Turquoise Girl (9 page)

“By converting them, you mean.”

“Yeah, I guess, but it’s not a hard sell. He tells us he’s just
offering an outstretched hand in the name of Jesus Christ. It’s up to them whether they take it or not.”

“Think hard, Justine. Are you sure it’s all that low-key? How does he sound when he goes one-on-one with someone? My father used to bring out the ole fire and brimstone speech whenever he felt he wasn’t making headway.”

“He’s nothing like your father used to be, I’ve heard them both. True,
I’ve never seen Campbell in action outside church, but, Ella, you’ve met the man and spoken with him several times. Does he strike you as the type to thump people on the head with a Bible?”

The mental picture made Ella laugh. “That’s the most colorful description I’ve ever heard of a Bible-thumper. Okay. Point taken.” Reverend Campbell looked more like a kewpie doll than a preacher.

Ella fell
silent during the rest of the drive. Dawn’s father, Kevin, and she were still friends but the fact that Dawn had chosen to stay with him for now still stung. She understood the reason for it—Dawn and her horse were inseparable—but she missed her daughter terribly.

“How do you want to handle this with Boots? Go easy?” Justine asked, interrupting her thoughts.

Ella took a deep breath then let
it out slowly. “No. We’ll treat her the same as anyone else.” There were no personal considerations when it came to a murder case.

They arrived at Kevin’s home twenty minutes later. The house itself was less than ten years old, and Kevin had recently added a corral and had stalls built for Chieftain, Ella’s horse, and Wind, Dawn’s pony. To her surprise, there was a third stall there, too. As
she watched, a large dapple gray gelding, like the ones Dawn had always favored, came out prancing.

“If he bought her a horse without my permission, I may shoot him,” Ella grumbled. “Or at the very least Taser his butt.”

Ella strode up to the door so quickly Justine had a hard time keeping up. Just as they stepped up onto the wooden porch, Kevin came out, dressed in an expensive oxford dress
shirt and chino pants that screamed old money. Of course his five-hundred-dollar watch added to that image, as did his Italian loafers. Even as a tribal lawyer, Kevin did well for himself financially.

“It’s good to see you, Ella. And Justine, hi,” he said, then glanced back at Ella. “You’ve got great timing, mother of my daughter. I was just about to call you.”

Kevin was trying too hard to be
smooth, and it annoyed Ella. “Let me guess. You wanted to talk to me about that horse I just saw out there,” she said.

“Yes, but I can see you’re jumping to the wrong conclusion. The new horse is mine.”

It took Ella less than five seconds to go from a smile to outright laughter. Kevin was the type to ride in a Porsche, not a horse, and his current selection of clothing served to support that
lifestyle. As far as she knew, Kevin had never even been on a horse.

“I bought him from Mercedes Manuelito. She assured me he was a beginner’s horse,” he added, irately. “Boots has already offered to teach me to ride, but give me a break, how hard can it be? I mean you saddle the thing, sit down, and hold on the reins so you can control the animal. The horse is the one doing the work, right?”
He looked at Ella, then at Justine.

“All things considered I’d strongly advise you not to take that horse out of the corral until you’ve had time to get to know him under the saddle. Horses are very unpredictable,” Ella said.

“Yeah, like that idiot pony,” he muttered. “The danged thing
bit
me. No joke.”

Ella’s sympathies were with the pony. “Don’t ever let him get away with that.”

“I didn’t.
Well, actually Boots straightened him out. But this new horse is gentle. Boots looked him over before I put my money down.”

“Good. That was smart. Boots knows horses. But speaking of Boots, we need to talk to her. Is she around?”

He nodded. “She just gave Dawn her riding lesson and they’re putting the pony away now. Do you want me to keep Dawn occupied while you interview Boots? I’m guessing
this is related to the murder.”

“Yeah, it is, so please keep Dawn away while we talk,” Ella said, then added, “Just to make sure we’re on the same page—our daughter
won’t
be riding the horse you just bought, right?”

Kevin hesitated.

“Kevin, she’s okay on her pony, but she’s not ready for more than that. You and I had an agreement and I expect you to honor it.” Ella noticed out of the corner
of her eye that Justine was trying to distance herself, sensing an argument coming on.

“Dawn doesn’t know that eventually the horse will be hers. Nobody does,” Kevin said in a whisper-soft voice. “It’ll be our secret. Of course I’ll be the one riding him at first. Then, after Boots feels she’s ready, maybe we can let Dawn ride Willy, too, from time to time. She’ll be moving up to a competition
horse soon enough anyway.”

“And if I say no, then I’m the bad guy. Nice going, counselor. You knew
exactly
what you were doing.”

“Look, what’s the harm? The horse can stay here for as many months or years that it takes, and I’ll be footing the bills. Later this year, maybe we can finally give her what she wants most for her birthday—going for a trail ride with both of us.”

