Paper Arrows by Susan Slater

Author:Susan Slater [Slater, Susan]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: amateur sleuth, crime fiction murder, police procedural mysteries, american indian mysteries, small town mystery fiction, cultural heritage fiction, Native American Literature
Publisher: Columbine Publishing Group, LLC
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 20

Spearfish, South Dakota

Morning came way too early. Ben had a nine o’clock sharp meeting with the tribe’s fiscal officer concerning a budget for the additions to the proposed substance abuse program and then following that, a group meeting over Zoom to exchange ideas shared by personnel from several other reservation programs around the state. Last order of business for the morning was to put the finishing touches on the proposal that would be sent to Indian Health Services in Washington, D.C.

Directly following lunch he planned to get a copy of Two Shoes’ explanation of the evening’s events at the Moonshine to Sheriff Sterling. Ben had put the original signed copy in an envelope and planned on leaving it with the receptionist at the tribal offices, asking her to contact Red Bull to pick it up. That should be everything. He was cutting it close on time but he’d already made coffee, filled a travel cup, and gathered the printouts of information that Julie had sent last week. He was glad the office was only a two-block jog away.

Other than numerous questions, the morning budget meeting went smoothly. There was seldom, if ever, an argument against implementing further programs dealing with alcohol or drugs; it was always the funding, never if but how. Rent was usually not the most expensive thing to consider, but training people to man the programs or bring in outside help was. They would need a fulltime psychologist, several social workers trained in the area, and a skeleton crew of office help.

The tribal registry listing headcount warranted the number of personnel planned and overall size of the program. Government contracts always demanded a lot of t’s to cross and i’s to dot, and Ben was pleased that he was able to offer his expertise. It helped to have experience.

Just before the lunch break, he got a text from Red Bull asking if he had time to meet him at the Guadalajara Grill on West 14th. Ben made sure he wouldn’t be needed until the following day, when he’d offered to help interview prospective employees, and texted back that he’d be there by twelve-thirty.

To say the Pepto Bismol pink building stood out from anything else within a half mile might be an understatement. It screamed ‘look at me.’ There wasn’t much of a chance that Ben might miss it. Red Bull was sitting in a booth at the back next to a young woman who was probably older than she looked, but still younger than Ben.

“Ben, I’d like you to meet Micki Sterling. I think you’ve met her father.”

It was still the time of elbow bumps and masks but Ben simply chose to nod and say it was nice meeting her. He slid into the booth on the opposite side.

“Is Spearfish home?” Small talk wasn’t his strong point but Ben was curious.

“Used to be. I grew up here and only left to attend college in Billings.”

“Montana State?”

She nodded, then laughed. “It was as far away as I could talk my parents into letting me go, and still have them pay.

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