Wind Spirit [Ella Clah 10] (33 page)

“Okay.” Dawn looked up at her and smiled. “You’re coming back soon,
Shimá
. Don’t worry.”

Ella sighed and walked out without looking back. If she did, she was certain she’d change her mind. She hated being
forced into doing anything, and this was nothing short of surrender. As a fighter, that went against everything she was, but when it came to her child, the rules changed. Nothing was more important to her than Dawn.

When Ella arrived at Justine’s, she was welcomed warmly. “I’m really glad you’ll be staying here,” Justine said. “This house is too empty with just one person. Let me show you around.”

Justine took her down a very long hall that had rooms on both sides, some small, some large. Most weren’t furnished, but all had curtains or blinds. “How many bedrooms does the house have anyway?” Ella asked.

“Five, and a study. It’s also got two and a half bathrooms.”

“It really is huge. From the front it looks like any other frame house, but it goes back quite a ways.”

“The rent’s incredibly low, too. But you’ll understand why once you meet the horse,” Justine added with a wry smile. “So which room would you like? I have a spare bed in the garage and we can set it up wherever you want.”

Before long, with the three of them moving and assembling the bed, Ella was settled into the bedroom next to Justine’s office. The window that faced east would give her a beautiful view of the river valley when morning arrived.

As soon as she’d unpacked, Ella followed the voices and headed for the kitchen. Joseph Neskahi was pouring himself a beer as she walked in.

“I nuked your pizza,” Justine said, setting the plate before her.

Ella realized that she had six slices. “This is too much. Why don’t you each take one?”

“We’ve eaten like horses,” Justine said and shook her head. “Joe brought two pizzas.”

Neskahi smiled. “I’ll take one off your hands.”

“This is a wonderful place, Justine. You were lucky to find it.”

“You’re right, but it’s so quiet! I’m used to living with lots of brothers and sisters. That’s why I’ve been looking around for a roommate. But I’m pretty choosy.”

Soon, the conversation turned to the case, not unexpected with three members of the Special Investigation team in the room.

“While I was patrolling, I made it a point to stop by the campus,” Justine said. “My niece Julie is taking a few classes and knows a lot of people. But all I turned up was what you already know—Professor Garnenez hates your guts.”

“Yeah, so I’ve been told. Unfortunately, he’s got an alibi.”

“You want to take him down,” Justine noted from her tone. “The man really bugs you, doesn’t he?”

“Is it because of your sister-in-law?” Neskahi asked. “I’ve heard some talk.”

Ella glanced at Neskahi in surprise. If he’d heard, then it was only a matter of time before her brother did as well. “The gossip is just that—gossip. I know that for a fact. But I have to admit, if he didn’t have an alibi, he’d be a great suspect,” she said and explained what she’d overheard him saying to Loretta.

“Maybe we should take a second look at his alibi,” Neskahi said.

“It’s pretty solid,” Ella said. “The professor told me he was at the Quick Stop talking to Clyde Franklin. Clyde remembered talking to him that Tuesday because he’d been trying to watch part two of that TV show with the cop who hears people’s thoughts and Garnenez ruined it for him. By the time the professor left, he’d missed it all.”

“Wait a minute. I watched that episode. The program doesn’t come on Tuesdays. It comes on Monday nights, and they don’t rerun it like with some shows.”

Ella stared at Neskahi. “If you’re right . . .”

Justine stood up. “Want to go verify that alibi again with Clyde?”

“Yeah, as a matter of fact, I do.”

“Then let’s go. We can take my truck. Joe, you want to tag along?”

“No, I’ll pass this time. I’ve got to go home and feed my livestock.”

“I didn’t know you had any,” Ella said, realizing how little she knew about Sergeant Neskahi.

“Just one horse and two goats. It’s all I have time for.”

Ella started to ask him if his horse was for sale, but before she could, he continued.

