“I still can’t think of any legitimate reason why the man was carrying that much cash,” Big Ed said. “As a lobbyist, Adam doesn’t finalize deals or contracts. His sole job is to promote the interests of the tribe. He can’t even accept an offer on behalf of the tribe, and he’s not a tribal lawyer who could walk a client through the actual process. If someone in D.C. is paying nearly a hundred thou to someone who basically only makes suggestions and talks up the tribe, I’d sure like to meet him.”
“Stand in line, Chief,” Ella said. “But there is another way of looking at this,” she added slowly. “What if a coconspirator of Grady’s—operating in the nation’s capital—bribed Adam? It’s possible Adam was recruited to keep an eye on Kevin and his investigation—maybe even sabotage it by getting the names of Kevin’s sources, for instance. The threats Kevin received previously could have been designed to allow Adam to get closer to him.”
“You’re going back to our first theory then—that the hired guns were after Kevin, but Adam got in the way?” Justine said. “Maybe Adam passed along Kevin’s travel plans not realizing that there was going to be hit. It’s possible Grady gave up on Adam, wrote off the seventy-five K, and went with Plan B—killing Kevin.”
“That’s a theory we can’t afford to drop, and it would explain the cash,” Blalock said with an approving nod. “I’m just hoping it’s a dead end, that Lonewolf wasn’t—isn’t—dirty.”
“Speaking of that, did you ever check the surveillance system at the casino for any signs of O’Riley or Perry?” Ella asked Blalock.
“I’m still working on that. There’s a lot of footage to cover.”
“You’ve got to narrow this down, Shorty,” Big Ed said, looking at Ella as he stood, signaling they were done. “This case is shining a spotlight on our entire department.”
“We’ll do our best, Chief,” Ella said, then followed Justine out of the office.
Once in the hall, Blalock touched Ella on the arm, motioning her aside. “I’m going back to join two Bureau agents I got on loan from the Albuquerque office. They’re screening the casino video as we speak. I’ll let you know if we find anything.”
After Blalock left, Ella met with the SI team in her office. Marianna was at home catching up on sleep after last night, but Benny, Joe, and Justine were there, waiting. “Anyone know Norm Hattery’s whereabouts this morning?” Ella asked the gathering.
“I do,” a familiar voice said from the doorway.
Ella looked up and saw Ford. “Come in,” she invited.
“I thought you might like to know that he came by the rectory this morning. He wanted to ask me about you and Kevin.”
“That’s strange. What kind of questions?” Ella asked, suddenly worried that Norm might have figured out Kevin’s whereabouts.
“Hattery’s looking into the possibility that the hit was a result of domestic violence—something between you and Kevin. He pointed out that there are several recent examples in New Mexico of spouses who hired, or tried to hire, thugs to kill their spouses or exes.”
“You’re kidding,” Ella said after a beat.
“I told him he was nuts,” Ford said laughing. “Then he asked me about the others in your unit.” He glanced around the room. “You’re all the focus of the reporter’s interest now, so I thought I’d better come by and warn you. If he hasn’t already, he’ll soon be nosing into your private lives.”
“We can’t stop Hattery, nor should we allow him to distract us. The only thing we can do is warn our families,” Ella said, looking at her team. Joe gave her a silent thumbs-up, a positive sign concerning his sister.
“Could I speak to you privately for a moment?” Ford asked Ella.
She stepped out into the hallway with Ford, then reaching for his hand, gave it gentle squeeze. “So why did you really come in?”
“Part of it was to warn you and your team to watch yourselves. But, you’re right, that wasn’t the only reason.” He stared at the floor for a long moment.
Ella waited, not interrupting him.
“I’ve learned that Adam’s immediate family isn’t on the Rez anymore,” he said in a whisper-soft voice. “That makes me suspect that Adam’s still alive, under protection elsewhere. And if I put that together, so can whoever’s threatening . . . them.”
“Them?” Ella pressed, trying hard not to give anything away.
