Free Red Mesa by Aimée & David Thurlo

was always a certain sign of trouble.
    Ella considered everything carefully. First there was the vehicle she’d suspected had been tailing her. Now this. She might have been able to discount one of those events as herimagination, but not both, particularly in light of Two’s reaction. Of course, it could have been a wild creature that Two wasn’t overly fond of, like a snake, but she’d certainly seen no evidence of one anywhere.
    The remainder of that afternoon, and throughout the evening, Ella remained restless. She went outside and looked around several times, and then one last time before going to bed.
    Alone in her room, with Dawn tucked away and asleep after having to read two stories tonight, Ella turned on her computer and checked for mail. It was a comforting ritual, but tonight there were no letters waiting, just ads for things that held no interest for her.
    Hoping for another instant message, she hung around online visiting some of her favorite Internet places, like a site she’d recentlyfound devoted to herbal medicines. After a while she began a search on-line and tried to locate “Coyote,” but a message on-screen said that there was no such member. Whoever Coyote was, he or she knew how to cover his tracks. She tried an Internet search using the key word Coyote, but only got listings for wildlife sites and a Web page for an actor.
    Thirty minutes later, frustrated and havingnothing to show for her efforts, she turned off the computer and crawled into bed. The wind had come up outside. Gusts blasted sand and gravel against her window, and a mournful wail filled the room as cold air seeped through a crack in the casing. The almost human sound made her skin crawl. She hated dust storms, but it seemed a fitting end to a nerve-wracking day.
    With a muttered curse, sheturned on her side, closed her eyes, and drifted off to a troubled sleep.

SIX
    Ella came into the substation early the following morning hoping to talk to Justine before they got down to work. As she was walking down the hall toward the small forensics lab where her assistant spent much of her time, Big Ed appeared in a doorway and waved her toward him.
    Ella stepped inside the chief’s office, and was surprised to see Justine there, looking restless and uncomfortablein her best corduroy jacket and slacks. Both she and Ella were always dressed in civilian clothes except during special department ceremonies. Ella looked from one to the other, but it was impossible to guess what was going on.
    “Why don’t you fill Shorty in?” Big Ed asked Justine, waving Ella toward a chair and taking his place behind the desk.
    Justine looked at the floor, then finally up atElla. “I received a letter from my aunt Lena yesterday afternoon. She lives right on the border between Navajo and Hopi land, west of the community of Steamboat. My aunt believes that the nearby Hopis are stealing her well water and vandalizing her pump. She wants us to put a stop to it.”
    “I’ve spoken on the telephone to the tribal officer that patrols the area,” Big Ed said. “He verified thatthe pump had been vandalized just recently. He’d found vehicle tracks and some footprints, but so far he hasn’t been able to catch the perp. His territory is so large, he’s having a problem keeping a close watch on the place.” He paused for a moment, as if trying to choose his words with care. “Do you know Lena Clani, Shorty?”
    Ella shook her head. “Not personally, but I know her by reputation.Justine’s aunt is said to be one of our most gifted stargazers. I understand she’s been able to find things people have considered hopelessly lost.”
    He nodded. “She’s an important member of our tribe. That’s why this could be a touchy situation.”
    “I want to help my aunt,” Justine said, looking at Ella. “But Aunt Lena wants me to go arrest the Hopis who are doing that, and as you know, I can’tarrest a Hopi unless I catch him inside our boundaries doing