Shooting Chant (15 page)

At long last, Ella shook her head.
“No, I doubt it could have been the Fierce Ones. Clifford would have known and, if anyone tried to come after me, he would have had their heads. He’s really something to see when anyone attacks his family.”

“What if they kept it from Clifford?”

She smiled. “Trying to keep anything from my brother is nearly impossible. Believe me.”

“Okay. It was just something for you to think about.”

Ella
nodded once. “I’m going to drive out to the college. I’m going to see if there’s some information I can pick up around campus about the break-in at the clinic.”

Ella called Wilson and arranged to meet him, then drove over. The time alone on the road, which followed the river valley to the northwest, gave her a chance to think. Too many leads seemed to be pointing back to the Fierce Ones, and
when an answer seemed that clear, it was either the unqualified truth, or the results of someone’s conscious effort to mislead her. The problem was that her usually sharp instincts were fuzzy on this. What she needed was more information.

By the time she arrived at the college, Ella couldn’t quiet the uneasiness that gnawed at her. She was missing something important, she just knew it.

Ella
walked to Wilson’s office, which was located along the perimeter of the massive, stylized hogan. It was early September and the semester had just started. Students clustered below trees, reading quietly, doing homework, or talking about their schedules. Everyone walked with purpose here, as if they had too many things on their mind which, of course, they did.

Ella reached Wilson’s office and
saw him sitting at his desk, grading papers, totally oblivious to her until she rapped sharply on the door.

“Hey, Professor, wake up!” Ella said, and laughed when he jumped.

“Don’t you know it’s bad manners to give the professor a heart attack?”

She sat down across from Wilson. “You and I have to talk, but between my schedule and yours it’s quite a trick to find time alone with you.”

He smiled.
“Yeah, Ella, but it’s always been that way. What brings you here?”

“I’m searching for leads in my cases, as always. Have you heard anything, whether gossip or gospel, about the clinic break-in?”

“I heard some of the students talking, but nothing you can use. The story is that nobody’s privacy is safe anymore, and if you want your medical records kept confidential you better leave the Rez to
see a doctor.”

“That’s not the kind of thinking that we need, you know. We already have a lot of trouble getting the older people to go to the doctor. If the younger ones start balking, too, we may have a serious problem on our hands.”

“That’s why I try to come down hard on that type of talk, but the fact is that, in the long run, the kids will make up their own minds. Unless the clinic improves
their security or does something to assure people things are okay now, they’re going to see a drop in the number of patients.”

“We’ll have to weather this just like we’ve done all the other bad times.” Ella leaned back and regarded Wilson. “Speaking of medical files and confidentiality … I have a bit of news for you. But, for now, it’s for your ears only.”

Wilson’s face didn’t betray his thoughts.
He sat back and waited. Though Ella was certain that he already knew what she was going to say, he did nothing to tip his hand.

“I’m pregnant.”

He nodded, not faking any surprise. “Are you happy about it?”

Ella smiled. “Yeah. I haven’t worked out everything yet, but I’m definitely happy about this.”

“What about your job?”

“I’ll still be a cop. There are a lot of cops with kids, you know.”

He smiled. “The father? Is it who I think it is?”

“It’s Kevin and, before you ask, he knows but I don’t intend to marry him.”

Wilson met her gaze and held it. “I’m glad.”

There were many ways to interpret his statement, but Ella had a feeling that if she asked him to clarify, she’d get an answer she wasn’t prepared to deal with. Instead, she continued. “There are things he and I need to work
out, of course, but I expect it’ll be that way from this point on.”

He nodded. “Will he take on any financial responsibility? If not, the Navajos won’t consider him the baby’s legitimate father—not even if they know he’s the biological father. To claim fatherhood around here, you have to earn it.”

“He’ll do the right thing,” she said, but didn’t elaborate.

He took a deep breath, then let it
out again. “Your baby is going to make some of our old enemies resurface, you know, if not now, then soon enough. They may try to get your child so they can control you. You’ll have to stay on your guard.”

She understood his concern. Both she and Wilson had lost people they loved because of the skinwalkers. But she didn’t really believe they’d be a threat to her or the baby—at least not for a
very long time.