“Tolino’s also gone. I was at the hospital visiting a parishioner and decided to check on him. The nurse said that Kevin had been released, so I drove to his house. Though he’s not of my flock, I thought he might need an errand run, or maybe enjoy some company. I am my brother’s keeper,” he added with a gentle smile. “But Kevin wasn’t there either.”
“Security measures on this case are extremely tight. That’s all I can say.”
Ford nodded, but his expression grew distant and Ella had a feeling he’d already put things together.
“You’re the best at what you do, but when the personal and professional cross in the field, it never leads anywhere good. Be very careful,” he said at last.
Ella stared at him as he walked away. She still wasn’t sure how much Ford really knew. As it usually was, he had the ability to show only as much as he wanted you to see.
“We’ve got a twenty on Hattery,” Justine said, coming out to meet her. “You’re not going to like it.”
“Give.”
“He was at your daughter’s bus stop this morning asking the children their names. One of the parents told him to get lost. He made excuses, saying that he was doing a story on how Navajo children pass the time riding long distances to and from school, but didn’t stick around after that.”
“If he gets within a mile of my kid, I’m arresting him on the spot and he’ll be cooling his heels in jail,” Ella said. “Notify the school that he’s hanging around elementary school bus stops.”
“Already done,” Justine said.
Ella stepped back into the room and looked at her fellow officers. “Hattery’s going to be a pain. But if he’s looking for my kid, he doesn’t have a solid lead. He’s just fishing.”
“So are we,” Benny said.
“Yeah, and we’ve got to keep casting out our lines,” Ella said. “Get me whatever you can on Grady’s finances. Also search the background of anyone with a financial link to the Prickly Weed Project.”
As her team left, Ella sat back in her chair and tried to figure out her next move. Hattery was a complication she didn’t need right now, and when he started messing with her family . . . Brushing aside her anger, she tried to stay focused, going over her notes.
A half hour passed, then, feeling her cell phone vibrating, Ella flipped it open.
“I’ve got a problem,” Marianna told her. “A while ago I got a call from Angelina Manuelito, the receptionist at the casino office. Earlier today the casino’s security chief, Rudy Nez, overheard her saying that she and I are good friends so he took her aside a few minutes after that. He warned her that she’d leave herself open to lawsuits if she spoke to me about the casino’s private business, and that her job, too, would be history.”
“Interesting.”
“Then he told her that he’d be keeping his eye on her. Too rattled to work after that, she decided to go home early. But once she left the casino grounds, she discovered Nez was following her. Since she doesn’t have any close neighbors, she was afraid to go home. She stopped at the Totah Café and called me. She’s still there. I don’t have the clout to make Nez back off unless he does something else, but if you go . . .”
“No problem. I’m in town and at the station, so I can be there in five. Give me her cell number,” Ella said, standing.
Marianna gave it to her, then added, “I’ve got a photo of her on my cell phone and I’m going to forward that to you next.”
Ella hurried down the hall, stopped by the door to the lab, and called Justine. “We’ve got to roll,” she said, filling her in on the way to the parking lot.
; As Justine got underway Ella looked at the image of Angelina on her cell phone, then called the number she’d been given. Angelina answered immediately, and from the tone of her voice Ella knew she was badly frightened. “Calm down and tell me why you’re so scared of him,” Ella said.
“Rudy’s a jerk. At the office he told me that people with loose tongues should use their talents in other ways, then he made some really disgusting remarks. I told him he was gross, but he kept hanging around my office, so I took sick leave and headed home. I was driving down the highway when I spotted him behind me. I never thought he’d follow me home,” she said, and her voice broke.
“Just sit tight, and put me on speaker. Order lunch—and stay inside. He won’t do anything to you inside a crowded café.”
“Then what? Are you going to arrest him?”
“Let’s see how things play out, but either way, I’ll make sure you’re safe. Will you trust me?”
“Yes,” came the whisper-thin reply.
