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John glanced at the wall clock over the entrance to headquarters. He had about an hour before the town hall meeting. It was one hour earlier on the East Coast. Too late to be calling but he had a feeling Andi would still be at work. He dialed the number.
The phone rang twice.
“Special Agent Andrea Callahan.”
“Hey, Andi. It’s John Iron Hawk.”
Silence.
“Andi?”
“I’m here. Nice to hear from you, John.”
From the icicles in her voice her feeling didn’t match her words. His mind moved rapidly over their last conversation. It had been almost two years ago. The content was hazy, but he didn’t remember any problems or disagreements.
He plunged on. “I’m working a case on the Rez. One murdered girl and two missing ones. Teenagers.”
“So you thought I could help.”
“Aw...yes.” John pulled the phone from his ear and looked at it. Should he end the conversation and try her later? “Is this a bad time?”
“A bad time?” she repeated. “No. Hell no. I haven’t heard from you in twenty-three months but what the heck.”
John watched the second hand sweep around the clock. So something had happened during their last telephone conversation. Something he’d been oblivious to.
“Aw...listen, whatever I said the last time we spoke, I’m sorry. You know me. Open mouth—”
“That was the problem, John. You didn’t open your mouth.”
Now it was his turn to be silent.
“So what’s the particulars in the case?” She asked before he could say anything in his defense.
He filled her in with the girls’ demographics and what little he knew about their disappearance.
“Since you called me, you think there’s someone on the Internet luring the girls away from the reservation?”
“That’s one of my theories.”
“What’re your others?”
John rubbed his palm over his suddenly aching forehead. “There aren’t any others, yet.”
“Okay. Give me the particulars about the girls, names, descriptions, family situation, personalities, hobbies—everything you know.”
The list took all of five minutes.
∞
Forty-five minutes later, John leaned against the wall in the back of the council hall as residents began streaming in for the meeting. Oscar stood to his right and Zora on his left. A few people came up to greet him, but most threw curious glances his way before scurrying off.
Although Zora smiled and spoke to the people she knew, he could sense her anxiety. This case had dug its claws into his mind and taken his focus off their deteriorating relationship, so he was grateful she wanted to be here at all. But as soon as this case was over, he’d do what needed to be done to make it right with her—with them.
He wasn’t sure what his conversation with Andi Callahan would yield—hopefully something that would give him more clues to work with.
“Quiet, please.” Pete Montrell shouted above the ruckus. Once the voices reduced to a buzz, he continued. “We’ve got a lot on the agenda, so let’s get started.”
“As most of you know, there will be an election for the position of police chief. We have two candidates, John Iron Hawk and Thomas Crow. Is there anyone else with any law enforcement experience who’s interested in running?”
John wondered what experience Crow had.
When no one else spoke up, Montrell continued. “I’m going to ask the two candidates to say a few words. First up will be Thomas Crow.”
With a serious expression, Crow strutted up to the front of the room. “When I’m elected, I promise to hold an open-door policy to all residents. Come to me with any complaints you have. I’ll hire competent deputies”—Oscar straightened from his position next to John—“and we’ll get rid of the drug dealers on the Rez.”
Crow’s promises all sounded good, but he had no idea how hard it was to get money to hire additional personnel or how the Bureau of Indian Affairs would handle this election for a new police commander. The Office of Justices Services, part of the BIA, was in charge of hiring and training all law enforcement for the reservations. John, already a detective in Minneapolis, had circumvented the process. He didn’t know who Matisse had gotten to approve John’s appointment, but it hadn’t bothered John at the time because he had the experience and knew he could do the job. He wasn’t so sure about Crow.
“I promise to handle all funds for the department with discretion.”
John’s chest tightened, and hot blood swooshed in his ears. He’d run the department on a shoestring budget and hadn’t had a raise above the initial salary Matisse had used to lure him away from his previous job. What he couldn’t stand was a jab at his integrity.
Applause broke out.
John breathed in then out.
“John Iron Hawk.” Montrell motioned him to the front of the room.
John nodded at Oscar, who began passing out the fliers Maggie had put together.
He looked out over the sea of faces, finding friendly ones and not so friendly ones. “I’m not going to take up your time talking about what I’m going to do when I’m reelected. I think my service speaks for itself.” Neither would he bring Matisse into the conversation. “Oscar Levant is passing out fliers that deal with a serious problem we might have. Two girls have gone missing. We also found a young girl buried out at the quarry.”
A loud hum of voices swelled in the audience.
