Earthway (32 page)

“Progress.”

“Sure, and
I heard that it was safer to walk the streets in Moscow when the Communists were in charge. How much are we willing to give up? Maybe balance will be restored again someday,” Ella answered.

“It’s a different world. That requires new tactics,” Blalock said with a shrug.

Ella sighed softly. “Have the monitors routed through Teeny’s network once you’ve got things in place,” she said at last. “Ford
can tap into it from there.”

The Bureau’s clout, and the cooperation of Whitefeather’s Internet provider, smoothed out what might have been a difficult process. It took less than forty minutes to get things set up.

Ella was at Teeny’s an hour later, when he and Ford received Whitefeather’s backlog of e-mail. “Even with the both of us, we’re going to need time to go through all of this, and it’s
one a.m.,” Ford said. “We might be able to do
some tonight, but the bulk of this should wait until tomorrow, when we’ve got clear heads.”

“I agree. And there’s something else you might start thinking about,” Teeny told Ella. “What we need most is to keep current. Waiting for the provider to send the e-mails to us isn’t a good idea. A delay of even a few hours could be disastrous.”

“What’s our
alternative? Can you think of a way to hack into his system?” Ella asked.

“Wireless connections can do the job, but I need to be close enough to set up the router. I won’t need actual physical contact with his computer because I’ll be picking up his WiFi, his radio signal, then relaying it here.”

“It’s pretty open around his place,” Ella said.

“It’s nighttime now and late—optimum time to do
what I have in mind. Let’s drive up there. I can set up what I need from a quarter mile away.”

“Let’s go.” Ella looked over at Ford, then back at Teeny. “Will Ford be safer with us than here alone?” she asked, thinking out loud.

“I can be of more use here,” Ford answered before Teeny could comment. “I could start going through this backlog of e-mails from the ISP.”

“And Ford won’t be here alone,”
Teeny added. “I’ll call one of my men who specializes in bodyguard services. He lives in Kirtland and can be here in less than fifteen.”

Good as his word, by the time Teeny got all his equipment loaded into the SUV, someone was coming through the gates. Ella immediately recognized the man—a short, stocky Navajo with a buzz cut and prominent ears. “Gerald Kelewood . . . I didn’t realize he was
back from overseas deployment.”

“Yeah, for about six months now. He came to me when he needed a job and I hired him on the spot. He’s not good
with electronics but he’s sharp in the field. He can handle himself and protect a target.”

“I don’t need a babysitter,” Ford said irately.

“You need an extra pair of eyes to monitor things
outside
. Yours will be on the screen,” Ella said.

After making
sure Gerald was in place, Ella and Teeny left. Studying road maps that Teeny called up on his laptop, they soon agreed that the best access into the area was using one of the gas-well service roads east of Shiprock. This would give them the opportunity to approach the isolated home from a direction other than the main highway.

The terrain contained numerous arroyos that extended out like veins
on a leaf. Choosing one of the low washes, they drove within several hundred yards of the small home without silhouetting the vehicle against the eastern horizon.

Once there, they walked as close as they dared, then Teeny got to work. He would access Whitefeather’s computer first, then activate the relay as quickly as possible. Afterwards, they’d hide the remote transmitter in a waterproof bag
within a trash bag and hold it to the ground with a big rock. At a distance, it would look like windblown litter, not uncommon within a mile of most New Mexico highways.

Teeny typed in commands on his computer then, after a while, shook his head. “I can’t get past his firewall, even with this proprietary software. The only explanation I can think of is that he’s got a really sophisticated system—one
that’s not generally recommended, or available, to the public. To hack in, I’m going to have to identify his software, and that means I’ll need direct access to his computer.”

“We can’t risk breaking in to his house,” Ella said, shaking her head. “Not yet, anyway.”

“I can tell you this much—the kind of system he’s got isn’t something an ordinary computer user would even know about. That alone
speaks volumes,” Teeny said.

“It does,” she answered nodding. “Thanks for trying.”

They returned to Ella’s unit and began the drive back toward Shiprock. “I’ll drop you off and then head home, Teeny. I’m beat, and need to get some sleep,” she said, stifling a yawn.

They’d been on the road for several minutes when Teeny broke the silence between them. “If anyone can find and break the codes
this group’s using, Ella, it’s Ford. He’s good, and he’s like a pit bull once he gets going.”

Ella thought about the sweet minister she’d thought she knew. He had more sides to him than she’d ever dreamed. Yet instead of pushing her away, this drew her to him. It was the curse of curiosity—and an overactive imagination.

E
lla’s first phone call of the day came shortly after seven the next morning, Wednesday. She was at the table eating one of her mother’s fabulous breakfast burritos when she heard her daughter’s excited voice.

Ella felt love’s pleasant rush of warmth course through her as she listened to Dawn speak at her usual, rapid-fire pace. “Mom, will you be coming
to work here in the city? There’s so much to do, and it’s so—big!”

Ella heard Kevin’s voice in the background telling her to calm down. She was glad that he was doing that much, at least. It was clear that Kevin wanted his daughter back East full time because he was convinced that was the right step for Dawn. Yet Ella wasn’t so sure about that.

“Oh—Dad wants to talk to you,” Dawn finally said.
Before Ella had a chance to protest, he was on the phone.

“Will you be accepting the job offer, or do you know yet?” he asked without preamble.

“I’m in the middle of a case. I haven’t had time to breathe, let alone think.”

“Okay, but heads up: A former agent by the name of John Blakely will be calling you soon. He’s one of the men
who started PPS—Personnel Profile Security—here in D.C. I believe
you’ve worked with him in the past.”

“Back up. Blakely’s going to be calling me? You gave him my number?”

“Not yet, no, but I will when I get together for lunch with him later today.”

