Bad Medicine (21 page)

“I know you will, but watch yourself.” Ella went with her cousin as far as the door, then watched Justine drive away.

“Do you think she really can handle this?” she asked
the sergeant.

“I’m not sure. Nez is one smart cookie. I think she’s underestimating him, and that does concern me. I’ve got a good location picked out for us, though. It’s just on the other side of a ridge east of the hogan. We’ll be shielded, but should be able to pick up the transmission.”

It took over an hour for them to get in place. Though they were on time for Justine’s meeting, Ella felt
uncomfortable cutting it so close. Neskahi adjusted the receiver and the static disappeared. Justine’s voice came through clearly.

“For a while I wasn’t sure I could find this place,” the young officer said clearly.

“It’s out of the way but, like I said, that’s what makes it safe.” Nez’s voice was easy to recognize.

“Are you afraid for yourself? Are you in danger?”

Nez laughed. “We’re all
in danger at the mine, but your boss is only making things worse. You’ve got to find a way to get Clah to back off. Every time she comes around things get even more tense. People are afraid she’ll be arresting them for murder. Or worse.”

“I can talk to her about that
if
you give me something to work with. Tell me what’s happening there. Who are the members of The Brotherhood? Are the Fierce Ones
the bad guys or the good guys?”

“In my opinion, neither side is completely right. But if I have to side with someone, I’ll side with our own people. How about you?”

“Why don’t you tell me more first?”

“None of us know who is part of The Brotherhood, but we do know that they’ve got paid informants among The People. That’s the real danger. Distrust breeds violence more often than not.”

“That’s
precisely why my boss insists on keeping a close watch on the mine.”

“The more she stirs things up, the worse it gets for those who, like me, are trying to keep trouble from escalating.”

“We keep coming back to the same thing. If you want the department to stay away you have to help us.”

“How? I have no answers to give you. I have my hands full making sure I keep everyone’s tempers in check
during my shift.”

“Who leads the Fierce Ones?”

“I truly don’t know—wait, you didn’t think it was me, did you?” He started laughing. “Oh, little one, you’re even younger than you look if you believed that!”

“Why couldn’t it have been you? Don’t you think of yourself as a leader?”

Ella looked over at Neskahi. “That’s a score for Justine.”

Neskahi nodded.

“To lead, you have to believe in what
you’re doing. To be truthful, I’m not sure the Fierce Ones aren’t responsible for Bitah’s death. Maybe they wanted to get rid of him for their own reasons. The Fierce Ones are cut from the same mold as The Brotherhood, though they have opposing philosophies. Both groups advocate violence as a justifiable method to effect change. I can’t condone that.”

“Then help us. Find out who the members of
the Fierce Ones are, and who is in The Brotherhood.”

“No. I won’t do that.”

“Because you’re afraid?”

“Yes, but not for the reasons you think. I won’t get involved in anything that furthers division among the miners. That will bring the mine down. It may end up closing for good if the company running it bails out. My job is to keep things from reaching that point.”

“But if you helped us—”

“I am, but not in the way of your choosing. I strongly suggest you make sure my message gets through loud and clear to your boss. If she chooses to disregard it and continues to interfere with what we’re doing behind the scenes, there will be a price to pay.”

“By who?”

There was silence for several long moments. Finally, Justine’s voice came over the transmitter. “Nez has walked off, and I still
have no answers.”

Ella smiled, wishing she could communicate with Justine but knowing it was impossible at the moment. “She does have answers. Nez talked about what ‘we’re’ doing behind the scenes. I’d bet my last dime he’s a member of the Fierce Ones, and that the warning was a veiled threat from them.”

“Nez is a strong-willed man. I wouldn’t assume it’s a bluff.”

“I’m not. We have enemies
on all sides, and they’re gaining power quickly. Our job is to break that hold, but to be honest, I’m not sure how.”

As they returned to her vehicle, the cry of a single coyote rose high in the air. Ella kept her eyes on the path ahead, refusing to give in to fears she couldn’t support with logic. Coyotes were not to be trusted, according to traditional beliefs that linked them with Navajo witches
and bad luck. She saw Neskahi look around, but keep walking.