“At this time we don’t know if there is a connection between the girl found and the other two missing teens. I’m asking parents and other residents to keep your eyes open. Know where your teens are, what they’re doing, and who they’re doing it with. Talk to them about safety on and off the Internet.” He paused for effect and to allow some of the conversation to die down.
“The girls on the flier are Destiny Little Feather and Katie White Cloud. Show this flier to your teens. If anyone knows anything about these girls, their activities, their friends, and even their enemies, please contact me or their parents.”
As his gaze roamed over the audience, he could see the worry that lined the faces of many of them.
“These girls need your help. I need your help.”
∞
Milo squeezed into the meeting room, keeping to the periphery. The room was hot with the smells of sweat overlaid with perfume and hostility.
Iron Hawk stood at the front of the room. This was Milo’s first chance to see Iron Hawk face on. White shirt sleeves rolled to his elbow, the police chief held up a flier. His voice boomed out over the buzzing crowd, his dark eyes hard as flint scanned the crowded room.
“I believe our teenage girls are in trouble. Normally, I wouldn’t come to you with so little to go on, but I’d rather be wrong than see another girl possibly lured away from home.”
Taller than the male in front of him, Milo peered over the man’s shoulder. Two photos took up much of the page. One photo in sharp resolution was of a teenage girl whose bright eyes stared directly into the camera’s lens. A fall of dark hair swept over one shoulder. In the other picture, the features of two women—one thin, one chunky—were distorted. Probably blown up too many times. An outside night shot made it difficult to tell much about the women.
“Warn your teens to report anything or anyone who looks suspicious and be especially careful on Internet chat rooms.” As Iron Hawk’s gaze passed over the crowd, Milo lowered his head as though studying the flier. He didn’t lift his gaze until he heard the policeman start to speak again.
When the police chief stepped off the podium, Milo slipped out of the room and made for his truck. Only after he’d put some distance between himself and the tribal council office did he pull out his cell and tapped the programmed number.
He relayed what he’d learned to the person on the other end of the phone.
“You know what to do,” the voice said.
∞
Laurie drove Zora’s car around to the back of Mac’s trailer. She had about two hours to spend with Danny and get the car back before the council meeting ended.
High weeds smacked the front bumper and almost obscured the windshield. She couldn’t risk someone recognizing the car and telling her dad she’d been out here. It wouldn’t take much for him to put two and two together.
She knew this place like the back of her hand, so the darkness didn’t bother her. Trudging through the weeds toward the front of the trailer, she laughed at how easy everything had fallen into place, allowing her to borrow Zora’s car.
When she stepped into the old trailer, she gagged. The place had been bad when Mac lived here. Now it smelled like a toilet. How could Danny stand it? Did he think if he moved out here her father wouldn’t find him?
Dead cockroaches lay belly up on almost every surface. Black mold-covered plates and pizza boxes. Okay, get a grip. You’re not staying for dinner.
“Danny?” A roach crawled out of the drain. She shuddered.
“Back here, babe.” Danny appeared in the door at the end of the short hall, the room she remembered as Mac’s bedroom.
Bare chested and shoeless, he pulled her into his arms. His body felt warm but tense.
“How’d you get here?” he asked.
“I borrowed Zora’s car,” she said smugly into his chest.
He pulled back and stared down into her face. “You bad girl.”
She laughed, the pleasure of being with him like this after so many long months rushed through her like an orgasm.
“I missed you.” He moved backward, pulling her further into the bedroom.
“I just saw you last night.” She tried to keep her tone upbeat. No way would she let him know how scared she’d been for him at the motel.
“Seems like forever.” His lips traveled from her mouth to the juncture between her neck and shoulder.
Something was off. She could hear it in his voice—desperation and something else. She tightened her arms around him. For once their roles were reversed, she was the strong one—the one in control.
Danny’s lips worked on her neck while his hands worked on the buttons of her top.
As much as she enjoyed the feel of his mouth and hands, no way was she getting naked in this pigsty.
Something rustled outside the trailer. Her pulse kicked up. “Did you hear that?”
“I didn’t hear a thing.” He unhooked her bra. Her nipples puckered. Bending his head, he licked one then the other, his tongue warm against her flesh.
Usually she enjoyed his attention, but the hair on the nape of her head quivered, and it wasn’t from the cold.
“Dannny.” She pushed him away, but he just laughed and tried to pull her down to the mattress.
“Yuck. No way.”