“That old horse has been with me for years. I think he’s close to twenty-five now. He’s as much a part of my life as my gun and shield. I just wish I had more time to ride him.”

“If you hear of a nice gelding, a really gentle horse, let me know, okay? I’m kind of in the market,” Ella asked.

Neskahi nodded. “I’ll ask around.”

“Dawn been pressuring you?” Justine smiled. “It was just a matter of time, wasn’t it?”

Ella laughed. “With my mother on her side, I never had a chance.”

As they headed out moments later, Ella glanced over at Justine. “Thanks for letting me stay with you, partner. I’m not sure if I said that already or not.”

“It’s not a problem at all. Really.” Justine smiled slowly. “But you owe me one next time I ask for a day off.”

Ella burst out laughing. Her cousin never asked for a day off unless it was a full-out emergency—and she’d never been turned down.

When they pulled up at the Quick Stop, Justine looked over at Ella. “How do you want to handle this?”

“I’ve known Clyde for a long time, so I think I’ll just play it by ear. Be ready to back up what I say.”

“Got it.”

As Ella went inside, she saw Clyde behind the counter watching a small screen color TV set. Seeing them enter, he smiled.

“Hi, ladies. Back again, Ella?” he asked, smiling. “I bet you came in for a snow cone, right? Everyone seems to be dropping by to try out the new raspberry vanilla flavor.”

Justine bought a small one, but Ella declined. “I need to ask you about Professor’s Garnenez’s visit last Tuesday.”

Clyde looked serious. “You want to talk about last Tuesday?” He shook his head and shrugged. “The man has come in several times since then, and my memory’s not too good, so take that into account, okay?”

“Remember that you told me he interrupted your TV show?”

His face brightened. “Oh, yeah, that I remember. I’d waited all week. It was the second episode of a two-parter.”

“Are you sure it was Tuesday? I thought that show was on Mondays?” Ella pressed.

His eyebrows knitted together. “Yeah, I think you’re right about that. Maybe I got the day wrong. But he comes by practically every day.”

“When does he usually come in?”

“Anytime between five and eight at night, depending on how late he stays on campus.”

“Try to think back to Tuesday. Was he here that day?”

Clyde considered it, then finally shook his head. “I can’t remember Tuesday from Monday or Wednesday. Days run together for me here at the store.”

“If you happen to remember Tuesday . . .” Ella said.

“I do,” a voice piped in from the back. A second later a skinny girl barely out of high school came in. “I filled in for you at the last minute, Clyde. Don’t you remember that your daughter was in her school play and you went to see her?”

He thumped himself on the head. “Oh, yeah, Maria, I totally forgot. I’m sorry, Ella. My wife and I went to see her,
but I fell asleep. After it was over we went straight home. Not exactly a memorable evening,” he said. “I sure wish she’d gone out for basketball or track instead—not that I’d ever tell her that, of course.”

Ella turned to Maria and introduced herself. “Do
you
remember seeing Professor Garnenez that night?”

The young clerk thought about it for several long moments, then finally shook her head. “No. Sorry, officer. But that doesn’t mean he wasn’t here. I just don’t remember specific customers any particular night. After a few hours they’re all talking heads to me.”

“Thanks.” Ella considered what they’d just learned as she and Justine returned to the SUV. “Garnenez never said who the clerk was that night . . .”

“Then we should go ask him,” Justine said.

Ella smiled slowly. “Good idea. Let’s go pay him a visit.”

“Now? It’ll be really late by the time we get there. Since it’s not an emergency, let’s do it first thing tomorrow.”

“All right,” Ella said, wishing they could just continue working. Once she stopped, her thoughts would focus solely on Dawn and she’d dwell on what she’d been forced to do. And once she did that, anger would eat her alive. It wasn’t just that she’d left her child—it was that she’d allowed public opinion to dictate what she was doing. The only thing that made it even remotely tolerable was that she was doing it for her daughter.

“By the way, do you remember Reverend Campbell from the ceremony at the mines?” Justine asked.

