Earthway (12 page)

Teeny then asked Ford a few technical questions about his setup and software. Satisfied with the answers, he continued. “So you need a method of hacking
into Dr. Lee’s computer, whether or not she’s online,” he noted. “I’m assuming she doesn’t have dial-up?”

“No, she accesses through the phone company, DSL, but doesn’t leave it on—at least so far. I’ll be monitoring her IMs and e-mails when she’s online but I also want the ability to access her other files whether she’s online or not. The thing is, I’ve seen her laptop,” he said, explaining what
he’d found there. “I could get a government tech to come in and teach me what I need to know, but—”

Teeny nodded. “A new non-Navajo hanging around,
particularly in view of the recent rumors, would make you more of a target than you already are. You don’t need more attention, you need less.”

“That’s it in a nutshell.”

“Okay. I think I can help you. I’ve got this little piece of hardware that’s
got its own power source, so it’s nearly impossible to detect,” he said. “The tricky part will be installing it in her computer—particularly if you have to do it quickly.”

As Teeny and Ford discussed software, Ella watched the men. Teeny was the kind who didn’t make friends easily because he never quite lowered his guard—a trait that put others on theirs. Yet Ford’s ability to give the person
he was speaking to his entire attention, coupled with his knowledge of computers, had made Teeny relax almost instantly. He was now speaking to Ford as if he’d found a soulmate.

Smiling, Ella called Blalock. “What’s the status on that sneak-and-peek warrant?”

“It came through a little while ago. You’ve got a free hand now.”

Ella contacted Marianna next. Officer Talk was still at the station.

“I need you to drop whatever you were planning to do this morning and go check on Dr. Lee’s whereabouts,” Ella said. “I specifically need to know if she’s teaching a class this morning, and how long she’ll be on campus.”

“I’ll get back to you as soon as I find out.”

“Also, get me her street address. If there’s no street name, then directions to her home,” she added, aware that streets on the
Rez were often nameless dirt tracks.

“Got it. How fast will you need all this?”

“Yesterday.”

“All right. I’ll be in touch shortly then,” Marianna answered.

Ella rejoined Teeny and Ford as Teeny began explaining where the small device—disguised as a battery—would
have to be placed inside the computer. The directions seemed unbelievably complicated. “And that will allow him to monitor her computer
whether she’s online or not?” she asked.

“Yes, but if a good tech got a look at the motherboard, he or she would probably notice the extra ‘battery.’ The second that gets pulled off for a closer look, the cat’s out of the bag. This device isn’t foolproof. Nothing is—not these days. The best advice I can give you is make darned sure she doesn’t suspect the cover’s been opened.”

Marianna called
Ella just then, and Ella stepped away from the men. “Dr. Lee’s on campus now,” Marianna said. “Her classes are popular, and she has three back-to-back sessions this morning. She won’t be free till noon at the earliest.”

Marianna then gave Ella directions to a newer model home on Shiprock’s northwest side, several miles from downtown and just above the bosque of the San Juan river. “She’s renting
the place from Professor Anita Todea, who’s on sabbatical.”

Ella knew that area of former farmland, where old-timers had once grown alfalfa, corn, and melons. As the years had gone by, the land had been broken up into smaller lots to accommodate population growth. There were more than double the number of houses around there these days, but unlike modern developments, the expansion had been haphazard
and the buildings weren’t right on top of each other. The Modernists who lived there only needed enough acreage to raise a few sheep, cattle, or horses, and maybe have a small orchard.

Ella watched as Teeny demonstrated, opening up the cases of two different laptops, then a desktop computer, showing where the device would have to be placed and how it had to be attached. It was a delicate process,
and even trickier on the smallest laptop, where there was less available space.

Once Teeny finished, Ford sat back and looked around.
“I really like your office. You have a lot of nice toys,” he said in an almost boyish voice.

Teeny laughed. “One of the perks of the job,” he answered. Glancing at Ella, he added, “I have some other new equipment you might find useful.” He brought out what appeared
to be high-tech binoculars. “These are night-vision and have a digital camera built in. Anything you can see you can photograph at the same time.”

