She made coffee for them both in the little pot on the dresser while Chee was in the shower. When she heard him turn off the water, she hollered in, “Did I tell you Dashee is joining us this morning? I’ll go for a run later.”
“You’re cooking eggs in that microwave for us?”
“Wish I’d thought of that. No, we’re meeting at the restaurant next door.”
Chee emerged from the bathroom, rubbing his hair dry with a towel. “I noticed a softer side to Palmer last night. He thanked me.”
“Really?”
“His son’s accident might have shifted things inside him. I’m going to check with Officer Skeen this morning, see if there’s any news on the wreck.”
“I hear the Lieutenant’s voice in my head.” She spoke more deeply. “‘There’s no such thing as a coincidence, Manuelito.’”
“Do you believe that?”
“Yes, especially when it comes to crime. You know how people believe that God has a plan for the universe and that we’re a tiny bit of it, but because our part is so small, we can’t see how it connects?”
Chee nodded.
“Well, I think that’s how coincidence works. Part of the complicated web of life.”
They walked to the adjoining building that held the restaurant. Dashee sat at a table with a half-empty cup of coffee in front of him. They scooted in on the other side and quickly ordered breakfast.
Dashee said, “I hope you guys have that electricity problem figured out for the session today.”
“You bet,” Chee said. “I drove to Bashas’ yesterday and got a box of Hopi flashlights.”
“What?”
“You know, those wax things that start up with a match.”
“Oh, you mean Navajo flashlights. Good thinking, bro.”
Chee sipped his coffee. “Seriously, Ward texted me last night that the session is a go. We’ll have power today as far as I know.” He had alerted the captain to Bebe Durango’s warning.
Bernie said, “Chee mentioned that grazing problem. It sounds like a mess.”
Dashee put his cup down. “Mrs. Bitsoi is one stubborn lady. Reminds me of my aunt. Nothing I say gets through to her.”
“That’s because she doesn’t speak Hopi,” Chee said.
The waitress took their orders: ham and eggs for Bernie, pancakes for Chee, and more coffee for Dashee. Chee moistened a wedge of pancake in a puddle of syrup. “Hey, I heard you gave your delegates good advice yesterday: ‘Be careful and don’t get blown up.’”
Dashee turned to Bernie. “How do you live with this guy?”
Bernie shrugged. “I’m used to lame jokes. And he’s a pretty good cook.”
Dashee said, “I haven’t heard you complain about Darleen. Did she go to that art school in Santa Fe?”
“She hasn’t decided yet. She’s taking classes in Shiprock for her diploma.”
Dashee nodded. “Is she staying out of trouble?”
“As far as I know. She and a friend might be on their way here to watch the session. He wants to make a video of it.”
“So what brought you here?”
Bernie said, “You mean besides Chee? The mystery of the dead man at Shiprock. And the more I learn, the more confused I get.”
Dashee chuckled. “You think too much, that’s your problem. Why don’t you give it rest, go for a hike today while the weather is good. The old ones’ bones are telling them that winter is close. I know a good trail for you, and you don’t even have to drive into the park itself.”
Chee said, “That’s a good idea. I have a map in my unit. That might be helpful.”
Bernie said, “Are you sure you won’t need my help today with security or something?”
“I would love to give you the bodyguard duty, but I’m stuck with it. You can help me at the reception tonight.” He handed her the keys to his unit. “The map is on the passenger seat.”
She was out and back in no time. She stacked the dishes to one side and spread the map out on the table. Dashee studied it.
“I don’t see it on here.” He took a pen from the pocket of his uniform shirt and made a sketch on a napkin.
Chee smiled at Dashee’s drawing. “This looks like the way to find buried treasure or something. What’s this X?”
“X marks the spot where the trail splits. Bernie, you have to go right.” He moved the paper closer to her. “Just follow this dotted line.”
She looked at the napkin and tapped the X. “What if I go left here?”
“You can’t unless you’re a Hopi.” Dashee sketched in a rainbow in the margin. “The X is a good place to start back up, too. I’ve seen tracks of a mountain lion on the trail a couple of times in the summer, never this late in the year. Just to be safe, make some noise as you go down that way. Sing or something. Don’t surprise it.”
Chee said, “You’re sending my wife on a trail frequented by a mountain lion? Náshdóítsoh?”
“No, tocho. It’s a Hopi lion, one of us peaceful people. He hasn’t eaten anyone yet.” He turned to her. “You’re more likely to see snowflakes than tocho out here. And if you meet him, well, you can talk your way out of anything. You know, more people die from bee stings and mosquito bites.”
“Or car accidents. I’m not worried about it.” Bernie finished her coffee and picked up Dashee’s map as she scooted her chair away from the table. “I need to call Mama and check to see what’s new on the bombing case before I leave for the canyon.”
Dashee said, “Your mama must be like mine. One of those ladies who know everything before it happens. Ask her what Mrs. Bitsoi is up to while you’re at it.”
Bernie laughed. “I left out the part where I call Cordova at the FBI, or Largo to find out about the bombing.”
“I heard that FBI guy is leaving. Transferred to San Diego.”
“Really?”
Dashee shrugged. “That’s what I heard.”
Chee nodded toward Bernie. “She had more contact with him than I did, but I thought he was a decent guy, easy to work with. How come we get this news from the Hopi express?”
Dashee said, “You’re just giving me another reason to brag, you know.”
Bernie said, “Actually, Cordova told me he’s going to Michigan.”
Chee looked at her, surprised.
“He mentioned it when we drove out to talk to the dead man’s grandmother. Guess I forgot to tell you.”
“So much for your computer brain theory, honey.”
She called Mama from the hotel lobby. Mrs. Darkwater, Mama’s neighbor, answered the phone. Ever since Mama had been sick, Mrs. Darkwater had taken Mama into her flock, checking on her at least once a day.
“Your mother is fine. She’s going with me to Farmington today to get some presents for my grandson. His birthday comes next week.”
Mrs. Darkwater wanted to talk about the Shiprock bomb. “Terrible. Who would do something like that?”
“That’s what the investigators are trying to find out.”
“Too bad that young man who got hurt out there died. No way for him to make restitution for that mess.”
“We don’t know yet if he was connected to the explosion or if he was just in the wrong place when it happened.”
“Who stands in the parking lot when the game is on?”