Death Along the Spirit Road by C. M. Wendelboe

Author:C. M. Wendelboe [Wendelboe, C. M.]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Publisher: Berkley
Published: 2011-03-01T06:00:00+00:00

Manny pulled up to the curb outside the Rapid City Journal office. Willie got up from the wino bench and walked around to the driver’s side. Manny slid over and Willie started climbing behind the wheel when he froze. He frowned as he ran his hand over the dented fender.

Manny looked at him and anticipated the question. “A light pole came at me a little faster than I could avoid it. Let’s just say it was self-defense.” Again.

“Must have come after you pretty quick. The tire’s rubbing against the fender.”

Manny nodded. “Get it fixed and give me the bill. Price is no object. Your tax dollars at work.” He forced a laugh, but Willie didn’t. “What did you find out?” Manny asked to get Willie’s mind off the damage.

He slid the seat back before he reached into his rear pocket for his notebook and flipped pages. “There was a ton of info about the Red Cloud Corporation,” he began, “but not much about Jason. I researched the date of his parents’ accident that Verlyn Horn investigated. The Journal quoted him as claiming the brake lines had been cut, not ruptured as they’d initially reported. The Red Clouds came down that long hill just south of Interior and lost their brakes and plunged off a steep ravine. They lay there four days until a rancher found them.”

“What? I didn’t catch that.”

“I know you didn’t,” Willie agreed. “It’s like you’re in a dream or something.”

If Manny were in a dream, Clara Downing was there with him.

“I said, Verlyn Horn was certain they lost their brakes on that steep hill out of Interior.”

“I know the hill he was talking about.”

“Me, too,” Willie said. “The one before you come to Badlands Grocery. I could see them losing control if they had a head of steam and no brakes.”

“What else did you learn about the accident?”

“Not much.” Willie pinched Copenhagen between his thumb and forefinger, then offered the can to Manny. He shook his head, and Willie put the can back in his shirt pocket. Manny looked lovingly at the tobacco. It could be rolled tight in a piece of paper, and if it were dried just a little bit, it might light. “Because the accident happened on the rez, there wasn’t much coverage. The only reason it got written up at all is because the victims were Red Clouds.”

“Any mention of AIM’s involvement?”

He handed Manny a photocopied front page of the Rapid City Journal. Yellow marks dotted the copy where Willie had highlighted parts he felt were important. “There was mention of the Red Clouds opposing AIM, despite their son’s former involvement with the organization. Why do you ask?”

Manny shrugged. “Call it a hunch. A man should always listen to his hunches in this business. That car wreck had AIM written all over it, just like Jason’s murder.”

“AIM involved in Jason’s death? They haven’t been active for decades.”

“But they’re not all dead. There’s some holdouts still lurking on Pine Ridge.”

“Sure, they have the occasional

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