Dark Reservations (16 page)

“I could see why he loved you,” Joe said. “You've proven yourself an amazing woman.”

“No offense, Mr. Evers, but I don't need to be charmed or cajoled. I'm going to tell you everything.”

Staples shifted in his seat.

“Ken Holmes was my husband's chief of staff back then. He felt that people might question Faye's role because she was an attractive young woman. Rumors might circulate about them—or any woman around Arlen. He was very handsome.”

“It's Senator Holmes now, correct?” Joe asked.

“Yes, Ken was very ambitious. Still is. I heard he might be planning a run for the White House soon.” She laughed. “The day Arlen went missing, Ellery Gates was flying in to meet with him. Gates held a seat in Oklahoma. They had planned two days of fishing. Arlen loved fishing and was taking Ellery to Farmington. He used to say he was going to make fly-fishing the state sport because New Mexico had some of the best rivers in the country.”

Staples lowered his head, either embarrassed by the touching remembrance or annoyed. Paige pulled a tissue from a box on the credenza beside her and handed it to the congresswoman. After a few moments, Mrs. Edgerton continued.

“Arlen was working on two bills impacting Native Americans. He loved their culture, but he also wanted their votes. Arlen and Ellery were sponsoring an Indian gaming bill together, but they disagreed on a few points. That's why they were meeting.” She took a deep breath. “Arlen's second bill was to protect Native American artifacts from a growing black-market trade. He went to the Navajo Nation that day to visit a site where a number of ancient artifacts had been stolen. What I didn't tell the investigators was that Arlen hadn't told me he was taking Faye with him. I don't know why, but I just blurted out that it was normal for him to take Faye along. And once it was out there, I couldn't take it back. But it wasn't true. He would never take Faye without me, but I couldn't go that day because I was in Las Cruces, meeting with the University Hispanic League. I so wish I had canceled that trip.”

“Do you know where they went that day?” Joe asked.

“He was meeting with an archaeologist at the Navajo Nation dig site, but I didn't know precisely where. Arlen was looking for anecdotal stories to bring to the floor.” She shook her head. “Both bills were eventually passed, but they removed Arlen's name because of the scandal.”

Joe took out a pad and jotted a few notes. “What were the bills?”

“The Indian Gaming Regulatory Bill and the Native American Graves and Repatriation Bill.”

“Do you remember the archaeologist?”

“No, but I remember Arlen saying he was from UNM. He asked if I knew him, but I didn't. Arlen and I both attended UNM. We met there.”

“What can you tell me about your husband's driver?”

“Nick?” She grinned. “He was very loyal to my husband. He'd worked on his first campaign. After getting elected, Arlen gave Nick whatever work he could. Nick helped write some speeches and also drove Arlen around. That might sound like a strange combination, speechwriter and driver, but Nick was an aspiring novelist. He wrote mostly short stories—fantasy, I think. He appreciated the odd jobs. It let him focus on his writing. He had just finished his novel when he went missing. I'd told him I wanted to read it.” She put her tissue to use.

“Did anyone ever threaten your husband? Any enemies?”

“Of course. It comes with the office.”

“Any threats that stand out? Odd letters or messages? Anything strange around the time of his disappearance?”

“Nothing really. He received the usual threatening letters. The investigators asked about them. They did seem interested in one, though. A letter from someone on the Navajo reservation. I think … I think the person who sent the letter was a member of AIM, or some other movement. I don't remember his name, but I'm sure it will be in your file. I gave permission to the investigators to search Arlen's office as well as Faye's desk. They found the threat letters. Oh, and they were also looking for Faye's calendar book. It was gone, but that wasn't unusual, because she always had it with her, even took it home.”

“Tell me about Cedro Bartolome,” Joe said.

“I don't know a Cedro Bartolome.” She hesitated. “At least I don't think I do. Who is he?”

“He's the lawyer in Mexico City your husband used to set up a bank account.”