The front door creaked. She jerked out of his arms, her gaze flying to his. “Who’s that,” she mouthed, at the same time trying to hook her bra with clumsy fingers.
Boards creaked under the weight of footsteps.
Wide-eyed, Danny punched his arms through the sleeves of a plaid shirt. “Your dad?”
Her heart hammered hard in her chest. Her father? But, but he was supposed to be at the town hall meeting.
“You back there, Danny?”
It wasn’t her dad. For a second she was almost relieved until she glanced at Danny.
His face was drained of color. He looked around frantically and found her shirt. Placing a finger to his lips, he shoved her and her clothing into the closet.
“Back here,” Danny called. His voice cracked like a thirteen-year-old.
“How’s it going, Danny?”
Holding her breath, she peered through the slants of the closet door.
“What are you doing here?”
She recognized his tone. He’d used it with her father when he was afraid but didn’t want her old man to know it.
The guy appeared in Laurie’s view. Bald head, tall, bulky.
“Just came by to see how things were going.”
“I haven’t seen her yet.” Danny’s words stumbled over each other. “But I will. Soon.”
Seen who? Laurie’s stomach clenched in a spasm. Danny’s fear communicated itself to her.
“Don’t worry about it, Danny. I found her. Took care of everything. Buried her on home turf. Nice touch, don’t you think?”
“The body out at the quarry?” Danny’s voice rose until the last word came out like a mouse’s squeak.
“You heard, huh?”
Recognition hit her. Out on the road this morning. Mr. Pinkie Ring. The guy in the truck. She hadn’t seen his face, but she remembered his slimy oozy tone.
“—need just a few more days,” Danny said. “I’ll replace her. I’ll get my numbers up.”
Laurie had taken her eyes off the scene playing out in the room as she tried to place the voice. Now goosebumps rose on her bare arms as she heard the plea in Danny’s voice.
What the fuck had he gotten himself into? She peered through the opening again. Pinkie Ring had his back to the closet. Danny’s eyes moved rapidly. He was scared shitless.
“Sorry, buddy, but you’re out of time.” The bald guy’s hand went into his back pocket. Silver glinted.
Pinkie Ring’s right arm came around and then swung out in a wide arc. Red splotches splattered the walls.
Danny sank to his knees, his hands locked at his throat. His eyes widened with disbelief.
Laurie’s heart pumped to the same tempo that sent Danny’s blood jetting between his fingers. The world existed in a muted vacuum. The scream locked silently in her throat.
∞
Zora hammered on Lydia’s door. She glanced over her shoulder. Oscar sat in his Jeep. She couldn’t see his eyes, but she knew he wondered what the heck she was up to. She wondered herself. But the moment they’d arrived back at John’s house her ire had risen to almost choke her.
Her car was gone.
She hadn’t said a word to Oscar, and luckily, he been too distracted to notice.
When she got her hands on Laurie...
“Who’s there?”
“It’s Zora.”
The door creaked open. Wrapped in a bathrobe her long black hair in a single braid, Lydia squinted at Zora.
“What time is it? And is that John?” She stared beyond Zora, trying to see into the Jeep that sat running with its headlights still on.
“No. That’s Oscar. John’s still at the town hall meeting.”
“Oh.” Lydia’s attention shifted back to Zora. “What’s up?”
“I need to borrow your car.”
Lydia frowned. “My car?” She stared out at her drive. “Why?”
“Look. I know this sounds strange, but I need a vehicle. I can’t bother Oscar. It’s urgent, and I don’t know when John is coming home.”
“Oh, okay.” But Lydia’s tone said it was anything but okay. “Give me a minute.” She opened the door wider, beckoning Zora in then disappeared toward the back of the house.
Zora waved at Oscar and then stepped into Lydia’s house. The lights from Oscar’s vehicle bounced out of the drive.
Zora knew where the little wench had gone. Since the incident at the motel, Laurie had been either locked in her room or moping around the house. She’d stolen Zora’s car to go to Danny.
According to John, Danny had checked out of the motel the night before. Zora had a strong suspicion where he was hiding out. She shifted from foot to foot. What was taking Lydia so long?
Lydia would want all the details, and Zora didn’t have time for all the details. She needed to get her car back, pack, and be on the road to Pierre first thing in the morning to catch her flight to New York. She wouldn’t be derailed by Laurie. If the girl wanted to throw her life away on that miserable excuse for a boyfriend, then let her.
“So why do you really need the car?” Lydia said when she came back into the room, keys dangling from one finger.
