“Okay, thank you for your opinion, but we still need to speak to the rest of the employees. We’re prepared to stay here until closing, if necessary.” Agent Wolfe flashed her FBI badge. “We won’t give up.”
“It appears somebody is leading you on a wild goose chase.” She chuckled as she walked away.
They glanced around, hoping to catch another employee but they ran around taking orders and paying no attention to their presence. Ian walked out from the back, whispering to his employees. He probably instructed them not to speak to the police.
Ian walked over to their booth. “I know you wish to speak to all my employees, but as you can see, we’re busy, so unless you want to stay here until we close, we will have to take a rain check.”
Hawke stood up and stared into the uncaring man’s eyes. “Mr. Guidara, we will sit here for however long it takes to speak to every employee you have. If not here, then we’ll find out where they live and speak to them in private at their homes. Don’t think you can outsmart us. We know you have more information than what you have told us, and we will prove it if we have to stay in Cactus Flat for months.”
Ian’s face turned white. The muscles in his jaw clenched. His hands fisted. He turned on his heel and walked away, disappearing behind a swinging door.
Agent Wolfe leaned back in her chair and folded her arms across her chest. “Wonder who called and warned us Ian wasn’t telling the truth. Why would somebody want us to keep our focus on him? Female caller, strange, isn’t it?”
Detective Hawke nodded. Whoever called had a reason. The puzzle pieces smacked him in the face but to put them together to fit perfect eluded him. Was the caller trying to be helpful, or was she trying to throw suspicion off someone close to her—herself perhaps—and onto Ian? Either way, he would stay at this restaurant until he could speak to everyone who worked here.
***
Time passed as they waited for business to slow down so they could speak to the employees. While waiting, they ordered steak and salads. Neither had eaten all day, and their stomachs growled. As Hawke sat at the table, sipping a cup of coffee, night fell upon the Black Hills. His mind kept going from table to table, almost seeing Abby running around the place. The Great Mystery had sent this to him, and he would find her killer.
Abby Winters’ death was a heartless murder, and the people she worked with knew more than they were willing to say. Perhaps all they were allowed to say if, as he suspected, Ian had warned them all to be silent.
The feather, medicine-wheel keychain and Abby’s murder were related in some way. He would discover the connection between them.
He would solve the murder so everyone involved would have some closure.
Hawke reached out and took Melina’s hand, entwining their fingers and gazing into her beautiful dark eyes. He gave thanks to the Creator for bringing them back together. This woman held his heart, his soul.
Holding her hand gave him a sense of rightness, of peace. His gaze returned to the view through the large window, as did Melina’s. The sky appeared as a painting right before their eyes. Mauves reds, and oranges lit up the night sky as darkness cascaded over Mother Earth. Clouds floated, careless, over the magnitude of colors, giving calmness to the pain.
A picture of excellence, given to the human eye, which could never be matched or duplicated. Peace fell over the entire horizon, giving way to harmony, if for a short while.
Micaje, my name is Hawke, cetan nagin as he called to the Great Spirit, he-ay-hee-ee, as a star fell outside the window of the restaurant.
“I promise to always keep mitawin, my woman, safe. Thank you for allowing our love to come together. I will do everything in my power to make her happy. In addition, I will not leave a rock unturned in solving the case of Abby Winters. Please give her peace. Pilamaya, thank you.”
When a pickup entered the parking lot, Ian walked outside and spoke to the driver, casting glances toward him and Melina. “Wonder what that’s all about?” He jerked his head toward Ian and the man behind the wheel.
“If we had the hearing of an owl,” Melina replied, “we could hear what they’re saying and plotting.
The vehicle left within minutes of its arrival. As the rusty truck rattled out of the parking lot, stones and dirt flew. Hawke bit back a scream when he saw a turtle nearly ran over by the speeding idiot. “Did you see that? He almost ran over the turtle. Our symbol of Mother Earth.”
