Whispering Spirits (23 page)

“I watched Worthington’s guys leave her
apartment empty handed. I waited a bit and went inside. They tore
the place to shreds. I did some searching on my own, but found
nothing.”

“So not the gym, not his or Ali’s apartment,
and not at his office. We’re running out of real-estate. I wonder
when Borden realized Jordan betrayed him and Worthington.”

“No, Jordan stole those papers from Borden’s
office…so he could blackmail Worthington. Borden was manipulating
Worthington with those papers. They aren’t working together.”

“Worthington must know Borden doesn’t have
the documents…but there must be something he still has that keeps
Worthington in place. You happen to know what that thing is?”

Running Crane found Summer’s questions
genius. He couldn’t have done a better job himself.

“Your mother was Worthington’s bed partner
until…until she switched to Lawrence Borden’s bed. Thing is he just
might have asked her to get crap on Worthington…because word is she
gave Borden names, dates, and invoices from his many shady deals,
and even contract hits. This information was hidden away…and is
also missing.”

“What are you saying? Worthington had proof
Borden is not trying to protect Native American land, but stealing
it for the gold…and Borden had proof Worthington is nothing more
than a wealthy money-grubbing swindler? Now both of them are
missing the documents to prove it?”

“That about explains it. It all pointed at
Jordan…but I can’t figure out how he could have gotten—”

“My mother.”

“What?”

Running Crane followed Summer’s reasoning. He
had to admit; she’d make a great detective.

“She’s the common thread between the two men.
She’s playing it both ways to discredit my grandmother. It’s all
about revenge. It was my mother who introduced me to Jordan. I’m
guessing that way she could get the scoop on things happening at
the res,
Nah’ah
, father and me. When Worthington tells her
about Borden’s plan to steal gold-laden Native lands, she pays
Jordan to steal the core reports with Borden’s signature on
them.”

“No, I was told they had Worthington’s
signature.”

“The way Borden’s sweating it, I’d guess he
ordered the core samples, then had the reports typed up with
Worthington’s signature. My mother realized Jordan had access to
those files so she paid him steal them. Then they showed up missing
and that’s why they’re so certain Jordan was the last person to
have them. The person with the documents has all the control.”

“How’d you figure Borden’s mixed up in
this?”

Running Crane moved closer, making his way to
the back of the couch.

“You might say we walked in on Borden and my
mother…together. I’ll be honest, we were expecting Worthington and
some woman…certainly didn’t expect her to be my mother.”

“Damn, I would never have guessed that one
either.”

“That’s what he’s counting on. Sit down,” she
said, dropping into a chair with her back to the window and his
back to the kitchen. “She made a connection with Borden once she
realized he also was involved with the land test results.”

“If she had the documents, she’s have them
both by the balls.”

“Exactly…except someone took them from
her…who do you think that was?”

Running Crane held his breath as silence
filled the room.

“How the hell should I know?” Joshua nearly
shouted.

“We figure that out and we’ll find those
documents. Once we get them we can get
Nah’ah
released, you
can get your reward, and this whole ordeal will be over.”

“How do you figure that? The three of us know
the truth and if your mother, Worthington, and Borden want your
grandma to look guilty for selling that land from under her people,
there’s no way in hell they’re going to let her or any of us live
to tell a different story.”

“Not necessarily. I agree they’re trying to
make it look like
Nah’ah
helped them buy Blackfeet land and
process billions worth in gold. If the paperwork is all tidy and in
place, there’s nothing anyone can do. It’s a done deal. But think
about it…suddenly all those core sample test results and
Worthington’s documents show up missing. How’s that possible?”

Summer had pointed out the most important bit
of information in the whole conversation. Running Crane wished
Joshua had something to contribute.

“Damn, I see what you mean. I just don’t
know.”

Summer pressed her fingertips into her
forehead. “Who are we forgetting? I think it has to be someone my
mother is associated with, because whom ever has them had to have
been close enough to get their hands on the evidence without being
noticed. You’ve been closer to this whole deal gone-bad since the
inception. Who do you think we’re overlooking?”

Silence filled the room and Running Crane
struggled to be patient in his hiding place.