“They’ve been quiet for a while. Let’s not look for trouble. The last thing we need is to stir them up. But, if they start something, we’ll finish it for them,” she added firmly.

“Maybe once others know the news, I can do a little digging from behind the scenes and see what kind of plans they’re making.”

“No, please don’t,” Ella said, a little more sharply than she’d meant to
sound. “You play an important role in our community,” she added, her voice gentler. “The kids and your colleagues look up to you. But if you go after people you suspect may be skin-walkers and start frightening people, you’ll focus the wrong kind of attention on yourself. That would serve no one, least of all me or you.”

“All right. I’ll stay out of this. But there is something I want to say
to you. I’ve heard about Clifford’s involvement with the Fierce Ones, and we all know that’s a vigilante group. You spoke of my position in the community and how I should guard my reputation, but that’s even more so for him. He’s one of our most gifted Singers.”

“Why don’t you try talking to him? Tell him what you just told me. He might listen to you.”

“I doubt it, he’s not that way. But I’ll
see what I can do.”

“Thanks.” She started toward the door, when Wilson called her back.

“Do you have to leave right away? I’m really desperate for judges right now. I’m sponsoring a pet expo on behalf of the middle school science club. The exhibition is right here on campus. How about volunteering? It would only take another twenty minutes of your time.”

“I really should be getting back.”

“But it would really mean the world to the kids, and you’d be helping me out, too,” he insisted. “Besides, Big Ed’s niece is part of it, so if you’re a little late, I’m sure he’ll understand.”

“You’re not going to take no for an answer, are you?” she said, laughing.

“Now you’re getting the idea.”

Wilson led her across campus to the agricultural center, then to a small room that faced an enclosed
courtyard. The animals were in pens, each with a small presentation notebook explaining what the animal’s use was, and how it served the family that kept it, and ultimately the tribe.

Ella joined those already involved and judged everything from chickens to rats, using a checklist Wilson provided. As she reached a crate in the corner, she recognized Winnie the rabbit, Alice Washburn’s pet.

“Whatever happened to the bunny this rabbit had? I remember Alice saying that most of the litter died.”

Wilson looked grave. “That’s a strange story. The one that survived was born blind. Her parents wanted to have it destroyed, but Alice refused to agree. As it turned out, the bunny compensates pretty well and Alice adores him.”

“So, it’s a good ending, though not a perfect one.” Ella said,
and continued judging the exhibits. When they finally finished, she handed the score sheets to Wilson.

“Now you owe me,” she teased.

“You’re entitled to be treated to dinner,” he said. “Let me know when you have some free time.”

“I will,” she said.

“About your baby…” Wilson started to say something, then just stopped. He looked away, embarrassed.

“Go on. You don’t have to measure your words
with me.”

“If Kevin decides to bow out, and you find yourself needing anything, let me know. I’d like to help you in any way you’ll let me.”

Ella took his hand and gave it a squeeze. “You’re a good friend. You’ve always been a big part of my life, and I expect you’ll be a big part of my baby’s life as well.”

As Ella drove back to the station, she couldn’t shake the feeling that trouble was
shadowing her every move. Even her conversation with Wilson had seemed odd. She’d expected more active disapproval from him. Things had gone too easily and smoothly to trust.

She sighed. Cynicism and pessimism were an occupational hazard for cops. She’d have to stay focused on the things she knew, as opposed to speculation. Her top priority had to be gathering more evidence.

As she walked inside
her office, Justine came to meet her. “We got an updated list from Myrna Manus. Not as many things as she thought are missing from the clinic. There are the drugs we knew about and some cash, but all of the medical files have been found. Now the bad news. When she sorted through the papers, she discovered that a few of the records were missing. The really odd thing is what was taken. Myrna said
that every missing record pertained to a pregnancy test.”

Ella suppressed a shudder. “Could it be that the test results for pregnancy in those cases just hadn’t been placed in the files yet?”

“That makes a lot more sense. They probably run quite a few. It’s likely that they’d occasionally make filing mistakes with all the paperwork handled there,” Justine said. “I’ll have Myrna check with her
people on that.”

