by Aimée
“Hey, Boss, what happened?” Justine grasped her arm.
Ella forced herself to focus her thoughts. What she was seeing was not real. “Illusion. A skinwalker’s trick. Like I’m on a cliff. Help me down.”
Justine nodded. “Don’t worry. I’m here.”
Ella followed blindly where Justine led, focusing away from the ground as they made their way downhill.
Judy rushed up as Justine led her toward the trailer. “You look awful. What happened?”
Ella forced the cobwebs back. “I don’t know. There was this foul cloud of white smoke, then everything went crazy.”
“Did you see the person?”
“No.” Ella blinked, and was grateful to see that the earth was no longer angled away from where she stood. She turned to Justine. “Go back up and check for footprints and other evidence. But stay sharp.”
“Are you going to be okay?”
“Yeah. I’ve been exposed to this type of thing before. It never lasts long. It’s already starting to clear. Go.”
Judy led Ella back inside. “Here,” she said, placing a glass of iced tea in front of her. “Just relax.”
Ella took several swallows, easing her parched throat. “Thanks.”
“Do you think that the person watching us is gone for good?”
“For now, is more likely. But he or she could have done a lot more damage had they wanted to harm either of us. If you’d like, though, I can see about putting you in protective custody.”
Judy considered it, then shook her head. “No, I’ve got my two dogs and my horse. The horse whinnies whenever anyone gets close, and the dogs will bark their fool heads off. I’ll have advance warning.”
“They may be up against what happened to me on that hill.”
“I’ll keep the dogs inside with me, then. Either way, I’ve done nothing wrong and I can’t see that I’m a threat to anyone. The information I have, others also know. If they come after me they’ll still have a long list of others to deal with.”
“You were the murdered man’s friend. They may think you know far more than you do.”
“If that were the case they would have made their move before now. In my opinion, they were here because of you. They certainly weren’t close enough to eavesdrop.”
“If they’ve been staking out your house, my being here to spot them was only luck on your part.”
“I’m not going anywhere.”
“Can you get someone else to come and stay with you?”
“I’m an adult. I don’t need a baby-sitter.”
“Even cops need backup every once in a while.”
Judy thought about that for a while then said, “How about if I ask my cousin to stay here? He’s visiting my aunt and it’s crowded over at their house anyway.”
“Good.”
As Justine came back inside, Ella stood up. Her thoughts were clear again and her dizziness was gone. “You need any more help up on the mesa?” she asked.
“I’ve already got what evidence there was. But will you be able to drive when you’re done here?”
“I’m fine and I’m done out here for now.”
Ella said good-bye to Judy Lujan, then walked out with Justine, asking “What did you find?”
“Boot tracks, size eight, leading down the back of the hill. No one was in sight. By the imprint, I can tell you that it was someone of average weight. That’s all. I photographed the prints for comparison, and then I searched for something that would have accounted for the smoke that disoriented you. I couldn’t find anything. Your brother might know what to look for, but my guess is that the smoke came from something the person burned. What you were dealing with was some kind of homemade psychedelic flash-bang.”
Ella got into her Jeep. Justine looked worried. “I’m really okay. But you can follow me back to the station to make sure. I want to talk to Big Ed there anyway, then this evening you and I are heading over to the Roundup. We have to follow up on Angelina’s boyfriend.”
“Are you sure—”
“Yeah, let’s get going.”
* * *
Ella met with Big Ed and made her report. His face was clouded with worry and he kept looking at Ella for adverse effects from the smoke.
“My predecessor had a lot of those tricks up his sleeve,” he said. “I heard the stories.”
Ella nodded. “He’s dead. The person writing the notes knows his handwriting well enough to make some skillful forgeries, that’s all. The smoke I encountered on the mesa is something else though, requiring special knowledge only a few people have. There are a million herbs and combinations that can be used to confuse. I’ve encountered them before.”
