lived over by Shoe Game Wash—that’s north of Beclabito.”
Ella smiled, recalling the area from her father’s tent revival days. He’d preached in that community on several occasions.
A few more minutes of silence went by, then he looked up at her. There were questions mirroredin his eyes, but instead of voicing them, he stood.
Ella knew then that the interview was over. “Thank you for your time, Uncle.” Ella reached into her pocket for her business card. “Please call me if you hear, or see, anything unusual, or if you notice any strangers hanging around.”
He took the card. “I will.”
As they walked back toward their SUV, Ella could feel the man’s eyes still on them.He had many questions but hadn’t spoken up. Words had power, so fear and silence often became allies here in the Diné Bikéyah .
SIX
Ella leaned back against the SUV’s headrest, squirming slightly from the sore muscles in her back. She still ached from the bullet impacts and knew she’d have fist-sized bruises there tomorrow morning. “You’ve worked with the county’s lab tech before haven’t you?” Ella asked.
“Many times,” Justine answered. “She’s good and will share whatever she gets quickly.”
“Good. Stay on things. Letme know if the bullets found at the scene match the ones meant to take out the Bitsillie boy.”
“I’ll handle it,” Justine said. “Where to next?”
“I need to pay Carolyn a visit.”
“I have an idea. Why don’t I stay at the crime scene and help them wrap up while you take the SUV?”
“Sure, no problem,” Ella said knowing how much Justine hated the morgue.
Once they reached the crime scene, Ella steppedout long enough to thank everyone still there for all their hard work. After bumming a couple of aspirins, she drove into town.
By the time she arrived at the hospital, it was dinnertime, but there was no way she could take a break now. She’d called home while en route, but the family wasn’t surprised she’d be late. Word of the grave sites had spread far and wide.
Ella parked in one of the policeslots beside the emergency room doors, then rode the elevator down to the basement. The morgue was out of the way and easily ignored by a busy hospital staff focused on life, not death.
As she walked down the silent corridor, Ella was once again struck by the stark loneliness of Carolyn’s job. The majority of Navajos avoided her because she had regular contact with the dead.
Seeing Ella, Carolynsmiled and set down her coffee cup. “Good timing. I’m taking a break.” Carolyn went to her computer and called up the file she knew Ella wanted. “I’ve got preliminaries for you. The four victims were killed around a year apart. The most recent has been dead for about a year. The oldest, around four, naturally.”
“That’s a lot of time between killings,” Ella said, lost in thought.
Carolyn nodded.“There’s more. I’m still waiting for DNA, but the most recent victims were probably Native American, and the victim killed two years ago was female.”
“So they’re not being targeted by sex,” Ella said, thinking out loud. “If it turns out that they’re all Navajo, maybe we’re dealing with a serial killer who’s targeting members of our tribe.”
“Most murders, statistically speaking, are committedby others of the same ethnic background,” Carolyn said. “It’s who they hang out with.”
“Another interesting point,” Ella said softly. “Could you check the most recent body and see if it might be Chester Kelewood’s? It’s a long shot, but worth a try. He disappeared about a year ago.”
“I’ll get on that. Hopefully, dental records will exist somewhere,” Carolyn said, writing down the name.
Ella’sphone rang and from the ring tone she knew it was her daughter.
“Hi sweetie,” Ella said, answering. “I’m busy right now. Is this important?”
“Kinda. Shimasání has made enough mutton stew for an army, Mom. She wants to know if
Ella smiled, recalling the area from her father’s tent revival days. He’d preached in that community on several occasions.
A few more minutes of silence went by, then he looked up at her. There were questions mirroredin his eyes, but instead of voicing them, he stood.
Ella knew then that the interview was over. “Thank you for your time, Uncle.” Ella reached into her pocket for her business card. “Please call me if you hear, or see, anything unusual, or if you notice any strangers hanging around.”
He took the card. “I will.”
As they walked back toward their SUV, Ella could feel the man’s eyes still on them.He had many questions but hadn’t spoken up. Words had power, so fear and silence often became allies here in the Diné Bikéyah .
SIX
Ella leaned back against the SUV’s headrest, squirming slightly from the sore muscles in her back. She still ached from the bullet impacts and knew she’d have fist-sized bruises there tomorrow morning. “You’ve worked with the county’s lab tech before haven’t you?” Ella asked.
“Many times,” Justine answered. “She’s good and will share whatever she gets quickly.”
“Good. Stay on things. Letme know if the bullets found at the scene match the ones meant to take out the Bitsillie boy.”
“I’ll handle it,” Justine said. “Where to next?”
“I need to pay Carolyn a visit.”
“I have an idea. Why don’t I stay at the crime scene and help them wrap up while you take the SUV?”
“Sure, no problem,” Ella said knowing how much Justine hated the morgue.
Once they reached the crime scene, Ella steppedout long enough to thank everyone still there for all their hard work. After bumming a couple of aspirins, she drove into town.
By the time she arrived at the hospital, it was dinnertime, but there was no way she could take a break now. She’d called home while en route, but the family wasn’t surprised she’d be late. Word of the grave sites had spread far and wide.
Ella parked in one of the policeslots beside the emergency room doors, then rode the elevator down to the basement. The morgue was out of the way and easily ignored by a busy hospital staff focused on life, not death.
As she walked down the silent corridor, Ella was once again struck by the stark loneliness of Carolyn’s job. The majority of Navajos avoided her because she had regular contact with the dead.
Seeing Ella, Carolynsmiled and set down her coffee cup. “Good timing. I’m taking a break.” Carolyn went to her computer and called up the file she knew Ella wanted. “I’ve got preliminaries for you. The four victims were killed around a year apart. The most recent has been dead for about a year. The oldest, around four, naturally.”
“That’s a lot of time between killings,” Ella said, lost in thought.
Carolyn nodded.“There’s more. I’m still waiting for DNA, but the most recent victims were probably Native American, and the victim killed two years ago was female.”
“So they’re not being targeted by sex,” Ella said, thinking out loud. “If it turns out that they’re all Navajo, maybe we’re dealing with a serial killer who’s targeting members of our tribe.”
“Most murders, statistically speaking, are committedby others of the same ethnic background,” Carolyn said. “It’s who they hang out with.”
“Another interesting point,” Ella said softly. “Could you check the most recent body and see if it might be Chester Kelewood’s? It’s a long shot, but worth a try. He disappeared about a year ago.”
“I’ll get on that. Hopefully, dental records will exist somewhere,” Carolyn said, writing down the name.
Ella’sphone rang and from the ring tone she knew it was her daughter.
“Hi sweetie,” Ella said, answering. “I’m busy right now. Is this important?”
“Kinda. Shimasání has made enough mutton stew for an army, Mom. She wants to know if
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