“Good,” Ella answered. “But if they were really after those pregnancy test results, and took them all, this still gives us some important evidence. We know that three violent, highly motivated burglars broke into the clinic. They didn’t count on us finding out about the missing pregnancy test results so soon, however. These new findings suggest the crime was planned and not as
random as they wanted us to think. What we’re missing is the motive.”

Big Ed suddenly appeared at her doorway, and walked inside her office, his face too expressionless to pass as natural. When he shut the door behind him, Ella knew there was trouble ahead.

NINE

Justine started heading for the door, ready to give them privacy, when Big Ed suddenly gestured for her to sit down. “Both of you need to hear this,” he said. “Senator James Yellowhair was just kidnapped, apparently on the way to work. I want you two on this case as of right now. Everything else takes second place. Is that clear?”

It took a moment for Ella to process what he said. She couldn’t
remember the last time someone of that stature in the tribe had been kidnapped. In fact, she didn’t think it had ever happened before.

“What do we know about this so far?” she asked, her thoughts already focused, and her training taking over.

“I’ll tell you what I’ve heard, but I’ll be quick because I want your team at the crime scene, pronto. Twenty minutes ago, Joseph Neskahi found the senator’s
car abandoned near the main highway about two miles from the senator’s home. He called it in when he saw the state government plates and, while he waited, he found the letter the kidnappers left stating their demands. Just to make sure it wasn’t a hoax, Neskahi had another officer go check at Yellowhair’s home, but he wasn’t there or at his office.”

Big Ed glanced at Justine. “There was some
blood on the upholstery, so you may want to type that and get whatever you can. I want frequent verbal reports on this. I’ll have to keep the tribal president current on what’s happening, and I expect answers fast. Are we all clear on this?”

“We’ll get started right now,” Ella said.

As soon as Big Ed left, Ella looked at Justine. “I want you to go to the crime scene, get that abandoned car processed,
then head for the Yellowhair home. You’re friends with his family. You’re more likely to get them to talk freely to you than I am.”

“I’m on it.”

As Justine left, Ella, working on a hunch, used her cell phone to call Lulu Todea at the tribal newspaper office. Ella didn’t really like the woman, but if anyone would know the senator’s current enemies, it would be she.

Ella asked to speak to Lulu,
then started down the hall, toward the station exit. Through the connection, she could hear excited voices at the newspaper office.

“Hey, Ella. I was just about to call you. What do you hear about Senator Yellowhair?”

“In regard to what?” Ella asked, suddenly wondering how much Lulu knew already. The kidnapping had been discovered by the police a half hour ago at most. Ella reached the exit,
and stepped outside into the parking lot.

“Okay, let’s not play cat and mouse,” Lulu said. “I’ve got a deadline. I know the senator’s been kidnapped and I know that there’s a certain group behind it.”

“Which group?” Ella asked, feeling her blood turn to ice. There was only one group she knew about who’d use tactics like those—the Fierce Ones.

“That’s the weird part. One of the kidnappers called
here not five minutes ago. He referred to himself in the plural—‘We have taken the senator,’ ‘We have made our demands known,’ and so on. I tried to ask him some questions, wanting to find out who the group was, but it didn’t work. The man just cut me off.”

“Do you have it on tape?”

“I didn’t get a chance to do that,” Lulu said after a moment’s hesitation. “The call came out of nowhere.”

Ella
wondered if Lulu was telling the truth. “What else can you tell me?” She climbed into the Jeep, and started the engine.

Lulu hesitated. “Well, I’ve got a theory. I think the reason they didn’t give me the name of the group is that we all know which group would do that around here. The Fierce Ones.”

“Yeah, but doesn’t it strike you as odd that they wouldn’t claim responsibility outright?” Ella
pressed.

“At one time when they were anonymous, I think they would have been willing to do that, but things are different now that the identity of so many of their members is public knowledge. Actually, you should breathe a sigh of relief. Considering that your brother is a member of the Fierce Ones, you’re probably better off that they’re keeping the group’s involvement a secret for now.”