“But the man on the mesa obviously had that special knowledge, and that worries me. Are we dealing with skinwalkers again?”
“The person used a skinwalker trick, that’s for sure, but that doesn’t necessarily mean he’s a skinwalker.” The coolness of the breeze from the oscillating fan on Big Ed’s cabinet felt good on her skin. “I think the key to cracking Angelina’s murder is finding her boyfriend. I have a real good shot at doing that tonight. Believe me, I’ll be fine.”
Big Ed looked her over carefully one more time then nodded. “Good hunting.”
FOURTEEN
Ella met Justine in the lab around seven that night, having finally cleared her own desk of backlogged paperwork and leaving a message for Clifford asking about the smoke-drug she’d encountered. “You ready to go?”
Together, they set out for the bar in Ella’s Jeep. “I made some inquiries about this place,” Justine said. “It’s rougher than most, but that’s because the people who frequent it are usually just over the minimum drinking age.”
“I think we can handle it,” Ella said. “We can pass for young.”
“No doubt. But what was a kid like Angelina, who could afford the classy bars and restaurants, doing in a dive like that?”
“Mingling. If there’s something that’s emerged from her profile, it’s that she seldom did what was expected.” Ella glanced at Justine, then back at the road. “Keep your eyes open tonight, and watch your back. Asking questions about Angelina has become a risky proposition.”
They arrived around eight. As expected, the dark, smoke-filled place was crowded with young people wearing denim, western hats, and holding beer bottles. Tiny, circular tables were crowded into the room around a spacious dance floor. A room-length bar was at one end, and served as a roost for boot-clad fellows surveying the room for dance partners.
Ella tried to shut out the sound of the country western band, which was substituting loud for good, as far as she could judge. She located a waitress wearing the lounge’s tight uniform T-shirt, smoking a cigarette at one of the side tables. “I’m going to talk to her,” Ella shouted to Justine, who was barely three feet away. “See what you can do.”
“Break time?” Ella said, giving the woman a pleasant smile.
“Got that right. If you need a beer, ask one of the other girls,” the skinny blonde answered, shouting to be heard above the music.
Ella settled into the chair across from her. “Nah, I’m looking for some people, that’s all. Do you happen to know a pretty young Navajo girl named Angelina? She’s a regular.”
“Haven’t you heard? She was killed. Wrecked that cute little sports car.”
“Yeah, I know, but I was looking for her boyfriend.”
“You don’t have the lawyer look. You a tribal cop?”
“Got that right.” Ella smiled. “Tell me, do you remember Angelina’s boyfriend?”
“No, but there were always lots of men hanging around her and her girlfriends. Try them,” she said, pointing to a small group near the band. “They may be willing to help you, or not. They’re really a pain in the butt. They do anything to get attention.”
She looked at the group the waitress pointed out and recognized Mary Tapahonso from the funeral, but none of the other Navajo girls at her table. When the band took a break,
she approached.
Mary’s face became guarded as soon as she recognized Ella. “What are you doing here?”
“Why don’t you introduce me to your friends?” Ella asked smoothly.
Mary looked as if she would have rather been set on fire, but she complied. “This is Velma Nez,” she said, gesturing to her right. “And this is Gail Manuelito,” she said, turning to her left. “This is Investigator Clah.”
Gail rolled her eyes. “Oh please! You want to talk here?”
“Why not? It’s as good a place as any. I’m trying to track down Angelina’s boyfriend. Anyone know where I can find him?”
Velma glanced at the others. “She had a boyfriend?”
Mary stared at the beer mug by her hand, but refused to meet anyone’s gaze.
“I never hung around with Angelina, I just came with Velma tonight,” Gail said quickly. “Sorry, I can’t help you.”
“But you can, can’t you, Mary?” Ella said, watching the girl squirm. The danger of attracting the chindi made most Navajos reluctant to speak of the dead, and Ella wondered if that was part of the problem. But then she discounted the idea. Mary was no traditionalist. She was scared, but not of the dead. Ella allowed the silence at their table to stretch.