It was a coyote, nothing more, nothing less. Ignoring the way her skin prickled, Ella strode quickly to the Jeep with Sergeant Neskahi.

*   *   *

Ella met with Justine back at the office. She could see from Justine’s expression that her assistant was disappointed with the results of her meeting. “You did well,” she said, explaining
what she’d surmised. “You don’t threaten him, so he may contact you again with some information.”

“That’s not quite what I’d hoped for. I wanted answers now.”

“Patience.”

Neskahi came in, a triumphant look on his face. “I’ve got news. I’ve been following up on the caller who first made the report of the drunken driver, the one who led us to Angelina.” He glanced first at one of them, then the
other. “I played a hunch and contacted all the gas station attendants between Shiprock and Farmington. Nothing happened for a while, but I just hit pay dirt. I got a call from the man who owns the Last Stop on the road to Farmington. He admitted he had made the call when he saw the girl driving erratically. He said he’d known it was the senator’s daughter from her fancy red car, so he’d decided
not to leave his name.”

“Now we have another witness. Good job,” Ella said.

“Maybe we can talk to her parents and learn who she may have met in Farmington, or between there and Shiprock. She wasn’t gone that long, judging by the time the accident occurred, so we can narrow down the places she may have been,” Neskahi suggested.

“Do you want me to go?” Justine asked. “The senator may talk to
me more willingly than he would with you.”

“No. It’s important he know that I’m going to stay on this case until I get answers—whatever those might be.” Ella replied.

“Speaking of answers, I’ve decided on one myself,” Neskahi said, smiling. “If you can use another permanent member of your team, or even if it’s only part-time, I’m your man.”

“That’s great news, Sergeant. I promise to keep you
busy no matter how many hours the chief can spare you. And speaking of busy, it’s about time I visit the senator again.” Ella stood up from her desk and followed Justine and Sergeant Neskahi out the door.

Ella drove to the senator’s home, a less-than-half-hour journey. Abigail Yellowhair was sitting alone on the porch weaving a blanket. She smiled thinly as Ella parked in the driveway, then waved
for her to approach. “My husband is not here. Is there something I can help you with?”

“I certainly hope so. Can you tell me who your daughter might have visited in Farmington, or maybe between there and Shiprock? Did she perhaps have a boyfriend in that area?”

“Not that I know of, but she really loved to go shopping in Farmington. There’s a little shop in the mall on the west side that she
particularly liked. They carry very nice country western clothing. Do you know it?”

Ella nodded. She’d been in there herself more than once.

“If she was in Farmington she probably went there.” Abigail Yellowhair stared at the blanket she was weaving and sighed. “I used to be able to weave, but somewhere along the way, I’ve lost my skill.”

Ella saw that the design was uneven, but refrained from
commenting.

“I thought that if I did some of the things that had given me pleasure as a young woman, it would stop hurting so much in here,” Abigail said, pointing to her heart. “But nothing helps.” A tear rolled down her face.

Ella heard a vehicle approaching. She turned her head and saw the senator climbing out of a late model brown pickup. He strode toward Ella, anger flashing in his eyes.

“What are you doing here bothering my wife? She’s upset enough, or can’t you tell?” He helped his wife up from the porch where she’d been seated in front of the giant loom. “Stay here. I’ll be back,” he said, escorting his wife inside the house.

Ella waited. A few minutes later the senator returned.

“My wife said you wanted to know about my daughter’s shopping habits. Don’t tell me you’re finding
fault with that, too.”

“It’s not a matter of finding fault,” she repeated patiently. “I need to reconstruct what happened the day she died, Senator. It’s my job, and one that ultimately will be a benefit to your family and our people. I’m sure that what you want is the truth.”

“I know the truth. It’s your fabrications I have problems with. My daughter went shopping, got sleepy after a hectic
morning, and lost control of the car. Why not leave it at that?”

“The medical and eyewitness evidence doesn’t support that conclusion,” she said simply.

“Then take another look at where the evidence comes from.”

Ella kept silent this time about the presence of drugs in Angelina’s system. Mentioning that would end the conversation. “Have any young men come by to pay their respects?” Ella asked,
searching for a lead to Angelina’s boyfriend.