“Wish I knew. Why don’t you come on out,
Running Crane,” Joshua shouted. “I know you have to be round here
somewhere.”

Running Crane stood and moved closer. “And
the only way you’d know that is by talking to Borden. Which means
you’re really working for him and not Worthington.”

“No, it means Stuart told me—”

“Stuart didn’t tell you shit,” Running Crane
snapped. “He hasn’t seen you since you murdered his brother and
pinned it on Summer.”

“He tell you that, or are you just guessing
like you’ve doing about everything else? I don’t think either of
you knows jack shit. It sounds to me like you’re doing nothing but
speculating. That ain’t gonna get you those documents.”

“Sit down, Running Crane, you’re making me
nervous hovering over there,” Summer said. “So you talked to
Borden?” She glared at Joshua.

“He…just asked me to keep an eye on you two
and let him know if…you find those papers.”

Running Crane sat next to Summer, facing
Joshua. “Since you weren’t upfront with that information we can
assume you’re on his payroll, too.”

“Too?”

“You think we’re stupid? We know you and
Worthington are in bed together. You find all those papers and you
can sell them to the highest bidder.”

“Something like that,” Joshua said.

“We’ll ignore you have no scruples or class.
We need to work together to find those papers so we can get
Nah’ah
back safe and sound. You can have any amount of money
they’re willing to pay…but you even once put my grandmother’s life
in danger with your double-crossing ways, you’ll pay. You better be
listening and taking me serious. We need to figure out where we go
from here?”

“How’d you know we’d be coming here, Joshua?”
Running Crane asked. It seemed the guy managed to always be in the
midst of things, yet stay in the background. Did Joshua actually
have those papers and was waiting it out…making sure Worthington
and Borden would be desperate and he’d get top-dollar for them?
Ruling out the possibility wasn’t something Running Crane was
willing to do just yet.

“Good question,” Summer said. “Where’s
Candice and…why are you at her house? She could never stand
you.”

“Candice is at work and…we’ve been dating for
over a year—”

“You bastard! So all the time I was pouring
out my deepest confessions to Candice…she was telling you
everything? How could I not have seen that one coming? So…she was
the one telling you and Worthington what was going on at the res
through…me? Everything
Nah’ah
and my father had shared with
me…I told Candice…and she told you?”

“Yes, but you didn’t know anything about the
land deal or Worthington until Jordan was killed,” Running Crane
pointed out.

“True. That must have been a disappointment
to you both. Thing is…I didn’t know much of anything.”

“Except you were going to take care of your
grandmother for the summer. Follow you and we know where your
grandmother was going to be.”

“You’re wrong, I didn’t know we were going to
stay in a tipi for the summer…oh, but my mother did. You kidnapped
Nah’ah
for Borden, not Worthington.” Summer stood, hands
pressed on her hips. “You couldn’t tell the truth if you wanted
to.”

“We were gentle with her and Stuart had an ax
to grind with you, so after we got her into my truck, he went after
the two of you. That’s the last time I talked to him.”

“Yeah, his ax was my killing his
brother…something you did—jerk! Finally a bit of truth, who woulda
thunk? So where does this leave us? We’re back to asking who we’re
forgetting that could have gotten his fingers on those papers
without being noticed?”

“Maybe it’s not a him. How about that mother
of yours, Summer?” Joshua suggested.

Running Crane leaned forward. “If she had
those papers, Borden wouldn’t be looking for them. They’re tight
and I don’t think she’d be blackmailing him.”

“Why don’t you go look for Jordan’s car and
Summer and I will…where did you put Jordan’s belongings?”

“It’s all in the basement here, but you won’t
find anything there because Candice and I’ve searched every inch of
it. We even went and checked the stuff you took back to
Browning.”

“You what? How’d you do that? My father let
you do that?” Summer sat back down.

“He…wasn’t there. All your stuff was piled up
on the front porch and someone had gone through it.
We…double-checked it, too. We found nothing.”

“’We?’ As in you and Candice?” Summer
asked.

“Yeah. She was going to say you two were
friends and she needed a dress you borrowed and hoped it was among
your stuff. But he was nowhere around.”

