Chapter 39

 

 

Ben and the convoy rolled in at exactly noon. They had gotten an earlier start than originally anticipated and with an escort of National Guard vehicles, the trip went smoothly.

Not that he hadn’t been absolutely jittery checking in with other drivers every half hour, and almost losing it when the highway patrol pulled them over to check paperwork. Luckily, written permits from the governor’s office got them back on the road quickly. But there was a huge sigh of relief by everyone when the convoy pulled up next to the newly constructed warehouse on the reservation and they were met by hospital personnel eager to help them unload.

Julie was there to help with check-in. Each pallet of supplies had to be accounted for and signed off. Nothing was missing. Mission accomplished. The building filled quickly and after all the trucks and SUVs were empty, about forty volunteers were ready for lunch. Ben and Julie and the chief found a table outside. Julie needed to alert the chief about the broken window in the back door of the schoolhouse and that meant telling him everything—even about how Nathan had saved her life.

“I didn’t know who pushed me out of the way of the boulder. Not until Nathan came to the house that night asking for our help. It was the bracelet—sinew and sea shells—I remembered it clearly. In fact, I think the bracelet came from Zac. Anyway, I was able to thank Nathan. When I saw the bracelet, he knew that I knew who had helped me. Because he had on the mask-head of a fox including the skins and paws, I believe that he was on some sort of training mission that afternoon—the incident with me was a setup to prove his loyalty to the Skinwalker’s society.”

“I don’t want you out there by yourself … ever again. Not the schoolhouse, not the ruins or anywhere on the reservation that you won’t have people around.” Ben was adamant. “I don’t understand why you’ve been singled out. But it’s dangerous, life threatening.”

“I think Julie’s idea that these latest bear incidents might be retribution for some real, or perceived, part in helping Nathan have a new life, of taking him away from here when his uncle died might be a stretch. I do think you’re right that setting you up to get clobbered by a boulder was a test for Nathan—a test of his ability to inflict evil. And it was obvious that he thought more of you than of being an accepted part of the Witchery Way,” Chief Billie said. “I guess I just want to add that this attempt at harming you might not be the last. But I need to look into the bear incidents. I’m not saying it couldn’t be a Skinwalker’s ploy; I just find it suspect.”

“Isn’t there some way to stop it?” Julie asked.

“If you mean arrest a Skinwalker, no. There’s a certain anonymity that goes with being a member of the Witchery Way. Basically, they hide in plain sight. Often, they’re a family’s best kept secret. Nathan’s uncle was a renowned Shaman in his younger days. Many Skinwalkers start out saving lives only to become entangled with evil later.”

“You’re saying the position can be inherited? Passed down to future generations?” Julie was intrigued.

“Exactly. In this case the honor fell to Nathan, his nephew. And I don’t use honor lightly. The family with such a tradition is revered.”

“Do you think J.C. was in training?” Ben asked.

“I thought so but I saw him as an embarrassment to the old man. J.C. was brash, self-indulgent—what is it they say today? Not the brightest crayon in the box? As a teenager he was out of control and there didn’t seem to be anything his grandfather could do about it or wanted to do. Something interesting though—because J.C.’s body was in a car parked along an interstate highway, there was an autopsy performed. It wasn’t drugs that killed him; he was, in all likelihood, murdered—probably a drug deal gone wrong. That’s the only explanation that makes sense.”

Ben looked at his companions and made a decision. He would be breaking his word, but the chief needed to know what he knew. He needed to know the truth.

“I need to share something and I’m breaking a trust to do so. I have to ask that the information stays here—among the three of us.”

The chief and Julie both nodded, and Ben began with the story Zac had told him about that afternoon when the two boys surprised the Skinwalkers, or maybe it had been planned-- they had been followed, lured into danger. It didn’t change that whatever brought them together in the caves, the ending was death—one boy killing to protect the other. And each child now safe and far from the reaches of the witches. Ben finished his story and sat back.

The chief slowly nodded. “I believe Zac’s story. Nathan saved his life. The hyoid bone, upper part of the throat, was literally nicked, a chunk taken out of it. A spear thrust upward into the neck with force could do that, as well as, lay open every artery in its way.“

“So, with J.C. gone, a twelve-year-old boy was the last in line to follow his uncle.”

“Exactly. Thanks to you and your son, Nathan got a glimpse of a family he never had—and a future that had surely seemed beyond him until you offered to make it happen. I think more than Zac’s life was saved.”

“Would Skinwalkers try to get even? Lash out at those they saw as standing in their way?” Julie asked.

“It’s not beyond them with the old man gone and Nathan out of the way, they may have changed their focus to a broader application,” the chief added.

