Danielle outlined for her the reports she needed and told her where they would be located in her office. Lin made a list and assured Danielle that she would call her back if she couldn’t locate any of the information.
Toby had finished closing out the cash register and was busy tidying things up. “Who called?” He asked, as Lin came down the hallway.
“Danielle, she needs me to get some files for her from her office and take them to her house. She has another meeting tomorrow and couldn’t get back before closing to get the material she needs.”
“ I see,” Toby responded, “she sure does have a lot of meetings and paperwork. Makes me wonder about how far I want to advance in my park service career sometimes. It seems the higher you go, the less time you get to spend in the parks.”
“True,” Lin teased—“but first you have to get permanent employment—then you can worry about advancement.”
“Alright—that’s true,” Toby was grinning. “Actually, I saw a couple of permanent positions posted just today that I think I might have a shot at. I think employment may be picking up a bit. I hope so anyway.”
“Positions here?” Lin questioned.
“One of them was at Walnut Canyon which is, of course, under the same administration as here. The other was with the forest service out in Washington state, somewhere on the coast. I think I’d like that too.”
“Sounds good, well I hope you’re successful,” Lin spoke sincerely. Toby was a good employee with a lot of promise and he needed to find a firm career path soon she knew.
“Well, everything is ready and locked up,” Toby told her. “Just make sure you use the main door and see that it is firmly closed when you leave. Oh, and you’ll need to set the alarm do you know the code?”
“Yes,” Lin responded, “Danielle made that part of my training in case I had need to open or close. I’ll take care of it.”
As Toby left to go home, Lin realized that this was the first time she had actually been alone in the visitor center. Here she was with the perfect opportunity to look for that police report regarding the remains found. She felt only a slight twinge of guilt at this thought but, after all, she had permission to look for files in the office and she would never have a better opportunity.
Entering Danielle’s office she closed the door behind her—even though she was alone in the building. Following the instructions she’d been given, she located the reports Danielle needed pretty quickly in her files. She didn’t see the police report as she did this. After she had collected Danielle’s material, she proceeded quickly to examine the other drawers in the file cabinet. It didn’t take long to find a section labeled Law Enforcement in the third drawer down and there it was, clearly labeled, the police report concerning Cullen Honeyestewa.
Lin extracted the report from the file. It was only four pages long but it was single-spaced and would take some time to read thoroughly. She had an idea. Every night she had been taking the file of archeology articles back to her apartment. She tried to read at night, as well as a few moments during the day. If anyone was about (and she was pretty certain no one was) and observed her they wouldn’t think it unusual that she had a file in her possession. She quickly slipped the report out of its file and crossed the hall to the copier. In a few minutes she had her own copy of this report and had returned the original to its proper place. She slipped the copy in among the articles she still had, picked up her file and Danielle’s reports, and quickly left the center, first making sure she set the alarm and locked the door. Lin looked at her watch and realized that she had only taken ten extra minutes to do all this. She still felt a bit guilty, though.
She had the feeling of being watched. That’s ridiculous, she thought. I was doing what I was asked to do, plus just a bit more.
Lin placed the papers Danielle wanted behind her screen door at the rear of the house and hurried back to her own place. She had observed Toby leaving in his car shortly after he left the center and the archeologist, who was currently living in the other house, had not appeared for the past few days. His car was not there. Lin thought he was probably in Flagstaff with his family at the moment. Danielle, of course, had said she would be later returning. She might be staying in Flagstaff for dinner with some of the other park employees. It seemed a perfect time to read this report without having anyone drop in on her. In fact, she might even sit outside to read. That way she could be sure she saw any cars as they drove into the area and would know when the others were back for sure.
Lin went inside to change into more comfortable clothes. It was still early for dinner but she did grab a can of soda from her refrigerator and picked up a granola bar for a snack. Soon she was settled into one of the yard chairs with her folder of articles on the picnic table beside her. Eagerly she pulled out the copy of the police report and began reading.
The more she read, the angrier she became. It seemed evident that the authorities had made several assumptions from the start of the investigation. The entire report pointed to irresponsible, possibly drunken, behavior on the part of the victim himself. The report noted the absence of any physical evidence in the area around the victim but raised no questions or concerns about that lack.
There was a profile of the victim. Information had been gathered from his family and from tribal clan representatives after he had been identified. As Lin read this profile she could tell that his family and his friends were surprised that he was alone in that area. The tribal representatives acknowledged that he did have the responsibility of collecting eagle feathers and eaglets for ceremonies but his partner in this duty said that they did not collect in the box canyon. In fact, they approached the area, which was nearby, by another route. He had not revealed this location; however, as it was a sacred, tribal secret. Both the tribal representatives and the family members had insisted that Cullen was not a drinker but the report had glossed over that information, possibly considering it not reliable.