Running Crane drew in a breath and the smell
of pizza baking made his stomach growl. “I would think your father
wouldn’t just sit back and wonder who kidnapped his mother. He’d be
doing anything to find her.”

“How would he have known?” Joshua asked. “The
three of you were supposed to be at that summer camp for three or
more months. The only one who’d know something was wrong is the
supply pilot. From what I understand he isn’t due to the site for
another week or so.”

“Who did
Nah’ah
hire to deliver those
supplies?” Running Crane asked.

“Your brother, Terry, if I’m not
mistaken.”

Running Crane closed his eyes a moment, then
quickly opened them. “Think about that for a second. If
Nah’ah
hired me to bring the three of us to the summer camp
and then hired Terry to replenish our supplies—”

“That means Terry isn’t part of this
nightmare and he didn’t know about those cores when he was
transporting logs,” Summer said.

“Exactly.”

“What you two talking about, exactly?”

“Nothing much, except…Candice tells you
Summer is taking care of her grandmother for the summer. You tell
Worthington who then learns about the chopper trip and has
Nah’ah
kidnapped. Borden finds out through your mother but
I’m not sure how that works because I don’t really think Borden and
Worthington are partners. We’re missing a big piece of this puzzle
and that’s why nothing seems to fit together. Could this get any
more complicated? We’re no further ahead than we were seconds ago.”
Running Crane worked the tie on his braid.

Summer stretched, stood and looked out the
window at the quiet street. “This whole thing is one big betrayal
after another. I want to know where my father is and I want
Nah’ah
back. Put plain and simple, I want this nightmare to
be over.”

“Okay,” Running Crane said. “Joshua, Heaven
help you if you betray us. I’ll make sure the BIA crawls up your
ass so far they’ll see your tonsils. You locate Jordan’s car and
see what you can find. Take the damn thing apart if you have
to.”

“What you two going to be doing?”

“We’re going to contact my brother, Terry,
and see if it leads anywhere. I’ll call a couple members of the
Tribal Council in Browning, see if they’ve heard from John Timber
Wolf. Someone has to know something.”

Running Crane didn’t miss the nervous twitch
on Joshua’s jaw. “You look like you’ve swallowed your words, Josh.
Spit it out because if I find out you’ve held back, you’ll
pay.”

“It’s…it’s just that…Candice didn’t come home
last night.”

“I thought you said a bit ago she was at
work? Do you know how to tell the truth?” Summer walked back toward
the men.

“She’s your friend, isn’t she? I’d think
you’d care if she was missing.”

“Was. I think that ended the minute she
betrayed our friendship. You think it’s connected to your lack of
results?”

“Worthington hasn’t contacted me…I…was
supposed to have called him yesterday, but I didn’t have anything
new to tell him…and shit! It seemed like easy money for a few
pieces of paper.”

Running Crane stood and walked across the
room toward the garage door. “Drop Summer and me off at a car
rental and get your ass out there and find Jordan’s car. If we’re
lucky you’ll find those papers and we’ll all get back what we
want.”

“You’re not using that sweet ride you just
drove into the garage? Hell, I’ll drive it.”

“Don’t think of touching it unless you want
Borden’s men on your tail.”

“You stole Borden’s car. Damn, your ass is in
trouble.”

“Borrowed it…we borrowed it,” Summer smirked.
“Maybe you should stay here in case they contact you about
Candice?”

“I don’t think they will…or they would have
by now. The message is clear.”

Running Crane heard the tremble in his voice.
It seemed a shocker the man actually cared about someone other than
himself.

“They want to make you sweat.” Summer
said.

“I waited all night and haven’t heard a
thing. When you guys showed up, I thought it was either Borden or
Worthington’s guys coming to rough me up. You have no idea how
surprised I was to see you.”

“Why didn’t you ask about Candice when Borden
called you to keep an eye on us?” Running Crane took a few steps
back in Joshua’s direction. “Candice really hasn’t been kidnapped,
has she? You wanted us to think you’ve been compromised…that makes
you one of us. You needed to find out if we really knew where those
papers were…and to get a good handle on what we do and don’t
know.”