Death Walker

by Aimée

  “Well, it’s not like I’m his favorite person either, but I’ll ask.” Ella held back the obvious downside that she would hate owing Blalock a favor.

  Big Ed grinned, guessing what was on her mind. “Don’t worry. He’ll need our help sooner or later, and come running for payback. Then we’ll cooperate with him, and the slate will be clean.”

  “Let’s hope we don’t choke on his request,” she said softly. “He’s not exactly shy about cutting corners to look good to the bureau.”

  Big Ed laughed. “You know the FBI way. I have full confidence in you.”

  Ella said nothing. She appreciated her boss’s confidence, but she was being put between a rock and a hard place and she didn’t like it. Well, maybe she could tap dance around the issue when she approached Blalock. She’d learned a few tricks herself in the bureau. Of course, most of those tricks were ones Blalock would recognize.

  “I’ll start looking under rocks for him now,” she said with a weak smile.

  Ella had already started toward the door when the police chief’s secretary came in. She placed a fax in front of Big Ed, then wordlessly turned and walked out.

  Ella was in the main hall, buying a can of soda from the machine, when Big Ed yelled for her to come back. “I think your prayers were just answered,” he said with a tight-lipped smile as she reappeared in his doorway. “You may be able to exchange favors.” He handed her the fax. “He’s asked specifically for your help. You’ve had training in hostage situations.”

  “No more than anyone else in the bureau,” she said with a shrug. “But what I do have is firsthand experience in that kind of situation as a hostage,” she said, remembering that terrible day a year ago in California. “You’ve heard about that.” Ella had been eating supper at an L.A. diner when a disturbed young man had entered, armed to the teeth with pistols and explosives. Ella managed to kill the perp, but not before he had seriously wounded several people.

  “Well, he’s got a crisis in Farmington. The perp’s a Navajo man. He tried to grab his own kid from his Anglo ex-wife after beating her up, but the police showed up before he could get away.” Big Ed handed her the fax. “The address is on there.”

  Ella glanced down at it. “This is outside our jurisdiction. Is that going to be a problem?”

  “Cooperation between the Farmington police, the bureau, and our department is officially encouraged nowadays. You might still find egos that’ll be bruised, but this job comes at their request. Get your tail moving.”

  “Will do.”

  Turning toward the door, Ella nearly collided with Big Ed’s secretary. The look on the woman’s face was enough to keep Ella in the room.

  “Now what?” Big Ed grumbled, then looked down at the note she’d handed him. “Oh, shit.” He stood immediately and reached for his cap. “Gotta go.”

  “What’s wrong?” Ella asked, trying to read the note upside down.

  “See for yourself,” the chief mumbled, handing her the message as he stepped past her out into the hall.

  Ella read the note. “Bus accident at Sheep Springs. Many passengers trapped in wreckage. All available rescue units in route. Fatality rate high.”

  She placed the note back on the desk. The accident had occurred at the turnoff that led to Crystal—and to Red Flint Pass. There was nothing she could do to help, unfortunately, so it was time to get to her own assignment. Perhaps she could make a difference in Farmington.

  Ella strode out of the building to her unit. Placing the bubble on top, she raced east down the highway out of Shiprock with lights flashing and siren wailing.

  As she drove, Ella considered the chances of there being a connection between Dodge’s murder and the accident. It was very unlikely. The two events had occurred several hours apart. The only link, sadly, would be if curiosity had increased traffic in the area. But curiosity would have come mainly from non-Navajos. The Dineh wouldn’t seek out a murder location. Still, it was possible that the disharmony created by the murder would be blamed for the disaster and, if so, the fear that would be engendered would certainly complicate things.

  Ella radioed ahead, letting Blalock know she was on her way and giving him an ETA. She wasn’t eager to face another hostage situation, and hoped privately that this one would be resolved peacefully by the time she arrived. Her last one had left a blood-soaked trail that still haunted her nightmares, and this time there was a child involved. That thought and its implications made her heart turn to ice. She gripped the wheel tightly, her knuckles turning white under the strain.