“You want us to catch her killer, don’t you?” Ella insisted.
“I thought she died in the accident.”
“It was her death that caused the accident. She was poisoned by someone she was with just before she got into the car. I need to find out who that was.”
“Why would that matter? It won’t bring her back.” Mary looked up. “Why don’t you just go away?”
“I could, but the situation won’t. If you know something, tell me. In a case like this, you risk your own life by keeping the truth to yourself.”
Mary’s eyes grew wide. “You don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“You’re wrong, I do. I’ve been a cop a long time. Trust me. You’re far better off talking to me, than trying to protect someone else by keeping quiet in a situation like this.”
Mary opened her mouth as if to speak, but then shook her head. “You’re slick, but forget it. For your information, Angelina didn’t have a boyfriend. She hated being pinned down to anything or anyone.”
“You forgot ‘she flirted with practically every boy she met.’ Wasn’t that the next line?” Ella stood up, noting the wide-eyed look on Mary’s face. “If you change your mind you know where to reach me.” She placed her card on the table. Mary made no move to pick it up.
Ella went out the side door, indicating to Justine with a nod where she’d be. As she stood outside in the cool evening air, she replayed the encounter in her mind. She was certain that the other two girls did not know anything, but why were the ones in Angelina’s inner circle keeping the identity of their friend’s boyfriend such a secret? Was he someone in a powerful position, or a man who, for one reason or another, had a hold over them all?
“Hey, baby, you ready to party now?” A tall, lanky blond cowboy sauntered up to her. He smelled of beer and cigarette smoke, which was not surprising.
Ella looked at him and shook her head politely. “Not interested, cowboy. Try inside the bar.”
“Now, baby, this is no time to develop a negative attitude.”
“Give it a rest, will you?” she said firmly.
Justine came out just then and saw what was going on. “You ready to go?” she asked Ella, pointedly ignoring the cowboy.
A second cowboy came out right behind Justine and walked up, putting his arm around his buddy’s shoulder as he leered at the women. “It’s a done deal, ladies. We’re all going to party tonight.”
Justine turned to confront him, her body taut. “You guys have had a six-pack over the limit, I think. Go back inside, buy yourselves some coffee, then go home.”
The tall one, whose glazed eyes had never left Ella’s face, reached out and grabbed her arm. “Come on, beautiful—”
Before he could complete what he was saying, Ella broke his hold and pushed him back. “Back off, now.”
He laughed. “You like it rough, do you, baby?” He moved forward again, but this time, Ella sidestepped him and with a little push, sent him sprawling to the ground.
Justine stepped around the other man who was laughing hilariously at his friend’s predicament. “You want to call a local cop to haul these guys in?”
“No, it’ll take too much time. Let’s just leave.”
The cowboy on the ground scrambled to his feet with the help of the second one. “Hey, ladies, quit playing around. You’re ticking me off. We’ve already paid out cash money for your services. Now let’s cut the crap and go to my truck, okay?”
Ella walked back toward them. “What?”
The cowboys laughed. “You were hoping we’d pay twice? No deal. We spoke to your ‘manager’ inside, and he sold us your services for the entire night. You better start earning your money before we change our minds.”
“What manager? Point him out,” Justine asked, moving to the side door and peering inside.
“Your pimp, little darling. Said his name was Dan. Now let’s stop playing these games. My truck’s not far. Time to go.”
He placed his arm around Justine’s shoulders and tried to urge her along. She twisted free easily and kicked him in the shin.
Ella moved toward her assistant to help, but the tall cowboy grabbed her by the hair. Blocking the pain, she threw herself back against him, then smashed her elbow into his midsection. He doubled up in pain, cussing loudly.
“We’re police officers,” Ella clipped, moving back around him and bringing out her handcuffs, “and you boys are headed for an unscheduled visit with the sheriff’s department.”