“He is white and doesn’t understand the turtle reminds us of the give and take in all parts of our lives. Mother Earth provides so much to all, which is why Natives always remember to give back to her.”
Hawke drew her close. “Too bad all schools don’t teach the importance of all the animals on the Earth. They could teach the children, all children, to always give back to Mother Earth for all she has given to us. Thank goodness the turtle’s life was spared.”
“Yes, Hawke, we’re given a blessing by witnessing the turtle crossing our path. We should give thanks for the thoughtless driver’s missing the turtle.”
Her words reminded him why he loved her so much. She had a deep connection to Mother Earth. They also reminded Hawke to keep his cool now and later when he spoke to the employees. He would conduct himself properly, so the spirits would bless his actions.
Chapter Ten
As night encased Eagle Nest Butte, Detective Hawke pulled up to the mystical place, but the feeling of dread followed. Although he knew they wouldn’t find any evidence in the dark, he wanted to stand in the spot where Abby’s body had lain. He hoped her spirit would speak to him in some way. Their investigation needed direction. Questions needed answering.
What had happened to Abby the night she headed home? Did she see something that forced her to be killed for it? Did she know her killer? A noise to the right made him drawl his weapon. Out of the nearby thicket, a porcupine emerged waving its tail. The porcupine symbolizes innocence. Its power is faith and trust.
Hawke placed his weapon into its holster, staring at the sacred butte. He grew sad for the young woman who had met her demise too soon and possibly at the hand of someone she trusted.
Melina, at his side, seemed deep in thought. “Hawke, it’s like the coyote, the trickster. Whoever killed Abby hoped she wouldn’t be found, and that is why they dumped her body where they did. I’m betting whoever did this is frantic about the lost key. There’s a connection, and we must find it.”
They exited the vehicle and Hawke paced the area, his mind full of thoughts of the deceased. Agent Wolfe walked over to him.
“Hawke, we will figure this out.”
He squeezed her hand. “I know we will. I just cannot figure why something so awful happened to this young woman. We need to contact Ian Guidara again. I know his employees are covering for him, because of the way they refused to say anything about him..” They’d stayed at the restaurant for hours until the employees had time to answer some questions. They gathered few answers, except for head shaking, grunts, shoulder shrugs, and the occasional, “I don’t know anything.” Wasted time.
Melina nodded. “Well, they must fear him for some reason. We need to go back to Cactus Flat and stay for a while.”
Hawke tried hard to focus on what evidence he had. As he scanned the area, an opossum walked out of the tall grass. The opossum symbolized diversion. This spoke mountains to him. A sign brought forth to advise him to use his own instincts. “Le mita pila, my thanks, my friend.”
Melina was right. Abby’s death and the key have a connection. The key was a clue to what caused Abby to be murdered. She must have stumbled across something, so someone felt he or she had to kill her.
Agent Wolfe walked toward him, slipping her cell phone back into her purse. “I just made contact with Ian. He acted as if it’s no big deal we needed to speak to him again. Darn if the man didn’t sound downright cocky. You know, we need to show him a thing or two. I suggest we go back to Cactus Flat and speak to everybody we can. There is somebody who knows the dirty dealin
gs of Ian Guidara.”
Hawke nodded as he watched the opossum run off into the thick brush again. He sensed Melina’s disgust and impatience. The wind blew, rustling the leaves. The only evidence they had were Abby’s body, Ian, the feather, and the medicine wheel keychain with the strange key. So far, the people who knew Ian refused to say anything.
“Melina, I believe you are right. Ian has to have an enemy out there. Let’s head back to our motel in Cactus Flat, where we will remain until we get the answers we need.”
***
The headlights of the vehicle beamed upon the pavement. The drive from Eagle Nest Butte to their motel gave them both time to think. Hawke held Melina’s hand and from time to time raised it to his lips for a kiss.