  Forcing her fears aside, she took a deep breath and let it out again. She was an expertly trained detective, an ex-FBI agent who had resigned despite the enticement of a promotion. Fear would work for her, sharpening her instincts and fine-tuning her senses. And this was certainly the type of situation where a woman officer excelled. Men tended to be too confrontational when they dealt with other men, especially in this part of the country.

  Before long, with the reservation far behind her, she reached the busy streets of Farmington, heading toward the community college area above Twentieth Street. As she reached a residential district she saw a roadblock ahead. Red flashing lights seemed to fill the tiny street, flanked on both sides by inexpensive tract housing. Residents had been evacuated and were being contained behind a police barrier at each end of the lane, where they waited anxiously for something to happen.

  Four units were positioned around the front of the house in a half circle, shielding the group of officers who crouched behind them. One glance let her know that snipers were in position on roofs across the street and in an adjacent house.

  She passed through the first barrier, badge in hand. Blalock, tall, brown-haired, and well dressed in a gray suit, was behind the center police unit. He was talking on a portable phone to the hostage-taker, asking the man to surrender.

  Ella made her way to where he stood. “I’m here,” she said as he put the phone down in disgust.

  “About time, too. What the hell took you so long?”

  “The Navajo police helicopter was having the rubber bands rewound, so I had to drive. Counting the seconds, were you?”

  “Cut the crap. Here’s the situation. The guy’s name is Tony Zahnes, born and raised on the Rez, apparently. That’s why I had you called in. You can establish a rapport better than I ever could.”

  “I remember going to school with someone by that name. Give me everything you’ve got on him.”

  “He married Jenny Wilson, an elementary school teacher from Farmington, ten years ago. They’ve lived apart for the last three years and finally divorced six months ago. He’s an alcoholic, and was judged an unfit father, so the courts awarded sole custody of their little girl to the mother. Zahnes apparently went on a binge, broke into his ex-wife’s home, slapped the woman around, and tried to take the kid back. Before he could get the kid’s stuff and leave for the Rez, one of the neighbors spotted him through the kitchen window. He knocked the kid’s mother in the head with the butt of what she says is a big automatic pistol, maybe a .45 caliber, then left her bleeding in the kitchen.”

  “So the wife is still in there?” Ella asked.

  “No. The neighbor pulled her out when the husband took the girl into the other room. Then she called us.”

  “Where’s Jenny Wilson now?”

  “She’s at the hospital by now. She fought like crazy not to leave her kid, but the paramedics insisted.”

  “Tell me about the child. What’s her name, and how old is she?”

  “Her name’s Lisa, and she’s seven.”

  “Did you shut off all the utilities in the house?”

  “Right away, and we had the phone company put a lockout on the phone. We’re the only ones who can talk to him now. It’s just too bad it isn’t winter. Nothing like the cold to hurry up negotiations.”

  “What about food?”

  “Jenny told us that today was grocery day, but she hadn’t gone to the store yet. The fridge an
d the cupboards are nearly empty.”

  “Good. That’ll give us some bargaining power.”

  “Word of warning, Ella. He’s convinced the girl is his ticket out, and he really wants his kid back. He’s not thinking too straight either. He’s been drinking, but he’s not so drunk that he’s going to be easy to fool.”

  “You want me to take over negotiations now?”

  “Yes, your common background with this guy should give us an edge.”

  Ella nodded, picked up the phone, and identified herself by name as a police officer. “Didn’t you go to school with me at Shiprock High? It’s been a long time, but your name is really familiar. Come outside so we can talk, and get to see each other again. No one will harm you.”

  “No. Lisa’s my kid. She belongs with me and with our People. She needs to grow up like a Navajo. She needs her father.”

  “But right now you’re jeopardizing her life. That’s not what you want for her, is it?” Ella countered, keeping her tone calm.

