Coyote's Wife Read Online Free

are clear.”
    As Carolyn drove off, Ella’s next task weighed heavily on her—calling on the next-of-kin. It would fall to hersince Justine would be busy wrapping things up here on-site.
    “Ella, while you were gone, I got a call from Dispatch,”Tache said, coming up behind her. “The pickup’s registered under Ervin Benally’s name, not the victim’s. Justine said that the vic works at StarTalk, Benally’s company, so there’s a connection. I’ve already instructed Dispatch to have someone contact Mr. Benally and find out what’sgoing on.”
    “Chances are he borrowed the truck, right?” Justine said, coming over.
    “Probably. But it’s certainly an interesting coincidence. Did you get good photos of the tracks left by our unidentified bystander, the one with a weakness for Nikes?”
    “Yeah, and the vehicle tracks, too. Wide, like a pickup’s, but not much tread. Not like the new Goodyear tires on the Dodge. We’ll have to canvassthe area and find out who else might have been up here today,” Justine said.
    “First things first. I’d like to borrow your truck, partner, so I can go notify the man’s next-of-kin. Can you two ride out together?”
    “Sure, but if you give me a few more minutes, I’ll be able to go with you. We’re almost through here,” Justine said.
    Ella helped them finish processing the scene, then Tache headedback to the station. Circling back, Ella and Justine took the quickest route to the vic’s home, munching on apples and some granola bars Justine had thoughtfully brought along for midmorning snacks. On the way there, Ella called her mom and told her they wouldn’t make lunch, then she contacted the station and verified that George Charley had borrowed Ervin Benally’s Dodge Ram pickup.
    “No onewas able to question Ervin Benally directly, but his wife told the officer making the call that both men started out together. Then George dropped Ervin off at Sheep Springs for some unknown reason and went on by himself to gather wood,” the woman dispatcher reported.
    Ella signed off, then filled her partner in. “We’ll check this out ourselves later,” Ella added.
    Following the directions Justinereceived from Dispatch, they followed a set of winding roads past Chuska Peak. Then, at long last, now in the foothills west of the range, they approached a small wood frame home nestled between two hills. Beyond, they could see the main highway running north/south, and a few houses that were nothing more than dots in the distance.
    “That must be the place, directly ahead, just past that smallherd of sheep,” Justine said. “I don’t see a vehicle.”
    They drove past a low creekbed lined with brush and filled with grazing sheep, then parked a hundred feet from the house. Not knowing just how traditional Mrs. Charley was, they decided to wait for an invitation before approaching. The simple courtesy was the only good thing they had to offer the woman inside, who was about to receive somevery bad news.
    Soon a woman in her late forties came out to the makeshift porch—a painted warehouse pallet that served the purpose. She gestured an invitation and waited for them to come up. Ella noted how her hands were wound tightly around the bottom of the barn coat she was wearing. It was as if she’d been expecting bad news.
    “I hate this,” Justine murmured, climbing out of the vehicle andfastening her shield to her belt beside her weapon. “She must have recognized us. Her husband’s probably late coming home, so what else could we be bringing except bad news?
    “Once she sees our badges and sidearms, it’ll confirm the worst, even before we say a word.” She walked toward the woman. “We’re police officers. Are you Mrs. Charley?”
    “I’m Marilyn,” she answered nodding, her voice shaky.

    Ella broke the news as kindly as possible, giving the general details, and though the woman made no sound, a flood of tears ran down her face.
    Stepping away from them, she