A comfortable silence enveloped the pair. Suddenly, a fox appeared beside the road. Its piercing eyes locked on Hawke, giving a comforting warning of camouflage. Hawke realized what he must do. The fox has many friends. He must be like the fox to solve the murder. First, he must observe the activities of others. The fox observed, adapted, and was very swift.
Hawke also sensed he must become like the wind, unseen but able to weave into any situation to observe the acts of others.
Melina shook him. “Did you hear me?”
“Oh I’m sorry. The sight of the fox made me realize what I must do to find the truth.”
“I’m proud of you. I knew you would use all creatures on the medicine wheel to help you. You’d best turn around, though. You passed the road.”
He nodded and turned his blinker on..
Hawke stared straight ahead. His determination would solve her murder. When had humanity become so mean? When had the value of a human life dropped to nothing? Murders and robberies topped the news, not just on the rez but all over the country.
Melina laid her head against the headrest, closed her eyes, and sighed. He would cherish her, treat her as a precious jewel. He would be a good husband and father. Why every woman could not be treated with respect and love eluded him. They brought life into the world. A miracle given to them by the Creator. A blessing for the giver of life.
Chapter Eleven
Hawke’s phone rang. He snatched it from his belt and answered. The dispatcher advised him Amy Winters was at the hospital, insistent on seeing her daughter. He brakes and made a wide U-turn on the deserted road. The grieving mother deserved some company, someone to help shoulder her sadness.
The hospital revealed itself as a sad place to visit. Sickness and death prevailed. Hawke hated this part the most. He’d given support to many families who came to identify the deceased, an emotional and painful time. Amy’s time would be painful, given she had no husband to lean on and the circumstances surrounding her child’s death.
He and Melina hurried through the swinging doors leading to the morgue. Amy Winters emerged from the darkened halls.
“I hope I can help in some way. Do you have any suspects at all?” The frantic expression on her face revealed fear and sorrow. No doubt, the prospect of looking at her daughter’s body weighed heavily on her.
Hawke placed his arm across her shoulders and drew her to him. “Ms. Winters, let’s get this painful thing over with first, and then we can talk.”
Twin tears raced down her cheeks. Her fingers twisted a tissue.
Hawke held the door to the morgue open. Amy stood as if her feet had grown roots like the tree, anchoring her to the tile floor. “I…I don’t know if I can do this.”
Melina wrapped her arm around the trembling woman. “Would it help if we walked in together? Remember the body you see is just a shell. Your child is of the spirit world, now. Nothing can hurt her. We are only viewing the body that allowed her to live in this world.”
Amy laid her head on Melina’s shoulder. A ragged sob escaped. “I loved her so much. She’s all I had.”
“Come,” Melina whispered, “We’ll do this together for Abby, and then we’ll talk and share ideas, also for Abby.”
Inside, they three of them stood against the wall, waiting for the medical examiner.
The silver door opened, and the medical examiner walked in. Fingers protruding from under a sheet draped over a steel table revealed a body lay underneath.
“Okay, Doc. Let us see her.” Hawke said .
When the sheet was removed and the face revealed, Amy sobbed uncontrollably. “Yes, that is my little girl. Oh my God.”
She turned and ran out the door with Melina on her heels.
“Okay, Doc, so what is the cause of death?” Hawke asked.
“Well, it was a horrible and violent death, blunt force trauma with asphyxiation.”
She had been killed in a horrific way “Was she pregnant, as her boyfriend claimed?.”
“Yes, by the size of the fetus, about three months along.”
“Thank you, Doc.” Thoughts of two lives snuffed out spiraled through his mind. Hawke left and walked down the dark hallway, anticipating the conversation with Ms. Winters.
***
Melina stood outside under the starry sky, waiting for Amy to stop vomiting. She felt sorry for her. “Amy, are you okay?”
She wiped her mouth on the tissue she clutched. “Thank you, Agent Wolfe, for caring about my daughter.”
“I can imagine your pain. I must ask you again, are you sure you have no idea who could have done this?”