“Vaguely.”

“He’s the pastor at my church, Fellowship Christian. He’d like to talk to you about your experiences in that mine.”

“Does he think he can convert me?” Ella asked with a skeptical smile.

Justine shook her head. “He’s not like that, believe me. I’ve known him for years. He’s interested because he sees it
as nothing short of a miracle and wants to find out more about what happened.” Justine paused, then added, “You can trust him, partner. He’ll listen to you, but he’ll only give you his opinion if you ask for it.”

Ella nodded. “All right. I’ll stop by and talk to him when I get a chance.” Although she’d never categorize it as a miracle—at least not in the sense he meant—there was a possibility that he’d give her an insight that could help her get a better handle on things. At the very least, it was worth a shot.

The “night squirrels”—what Rose called the random thoughts that often scampered back and forth through one’s mind late at night while lying in bed—kept Ella awake for hours.

As soon as the lights were out and her head hit the pillow, Dawn’s beautiful face appeared in her mind as clearly as if her eyes had been open. Dawn was safe at home, well cared for and loved by her grandmother. And after her experience at the mine, Ella believed in her heart that her own father watched over all of them as well. She couldn’t prove that what had happened to her was real—no more than others who’d had similar experiences, but something inside her compelled her to trust what she’d experienced.

Rolling over onto her side, she pushed back the blanket and sheet, hoping cool air would drive away the nagging thoughts that were keeping her awake. Ella imagined herself walking into Rose’s kitchen tomorrow and with the mental picture came the realization that it was her mom’s kitchen, not hers. Dawn and she needed a home of their own. Her mother had made a life for herself and it was time for Ella to do the same. They were happy at Rose’s house, of course, but after having raised two children, her mother deserved to have more privacy than life with a small child could give her. Ella, too, wanted a home where there was enough space for her to have an office, and where her own likes and dislikes would
be reflected. She needed to make a home with Dawn—and she needed a second horse.

As Ella’s thoughts continued to drift, she remembered the special men who’d come in and out of her life. There had been so few—only Eugene, Kevin, and now Harry. Gene’s death had robbed them of a future together. Kevin had been the wrong man for her, and now Harry . . . it just hadn’t been meant to be.

She turned over again, punching her pillow and trying to get comfortable. Justine’s pillows were just too soft, or fluffy, or something.

Harry’s image popped back into her mind—those damned night squirrels.
If
he had remained on the Rez or
if
either of them had been willing to make some major career changes, they might have been able to stay together. The attraction had certainly been there. But Ella knew that neither a physical attraction nor genuine friendship and respect were enough to sustain a long-term relationship. The fact that she and Harry were both cops hadn’t been a good thing after all. The thought that Dawn could end up with two parents in constant danger had placed a very real obstacle between Harry and her.

She lay there for a while, looking at the ceiling, then glancing at her watch. Harry was probably still awake, and they needed to have an uninterrupted talk. Their relationship had gone as far as it could and it was time for them to call it quits.

As Ella reached over for the cell phone, attached to the recharger plugged into the wall outlet, she nearly fell out of bed. Catching herself in time, she sat up. This bed was higher than hers.

Taking a deep breath, she punched out his number. The phone rang four times, then she got his voice mail. “Pick up, Harry, pick up,” she urged, not wanting to have to do this
twice. Finally, with a sigh, she realized he wasn’t going to answer. “Uh, Harry, it’s me, Ella. I’ve been thinking, and I wanted to talk, you know . . . Don’t worry about calling back, I’ll try again tomorrow or whenever. Bye.”

“How lame can you get?” she groaned, ending the call. She was looking around for the cord to the charger unit when the phone rang.

“Hi, Ella, I’m here. I think I know what you wanted to talk to me about.”

Harry’s voice faded a bit, and Ella wished they could be face-to-face right now. It would be harder, of course, but at least not as cold as over the phone.