The most interesting part of the report concerned the truck belonging to the victim. Apparently it had been found abandoned and reported by a ranch hand about two weeks after Cullen had disappeared last year according to the family. That part of the ranch was not visited frequently and the truck had been parked among some junipers and was fairly well hidden. It appeared that the authorities had not carefully examined the truck when it was found. They had contacted the family who had reported Cullen missing to tribal authorities. The family had arranged to take possession of the truck hoping that Cullen would turn up soon. Lin sighed, that probably meant that any clues to his disappearance that might have been in the truck were probably long gone by now.
When she had finished reading the report, Lin felt saddened that this man’s death had not called for a more detailed investigation. He and his family deserved more than this she felt. Instead of answering her questions this report raised more.
She was able to obtain the names and address of Cullen’s family, however. Apparently he was single and lived with his parents, his sister, and his nephew in Moenkopi.
Lin went back into her apartment where she wrote the names and address of the Honeyestewa family on a small card that she placed in her wallet. She then removed the police report from the file of articles, placed it in an envelope, and put it at the back of the only drawer in the small desk provided in the apartment. It would be well hidden among the other business envelopes she had put there.
Lin fixed herself some dinner and sat down in her small living room to eat. TV reception was practically nonexistent out here—there was certainly no cable—so she put a disc of her favorite music in her CD player and listened as she ate. What should she do about her questions and concerns? She knew she could not let this drop. Too many things were nagging at her about this incident. Where to begin to get some answers?
One thing Lin definitely wanted to do was talk to Cullen’s family herself. She wanted them to know that she didn’t believe he had been drinking, not without any physical evidence at the s
cene. Of course, there could have been something in the truck. Apparently, it had not been examined thoroughly when it was found and, if anyone had noted anything, that information was not in the report that she had read. The family might know if anything was in the truck when it was returned to them. Having finished her meal, Lin got up and located a pad of paper and pen. She began to write down points she wanted to explore starting with a visit to the family for more information about the victim. She wrote down all the questions she wanted answers for—Why was he there? What did the family know, if anything, about his reason for going to the park? Who might know more about his work for the tribe? Was that related at all to his presence in the park at that particular place? Had he told anyone where he was going or what he was going to do? At the end of her list Lin added one more item—Did Cullen know Dr. Neal Smith? She was beginning to have questions about why Smith appeared so nervous whenever the subject of this incident arose? Were there any connections that had not been revealed earlier? Lin realized that this reaction on her part was based on a feeling she had rather than evidence, but still she wanted her curiosity satisfied on all counts.
Having finished her list, Lin still felt agitated and unsure about how to proceed. She knew she couldn’t just drop this matter but she didn’t know how best to approach these issues. What should her next steps be? She suddenly realized that she knew someone who might be able to help, someone who took her concerns seriously—Sue Gray, the volunteer at Walnut Canyon. Grabbing her cell phone, Lin quickly left her apartment. Noting that neither Toby nor Danielle had returned as yet, she jumped into her car and headed out for Doney Peak. That was the best spot for cell phone reception in the area. It was growing dark now, so she proceeded carefully along the park road. Pulling out in the parking area at the highest point of the road, Lin stopped just past the entrance to the picnic area. The view here was very nice. She could see the last remnants of sunset and the brilliant stars that were beginning to pop out in the darkening skies.
Taking out her cell phone, Lin dialed the number Sue had given her and soon she was talking to the volunteer. She had decided not to tell Sue exactly how she had come to read the police report. She simply said the report was out and the information left her with lots of questions and concerns. She also told Sue about the truck found abandoned the previous year and about her talk with Sarah Chee and what Sarah had said about this person who had died in the box canyon. After sharing all the information, Lin paused.
“I’ve decided that I want to look into this more fully,” she said, “ I feel that this man deserves more attention than he has gotten. You seemed to understand my feelings the other night and I thought you might have some ideas as to how I should proceed.”
Sue was quiet for a moment and then responded, “ I agree with you. There has to be more information available than has been uncovered so far and it does appear that the authorities were quick to reach a conclusion here. They have probably seen a lot of cases of unexplained deaths on and near the reservation,” she acknowledged, “perhaps their experience has led them to their conclusions.” Lin thought she was being pretty generous, but she grudgingly admitted that perhaps she was too quick to condemn these law enforcement officers who had seen a lot of cases that were similar to this one.
“ I don’t know how to start, what do you think?”
“ I think the family is the logical place to begin,” the reporter was talking now. “You said you had their names and address?”
“Yes, I do, but I know that native families are sometimes reluctant to talk to outsiders. How do I approach them?”
“Well, I’m not familiar with customs on the reservation either, but it seems to me that any family would want to know how their loved one died. Do you think the police gave them a copy of the report?” Sue asked.
“I’m not sure,” Lin responded, deciding to reveal a bit more information, “ I’ve seen a copy of the report and it does not indicate who received it. I somehow doubt that the authorities went back to see the family after they talked to them initially. They confirmed the identity as that of the man who had disappeared and noted the information about the abandoned truck, but that’s all. I’m not sure what else the family was told. I expect they were just told about the ruling of accidental death.”
