Free Miranda's Revenge by Ruth Wind

matter whether it was broken over a man or a fantasy. The pain had been quite real.
    â€œYes,” she said. “I’ve thought of it. The answer is no. I am happy to be your friend. There will be nothing else.”
    He swallowed. “Very well. I will still try to speak with Christie on your behalf.” He stood. “I am sorry, Miranda, for everything.”
    She only nodded.

Chapter 6
    W hile Miranda had coffee with her skier, James headed over to the casino. Claude had been gambling there with Christie just before he was murdered, and it seemed a logical place to see if anyone would talk to him. See if anyone had seen anything that should be remembered.
    At midday on a Thursday, the casino still held a fair number of people, mostly stationed with zombie gazes at the slot machines, fingers pressing buttons, lights flashing. A few poker tables and blackjack hard cores played. It was mercifully smoke-free, and all the employees were Indian.
    James wandered around getting the feel for things, then chose a bar at random and sat down with a stack of quarters in front of a video poker machine. A beefy Native man with long braids wrapped old-style in leather, approached and put a napkin down on the bar. “What can I get you?”
    â€œSoda water with lime.”
    The man ambled over to the spigot, poured the soda. James played a few quarters, won a few, played another hand, won five bucks. “Huh,” he said, and grinned at the bartender. “Beginner’s luck, I guess.”
    â€œI guess.”
    He took a sip of the soda water, laid a five-dollar bill on the bar. The man’s tag read Bear. “Bear, you worked here a long time?” James asked.
    â€œSince it opened.”
    â€œYou here the night the artist got murdered?”
    â€œYep.” The dark eyes were hard. “You a reporter?”
    â€œNo. I’m working for his ex-wife, the one accused of killing him.”
    â€œSure, Desi Rousseau. She’s good people, man.”
    James nodded. “You see Claude that night?”
    â€œHe played blackjack. Lost a bundle, then won a bit. His girlfriend was with him.”
    â€œThe skier. Christie Lundgren?”
    Bear nodded. “He brought in a new one all the time. Dog.”
    â€œYeah? Like you know any of the others?”
    â€œTourists, mainly. In town to ski or hike, you know? Out for a good time. Once in a while, he came with a German, and for a little while there, he was with that model. Elsa?”
    â€œHe sounds like a bastard.”
    â€œLotta people coulda killed him, that’s for sure.”
    â€œWhere would you put your money?”
    â€œThe girlfriend, man.”
    â€œShe’s got an airtight alibi.”
    â€œMebbe she put somebody up to it. They were fighting over Desi when they were here. I heard ’em.”
    â€œAnd if not her, who?”
    â€œSome woman. A man would have just counted crow all over his sorry ass.”
    James laughed. “Chased him back to the res?”
    Bear rolled his eyes. “Urban cowboy, man. Didn’t know nothing about Navajo ways. My mom’s Dineh. He didn’t know nothing.”
    â€œDid you see Claude talking to anyone else that night?”
    â€œHe was always talking. The developer was here, and the model. They were all talking. Having a good time, looked like.”
    James’s phone rang and he said, “Sorry. Gotta take this.” He flipped the phone open and said, “Miranda. Talk to me.”
    â€œNot sure what I got, but I talked.” Her voice sounded thin. “You want to meet me somewhere?”
    â€œCome to the casino. I’ll buy you a 7-Up.”
    â€œI just had coffee.”
    â€œOkay, where do you want to meet? Your call.”
    â€œI don’t know, James. I don’t know this town, either.”
    She sounded like a slightly cranky five-year-old, and he smiled. “You know where the church is, don’t you? It’s right