running out of choices, consider it a viable option, if it’s done safely.”
“As far as you know, did Officer Franklin make any real enemies atthese meetings?”
“Jason did make a lot of people angry when he spoke against NEED, particularly me. But I didn’t have anything to do with his death, and I very much doubt he was killed because of his views on the NEED proposal. He fought hard to present his position clearly and unemotionally, and we all knew his first concern was for the tribe. Everyone respected him. The only ones I know the Dineh there couldn’t stand were the outsiders, mostly big-company Anglos, who came with their optimistic speeches and empty promises. Experience tells most of us that the energy industry promoters can’t be trusted. They don’t have to live with their mistakes—we do.”
“Yeah, good point.”
“I’ve only seen one Anglo at the meetings who seems to know what he’s talking about and tries to present theissue squarely, addressing both pros and cons. You know him. Delbert Shives, the guy who was just here with the leggy blonde. The Tribal Council has been sending him to Chapter meetings to give everyone an overview of how the new nuclear power plant would work. The man’s quick and to the point, then leaves. He doesn’t try to take part in any discussions.”
“I guess I’ll hear his speech sooneror later,” Ella said.
“I’d say you can pretty much count on it if you go to Chapter House meetings. Is there anything else?”
“No, just keep your eyes and ears open. If Officer Franklin made enemies because of his position concerning NEED, or for any other reason, I want to know about it.”
“You’ve got it.” Neskahi stood up. “In my opinion, a good cop got killed because he interrupted a crime.I’ll try to find out if any of the known perps in my area have it in for cops.”
She watched him leave, lost in thought. Something told her that troubles on the Rez were only beginning.
Five
The next morning, Ella joined the members of her Special Investigations Unit in Chief Big Ed Atcitty’s office. Justine had spent most of the previous day following up on every crime report filed within the past six months in officer Franklin’s patrol area, but had turned up nothing useful.
Justine spoke first,reporting what they’d received from the ME. “Dr. Roanhorse-Lavery recovered a .380 hollow point from the victim. It’s disfigured, but obviously didn’t come from the victim’s own nine-millimeter, nor his backup weapon, which was a thirty-eight. Neither had been fired.”
“How about rifling and ballistics characteristics?” Ella asked. “Is the slug in good enough shape to allow us to get a match ifwe recover a weapon?”
“I’ve got enough on the lands and grooves to say the weapon was probably a Colt Mustang, which has a real short barrel. It’s a pocket gun, basically. I should have more later.”
“Sounds like a backup weapon,” Ella commented.
“That Colt is a semiauto, so unless the shell casing has been overlooked, the killer picked it up and took it with him. Pretty cool customer,” Tacheadded.
“So until we come across the murder weapon, we’re nowhere,” Big Ed said, rocking back and forth in his office chair slowly.
“I’m now planning to go back three years and check any felony arrests Officer Franklin made, paying close attention to any cases where his testimony helped send someone to prison,” Justine said. “But, for now, all we really have as physical evidence is that bullet,a footprint, and the hairs.”
“Anyone else have something to add?”
Ella glanced at Ralph Tache, Justine, then back at Big Ed. “I think someone tailed me yesterday when I went to visit Professor Franklin to give him the news about his son.”
“You think ?” Big Ed asked. He stopped rocking and leaned forward.
“Yeah. I didn’t see any vehicle I could check on, but I had a strong feeling that I wasbeing followed. I realize that’s
“As far as you know, did Officer Franklin make any real enemies atthese meetings?”
“Jason did make a lot of people angry when he spoke against NEED, particularly me. But I didn’t have anything to do with his death, and I very much doubt he was killed because of his views on the NEED proposal. He fought hard to present his position clearly and unemotionally, and we all knew his first concern was for the tribe. Everyone respected him. The only ones I know the Dineh there couldn’t stand were the outsiders, mostly big-company Anglos, who came with their optimistic speeches and empty promises. Experience tells most of us that the energy industry promoters can’t be trusted. They don’t have to live with their mistakes—we do.”
“Yeah, good point.”
“I’ve only seen one Anglo at the meetings who seems to know what he’s talking about and tries to present theissue squarely, addressing both pros and cons. You know him. Delbert Shives, the guy who was just here with the leggy blonde. The Tribal Council has been sending him to Chapter meetings to give everyone an overview of how the new nuclear power plant would work. The man’s quick and to the point, then leaves. He doesn’t try to take part in any discussions.”
“I guess I’ll hear his speech sooneror later,” Ella said.
“I’d say you can pretty much count on it if you go to Chapter House meetings. Is there anything else?”
“No, just keep your eyes and ears open. If Officer Franklin made enemies because of his position concerning NEED, or for any other reason, I want to know about it.”
“You’ve got it.” Neskahi stood up. “In my opinion, a good cop got killed because he interrupted a crime.I’ll try to find out if any of the known perps in my area have it in for cops.”
She watched him leave, lost in thought. Something told her that troubles on the Rez were only beginning.
Five
The next morning, Ella joined the members of her Special Investigations Unit in Chief Big Ed Atcitty’s office. Justine had spent most of the previous day following up on every crime report filed within the past six months in officer Franklin’s patrol area, but had turned up nothing useful.
Justine spoke first,reporting what they’d received from the ME. “Dr. Roanhorse-Lavery recovered a .380 hollow point from the victim. It’s disfigured, but obviously didn’t come from the victim’s own nine-millimeter, nor his backup weapon, which was a thirty-eight. Neither had been fired.”
“How about rifling and ballistics characteristics?” Ella asked. “Is the slug in good enough shape to allow us to get a match ifwe recover a weapon?”
“I’ve got enough on the lands and grooves to say the weapon was probably a Colt Mustang, which has a real short barrel. It’s a pocket gun, basically. I should have more later.”
“Sounds like a backup weapon,” Ella commented.
“That Colt is a semiauto, so unless the shell casing has been overlooked, the killer picked it up and took it with him. Pretty cool customer,” Tacheadded.
“So until we come across the murder weapon, we’re nowhere,” Big Ed said, rocking back and forth in his office chair slowly.
“I’m now planning to go back three years and check any felony arrests Officer Franklin made, paying close attention to any cases where his testimony helped send someone to prison,” Justine said. “But, for now, all we really have as physical evidence is that bullet,a footprint, and the hairs.”
“Anyone else have something to add?”
Ella glanced at Ralph Tache, Justine, then back at Big Ed. “I think someone tailed me yesterday when I went to visit Professor Franklin to give him the news about his son.”
“You think ?” Big Ed asked. He stopped rocking and leaned forward.
“Yeah. I didn’t see any vehicle I could check on, but I had a strong feeling that I wasbeing followed. I realize that’s
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