeyes. When he peeks out, nail him. I’ll keep on moving to your right and come out behind Manuelito. Right now he’s across the road from Blueeyes, but around the bend in the road so you can’t see him from your position. As soon as you neutralize Blueeyes, move up so you can keep watch over the vehicles. Manuelito will have no place to go without breaking cover.”

  “Okay, anytime you’re ready,” Blalock snapped.

  Ella took a deep breath, then sprinted across the road, hoping she wouldn’t slip or trip over a rock. Just as she reached the trees, she heard three quick shots, one of them going wild somewhere over her head.

  Ella, glad she’d left her rifle behind so she could maneuver easier, kept her eyes on the tree line ahead, watching for Manuelito. As she’d expected, Manuelito was on the move again too, but he could only go downhill without coming into Blalock’s line of fire, or into the forest directly in her path.

  Anticipating his attempt to flank Blalock, Ella moved into position where she could cover the FBI agent’s back, and waited. Less than two minutes later, Manuelito appeared in shadows, crouched low and searching the trees ahead of him. Three steps later, she had the rogue cop in her sights.

  “Drop your weapon or die.”

  Manuelito froze in his tracks, looking around anxiously until he saw where she was crouched behind a fallen tree.

  “Clah, have you flipped? I’m here to help you.” Slowly he moved his gun hand in her direction.

  “Set your weapon down,” Ella repeated very clearly. “And don’t move your hand another inch. You probably have a vest, but I’m close enough to double tap y
ou in the head, and I’ve already taken up the slack on the trigger.”

  Manuelito very slowly placed his weapon on the snow, then, following her orders, turned away from the pistol and went down on his knees, hands locked behind his head.

  “You’ve got nothing on me,” he spat out.

  “I think you’ll be surprised just how much we do have. More than enough to put you behind bars for twenty years or more. You’re going to be an old man before you get out again.” As Ella handcuffed him, Blalock came up with a grim look on his face.

  “Blueeyes?” she asked.

  “Dead.”

  She nodded once. “Help me pat down this lowlife for a backup weapon or two, then he’s all yours. I want to get back to my daughter.”

  By the time Ella and Blalock returned with their prisoner, the county’s police helicopter had arrived on the scene, bringing Sheriff Taylor and three tired but heavily armed Navajo cops, including Philip Cloud.

  The wounded prisoners were given medical care, then left for the hospital in Angel Hawk with Officer Cloud guarding them.

  While Blalock and one of the tribal officers drove back with Manuelito in custody, Ella, Dawn, and Kevin caught a ride in the county chopper with Sheriff Taylor.

  Ella, content to have her daughter safe, held her tightly, and it wasn’t long before Dawn went to sleep, bundled up in a blanket. Ella glanced over at Kevin, who was sitting beside Sheriff Taylor.

  Her daughter’s father had shown bravery and ingenuity and had kept their daughter safe. She’d always be grateful to him for what he’d done. “My mother’s in the hospital,” Ella said. “I’d like you and Dawn to pay her a visit as soon as we land.”

  Kevin shook his head. “I’m the last human being she wants to see right now, especially after what’s happened.”

  “Not after I tell her what you did for her granddaughter. She’s safe because of you, and I have a feeling that’s going to cut you an enormous amount of slack for a while.”

  He smiled wearily. “I’ll believe it when I see it, but I’m willing to give it a go.”

  “It’s time, for Dawn’s sake, that there was peace between you and my mother.”

  After they landed, Ella carried Dawn and together with Kevin went to Rose’s hospital room. The moment she saw Dawn, Rose’s entire face lit up.

  “Come here, little one!” Rose held out arms, oblivious to her bandaged hand.

  “I wasn’t scared, Shimasání” she said. “You said I should never be scared.”

  Rose hugged her. “That’s right.”

  Ella told Rose about Kevin’s efforts briefly, couching the details because her daughter was present, but Rose was adept at reading between the lines.

  Rose looked at Kevin and nodded once. “For what you did, you have my respect and my thanks.”

  “She’s my daughter,” Kevin replied quietly. “I would never let anyone harm her.”

  Rose met his gaze and in the look that passed between them Ella saw a new understanding. They would never be friends, but there would no longer be open warfare between them.

  As Dawn began playing with the vase of flowers by Rose’s bedside, Jennifer Clani came into the room carrying a big potted plant. The minute Dawn saw her, she hurried over, holding out her arms, asking to be picked up.

  Rose and Ella exchanged glances. There was nothing they could do about this now. As far as Dawn was concerned, Jennifer was family, too. And, in the long run, maybe that wouldn’t be so bad after all.

  “Would you like me to take her home? I can give her a bath and something to eat.” Jennifer asked Ella.

  Ella nodded. “I need to go to the station for a bit, and Kevin will have to come with me to fill in some missing information and speak to the Colorado authorities about what happened up there. If you could look after her until I can get home, I’d appreciate it.”

  As Jennifer carried Dawn out, Rose gave Ella a warm smile and took her hand, squeezing it gently. “I’ll be home later this afternoon.”

  “You’re being released?” Ella asked, relieved to hear it.

  “Yes. I’ve already arranged for a ride.”