Less than two minutes later, Justine drove into the Totah’s parking lot via the back way. As they pulled into an empty parking space, Ella watched for Rudy. “I see him, he’s in the bright yellow pickup. It’s mustard, actually, a lowrider. Looks like the same guy I saw at the casino, the one who set us up to get jumped.”
Justine nodded, following her gaze. “Now it fits. How do you want to handle this?”
“I want a reason to confront Rudy openly. He obviously likes to bully the ladies, so I’m going to set him up.” Ella brought out her phone. “Angelina, I’m right outside, on the west side of the restaurant. I want you to come out into the parking lot.”
“I can’t,” she said, her voice rising an octave. “He’s still out there. I can see him from where I’m sitting. He’s waiting for me.” Her voice broke. “He parked next to my car.”
“The silver sedan?”
“Yes.”
“Okay. Listen to me carefully,” Ella said firmly. “I won’t let him hurt you, but I need you to come out and walk to your car. I’ll be there if he tries something.”
She took a deep unsteady breath. “Okay. If you can throw him in jail, this’ll be worth it.”
A few moments later Angelina pushed the glass foyer door open and walked out of the café. Seeing Rudy coming straight for her, Angelina froze.
Ella was only a half-dozen feet behind Rudy when a familiar face suddenly came out of the restaurant. Ford spun around Angelina just as Rudy reached for her arm.
“Hands off.” With lightning fast reflexes, Ford grabbed Rudy’s hand and twisted it to the outside, applying a pinch grip.
Rudy tried swinging a roundhouse punch, but sagged to his knees in agony instead.
“Stay down and calm down,” Ford ordered. “Don’t injure yourself.”
“Good to see you, Reverend,” Ella said, coming up.
“I hope I haven’t interfered with a police matter, Investigator Clah. I noticed the young lady was upset, so I decided to follow her out and offer my support,” Ford said softly.
Ella smiled, noting the not-quite-convincing apologetic look on his face. “I’ve got him now, Reverend Tome. Thank you.”
“You’re very welcome,” he said, stepping back.
Ella identified herself—though Nez apparently knew who she was already. After she cuffed him, she removed the pistol he carried in his shoulder holster. The description she’d been given by the pair who’d come after Justine and her at the casino fit Rudy to a tee, belt buckle and all.
“You’re making a real big mistake,” Nez growled.
“I hope that’s not a threat,” Ella said smoothly.
“No, it’s a fact.”
“You can tell me more about that once we get to the station,” Ella said, then turned him over to Justine, who read him his rights.
While Justine took Nez back to their unit, Ella joined Angelina. “He’s going nowhere for a while.”
“I can file charges against him, but with his credentials . . .”
“You don’t have to be afraid of him. We’ll make it very clear that if anything happens to you—even if all you do is trip and fall—we’ll go find him,” Ella said. “Leave it to me.”
Ella glanced at the police unit where Justine had placed Nez. It was easy to see what had drawn him to the casino job—power.
“Do you want me to go to the station to give you a statement?” Angelina asked.
“Yeah, just follow us in,” Ella said. “Making this official will put even more pressure on Nez to leave you alone.”
As Angelina walked to her car, Ella joined Ford, who’d been standing back. “You’re really something, Reverend.”
“Glad you think so.”
Ella touched the side of his face in a quick caress, then turned and walked away. That was the limit to any touching he’d permit, and that was a problem. He followed rules she wasn’t prepared to obey.
SIXTEEN
Later at the station, Ella and Justine went into the small interview room where Rudy Nez had been placed. He’d been cooling his heels for about two hours.
As they stepped inside, he sat rock still, glaring at them.
“Would you like something cool to drink?” Ella asked. “Feels kind of warm in here—stuffy.”
“Spare me the games.”
Ella shrugged. “Explain to me why you went after Angelina Manuelito.”
“I didn’t go after anyone. The woman looked like she was about to faint, so I reached out to keep her from falling. The preacher must have misunderstood and assaulted me. Then you came over.”