  “The cops won’t hurt her?” Tony scoffed, his speech slightly slurred.

  “Not on purpose, no, but do you really want to take chances with her safety?”

  Silence followed for several minutes. “Are you there?” Ella asked.

  “Yeah. You say you’re Navajo and that I should trust you. But I can’t even see you. I remember Ella Destea from school, and then hearing about her after she became Ella Clah. But that woman wouldn’t hide from one of the Dineh. If you’re who you say you are, come over and talk to me. My daughter needs some food too. You can bring her and me some hamburgers. And some fries.”

  “Release Lisa first.”

  “No. But if you don’t come in, I’ll kill her and myself.”

  Ella heard the deadly intent in his voice. She had no doubt that he’d carry out his promise. “All right. Let me get the food, then I’m coming in.”

  “Unarmed. I read about what you did in L.A.”

  “All right.”

  Blalock elbowed her hard in the ribs. “Are you nuts? If anything happens to you, the bureau will barbecue my butt. He’s talking murder/suicide. You know what that means. He’s hoping to make it easier on himself by goading you into killing him.”

  “No. He’s scared. I remember exactly who he is now. Tony was only a year ahead of me in high school, and not a macho type. What he’s looking for is a way out for himself and his kid.”

  While an officer raced to the fast food place down at the corner, Ella unbuckled her holster and handed Blalock her weapon. “Keep this for me.”

  “You got a backup?”

  “In my boot.”

  “Stay sharp. I don’t want you coming back out of there in a body bag,” he snapped.

  “You and me both. And think of all the reports you’d have to do by yourself.”

  He rolled his eyes and started to answer when the uniformed officer returned with the bag of food.

  “Here I go,” Ella said, stepping around the squad car into the open, hands out in front of her. “I’m coming in now.” She spoke loudly enough so he could hear from the house.

  “Stop!” The one word reverberated in the silence of the street.

  She froze in her tracks. “What’s the problem?”

  “Take off your boots, and leave them there in the street.”

  Ella felt her heart lodge in her throat. She hadn’t counted on this. But many guys on the Rez carried knives in their boots, and Tony was apparently not taking chances. She sat down in the street and slipped her boots off.

  “I knew this wasn’t a good idea,” she heard Blalock whisper from behind the unit. “Try to get him in front of the window or door. Our snipers need a line of sight.”

  “I’ll do my best.” Ella stood up in stockinged feet, feeling almost naked without her backup pistol. “Okay. I’m coming in now, Tony,” she yelled.

  Ella approached carefully, watching for signs of movement in the house. There’d be no room for mistakes now. As she stepped up to the front door, she heard footsteps, and a little girl about four feet tall with dark brown eyes and waist-length black hair opened the door.

  Ella smiled and handed Lisa the bag of food, then followed her in. The second she was through the door, Ella’s gaze shifted to her captor. “Hi. I’m here.”

  “I remember you from high school, and I also heard what you did against the skinwalkers. You’re my best hope now.”

  She studied Tony carefully. His black hair was worn long in a ponytail fastened at the base of his neck, in keeping with tradition. He wore well-worn denim jeans made for work, not style, and a long-sleeved workshirt. Since Tony’s speech was completely clear, she concluded that he wasn’t as drunk as he’d led everyone to believe. That meant she had a better chance of reasoning with him. “You’re trapped in here, and they’re not going to let you walk away. You’ve got to trust me. Step outside with me. Give yourself up. That’s your only chance.”

  Tony kept the forty-five auto pointed directly at Ella’s chest. “I just want my daughter. There’s nothing wrong with that.”

  Ella looked over at the little girl, who had curled up in a fetal position on the easy chair. “You’ll lose her one way or another if you continue this. Look at her. She’s terrified of you. Put a stop to this now, for her sake and yours.”