  Ella nodded. She didn’t need to ask who was providing Rose with transportation. “I’m glad to know you’re going home, Mom.”

  “Maybe we can give my granddaughter a little party tomorrow—a homecoming. It’ll be good for her. My granddaughter is growing up and needs to be around other children.”

  Ella nodded. “I’ve been thinking of sending her to day school for a few hours each morning. But I’d want our home helper to go with her. I don’t want my daughter anywhere alone—at least not for some time.”

  “This was frightening for all of us,” Kevin said. “But don’t start smothering her.”

  “I wonder if I should take her to a doctor,” Ella mused, glancing at Kevin, then at Rose. “I don’t want what she went through these last two days to haunt her for the rest of her life.”

  “I don’t think you’ll have to worry about that,” Kevin said. “Even at the height of the chaos back in the cabin, the only thing that bothered her was the noise. I was worried as hell, but she took things calmly, as if it was just some big TV show. She said you’d come for us,” he told Ella, “and that you’d bring her uncle too. She was absolutely certain we’d be fine.”

  “She’s far from ordinary, isn’t she?” Ella said rhetorically, pride in her voice.

  “Spoken like a proud mom,” Kevin said, and laughed.

  Ella looked at Rose and knew that to her mother that statement had been more than a casual remark.

  After saying good-bye to Rose, Ella and Kevin went to the elevator.

  “Let me meet you at the station later. I’d like to talk to some other councilmen and apprise them of everything that happened.”

  “All right. I’ll see you then.”

  Ella headed to the station feeling more at peace than she had in a long time. Manuelito was no longer a threat and her testimony along with that of Payestewa and the other officers would ensure that the former cop would be in prison for a very long time.

  On the way, Ella got a call from Dispatch. Justine had radioed from the cabin, where she’d remained to process the scene, and reported that a monitor to a listening device had been found on Blueeyes’s body. This suggested that a bug had been placed in Kevin’s office somewhere, and explained how the syndicate had initially known where Kevin had gone with Dawn for the weekend.

  As Ella finally pulled into the station’s parking lot, she saw that it was nearly empty. She’d have to check the status of the PD’s situation with the bridges and the threat of explosives, then go wherever she was needed. On her way inside, she met up with Sergeant Joseph Neskahi, who was just coming out the door. His arm was in a sling.

  “What happened to you?” Ella asked.

  “I was helping search the old Shiprock bridge when I slipped on a pipe and nearly fell into the river. I’m okay, but I’ll have a broken wing for a while.”

  “So what happened with the explosives?”

  “There were a few sticks on each of the bridges, way out in the middle and underneath at key structures. But it turns out they didn’t have any detonators. It was just another diversion to wear us down and keep us occupied while they made their move on Councilman Tolino. Some of the officers have now finally been sent home to get a little rest, but I was on my way to find you. I’ve got a message for you from Big Ed. Harry Ute called him and said that he’s got some volunteers as backup and he’s closing in on Manyfarms.”

  “Who’s backing him up?”

  Before he could answer, a rifle went off somewhere close by, and a cinder block in the station wall a few feet above them literally exploded, showering them with chunks of debris. Ella grabbed Neskahi roughly and pulled him down to the pavement behind her Jeep.

  Neskahi groaned. “Damn, that hurt,” he said, rubbing his shoulder. “What was that? It blew a hole clear through the wall.”

  Ella had her pistol in one hand
, her radio in the other. “We’re taking fire from a fifty-caliber rifle out here,” she yelled to Dispatch inside the station. “Keep everyone away from the west side of the building.” Ella looked around, trying to see where the sniper was without becoming a target again.

  “Where the hell is he?” Neskahi looked around the front tire, keeping below the silhouette of the vehicle.

  “Across the road, and high enough to see us over the Jeep. Stay down,” Ella answered. It was suddenly very quiet, and she could hear the engine of the Jeep ticking as it cooled.

  Neskahi looked at where the round had struck. “I can see a light fixture on the ceiling inside the station. That bullet must have gone halfway through the building. Hope nobody was in the wrong place at the wrong time.”

  Ella’s handheld suddenly squawked with static. “I’ve got Manyfarms.” She recognized Harry Ute’s voice. “You can relax now. I’ll be the station with the prisoner in a few minutes.”

  “Where was he?” Ella stood and looked at the houses across the street.

  “On the roof of the green garage,” Harry replied. “The second house down the side street.”

  Ella saw someone waving at her from the roof, which was about two hundred yards away, then the person disappeared down the other side.

  She waited in the parking lot along with the watch commander and Sergeant Neskahi. At least nobody had been hit in the station. Five minutes later two vehicles came up the street and pulled into the parking lot. Herman Cloud was driving the sedan. Harry Ute sat in the back with his prisoner, the tall, slender, Artie Manyfarms, who was lying against the car door, dazed, with his hands cuffed together behind his back. A trickle of blood ran down the side of his face.

  Herman’s faded green souped-up pickup pulled up next and Ella recognized two older men in the truck. They were contemporaries of Herman Cloud and oldguard traditionalists, and like Herman, were dressed in flannel shirts, bulky Levi’s jackets, and wearing worn felt cowboy hats.