“No, hold off on that. I need time to think things through before I speak with him.”

“You really do need to talk to this guy. It’s the opportunity of a lifetime, Ella. Wait until you hear about the benefits package
this company gives their people.”

Ella thought about her daughter. Never having to worry about finances again would change their lives forever. It was all so tempting. “If he’s that big on offering me a job, he can wait a few more days. Tell him I’m in the middle of a very complicated case—”

“The campus bombing? He already knows. He’s the one who told
me
.”

“He
knows
what I’m doing?”

“Not specifics,
no, but he mentioned that it’s a sticky situation—interagency—and that you’re leading the investigation. Even with all his connections and his security clearance, he couldn’t get anything more than that.”

Ella breathed a sigh of relief. “Have him contact my office and leave a message. Or send me an e-mail. I’ll call him back as soon as I can.”

Ella closed up the cell phone and saw that Rose’s
unwavering gaze was focused on her. “What’s this about a job?”

Ella told her, expecting Rose to be angry but instead, her mother nodded thoughtfully. “If what you’ve heard is true, then you’re facing a great career opportunity. What will you do now, daughter?”

“I have no idea,” she answered honestly.

“Remember that everything has two sides. Consider all the aspects before you give them an answer.”

“I wish my daughter’s father hadn’t opened this particular door right now. I have more than enough on my mind.”

Before Ella could reply, Herman came in and Rose’s attention quickly shifted to her husband. “I’ve made an extra breakfast burrito for you,” she said.

“They’re second to none, but I’m just not very hungry this morning.”

“You should eat something anyway,” Rose insisted. “I could fix
you some oatmeal, just the way you like it.”

“Yes, oatmeal, that sounds good,” he said in a more spirited voice. “And whole wheat toast.”

Rose glanced at Ella and, in that brief moment, she saw the fear in her mother’s eyes.

“Are you feeling okay?” Ella asked Herman.

“Sure. Just watching my figure,” he answered with a quick half-smile.

Ella was about to gently press him for more of an answer
when Justine walked in. Seeing the uneaten breakfast burrito still on the stove, she looked at Rose hopefully.

Rose laughed and nodded. “Help yourself, youngster.”

Justine didn’t have to be asked twice. While Ella went to retrieve her gun and grab her jacket, her second cousin ate breakfast. They were on their way moments later.

“Your mother is still the best cook around. You’re lucky to have
her,” Justine said, licking her lips.

Ella thought about the job offer in D.C. and all the changes that would bring into her life if she accepted. For one, Rose wouldn’t make the move with her.

Ella considered talking to Justine about the offer, but then decided to wait until she had more information. Leaving would also break up their team, and that wasn’t something she wanted to mention as
a possibility until all the details were on the table and it became a serious consideration.

“Kim’s staying on Farmington’s south side, across the Animas River. It’s an area of modest housing off of Hydro
Plant Road. I have a friend who lives several blocks east from there, along the Bloomfield highway.”

Ella kept her eyes on the passenger-side mirror while Justine concentrated on the road.
Morning traffic was heavy today and fast moving, but she was sure that they weren’t being followed.

Once they reached Farmington, she had Justine circle several blocks in the downtown area off Main and Broadway, to shake any potential tail. Satisfied at last, they crossed the Animas River, where Broadway became Bloomfield Boulevard, and headed back west to Kim’s.

“There’s no guarantee she’ll
be home when we get there,” Ella said, thinking out loud. “But I didn’t want to call and let her know we were coming. She’s supposed to work afternoons, so this looked to be our best shot.”

“If she’s not there, do you want to wait?”

Ella nodded. “At least for a bit.”

They arrived at the address, an old stucco house with a sagging roof. An ’80s-model Ford sedan was parked in the driveway. “It
looks like someone’s here,” Justine said.

Ella went up to the door, Justine beside her, and knocked. Moments later, a young Navajo woman wearing jeans and a sweatshirt answered the door. Ella immediately noticed that she stayed well back, in shadow.

Though Ella had her badge in plain view, it was Justine who first caught Kim’s attention. “You’re Jayne’s sister,” Kim said, not making it a question.
“You look a lot like her.” Glancing back at Ella, she added, “Jayne told me you two would be by. You’re
sure
you weren’t followed?”

“Absolutely certain,” Ella answered.

Kim invited them into the tiny living room and waved them to the sofa. “Make yourselves comfortable,” she said, taking a quick look out the window.

Declining coffee, Ella got down to business. “We have to
find your husband because
we believe he has information about a crime we’re investigating.”

“Have you tried his aunt’s house in the mountains? He’s happier there than anywhere else.”

“We looked. He’s not there,” Ella said, not wanting to give any details of their previous encounter with Henry.

Kim thought about it for a few minutes. “There’s one other place I know he likes to go. His father built a hogan close to the
river, north of the Hogback oil field. His dad’s gone now, but Henry goes there when he wants to be alone, which is most of the time these days. Thank goodness for that.”

“Thanks. We’ll check there,” Ella said, standing up.

“Be careful,” Kim said softly, seeing them to the door. “Henry was really poor growing up and it’s made him really bitter. That’s what led to his awful temper.”

Ella had
to bite her tongue, but managed not to reply. By the time they were back in the car, she noticed that Justine was grinding her teeth.

“Lots of Navajos were poor growing up,” Ella said, shaking her head. “That’s no excuse for cruelty and abuse.”

“The guy’s walking garbage. I’m surprised anyone would have stayed with him as long as she did.”

Ella took a steadying breath and forced the thought
out of her head for now. “Let’s drive over to the hogan, but take Highway 64 and cross the river at Fruitland instead of at Hogback. If he’s in the area, he might be watching bridge traffic.”

“Should we get backup?”