Ella smiled slowly.
Trail rides with Dawn took all day. That was why Ella usually scheduled them way in advance. Just the thought of Kevin trying to stay on a horse all day long improved her mood. If anyone deserved a pain in the butt, it was him. No way he’d make it—even if the horse didn’t unseat him on the way.

“Fortunately for you, we’re going to have to take up this conversation again some other time. Right
now, Justine and I need to talk to Boots alone.”

Spotting Ella, Dawn ran over, taking off her riding helmet along the way. Ella roughed up her daughter’s long black hair playfully, then gave her a quick hug. “Having fun?”

“I took Wind over some small jumps today! It was so much fun! A lot better than just stepping over logs.”

Boots came up behind Dawn. “We’ve moved to the next phase of her
training. She’s got a very good seat, but I’m going to insist that she always wears a helmet.”

“Good,” Ella said.

As soon as Kevin called Dawn away to help him brush the new horse, Ella and Justine accompanied Boots inside the house where they wouldn’t be overheard. “We’re here on business, Boots,” Ella said, waving for Boots to have a seat. “I understand that you were at the Double Play last
night.”

Boots stared at the floor. “It was a horrible place,” she whispered. “I’m not going back again, ever.”

“Why were you there?” Ella pressed.

Boots hesitated. “It was family business…personal.”

“I know this is going to be awkward, but I need you to tell me everything you know. This isn’t the time to hold back. Your mother’s ex-husband, the man you met there, is in custody right now. He’s
a suspect in her murder.”

Boots gave her an agonized stare, her eyes filling with tears. “All I wanted was for him to stop seeing my mother. That’s why I went there.”

“Start at the beginning,” Ella said softly.

Tears spilled freely down Boot’s face. “My mother was trying very hard to put her life together again and he wasn’t…a good influence.
But he didn’t want to talk about him and Mom. That’s why he insisted on meeting in that awful place. He thought I wouldn’t go.”

Boots cried silently for a while and Ella resisted the impulse to give her a hug. Even though she’d known Jennifer for years, touching another was not something that came easily to a Navajo, and it would have felt even more awkward to a traditionalist.

Finally Boots
took a deep unsteady breath and looked up, though she continued to avoid eye contact with either Ella or Justine. In the Anglo world, the refusal to make eye contact would have been seen with suspicion, but it was the way things were done here on the reservation. To look Ella straight in the eyes would have been a sign of disrespect—and of confrontation.

“Did her ex-husband agree not to see her?”
Ella asked gently.

“He said that it was my mother who kept coming to see him, not the other way around. He told me I shouldn’t be talking to him, that I should talk to her.”

“Did you?”

“I’d tried several times already, and I was going to do so again, but I never had the chance,” Boots answered, her voice fading to a whisper.

“Did you and your mother see each other often?” Ella asked.

“No,
not really. She and I…didn’t agree on many things. But Mom asked me to meet her at her place, behind that café, a few weeks ago. She was going to church again, and wanted me to go with her. I told her I wouldn’t feel comfortable being there. Mom said I didn’t have to believe or anything, she just wanted to do something good together. I told her that there were a lot of other good things we could
do together that didn’t involve her religion,” Boots said flatly.

“Did your mother mention anyone giving her a hard time?”

“No, but there was something going on. While I was there, her phone rang. She got angry and told whoever it was that she didn’t have time for all that nonsense. She told the person to leave her and everyone else alone.”

“Thanks for telling me all this. I know it was hard
for you and I appreciate it,” Ella said.

“The Fierce Ones—my grandmother has them looking for my mom’s killer, doesn’t she?” Boots asked.

“Yes. How do you feel about that?”

“I understand what they’re trying to do, but I’ve heard about their tactics….”

“We’ll get to the person responsible first, Boots,” Ella responded, hoping she would be able to back up her words.

“Find him soon, please.”
Jennifer replied. “I’m afraid my grandmother will get arrested or something. She can be difficult when she gets upset.”

“I know.” Ella didn’t need to elaborate further.

Justine nodded to Boots, then left with Ella. Once out on the back porch, Ella waved to Kevin, who was trying to show Dawn how to rope a fence post with a lasso and failing miserably, judging from Dawn’s laughter.

Seeing her,
Dawn hurried up. “Mom, you aren’t going yet, are you? You just got here!”

Ella felt the sting of Dawn’s words. “I’m working on an important case right now and I’ve got to go back to work.”

“Once you’ve done with that, can we go on another trail ride?” Dawn’s brown eyes looked at Ella imploringly. “It’s been
weeks.
”

Dawn had mastered The Look, and Ella knew a ploy when she saw one. She glanced
at Kevin, who smiled innocently, and Ella suddenly had the distinct feeling that he’d already promised Dawn one. “Let’s let your father decide when, because he’s going with us, of course,” she said, working hard not to grin. Kevin would be in traction after an hour.