“I’ve never used one of those,” Ella said, not surprised that Teeny’s equipment exceeded what the department was able to get.

“It’s off-the-shelf technology, and this baby’s reliable. Hang onto it until you’re done with the case.” He gave Ford a long,
speculative look, then added, “If you’d like, you and your dog are welcome to stay here, Ford. You’d have everything you’d need to do your work and the place is secure—day or night.”

Ella stared at Teeny in surprise. Teeny didn’t issue invitations like that lightly. From a security standpoint, there was no place outside a military base where Ford would be safer. On top of that, he’d have every
technological advantage in the world.

When Ford didn’t answer right away, Ella added, “That’s an invitation you might want to consider very seriously, Ford. Your cover story could be that you needed to get some plumbing work done at your home, or that your cooling system is out.”

“I don’t know what kind of software or hardware you have, or will need, but I’ve got state-of-the-art,” Teeny said.
“I’ve also got some goodies not yet on the market that I’m using on a trial basis. You could use whatever’s here in addition to what you already have.”

“I accept your invitation,” Ford said with a happy smile. “Thank you.”

Ella breathed a sigh of relief. One problem—Ford’s
safety—was now resolved. “Now, about this thing that needs to be added to Dr. Lee’s computer . . .”

“I’ll have to put the
device into the computer myself, Ella,” Ford said, preempting her. “There’ll be less margin for error that way.”

“I’d volunteer to go along, but I’ve got a court appearance today for a client. How about waiting until tomorrow?” Teeny asked.

Ella shook her head. “We need to do this ASAP.”

“I can handle this,” Ford assured both of them.

“All right. Let’s move,” Ella urged Ford. “We’ll be back
later,” she added, thanking Teeny for his help.

As Ella hurried out with Ford, she filled him in on the particulars of the warrant and Dr. Lee’s schedule.

“If she’s in class, that’ll give us a set amount of time we can count on,” he said, shifting the laptop computer he’d brought along from one hand to the other as they climbed into the car. “That’s good, because I’d also like to search her
place and get some insight into how her mind works. That’s always useful when you’re trying to decode encrypted messages. Even if the code isn’t one she thought of herself, the way she employs it will be indicative of who she is.”

“I hear you. I also find that kind of familiarity an asset when conducting an investigation. I think the Bureau’s making a huge mistake denying me access to all the
materials they have on her.”

“For what it’s worth, I agree with you,” Ford said. “The problem is that bureaucrats don’t always see past the rules and regulations they’ve been taught to worship.”

She smiled. There were times when she would have said the same about preachers.

Silence stretched out between them, then Ford spoke again. “Bruce Little’s in love with you.”

It had come out of the
blue, at least as far as she was concerned. She glanced over at him, but could read nothing in
his expression. “Teeny
was
in love with me at one time—in high school, actually—but not anymore. In fact, he’s been seriously dating my second cousin, Jayne Goodluck.”

“Maybe so, but he’s settling for second best.
You’re
the one he really wants.”

“What on earth makes you say that?” she asked, a little
annoyed.

“It’s the way he acts when you’re around. His voice even softens a fraction when he talks to you.”

“We go way back, like I said before. I’ve helped him, he’s helped me. What you’re seeing is fondness—that of two people with a long history behind them.”

Ford just shook his head, smiling smugly.

As silence stretched out between them again, she remembered the question Ford had asked
her back in Teeny’s courtyard. She still wasn’t sure if that had been his way of proposing or not. But she didn’t want to bring that up now. The truth was, she wasn’t ready to make that kind of commitment.

“I’m glad you’re going to be staying at Teeny’s. Whether you realize it or not, you two are a lot alike,” she said, mostly to fill the silence. “You both like working with clear goals in mind,
and technology fascinates you. The biggest difference I can see between you is that Teeny dislikes structure and you thrive under it.”

“I
accept
structure if I’m convinced there’s a purpose behind it, but I make up my own mind. I expect others to do the same, too. That’s why I’d never ask, or pressure you, to accept Christ and join my church. That would have to be your own decision. You know
that, right?”