“No, but that’s to be expected. Our tribe isn’t big on funerals or funeral sentiments.”

Ella considered that. She hadn’t really expected Angelina’s mysterious boyfriend to come out of the woodwork, but it had been worth asking.

“Now I’m asking you to leave. You’re upsetting my wife and I won’t tolerate that.”

Ella drove home deep in thought. The
senator’s attitude disturbed her deeply. He was either really convinced that Carolyn had manufactured her findings or was willing to deny anything to save his political career: This was not just a case of a man unable to accept the lifestyle of a daughter who was now dead.

Ella trusted Carolyn. She was not the type of person who would have falsified documents and reports. Regardless of the senator’s
beliefs, Carolyn lying was not part of the equation.

She was getting near the turnoff to her mother’s home when she noticed a truck following her. The truck stayed well behind but kept the distance between them consistent, speeding up and slowing down when she did.

Ella picked up the mike and called in for backup. Neskahi responded almost instantly. “I can be at your ’twenty in five minutes.
I was just about to make a swing by your mother’s home anyway.”

She hesitated, reluctant to take him away from that errand. “Is there anyone else in that area?”

“Your brother’s pickup was parked at Rose’s house an hour ago.”

“Okay. I’m going to play this out. Stay on high ground and keep an eye out for any signs of an ambush or diversion.”

“Ten-four.”

Ella slowed down as she reached the road
that paralleled the one leading to her mother’s home, then turned abruptly, going across country. She knew this stretch like the back of her hand, and Neskahi would be able to keep her in visual contact without any problem.

She was halfway down the dirt track that led to some sheep pens when the truck behind her closed in. Ella stepped on the brakes, spinning her vehicle across the road. Using
the Jeep as cover, she drew her weapon and steadied her aim by resting her arm on the hood.

The truck drew near, stopped, and a moment later Billy Pete emerged. “It’s me, relax.”

“What the hell do you think you’re doing? I could have shot you!”

“You said you needed help. That’s why I’m here.” He sauntered toward her. “I have some information about Noah Charley you may find interesting. We believe
he was an informant for The Brotherhood.”

“Who’s ‘we’ and what led you to believe that?” Ella secured her weapon.

“I spoke to a member of the Fierce Ones. They’d been watching Noah and discovered he was having clandestine meetings with Truman.”

“Maybe they were friends,” Ella countered, not really believing it but still annoyed.

“It’s up to you to check that out. You said you could keep things
from getting worse at the mine if you got some help, so that’s what I’m giving you.”

“Tell me this: Can you think of a reason why The Brotherhood would try to hurt Senator Yellowhair’s daughter? Does The Brotherhood have any hold on him?”

Billy Pete’s eyes grew wide. “I really doubt that. But if they’d killed his daughter, I assure you he wouldn’t let it pass. If he hadn’t been their enemy before
that he would have been afterwards. He’s not the kind to back away from any fight.”

“I realize I may be reaching, but that’s because there are so few solid leads.”

“I can tell you this much. What the mine officials are doing to make things better isn’t working. If anything, things are worse. Do you know Randy Watson, the Anglo supervisor? I heard he talked to you the night we all found out about
the shift changes.”

Ella nodded, remembering the Anglo who’d first spoken to her at the mine. “What about him?”

“He was in a bad accident. His pickup rolled three times. The seat belt saved him, but he’s at home now with a bad back.”

“You think the Fierce Ones caused it?”

“No, I don’t think it had anything to do with our people. I think that if anyone was responsible, it was the Anglos. Some
were angry that he’d spoken to you. Like the rest of us, they want to handle this without the police.”

“Thanks for the tips on Watson and Charley. I’ll check them out.”

“There’s something I’d like you to do for me.”

“What is it?”

“Don’t write me up in any of your reports and don’t talk about our meetings to anyone. I’d like my head to remain attached to my shoulders.”

“That’s standard operating
procedure. Your name never appears, just a code designation.”

“Okay then. Just keep it that way.”

As Billy drove away Ella headed home. It wasn’t late, but there were matters to take care of there.