Death Walker by Aimée & David Thurlo

Author:Aimée & David Thurlo
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Tom Doherty Associates Book

FIFTEEN

Ella sat near the door of the hogan, hoping a breeze would stir. The skies had turned into a maze of gray clouds that were ripped every few seconds by bright flashes of lightning. Thunder in the distance rumbled constantly, like distant artillery, and the increased humidity made the air feel sticky. Yet, despite all that, no rain appeared. Although the land was dry and rain was needed, Ella hoped it would hold off a while longer. If it didn’t, she had a feeling getting Victor back to his home today would be all but impossible.

Ella watched quietly as Victor prodded Naomi’s memory with all the finesse of the best police artists she’d worked with. He sketched with painstaking attention to detail, erasing and modifying any feature Naomi felt wasn’t quite right. Although Ella still hadn’t looked at their sketch for fear of interrupting Naomi’s train of thought, she could sense that a clear impression would be the result.

Ella stood up and joined Justine just outside the hogan doorway. “Do you think it’s another false alarm, or will the rain really get to the ground this time?” Ella asked quietly, smelling the ozone in the air.

“It’ll rain, and it’ll come down in sheets. Let’s just hope it’s after we take Victor home.”

“If not, the department can put him up at a motel, or take him to a relative’s house.”

Ella heard movement inside the hogan and turned to look around. Naomi held the sketch Victor had drawn. “This is just like I remember him.” She waved at Ella to come back inside. “Take a look.”

Naomi placed it on top of the CB Ella knew Officer Neskahi had brought. Naomi had said nothing about it so far, and to avoid distracting her from the task at hand, neither had Ella.

Ella studied the sketch of the shaggy-haired man and the stringy, ineffective beard. It was no one she knew, but the sketch was detailed enough to work with. She glanced at Justine, who was looking at the drawing too.

“Not too many Navajos try to grow a beard, and you can see why.” Justine shrugged. “If I’ve seen him before, I can’t place him.”

“Now we can look at all those pictures you brought,” Naomi said.

Ella nodded to Justine, who produced several thick volumes. “I’m going to drive Victor back home while Justine takes you through these, then I’ll come back,” Ella said.

Victor picked up his things. “Good idea. Once it rains I’ll have to hike in, and that can take a long time. Normally it wouldn’t matter, but the sheep may need tending in the storm and I have some sketches I have to finish by the end of the day tomorrow. I really don’t want to lose time walking back home from the main highway.”

“I’m curious,” Ella said as they walked to the car. “How do you get by when you’re snowed in and you have to get something to the paper?”

Victor shrugged. “They send someone to the turnoff, and I hike out there.

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