“You’d wish it deep inside, but you wouldn’t ask,” she said, with a ghost of a smile.

He laughed. “True enough.”

“I don’t want to change anything between us, Ford. I like the way things are,” she said after a thoughtful pause.
“There’s only one change I’d make, if it were up to me,” she said, giving him a playful look.

He gave her a knowing smile and nodded. “I’d like that, too—if
it were up to me.”

“Any room for negotiation?”

“No, I’m afraid not.” He reached for her hand, and kissed her palm. “It’s my willingness to be faithful to the Lord I serve that makes me the man I am. I’m part of a package deal.”

“Then I’ll live with it.”

“There
are
other options,” Ford said, and left it hanging.

“Let’s not get into a rush and risk ruining a good thing. Who knows? We may find
that nature has its own plans for us.”

“Accidents . . .” He shook his head. “I’m human, and our relationship poses certain temptations, but I’d hate to add regret to what we share. The right time . . . that’s all part of God’s plan, too.”

There was nothing more to say. Silence fell between them again until they reached the general area of Dr. Lee’s home.

They drove down a paved road that bordered
the neighborhood. To the north were houses accessed by long, gravel lanes, and beyond them the narrow bosque, the vegetation-rich flood plain lining the river with cottonwoods, willows, and tall grasses. On the far side of the river were fields of melons and corn, then sandstone bluffs rising to a hundred feet or so in places.

“I’m going to drive around a bit,” Ella said. “We need to come up
with a good way of approaching the house, since the area is very open in front. I don’t know what kind of security she has, and I’d rather not get any last-minute surprises.”

The target house, with a small orchard behind it on the west, was actually about a quarter mile down a narrow lane.
That gravel road continued north another half mile until it intersected a dirt road that paralleled the
river. Most of the other homes they passed were closer to the river, however, and shaded by one or more cottonwoods or other large trees. The closest house to Dr. Lee’s was more than a half mile away, barely visible due to a small apple orchard.

They soon turned around and headed back toward Dr. Lee’s house. As they neared the turnoff they saw several churro sheep grazing along the fence line
that bordered the lane. They saw no dogs along the highway or near the sheep.

Ella turned down the lane, intending to pass the house at close range. As they cruised by slowly, she studied the grounds, which were enclosed by a white rail fence, searching for possible problems. “All I can see are a few ducks wandering around out back, but it’s possible that Dr. Lee has a dog inside the house.”

“If she does, I’m very good with animals,” Ford said.

“All right then. Let’s go farther down this lane, stop by that tree halfway to the river, then circle around. We’ll go through the orchard where we’ll have cover, and try to get in through the rear entrance. She’s renting the house, so it’s unlikely she’d equip the outside with anything too fancy, like motion sensors or cameras. The last thing
she’d want to do is call attention to herself.”

“But she’ll still have taken precautions . . . that’s all part of this type of business.”

Ella parked another quarter mile down the road, beneath the shade tree. They’d be barely visible from the road, and, in a jam, could escape down the lane to the bosque and go either direction along the river road.

After a quick call to Marianna Talk, who
assured her that the professor was still lecturing, they headed into the field, discovering an empty irrigation ditch that ran parallel to the lane. Stooping low, they were able to get close to the orchard without coming out into the open.

Ella led the way toward the house, then stopped when they reached another area of concealment within the orchard. A search with binoculars revealed no motion
cameras or special wiring that might indicate a burglar alarm.

“We’re okay. Let’s go,” Ella said.

They’d just left the safety of the trees and slipped through a gate into the backyard when they were greeted by loud honking. “Geese! From a distance I thought they were
ducks
!” Ella shooed the aggressive animals away and got pecked in the bargain.

Ford threw several handfuls of feed he found on
a potting bench beside the building, and within seconds the geese settled down.

Not wasting any more time, they hurried past an old pickup and made it to the back porch.

Ella handed him a pair of latex gloves and slipped a pair on herself. The cylinder lock was sturdy, but vulnerable to bumping, and Ella had come prepared. Within twenty seconds, they were both inside.