Zora debated how much to tell her. Stalling, she looked through the side panels of the door. The lights to Oscar’s Jeep were receding down the road.
Turning from the window, Zora reached for the keys. Lydia moved them out of reach.
“Talk,” she commanded.
Lydia had that bunched jaw that always marked John’s face when he was taking no bullshit.
“Laurie took my car.”
Lydia mouth tightened and her eyes narrowed. “She stole your car?”
“Took,” Zora reiterated.
“Where is she?”
“I think she’s gone to see Danny Matisse.”
Lydia let out a resigned sigh. “Gone to see him where?”
“He’s back.”
Lydia’s eyes bugged. “What?”
Zora nodded. “I need to get my car and her back home before John returns and all hell breaks loose.”
While Zora had been talking, Lydia was shaking her head. “No. Leave her where she is. Let her suffer the consequences.”
“Please, Lydia. I need my car. I’m supposed to fly to New York tomorrow.”
Hidden in the depths of Lydia’s eyes, Zora could swear she saw sorrow.
“You’re leaving him?”
“No, I’m going for an interview. I don’t know if they’ll offer me the job or if it will work for me.”
“But you’re prepared to take it if everything works out?”
Zora nodded.
Lydia stared at her for one long moment, then wordlessly handed her the car keys. “Do you want me to come with you?”
Somewhere in the last few minutes Zora had decided to try and make Laurie see reason and bring her back home. She felt she’d have more luck getting Laurie to leave if the whole world wasn’t there. “No. Hopefully we’ll bring the car back in a couple of hours. I think she’s out at the old trailer where one of Danny’s friends used to live in.”
A couple of minutes later, Zora was on the road in Lydia’s Chevy. She hated driving on the reservation at night. Her sense of direction was challenged by the curving, veering roads, and in Lydia’s car, she felt every bump. All kinds of wild life peered from the side and sometimes darted out into the road.
She hadn’t been out to Mac’s trailer in almost a year, and then she’d only happened on it by mistake. She had her doubts whether she’d find it now, but she was fueled by her desire to save Laurie from Danny and get to her job interview in New York City.
Forty-five minutes later she found the turn off. The trailer sat in darkness. Zora pulled into the rutted drive. Her headlights reflected off a sports car and a big black truck with tires the size of cannons. Where had she seen that truck?
Two vehicles and a dark trailer. Where was her car?
She stepped out of the Chevy and walked over the pebbled drive, her ankles wobbling under the shifting rocks. Wild life hooted beyond the trailer.
Maybe she’d been wrong. Maybe Laurie wasn’t here. Just as Zora drew level with the trailer’s front door, she spotted the fender of another car to the rear. She walked to the end of the trailer. Her car sat nested in the weeds.
∞
The guy pivoted. His eyes narrowed on the closet door. Laurie clamped a hand over her mouth. She must have screamed.
When he whipped open the door, she backed as far into the closet as she could.
He grinned. “Well, well, well, Ms. Iron Hawk.”
Reaching in, he grabbed her by the throat. Against her will, her gaze went to Danny’s sprawled form. He’d fallen onto the mattress. His blood an additional stain on the gross surface.
The guy’s hand tightened on her throat, cutting off her air. She couldn’t speak. Her feet dangled off the floor. She clawed at his hand, but he only squeezed tighter.
Black spots danced in her vision. I’m going to die.
His fingers loosened, and she wheezed gulps of air into her lungs.
Head cocked, he listened. A pounding came from the front of the trailer. It took a moment for her oxygen-deprived brain to understand someone was banging at the front door.
“Not a word.” The knife stained with Danny’s blood was suddenly at her throat.
She tightened her legs to keep from peeing on herself.
More pounding. Then nothing.
∞
Zora knocked on the aluminum door. The sound echoed around the now silent night. Where the hell was Laurie?
Zora was getting angry all over again. The second time she knocked, she hammered. If she hadn’t promised to bring Lydia’s car back in a couple of hours, she would have left the Honda for Laurie to bring back. Left Laurie to explain to her aunt why she was bringing the car back so late.
Zora backed off the concrete step, turned, and started toward her car. Let John deal with his daughter. Zora had done all she could do.
The trailer’s door creaked open.
Zora turned.
Her heart choked the breath out of her.
A tall, thick necked male stood outside the trailer. Moonlight gleamed off his bald head.
Get a grip. Just one of Danny’s friends. “Who’d been inside a dark trailer?” her brain screamed.
She cleared her throat. “I’m looking for Laurie. Have you seen her?”