“Can you get a copy of the report?” Sue sounded more and more like the investigative reporter she had been.
Lin took a deep breath, “ I already have one but I’d prefer you keep that information between us.”
“Good,” Sue responded. “When do you have a day off? I think we need to make a trip to Moenkopi.”
“I don’t have a full day off until Sunday,” Lin responded, “just a few hours here and there over the next days.”
“Oh, I’m supposed to work Sunday but I have Saturday off all day. Let me see what I can do. I might be able to switch days with someone. I’ll call you at the visitor center tomorrow.”
After ending the call, Lin sat back and watched the sky for a bit. She loved how bright the stars were out here in the dry atmosphere far away from the lights of any town. She felt that she had taken a significant step tonight. She was now committed to doing some investigating of her own regarding this death and she had even managed to find an accomplice! She knew that some would think it unwise of her not to just let this go; after all, the case was considered closed at this point. That was just not in her nature; she could not stand to see anyone not get justice if it were deserved. She knew that she would not drop this matter until she knew something more. Lin started her car and drove back down the road to the park. As she parked near the housing area, she noted that lights were on at Danielle’s home and in Toby’s apartment. She felt more tired than usual, probably an emotional response to what she had done and what she was planning. Returning to her apartment she decided that a hot shower would help her relax before trying to sleep. That and maybe a glass of that red wine she had purchased in Flag last week. Tomorrow she would hear from Sue and they would make plans for the next steps.
Chapter 9
Lee Chou sat in his Santa Fe gallery office considering his options regarding the pottery he had now promised his client was almost in his hands. Perhaps he should not have spoken so quickly. His associate had called every day for the past week but essentially had nothing substantial to report. Oh, Mr. Steele had apparently done some searching here and there around the park but his man reported seeing nothing that he had found. In fact, it seemed that most of Darren’s time, and apparently Chou’s money, was being spent in a local brewery in Flagstaff. Steele had apparently taken a cheap motel room there and had made a few trips out to Wupatki in the late afternoons and at night to conduct his search. As the days passed, it seemed he did less searching and more drinking.
Chou was convinced from these reports that Steele really did not know exactly where the pottery was. He would have produced it by now if that were the case. He wadded up the hand drawn map and pitched it in the trash. This was worthless information after all. Chou was angry. He did not like being toyed with. He picked up his phone and dialed the mobile number of his associate.
“ I think your time there is being wasted,” he said. “Finish up this business and come on home. I will do no more business with Mr. Steele.”
“I got it boss—you are ready to be done with Mr. Steele,” his associate replied. “It may take me a few more days to finish things up here but I’ll take care of things and be back in Santa Fe soon—the first of the week at the latest. ”
“Take the time you need and be careful,” Chou responded. He had faith in this man and knew he could be counted on no matter what their business called for him to do.
Chou smiled as he hung up the phone. It was good to have some faithful workers. He would see that this one was properly rewarded for his efforts. Now he had to consider his next steps. He still believed the pottery was somewhere to be found. John Sessions was a serious man and would not have tried to cheat him; he did not think. He began t
o formulate another plan to get these artifacts.
Perhaps he should contact this Raymond Tso whom Darren had originally mentioned to him. Apparently he was a pawnbroker, lender, and small time dealer in artifacts in Tuba City on the Navajo reservation. He probably knew the area in question well and, no doubt, had some folks associated with his business that could do the hard work of looking for the pots. Chou was ready to form some new connections in Arizona anyway; he hadn’t heard from John Sessions since this deal went south last year, and he suspected that Sessions was branching out and doing more surreptitious business on his own. Chou was aware that Sessions had opened a line of business through the Internet. That made it easier to hide “irregular” deals among legitimate sales. He had a pretty lucrative Internet business himself after all. Now he needed to form a network of his own on the reservation and Tso seemed a good place to start. He did a search on his computer and soon had the number for the pawnshop in hand.
He thought for a moment and then retrieved the wadded map from the trashcan. He smoothed the wrinkles, as best he could, and folded the map. Maybe it could serve as a starting point for a new search.
Checking the shop to make sure he was alone, Chou smiled to himself as he reached for the phone and dialed the number.
***
Raymond Tso looked up from the counter where he was sorting through jewelry and smiled at the Chinese gentleman who entered, “You must be Mr. Chou, welcome to Tuba City.”
“Thank you, I am happy to be here. This is a long drive from Santa Fe.”
“Yes, I am sure you must be tired and thirsty—maybe hungry too? Why don’t we walk to the diner next door and grab a bite. We can talk privately there, as well.”
Tso went quickly to the back of his shop and located a young man who was working there.
“Michael, why don’t you come out to the front and watch things for awhile? This gentleman and I are going next door to get some lunch.”
Earthcrack: A Lin Hanna Mystery Page 11
