The Collector: A Navajo Nation Mystery by Chappell R. Allen

Author:Chappell, R. Allen [Chappell, R. Allen]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Mystery
Amazon: B07Q7T8PBD
Goodreads: 44666056
Published: 2019-03-29T07:00:00+00:00

15

Fate

Archie found the side street, and after spotting the restaurant, did a double take at the pickup parked out front. He was halfway down the block before admitting to himself he may have just seen Lucy Tallwoman’s truck. The late model Ford parked in front of the eatery was a dead ringer for the one he’d seen earlier that morning down below in the camp. But only as he shot a glance in his rearview mirror did he become absolutely certain. There was the skewed and weathered sticker on the front bumper: “You’re in Indian Country.” Earlier that morning he’d been unable to read the smaller print, now he whispered it to himself, “KTNN voice of the Navajo Nation.”

He parked the Chevy well down the street. What are the odds…? He slid his pickup into an empty space and took a moment to study on it, then smiled. No reason not to have a look, Archie…no one knows you around here. Still smiling as he entered the restaurant, he immediately spotted Lucy Tallwoman at a front table, riveted to what the woman across from her was saying.

Approached by the hostess Archie pointed to one of the small tables toward the rear.

As the man passed their table, Lucy Tallwoman, caught up in the conversation, seemed not to notice. Carla, however, managed a covert glance. She was trained to be aware and without missing a beat, thought, So this is the infamous Archie Blumker…I thought he’d be taller…otherwise; he looks exactly like his file photos.

Archie, choosing a chair facing toward the front, accepted the menu but barely glanced at it before asking a question. He then immediately gave the hostess his order without waiting for the server—passing the menu back to the woman without looking up. She frowned, scribbled something down and handed it to the first passing waiter. Surprised, he immediately turned back to the kitchen and then returned with a large tureen of something, which he delivered to the table before taking the man’s drink order. Raising his eyebrows at the hostess, the server then crossed to the bar and in only moments returned to the table with an icy mixed drink …tall and clear…with a twist. It was the best the house had to offer.

Lucy Tallwoman, facing toward the rear of the dining room, inadvertently glanced the new diner’s way a time or two and once caught him watching her. He held her gaze a moment then looking down at his dinner, devoted his attention to the Zuppa di Mare and didn’t look her way again.

No more than a casual curiosity, Lucy was sure.

As the two women chatted back and forth, laughing now and again at some little something, Carla took out her compact and checked her makeup as she talked. After only a moment she asked, “Is the man at the back table someone you know?” She pretended to dab at her nose as she studied the diner in the mirror.

“No, I don’t think I’ve ever seen him.

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