“I remember now. Not his name, but that a lawyer was involved. I am sure he will tell you my husband did not set up that account. When do you plan to speak to him?”

“Yeah,” Staples said. “When? If he says it wasn't Arlen, we can feed that to the press.”

“Nothing is going to be fed to the press,” Joe said. “This is an investigation, not a campaign stunt.”

“I understand,” Mrs. Edgerton said. “But you will be speaking to him, right?”

“I don't know. He's an attorney and outside U.S. jurisdiction. There's not much reason for him to speak to me.”

“Well, that sucks,” Staples said.

“Have you ever owned a gun, Mrs. Edgerton?”

“I really think Ed should be here,” Staples said.

She raised her hand, gesturing for Staples to be quiet. “No, I never owned a gun.”

Joe asked a few more questions, but none that revealed any new information.

“Okay, Mr. Evers. I answered your questions. Now, please answer mine. Was the body you recovered yesterday my husband's?”

“I'm sorry, but it's an ongoing inv—”

“Damn you, Mr. Evers. Don't treat me like a suspect. It's my husband's disappearance you're investigating.
My
husband. Not just a name in your case file.”

Joe was surprised by her directness, but he wouldn't be bullied.

“We haven't identified the remains yet. OMI will do the identification. Hopefully, we'll know in a few days.”

They asked Joe and Bluehorse several more probing questions, which Joe wouldn't answer. Then Paige asked to end the meeting so the congresswoman could have some alone time before her next appointment. Paige stayed with her while Staples walked Joe and Bluehorse out.

“Why was Senator Holmes here?” Joe asked.

“Arlen's car is a headache for everyone,” Staples said. “I have a pack of reporters waiting for my press release,” he added. “We go to the polls in three weeks. What you release to the press can change the outcome of this election. You know that. So I hope you don't have a political ax to grind. Grace is the real deal. And I'm not saying that because I'm paid to. She wants the best for this state. Bad press can kill her chances. From what I understand, you're no stranger to bad press.”

“I'm not following you,” Joe said.

“I read about the Longman case.”

Joe didn't reply.

“So please keep us updated on what you find out. I'd appreciate it, and so would Grace.”

“That's a hell of a way to get me on your side.”

“I'm not trying to get you on my side. I don't want anyone saying we tried to influence your investigation. I just want you to know I'll be watching. I know she's not involved. As long as the truth comes out, she'll win this election. I'm confident of that. But if someone decides to play games with the truth and drags her into this mess … well, some members of the press who support her might not like it. And I'll be sure to point them to the person responsible.” Staples reached into his pants pocket. “Here. It'll be a collector's item when she's president.” He handed Joe and Bluehorse each a small white-and-blue Edgerton for Governor button. “Don't forget to vote.”

S
EPTEMBER
29

W
EDNESDAY
, 4:40
P.M.

E
DGERTON
FOR
G
OVERNOR
H
EADQUARTERS
, S
ANTA
F
E
, N
EW
M
EXICO

Helena Newridge, arms crossed, large purse dangling, leaned against Joe's Tahoe like a thug taking ownership of a corner.

“I didn't hear from you, Joe.”

“I'll talk to you later,” Bluehorse said as he walked on to his own unit, leaving Joe to deal with her by himself. The young officer displayed much wisdom.

“What are you doing here, Helena?”

“Same as you. Came to talk to her. I was hoping you came to arrest her, but I guess that was wishful thinking.”

“Why would I arrest her?”

“Because she killed her husband.”

Joe waited for the bomb.

“I lied to you yesterday,” Helena said. “You asked what my angle was. Well, I think little Miss Oh I Love New Mexico is a vindictive, cheated-on wife who took revenge on her rotten, philandering husband.”

Joe unlocked the door to his Tahoe. “And you base this on…”

“The fact I was a vindictive, cheated-on wife who wanted revenge on my rotten, philandering husband.”

Joe smiled. “So where were you the day Arlen Edgerton went missing?”

She gave a full belly laugh. “Joey, you do have a sense of humor. I wasn't so sure of that yesterday.”

