Read Online Blackening Song by Aimée & David Thurlo - Free Book Online

with the murder? She glanced at Loretta, hoping she’d have an answer that would satisfy Blalock.
    To her credit, Loretta didn’t even flinch. “I think it would be obvious. Someone is trying to frame my husband.”

FIVE
    Ella could see that Blalock was getting impatient. He’d learned nothing new, despite some rather inspired questioning.
    Suddenly he changed tactics. “Ma’am, are you acquainted with your husband’s religious practices? Specifically, ritual sacrifices and that sort of thing?”
    Even in the lantern light Ella saw Loretta’s face grow several shades paler. “That isn’t an acceptable subject—”
    Ella felt the cold stare Loretta’s brother gave her. She stood and motioned Blalock outside. Blalock remained rock still, ignoring her. Annoyed, Ella crossed the hogan and nudged his shoulder with her knee, bumping into him until he stood.
    “Cut the crap, will you?” he growled. Looking at the impassive, closed faces around him, he grudgingly left the hogan.
    Ella knew that the inference that Cliffordhad been involved with witchcraft had not only offended but frightened those in the hogan. To speak of a powerful evil was to invite it into your life. Ella was frustrated that superstition was interfering with the investigation, but she knew pushing further now would accomplish nothing. She tried to apologize to Loretta.
    “Sister-in-law, have you become so much a part of their world that youvouch for them so easily?” Loretta asked.
    When she tried to answer, Ella found that the words lodged in her throat. As Ella walked outside, Loretta moved to stand beside her brother, blocking the doorway. Ella knew with certainty she wouldn’t be welcomed back.
    She joined Blalock by his truck. “You blew it big-time—for both of us. You’re not that new around here. You know better than to pulla stunt like that!”
    “I was getting non-answers, and you know it. I had to press the issue,” Blalock complained.
    “How do you figure you’re going to get anywhere by ignoring our ways?”
    “Oh, please. I handled her with kid gloves.”
    “You insulted her, and everyone in there. And since I made the mistake of vouching for you, your actions fall on me too.”
    “I’m investigating a ritual murder. I needto know what motivated the killer.”
    “Let me see the M.E.’s report.”
    “Not here. I prefer someplace out of rifle range of this hut. There’s a diner along the main highway, just off the reservation.” He motioned her inside his vehicle.
    “You want to go to my mother’s place instead of the diner? The ride’s bumpy, but it’s a lot closer.”
    “No offense, but I prefer neutral ground, where I won’t haveto mince my words or be politically correct,” Blalock grumbled.
    Moments later they were under way. “It’s a good thing my pickup has four-wheel drive. The ruts in the road are the size of the Grand Canyon.” Blalock paused. “This is your home, Clah, not mine. You want to love it, ruts and all, that’s fine. All I want is a murderer brought to justice. How about giving me something to go on? Thisis no ordinary heat-of-passion murder. There are things going on here that nobody, not even the chief of police, will talk about.”
    “You’re dealing with ancient taboos, things that are hard for any of us to speak openly about.”
    “Oh, come on,” he said incredulously. “The people back in that hogan might have that problem, but you don’t. I was told you don’t even speak Navajo, that you’re more Anglothan the Anglos. That’s practically a quote.”
    “From my father-in-law?”
    “So, Randall Clah, the chief of police, is your father-in-law?” he observed. “I wondered about the last names.”
    “I married his son right after high school graduation. Then Eugene went into the Army Rangers. After months of surviving dangerous training exercises, he died in a traffic accident off base.”
    “Tough break.” Blalocklapsed into a thoughtful silence.
    Ella stared into