At the sight of the cuffs, both men clambered over the bed of the pickup, hurtled a chain-link fence, and took off down the road.
Ella and Justine went after them, skirting the fence rather than trying to leap over it. They were halfway across the highway when an eighteen-wheeled tank truck came flying around the corner. Ella whirled and pulled Justine back, out of the path of the speeding vehicle. They both fell down hard onto the graveled road shoulder.
“You okay?” Ella gasped, rubbing her back and brushing away oily pebbles as she sat up.
“Yeah,” Justine managed. “I landed on my butt. Not very dignified, but there’s nothing there that can’t afford a bruise or two.”
Ella stood, then helped Justine up. “Let’s go back inside the bar and find our ‘pimp.’ I’d love to have a little chat with Dan.”
“You think Angelina’s boyfriend was there all the time, watching us?”
“There’s no telling. The entire bar is dark and smokey, and with those hats over their eyes, you wouldn’t recognize your own brother except up close. But I’m going back to try to make somebody nervous.”
Justine and Ella divided the room. Forty minutes later, and nearly hoarse from shouting over the dismal sounds of the country western band, Ella returned to the waitress she’d spoken to earlier.
“Someone was having fun at your expense,” the skinny blonde explained, glancing over at the Navajo girls. “I told you they were obnoxious.”
“I need a name for this Dan character. Can you give me any idea who the guy was that set us up?”
She shook her head. “No, but I did catch some gossip while I was serving customers. People don’t seem to care what a waitress hears. I found out that Angelina sometimes came with a good-looking Navajo guy. But the guy was jealous, never letting her out of his sight to dance with one of the cowboys. It would make her nuts.”
Ella tipped the waitress for the drink she hadn’t bought, then waited a while before going up to Mary Tapahonso. Ella spoke low enough so the other girls at the table couldn’t hear her. “You’re playing a very dangerous game. You’re either covering for a murderer, which makes you an accessory, or else putting an innocent man on the hot seat by drawing this out. If I find out who he is before you tell me
—and he’s guilty—you’ll be up on charges yourself. And if I don’t arrest him soon, you may be his next victim. Anyone who can connect him to Angelina is a potential witness against him, and he’s still running around loose. Think about that, and start locking your door at night,” Ella said, then turned and walked away.
She didn’t have to look back to know that she’d rattled Mary. The story would carry to the others, too, and hopefully make at least one of them nervous enough to come forward.
“That was a waste of time,” Justine said, joining Ella in the Jeep. “Nobody knew who our pimp was, I’m sorry to say.”
“We may have lost that battle, but we scored a victory on another front.”
* * *
The next morning Ella was in the lab comparing notes with Justine, when her cellular rang. When she picked it up, she recognized Billy Pete’s voice right away.
“I need to meet with you. It’s important,” he said.
“When?”
“In an hour? I can meet you on the south side of the mesa behind your home.”
That would be near the place where Kevin Tolino was building his home. It would work out just fine. Afterwards, she’d stop by Kevin’s property and talk to him, if he was there today. He moved in higher tribal circles than her. Maybe he knew something about the senator or his daughter that could prove helpful. “Expect me.”
“Will you be needing me this afternoon?” Justine asked. “There’s something I want to follow up on.”
“What is it?”
“Raymond Nez.”
“That’s a lost cause.”
“Not to me. I know I can get him to help us, I just feel it.”
Ella doubted it, but she didn’t want to dampen Justine’s enthusiasm for the case. “The most you’ll get from him is information he considers unimportant. But even bits and pieces could come in useful in the long run. Just make sure you have backup when you meet him.”
When Ella left to meet with Billy, it was only mid-morning, but the wind was already starting to gust. It had been breezy when she awoke just around dawn, but now it was worse. Sand blasted the side of the car, pushing it toward the center line. She compensated automatically, used to driving in crosswinds.