The man just stared at her. Something primeval and menacing came off him in waves.
She fingered her keys. Don’t panic. Her brain reached unsuccessful for words of the people. Nothing useful came to mind. “Laurie?” she repeated dumbly.
She’d been stupid to come out here at night. She’d never hear the end of this from John. If I ever saw him again. The thought rose unforbidden to her mind. Her heart rate accelerated.
She started backing up. “I’ll be going. If you see—”
She turned and broke into a run.
His arms wrapped around her like a vice, lifting her off the ground. His meaty hand clamped over her mouth and nose even before she thought to scream.
∞
John let himself into the house around midnight. He’d stayed longer than planned at the town hall meeting answering questions about the missing girls. Now he was hungry, tired, and sleepy. The house felt silent, and the kitchen was dark. Zora normally left the light over the stove on.
Opening the refrigerator, he pulled out a beer, flipped the cap, and took a huge swallow. He needed to get Iles on board with this case. Still focused on the murder of Cheyenne Henry, the FBI agent wasn’t seeing the bigger picture. John had to convince Iles these cases were probably related. He didn’t want to find Destiny or Katie White Cloud’s body before the agent realized John was right. Had the girls been into drugs? Maybe lured off the reservation by the promise of a smooth-talking dealer?
He needed to contact Vilachek again. Watch his reaction when John showed him the pictures of all three girls.
John finished the beer and tossed the bottle in the trash. He needed a shower. He tiptoed into the bedroom to pull out some underwear. Anticipating Zora’s warm body, his gaze sought the bed when he turned from the bureau.
There was enough moonlight to tell him the bed was empty. The beer soured in his stomach.
He flipped on the lamp. The bed hadn’t been slept in. Stalking out of the room, he made it to the living room window and pulled back the curtains. Zora’s car was not in the drive. How had he missed that?
Had she left and gone back to New York without saying goodbye? He shook his head. She wouldn’t do that. Tonight at the town hall meeting he’d sensed her concern and her support.
Back in the bedroom, he went to her closet. Her luggage was still there. He ran his hand through his hair, pulling the strands out of the leather cord.
Laurie.
He knocked on his daughter’s door. “Laurie?”
When she didn’t answer, he eased open the door and stepped to the bed. “Laurie.” His hand went to the blankets to shake her awake. His hand met empty space. “What the—”
Had the two gone somewhere together? Had Laurie gotten sick and Zora taken her to the clinic?
He checked his phone. No missed calls. No text.
He called Zora’s cell. The call went straight to voice mail. When he called his daughter’s number he got the same result.
He speed-dialed Oscar’s number.
“Did you take Zora home?” John asked before his deputy could say hello.
“Ah, yes, well, not home exactly.”
John exhaled deeply. “Where did you take her?”
“To your sister’s.”
John’s shoulders slumped in relief. “Thanks.”
When his sister answered, her voice sounded sleepy.
“Is Zora still there?”
Silence. “She’s not back home yet?”
“No. How long ago did she leave?”
“About two hours ago. She borrowed my car to go look for Laurie.”
John stared down into his daughter’s empty bed, trying to understand what his sister was saying. “What?”
“Laurie took Zora’s car.”
“Goddammit.” He leaped up and punched the wall, the impact sending vibrations through his hand into his arm. His daughter hadn’t learned shit from last year’s fiasco. He ran a hand over his face. This was his fault. He should have told her everything Danny had been into last year—from the petty crime to having sex with his stepmother. But he hadn’t wanted to hurt her.
Lydia let out a loud breath. “Zora told me Danny’s back.”
“Yeah. Look, Lydia, I need to go.”
“John, I know where Zora went.”
He’d almost disconnected the call. “Where?”
“She said something about an old trailer.”
Mac’s place.
“John—”
He rubbed the throb between his eyes. “Lydia, I don’t have time for t—”
“You’re going to lose her, John.”
“She’s sixteen years—”
“Zora. You’re going to lose Zora.”
He leaned one-handed into the wall right above the dent he’d just punched into the plaster. “It’s none of your business, Lydia.”
“You’ve got to let go of the past,” she continued as though he hadn’t spoken. “If you just tell her about Dad and about Mom leaving—”
He barked a laugh. “This has nothing to do with Mom leaving.”
A heavy sigh transmitted across the airwaves. “She’ll understand, John. Zora’s a smart woman. You don’t have to tell her everything, she’ll get it.”
“I’ve got to go, Lydia.”
He disconnected before his sister could sink her emotional claws further into his chest.