“Honest, I don’t”
The tone of her voice revealed uncertainty, though. Was withholding vital information? Before Melina could question her, Hawke approached.
Disgust was written all over his face. “The doc says she died of blunt force trauma with asphyxiation, a horrible way to die.”
Amy bent over, holding her abdomen and covering her mouth. Her shoulders shook as she sobbed.
The FBI agent wrapped her arm around Amy’s shoulder. “Please, come inside. Hawke will get you some water or a cup of coffee, and we’ll talk.”
A few minutes later, Hawke handed both Ms. Winters and Melina a cup of coffee. He sat across from the distraught woman and leaned toward her, his elbows on his knees. “Ms. Winters, how well do you know Ian?”
“Well, he sort of controlled what Abby could do, but she loved him.” She took a sip of coffee. “At first, I tried to warn her if he controlled her to the point of who she could see, then she had better think twice before she committed her life to him. He made me feel uncomfortable.”
He glanced over at Melina. “Have you ever heard anything bad about him?”
“Well I have heard rumors. Bad rumors. But Abby promised me they weren’t true.”
“What kind of rumors?”
“I heard he dealt drugs. I’m not talking a small drug ring, but a huge one, going all the way to Mexico.” She focused tear-swollen eyes on them. “You should speak to Pete Crowe. He lives on the rez. Ian hired him not long after Abby started to work at the restaurant. Pete’s a good kid, but rumor has it he’s on drugs now.”
Hawke pivoted toward Melina. “We will definitely go and speak to Pete. He can tell us a lot. Thank you for meeting us here. I know it’s difficult for you to look at your daughter, but we have to let a family member identify the body.”
Ms. Winters nodded before taking another sip of coffee. “I dread going back to that empty house tonight. How will I get the image of her out of my mind?”
Melina walked over to her and took her hand, making a promise both she and Hawke hoped to keep. “We vow to you we will find the people who did this. They will rot in jail.”
Ms. Winters hugged her and then thanked them both for their kindness—and their promise.
Hawke was on the right track. He would be cunning, like the fox, and then he would find the clues to lead him to the killer.. He sat in his vehicle waiting on Melina to finish speaking to Ms. Winters. The window rolled down and the midnight breeze gently blew into the SUV. The sky twinkled with stars.
“Wakan tanan kici un, May the Great Spirit bless you.” The words whispered off his lips as he stared at the sky. The
wind would carry his promise to the deceased girl.
He closed his eyes, waiting for the assurance of delivery. Once again the wind blew, as a star floated to earth, giving a sign of deliverance.
He released some pain and anger. Closure would come soon. Abby walked in the spirit world with her ancestors, but she also hung onto life on Earth. She would not let go until the person responsible for her violent death paid the ultimate price.
She would roam until justice was served. He would walk this path with her. Once closure came for her, he would know, for the wind knows all of our names.
Chapter Twelve
The end of October, Moon of Falling Leaves chilled the air. The month of November, Moon When Meat is dried, or Beaver Moon would bring an array of hope.
DeShay sat in the living room, wondering how the investigation was going. She had been the one to find Abby’s remains. Kind of ironic she had found the young woman at Eagle Nest Butte when she was there to try to locate bones of her ancestors.
She was lost in her own emotions until her cat, Tail Feather meowed. It pounced up on DeShay’s lap and began to purr. We are all connected, she thought as she petted Tail Feather. All things serve a purpose. Her cat’s purpose today was to calm her. The medicine wheel served a purpose, too. Maybe the medicine wheel Abby had clutched to had a special purpose, too—perhaps a clue in disguise.
Hanging on her wall was a gift, given to her by a ceremonial chief many winters ago. A feather with the medicine wheel painted on it revealing the four sacred directions. Chief Gentle Horse was such a gifted man. He explained the four sacred colors stood for the four sacred directions. Black for the west, red for the north, yellow for the east, and white for the south.
Lakota Justice Page 5
