in the shop anyway, not the impound yard. That’s evidence, partner.Maybe we can lift some prints,” Ella said. “We’ll also need toextend our search. We’ll want to check out the vehicles in impound and see why he broke in tonight. Looks like we’re not going home early after all.”
“Why don’t you go inside and get an ice pack on that bump, and I’ll get started working the scene? If you decide you want to power down some aspirins and go home, I can handle things here. I’ll have plenty of help if I need it. We’ll have severalofficers out here soon enough. Somebody’s going to have to wire up that hole in the fence.”
Ella reached up and touched the tender spot on her head. The swelling hadn’t got any worse. “Sounds like a plan. See you in the morning.”
One of the officers inside had EMT training, and he checked out her vital signs, advising her to wait a while and use an ice pack. There was no blood, only bruising,so after about a half hour, her headache better thanks to the aspirins, Ella left the station.
All throughout the drive home, Ella’s thoughts remained on the investigations of the past two days. As far as the case surrounding Ervin went, she’d yet to figure out what was behind the incidents. The money trail, usually the best way to establish motive, was murky at best. She seriously doubted thatany of the other phone companies in the state were behind the harassment. There was a lot more money to be made off the reservation from cell and conventional phone customers. There had to be something else at stake here.
Then there was tonight’s incident. Had that been just an attempt by someone to rob a vehicle, or maybe even drive it away? Or was it just another act of vandalism like the oneat the chapter house or at StarTalk, but this time in the department’s own backyard? Of course that didn’t explain the presence of a can of brake fluid.
Maybe by the time Justine finished working the scene they’d have at least some of the much needed answers.
A short while later Ella pulled into the driveway of their family home southwest of Shiprock. It was past seven and the outside lightswere on. She could see Dawn over in the corral brushing Wind. Boots’ car wasn’t around, but it was past supper and Dawn didn’t need a sitter when both Rose and Herman were home.
Seeing Ella, Dawn came rushing up and gave her mom a hug. “Mom, I’m so glad you’re
finally
home!”
“I appreciate the welcome but what’s going on?” Ella had a feeling that a brand-new headache was on its way.
Dawn sighedloudly. “It’s
Shimasání.
She just doesn’t understand. It’s not that she’s angry, but—”
“Whoa, start at the beginning,” Ella said, walking inside the house with Dawn. Hearing them come in, Rose came out of the kitchen—the only room common to the two wings of the house.
“Hey, Mom,” Ella greeted, grateful that her recent bump on the head hadn’t left a visible sign.
“I left some supper for youin the oven, daughter. It should still be warm. My husband and I will be home tonight if you need us.”
“Why don’t you join us in the old living room? We haven’t had a real family evening in a while.”
“Not tonight, daughter. My granddaughter has things to talk to you about.”
Now Ella knew for sure that there were problems brewing. Rose left, walking into the new wing she shared with Herman,as Ella stepped into the kitchen.
“You can fill me in on whatever is going on while I eat, daughter.” She wasn’t particularly hungry but if she didn’t eat, Rose would have a million questions.
She brought a covered casserole dish full of tasty mutton stew out of the oven, then retrieved a plastic bag from the crisper that contained four pieces of golden brown fry bread.
“I won’t mind if youwant to share,” Dawn commented, bringing two bowls and dessert plates out of the cupboard.
Ella looked at her kid and laughed.
“She ate already,” came Rose’s voice from
“Why don’t you go inside and get an ice pack on that bump, and I’ll get started working the scene? If you decide you want to power down some aspirins and go home, I can handle things here. I’ll have plenty of help if I need it. We’ll have severalofficers out here soon enough. Somebody’s going to have to wire up that hole in the fence.”
Ella reached up and touched the tender spot on her head. The swelling hadn’t got any worse. “Sounds like a plan. See you in the morning.”
One of the officers inside had EMT training, and he checked out her vital signs, advising her to wait a while and use an ice pack. There was no blood, only bruising,so after about a half hour, her headache better thanks to the aspirins, Ella left the station.
All throughout the drive home, Ella’s thoughts remained on the investigations of the past two days. As far as the case surrounding Ervin went, she’d yet to figure out what was behind the incidents. The money trail, usually the best way to establish motive, was murky at best. She seriously doubted thatany of the other phone companies in the state were behind the harassment. There was a lot more money to be made off the reservation from cell and conventional phone customers. There had to be something else at stake here.
Then there was tonight’s incident. Had that been just an attempt by someone to rob a vehicle, or maybe even drive it away? Or was it just another act of vandalism like the oneat the chapter house or at StarTalk, but this time in the department’s own backyard? Of course that didn’t explain the presence of a can of brake fluid.
Maybe by the time Justine finished working the scene they’d have at least some of the much needed answers.
A short while later Ella pulled into the driveway of their family home southwest of Shiprock. It was past seven and the outside lightswere on. She could see Dawn over in the corral brushing Wind. Boots’ car wasn’t around, but it was past supper and Dawn didn’t need a sitter when both Rose and Herman were home.
Seeing Ella, Dawn came rushing up and gave her mom a hug. “Mom, I’m so glad you’re
finally
home!”
“I appreciate the welcome but what’s going on?” Ella had a feeling that a brand-new headache was on its way.
Dawn sighedloudly. “It’s
Shimasání.
She just doesn’t understand. It’s not that she’s angry, but—”
“Whoa, start at the beginning,” Ella said, walking inside the house with Dawn. Hearing them come in, Rose came out of the kitchen—the only room common to the two wings of the house.
“Hey, Mom,” Ella greeted, grateful that her recent bump on the head hadn’t left a visible sign.
“I left some supper for youin the oven, daughter. It should still be warm. My husband and I will be home tonight if you need us.”
“Why don’t you join us in the old living room? We haven’t had a real family evening in a while.”
“Not tonight, daughter. My granddaughter has things to talk to you about.”
Now Ella knew for sure that there were problems brewing. Rose left, walking into the new wing she shared with Herman,as Ella stepped into the kitchen.
“You can fill me in on whatever is going on while I eat, daughter.” She wasn’t particularly hungry but if she didn’t eat, Rose would have a million questions.
She brought a covered casserole dish full of tasty mutton stew out of the oven, then retrieved a plastic bag from the crisper that contained four pieces of golden brown fry bread.
“I won’t mind if youwant to share,” Dawn commented, bringing two bowls and dessert plates out of the cupboard.
Ella looked at her kid and laughed.
“She ate already,” came Rose’s voice from
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