After saying good-bye to her daughter, Ella walked back with Justine to the SUV. “We need to stop by Blalock’s office first. He’s
been checking VICAP, and I need to know what, if anything, he’s found. After that, we need to interview the other employees at the Morning Stop Café. They worked with Valerie, and may know something helpful.”

Ella lapsed into a long silence as she gathered her thoughts. “This case has too many loose ends,” she said at last. “Why would the killer clean up the body and arrange it the way he did?
What message was he trying to send? And, most important of all, was Valerie chosen randomly? If so, then she could be the first of many.”

“A serial killer,” Justine said, nodding in agreement.

As they reached the parking lot outside of Blalock’s office, Ella got out but Justine remained seated.

“While you talk to Blalock, I’ll get the addresses of the waitresses and any other employees from
the café,” Justine said, bringing out her cell phone. “And Joe’s supposed to be interviewing one of the victim’s ex-husbands, the one who lives near Gallup. I’ll give him a call and see what he’s turned up.”

“Good. You know where I’ll be if you need me.”

Ella entered the old brick and stone building and hurried down the long hallway, an idea in mind. As she was passing by Bruce Little’s office,
he stepped out into the hall to meet her. These days, the ex-police officer hired out his services to the tribal police and others, maintaining and repairing computer networks. Craving more action than that provided, he also handled security for area concerts and events.

“I heard about the murder. Are you okay? I understand this one hit kinda close to home for you,” he said, his voice gentle.

Ella stopped, though she was in a hurry. Bruce Little and she went way back. Ella was one of the few people who could call him Teeny and not end up needing a new set of teeth. The tall and muscular, pro football player–size ex-cop had always had a sweet spot for her.

“Thank’s for caring, Teeny. This one’s practically in my own backyard, but I’m handling it. I’m working the case now, in fact. That’s
why I’m here, to see Blalock.”

“Don’t let me stop you, then. Just remember if you need anything, call me.”

“Thanks. I’ll keep that in mind.” Big Ed and Teeny were from the same clan, and that cultural connection carried a lot of weight on the Rez. No one ever complained when Ella, normally shorthanded, brought Teeny in on a case.

Ella eased past him carefully. Teeny could block the narrow hallway
all by himself.

Special Agent Dwayne Blalock’s office, last door down at the end of the hall, was smaller than the others she’d been in and hopelessly cluttered. The two metal desks inside were usually stacked high with files. As recently as a few years ago, two agents had been assigned to the Four Corners area, but Blalock was the only one who’d managed to stick around for long. The younger
agents could never get out fast enough because there was no opportunity for career advancement as long as they stayed here. In fact, this was the type of assignment young agents went out of their way to avoid.

“About time you got here, Clah. I’ve been digging through VICAP and I uncovered something interesting. It was a case you and your old partner, Dennis Anderson, worked on at one point.”

“Anything you can tell me?” she asked, trying to recall the specifics. Only bits and pieces, like the fact the murder scene had included biblical quotes teased her memory. It had been over fourteen years ago.

“No details, just the category of the crime, dates, and the names of the investigating officers. It’s a cold case, with no arrests and no suspects. The specifics are in another California
agency database I can’t get into directly. I’ve put in a request, so I’ll have more for you soon.”

“Can you access my old Bureau files and maybe cross-reference? That’ll at least give us part of the picture.”

He tried for a few minutes, then looked over at her. “Come back in a while. I can’t work with you sitting there staring at me.”

Leaving Blalock at the keyboard, Ella walked back outside
and joined Justine, who was still on the phone. As Ella slipped inside the patrol vehicle and fastened her seat belt, Justine hung up and glanced over.

“The Morning Stop Café has two waitresses, Ella. Lea Garner was part-time until a few days ago when she got fired. Lynn Bidtah’s full-time. She also helps Stan Brewster with the cooking. Since Lea was just fired, she might be willing to give us
more dirt on Brewster than Lynn. So, what do you say we go see her first?”

“Good idea,” Ella said.

They drove to an area of scattered homes, site-built houses provided by the NHA. These structures were nicer than most Navajo homes, and many had late-model vehicles parked outside. “Lea’s parents are professionals?” Ella asked, seeing the address where they were headed. The house was spacious
for a reservation residence.

Justine nodded. “Her dad, Arnold, is a mining engineer. Her mother, Vina, is a nurse.”

“Any idea why Lea got fired?”

“Not really, but I guess we’re about to find out.”

As they pulled up into the graveled driveway, a middle-aged woman wearing slacks and a long-sleeved red sweater came out of the house, cell phone pressed to her ear with one hand and keys and a purse
in the other. Seeing them, she ended the call and went over to meet them just as Ella stepped out of the SUV.