“That doesn’t mesh with the story she told us. And she wasn’t even close to fainting. I was there, remember?”
“I don’t care what she told you. It’s all an act, you know. She has a thing for cops, and ever since she realized I wasn’t interested she’s been looking for a way to get back at me.”
“You’re no cop,” Ella said calmly.
“I’m the head of security at the casino. That qualifies.”
“Rent-a-cop’s more like it,” Justine added. “A wannabe.”
Anger flashed in Rudy’s eyes, and his hands curled into fists. “You two make peanuts compared to what the casino pays me, and you know the saying—‘pay peanuts and you get monkeys.’ At the end of the day, I drive off in a custom truck with a state-of-the-art sound system, and my three-story brick home just south of the Piñon Hills golf course belongs to me, lock, stock, and barrel. You wish you had my life.”
“A fat wallet still doesn’t make you a police officer, and you act like a pimp. If I had to take a guess, I’d say you don’t have what it takes for law enforcement,” Ella said.
He bolted to his feet so fast, the chair crashed to the floor.
“Sit down,” Ella said firmly. “You don’t want to get Tasered.”
He picked up the chair and sat back down slowly, giving them a mirthless smile. “I get it. You push my buttons, then nail me for assault on a police officer. But over what—that brainless girl? Please.”
“She says you threatened her and her job because she spoke to one of our officers. So that brings me to my next question. What are you trying so hard to keep secret over at the casino?” Ella leaned back, and not waiting for him to answer, continued. “Then again, I’m probably wasting my time looking to you for answers. You’re just muscle—if that.”
“Do you know anything, or do you just do what Grady tells you?” Justine asked.
“I take care of security,” he growled.
“How do you define that—hiring two deadbeats to assault a couple of tribal officers who came to interview your superior?” Ella said, goading him. “You couldn’t handle us by yourself, could you?”
“My job’s to keep deadbeats out of the casino. I don’t hire them.”
“See? He just follows orders,” Justine said. “Come on. We’re wasting our time.”
Nez gave her a look of utter contempt. “The casino’s a good thing for the tribe. You’re messing with thi
ngs you don’t understand.”
“The same could be said for you—but, then again, understanding isn’t your gig. Following orders seems closer to it,” Ella said. “You’re Grady’s lapdog.”
“You’ve got your bosses, I’ve got mine. Except for our income, we’re the same,” he snapped.
Ella laughed. “You’re clueless. Face it, Rudy, telling that kid, Angelina, to keep her mouth shut, then trying to intimidate her? Big mistake. It’s the same as pointing a finger at the one you’ve been hired to protect.”
“Leave Grady out of this. He’s a good man and has made millions for the tribe,” he said. “You’re trying to find out who’s behind the shootings; I get it. But that has nothing to do with the casino, Grady’s company, or Alan Grady himself. Quit wasting your time and mine and get on with your job.”
“So then why are you leaning on people like Angelina? What are you trying to keep quiet?” Ella pressed.
“Mr. Grady’s people shouldn’t be talking to outsiders. At the casino we have our own way of taking care of trouble—and troublemakers,” he said. “If you think about it, you’ll know it’s true.”
“Let me guess. We’re troublemakers, and that’s why you set those two bozos after us?” Justine said.
“What’s the complaint? If you two couldn’t handle two crazy Anglos, you’re in the wrong job. Where’s your training?”
“So you’re confessing?” Ella countered. “I never said they were Anglos.”
“You sure? It seems to me you’re losing your edge. You’re having so many problems holding your own out in the field, you’re even using a preacher as backup,” he shot back with a sneer. “But I’m getting tired of all this harassment.” He sat back and crossed his arms in front of his chest. “I’m done here. I’ll wait for my attorney before saying anything else.”
Ella stood. “This incident’s probably going to be swept under the rug. But hear me. If anything happens to that young woman—if she even scrapes her knee—I’m going to be all over you. Life as you know it will cease to be. You get me?”
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