  Zahnes’s gun wavered for a moment, but the uncertainty passed, and once again determination set his jaw. “She doesn’t understand, that’s all. She’ll be fine once we leave here. I’ll take her to the Rez with me, way back, and no one will find us there.”

  “And then what’ll you do? Lisa will need food and a place to live, water, and medical care. And is she going to give up school to hide out with you? Think man! What kind of future can you give her if you’ll always have to stay on the run?”

  He shook his head, dismissing her point. “I’ll take care of those things. I’m offering her a chance to learn about who and what she is. It’s better for her than staying with her mother. Jenny hates the Dineh and everything connected to us. That’s why she divorced me. And now she wants to make Lisa forget she’s Navajo. That’s not right. If you understand the Dineh and you value what we are, then you know why I have to do this.”

  “No. There are other ways for her to learn about the People. If you force her to leave her mother, Lisa will hate everything associated with the tribe.”

  Zahnes looked at Lisa, then back at Ella. “You’re wrong. Someday she’ll thank me. Now I want you to go out there and get a car for us. A Jeep, maybe. And if I see we’re being followed, I’ll kill Lisa and myself.”

  Ella looked straight into the man’s eyes. He wasn’t bluffing, and she didn’t have to be a cop to know that. “You’ve come all this way just to make sure your daughter gets only the best, but now you’re willing to take her life? Think of what you’re doing!”

  She knew the anxiety their words would create in the little girl, but right now Ella’s concern was to save all their lives. She couldn’t shift her attention away from Tony to speak to Lisa. Training and experience had taught Ella the danger of that.

  “Lisa would be better off dead.”

  “Really? Look at her! You’re the one who’s causing her all that suffering.” The little girl had withdrawn and wouldn’t look up at either of them. She was curled in a tight ball, oblivious to everything around her. “She has a life now, and she needs her mother. If you love her, you can’t take those things from her.”

  “You don’t understand. Without me around, she’ll grow up thinking our people are all nothing. That’s how her mother feels.”

  “That problem is really between you and your wife. Why are you involving your daughter? She’s the innocent victim here. Give her a future, or at least the chance of one. Despite your intentions, what you’re doing is taking things away from her, not adding what she needs. That’s selfishness, not love.”

  “She’s my kid. I love her.” His voice broke, but he cleared his throat quickly in an effort to cover it up.


  “If you love her, let her leave. Look at what you’re doing. There’s no way out of this for you, not without paying some kind of price. The worst part is that you’re going to take her down with you. You know what? You don’t deserve a daughter like her. You don’t deserve anything as long as you go on putting yourself first. The best you can do now is face what you’ve done, and let her go. Give her a chance.”

  Ella saw the flicker of anger in his eyes, and for a second she thought he was going to shoot her. Then he glanced at his daughter. “Take Lisa out of here,” he snapped, looking at Ella. “Go on. Move!”

  Ella went quickly to the little girl’s side, but the child huddled even deeper into the cushions of the chair. Without hesitation, she scooped the girl into her arms and opened the door.

  She’d just stepped clear of the porch when she heard a click that made her blood turn to ice. Ella set the child down, urging her forward with a push. “Run!”

  When the girl hesitated, Ella shoved her into the arms of a SWAT-team member, who had run over from the side of the house. Lifting the child in his arms, he ran behind the line of vehicles.

  Ella turned and stepped back onto the front porch. As she entered the house again, she saw Tony bring the barrel of the gun up to his mouth.

  “No, don’t!” she yelled, lunging forward.

  A deafening roar shook the walls of the house. The air seemed to turn crimson as Ella collided with Tony, knocking him backward. The massive slug that had exploded his skull plastered tissue and blood on the walls in a horrific spiderweb pattern.

  Ella sat back on her legs in despair as the SWAT unit came storming through the door. She tried to get to her feet and out of the way, but no part of her body seemed to work right. Her legs had turned to rubber, and her vision was blurry. She couldn’t hear clearly either. No matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t make out what anyone was saying through the incredible ringing in her ears.