“But why would Skinwalkers place a bear at the schoolhouse? Or use a hologram machine to scare me here? Frankly, I don’t see a hologram projector as part of a Skinwalker’s arsenal,” Julie said.

“Nor do I. That’s why I said earlier that I need to do some research. Not saying that Skinwalkers couldn’t embrace twenty-first century technology, but it’s pretty unlikely. Let me see if I can catch up with the deputy who chased the guy away from your window. He doesn’t get off until seven a.m.; so, I’ll give him another couple hours of sleep. Ben? You up to tagging along? And Ben? Thanks for sharing Zac’s story. It’s safe with me.”

 

* * *

 

Deputy Ashkii was a new recruit. Not a lot of locals wanted the night shift patrolling a medical field camp’s parking lot and trailers, especially when the money was just mediocre. But he thought that Deputy Ashkii aspired to bigger things, since he had added a hope to move into a more permanent position with law enforcement on his application. Chief Billie had made a note of that and shared his excitement about this recruit with Ben. This was the kind of kid that you could throw something a little more challenging his way and see how he handled it. Law enforcement was tough on a reservation. Drugs, domestic violence, alcoholism—he needed all the good people he could get.

“I forget how difficult recruitment might be out here.”

“Yeah, some just want the money—there’s no real feel for helping others, making it safe for families.”

“Isn’t that our man?” Ben pointed.

The deputy was standing beside his truck in the parking lot brushing his teeth.

“All the comforts of home, right?” The chief smiled.

Deputy Ashkii laughed. “It’s not so bad. I was thinking I might borrow my brother’s travel trailer. He’s got one of those little egg-shaped things. Sleeps one but has a fridge and a toaster oven.

“I’ll find a spot for it if you decide to bring it to camp.”

“Thanks. Electricity would be the main thing I’d need. I’ll let you know.”

“I’d like you to meet Dr. Pecos. It was his wife that got spooked by the air-bear last night. As you can imagine he’s hoping you can identify the guy who was running the projector.

This time an elbow bump between Ben and the deputy seemed appropriate.

“Yeah, I caught up with the guy. Seems like it was just a prank he was playing on your son and the other kid who lives with you.”

“Used to live there—both kids are away at school now. They’ve been gone two, maybe three weeks. Did you get a name for this prankster?” Ben couldn’t believe the farfetched story about scaring Zac and Nathan. Who thought that up? And why?

“Yeah, the guy’s name is Oscar Begay.”

“You sure? The guy who runs errands? Brings in groceries?” Ben couldn’t believe it. Oscar was a great help to the community.

“I guess so. He said he works in the camp, mostly hangs out over at the main office. Seemed nice enough. Maybe a little simple but eager to help me out. I got the feeling he was really embarrassed that he’d gotten caught. Even offered to fix the window lock on your trailer.”

The chief and Ben both thanked him and complimented him on handling the situation. It put a wrinkle in things for sure, Ben thought. They said their good-byes and headed back to the office.

“I can’t believe that.” Trini was only voicing the chief’s exact same opinion. The idea of Oscar as a Peeping Tom directing holograms through a window in order to scare anyone was just crazy.

“He’s off on a grocery-run this morning but should be back before five. No offense, but your new deputy just has to have it all wrong. Couldn’t someone have used his name? Just said they were Oscar thinking the deputy might not check?”

But when the chief showed back up at the office at five and waited until six-thirty with still no Oscar, he was getting a jab of cop-intuition. Something was wrong. Trini was fielding calls from people in camp looking for their groceries and prescriptions.

“He’s never been even the least little bit late before. I know Oscar. He would have called if something came up.”

“Do you know where he was going?”

“After picking up the grocery orders at Safeway, he was stopping at CVS for some basics—aspirin, ibuprofen as well as several prescriptions. I think he had a request for shampoo, maybe some other toiletries, too.”

“Call the pharmacy. See if he showed.”

Trini dialed and finally got through to a clerk. The chief couldn’t hear the other person, but Trini shook her head and mouthed “no show”. Oscar made a run to that particular store once a week so there was no mistaking whether or not he’d been there. They knew him and there was a box filled with orders under the desk waiting on him.

“What do you think has happened?” Trini was visibly shaken. “This is just so unlike him. I hope he’s okay.”

“I’m putting out an APB. I’ll let you know what I find out.” The chief walked out to the parking lot and got into the Bronco and then just sat there. Something was wrong. He picked up his two-way and texted messages to five of his deputies who would be closest to the camp. He hated inaction but couldn’t think of one thing to do that would produce positive results. He really was going to have to sit and wait.

The wait was short. Within forty-five minutes he heard from an officer outside Shiprock. Oscar Begay’s truck had been located, and Oscar Begay was deceased. Details to follow.