“I’m Vina Garner. Do you need to talk to me?” she asked quickly as Ella flashed her badge. “I was on my way to the store.”

“Don’t let us slow you down then, Mrs. Garner. We only need to speak to your daughter, Lea,” Ella said.

“I heard about the death of that woman. My girl isn’t some
kind of suspect, is she?” the woman asked.

“Not at all,” Ella said calmly. “We just need to ask her a few questions.” Ella noticed someone standing at the open door, listening.

“Well, you might have wasted a trip. Lea was home that day and won’t know a thing.”

A young woman around nineteen, wearing a tight sweater and even tighter, low-cut jeans, came out onto the porch. Her hair was long and
pulled back into one long, loose braid that fell halfway down her back. “
Mom,
they said they wanted to talk to
me,
” she said and rolled her mascara-lined eyes. “I’ll be fine, now go on and do your shopping.”

As Mrs. Garner got into her vehicle, her daughter waved to Ella and Justine, inviting them inside.

“Sorry about that, officers. I wish I didn’t have to live at home, but until I get out
of school, I’m stuck here,” she said, plopping down onto the couch and inviting Ella and Justine to take a seat. “You want me to tell you about Valerie, right?”

“As a matter of fact, yes,” Ella said.

“For a woman old enough to be my mom, she was all right. She started off as a waitress at the café, went to school at the same time, and ended up doing Brewster’s books. She was a superhard worker.
And street-smart, too. Valerie could say no and still get what she wanted,” she added, in a barely audible voice.

“What do you mean by that?” Ella asked.

Lea shrugged. “Brewster’s a dirty old man. He liked hiring waitresses who looked like me. With curves, you know? And if you played along with his games, then you’d get extra.”

“What games?” Ella pressed.

“After we closed for the day, he’d
catch one of us alone and ask us to strip for him, to music, like at a strip club. He’d tell us what to take off next. He kept his clothes on, so nothing was going to happen. It wasn’t a big deal, at first, and he’d pay us for it. Then one day he told me he wanted to give me a bath—lather me up and make me feel good all over. That just creeped me out. Him touching me. I told him I wasn’t interested.
Two days later, he fired me. He said I was being rude to the customers.”

Ella and Justine exchanged glances. “Did Valerie play his games?” Ella asked.

Lea nodded. “I think she did at the beginning. But Valerie had serious clout these days. She kept his books and made his daily deposits so I think he was afraid to push it. He’d still come on to her, making little suggestions, but she’d just laugh
and walk away.”

“Do you think it’s possible that Brewster killed her?”

Lea considered it for a long time before finally answering. “I don’t think so. He liked Valerie…and I think he respected her, too. He told me once that he admired the way she’d pulled herself out of the gutter.”

“Is Brewster a Christian?”

She laughed. “Naw, he’s a real hypocrite. He’s looking out for himself—for old number
one. See what I’m saying?”

Ella nodded. “Is there anything else you can tell me about Brewster?”

“He’s doing his thing with Lynn now, last I heard. She’s hoping he’ll eventually leave his wife and marry her. But who in their right mind would want a pervert like Stan?”

Ella stood, and Justine followed suit. After thanking Lea and giving her Ella’s business card, they returned to their unit.

“I want to go talk to Lynn, but first we’re going to pay Brewster a little visit,” Ella said as they were driving away. Before they got to the highway, Dispatch came through on the radio.

“SI One, see the minister at Good Shepherd church. Reverend Campbell needs you to take a look at a message someone left for him.”

Justine spun the vehicle around, and was racing up the mesa even before Ella
racked the mike. They arrived at the church less than five minutes later. Coming up the road, it was obvious why Campbell had called. The large, carved sign that had stood beside the steps of the main entrance was now flat on the ground. The wooden post that had held it upright had been snapped in half. A long length of heavy rope was still tied around the sign.

“Did you see this happen?” Ella
asked, joining Reverend Campbell.

“I was alone working when I heard the commotion. I rushed out from my office just in time to see them driving away, going north,” Campbell said in an unsteady voice. “It was two people in a big gold or bronze Ford pickup. I didn’t notice the license plate. They must have attached the rope to a bumper or trailer hitch.”

“Anything else?” Ella asked.

“They left
a note. It was stuck to the entrance door with a knife.”

“Did you touch any part of it?” Ella asked.

Reverend Campbell nodded, looking disgusted with himself. “I should have known better, I know. But I came rushing out sure that there’d been an accident. When I saw what had happened, I could hardly believe it. I was on my way back in to call the police when I saw the note and the knife stuck
on the door…of God’s house. It was an offense—do you understand? That’s why I reacted without even thinking. I pulled the knife out and grabbed the note.”