He didn't care for Joey, but coming from her it seemed friendly, almost endearing. “How do you know Edgerton's even dead?”

“I don't, but I was hoping that the body you recovered would be his.”

“That wouldn't prove she killed him.”

“No, but a source tells me she knew about his affair with Faye and they argued about it. There may even have been talk of Arlen leaving her to marry Faye. His bullet-riddled body would go a long way in supporting my theory.”

“Who's your source?”

“Oh, Joey. You know better than that.”

“What else did he tell you?”

“Good try, but I never said
he.
And the source said Mrs. Edgerton was mean enough to do it.”

“Anything else?”

“I thought this was a two-way street.”

“What's your question?”

“Did she own a gun?”

“I'm told no,” Joe said. He climbed in behind the wheel.

“Did she tell you that?”

“Can't say.” He started the engine.

“Did Arlen own a gun?”

“Probably, but I haven't checked yet.”

“Hmmm. I'll be checking on that, too.”

“Good, let me know what you find.” He tried to close the door. She held it open.

“Not so fast, Joey. Whose body is it?”

“When I get an ID, I'll call you.”

“That's it? I give you good stuff, and you give me nothing.”

“I'll tell you what. Check into that gun angle. Find me a gun and I'll tell you if it's involved. How's that?”

She thought about that. “Is there anything I should know before I talk to the wannabe governor?”

“Yeah, watch out for her campaign manager. He bites.”

S
EPTEMBER
29

W
EDNESDAY
, 5:05
P.M.

I
NTERSTATE
H
IGHWAY
25 S
OUTH
, O
UTSIDE
OF
S
ANTA
F
E
, N
EW
M
EXICO

Cruising along 25 on his way home, Joe's mind filtered out the rush-hour traffic around him and instead replayed the interview with Grace Edgerton. She'd proved to be of little value. In a cold case, it was often hard to read a person's emotions so many years after a crime. Witnesses and subjects, even victims, find it easy to hide behind faulty memories. In this case, Joe felt the congresswoman had been honest with him. Hell, he wanted to believe she'd been honest with him. But he couldn't be sure. She made a living by telling people what they wanted to hear.

She'd mentioned three people Joe planned on interviewing. Kendall Holmes, now Senator Holmes, with whom an interview seemed unlikely. Dwight Henry, whose name she hadn't been able to recall, referring to him only as the AIM member who had sent the threatening letter. Joe had found a copy of the letter in the case file, as well as an interview with Dwight by the original case agent. And finally, she had mentioned an archaeologist, who seemed to be the last person to have seen Arlen and his group alive, Professor Lawrence Trudle. Joe had read the professor's interview and found it light, their meeting the day the congressman had disappeared amounting to nothing more than a few minutes staring at a dig site. At least that's how the report read, but Joe felt there had been more to it. He planned on talking to the professor sooner rather than later. Actually, tomorrow. Joe had searched his name on the Internet that morning and found him still listed as a faculty member at UNM. His posted office hours were nine to eleven o'clock on Thursdays.

Joe also planned to call upon Senator Holmes tomorrow, or at least schedule an appointment for an interview. But that would depend on the BIA. It was the agency's protocol to get approval before interviewing any state or federal politician. Joe had requested approval from Dale just that morning to interview Grace Edgerton. The request had gone up to D.C. Two hours later, the approval came down. He wondered how long it would take for approval to interview Senator Holmes, who sat on the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, overseers of the BIA. Joe might retire before that approval was granted. So only Dwight Henry was left. He decided he would let Bluehorse track down that lead.

He called Bluehorse. They rehashed Grace Edgerton's interview first and then talked about Dwight Henry and recent AIM activity on the reservation, which turned out to be virtually nonexistent, at least to Bluehorse's knowledge, but he said he would check into it. The young officer agreed to locate the activist and try to set up an interview, which Joe warned might not be easy. AIM had a long-standing distrust of the government and law enforcement, including tribal law enforcement.