Spider Woman's Daughter by Anne Hillerman Read Free Book Online

the case that held the disc. “I need someone to go through these in case Benally isn’t our boy.”
    Bernie started to say something, and Largo silenced her with a look. He turned to Chee. “That someone will be you.”
    “Yes, sir,” Chee said.
    “You know what to look for. First of all, a link between Jackson, or a friend or family member of Jackson, someone in the Benallys’ circle, and Leaphorn. A reason for a college boy to want Leaphorn dead. Or someone who might have threatened, coerced, blackmailed Benally into this situation. Then, look for cons Leaphorn helped send to prison who might be out now.”
    “Want me to work from Window Rock?”
    “No. Take this back to the Shiprock office. Less hectic there.” Largo sighed. “It ought to take a long day to come up with a list, but let me know sooner if any names jump out at you. Maybe we won’t even need the list of cons. Maybe Jackson is our man.”
    “Anything else?” Chee asked. “What about the lieutenant’s condition?”
    “I haven’t heard anything new,” Largo said.
    Chee took the disc, rose to leave. Bernie stood, too.
    “When I picked up Bernie at Leaphorn’s house, we realized he has a home office there. More files. We’ll need those, too.”
    Largo nodded. “Have Bigman get them.”
    “I don’t think Jackson did it,” Bernie said.
    “Really?” Largo’s voice was sharp with ridicule. “The mother, she’s about the right size, owns the car? Do you like her for the shooter?”
    “She’s got an alibi. Shopping.” Bernie worked to keep the edge out of her voice.
    “You know you’ll have to testify when this all goes to trial.” Largo frowned. “You need to be a credible, untainted witness, Manuelito. We don’t want anybody saying Navajo Police screwed this up by not following the rules. We don’t want whoever hurt the lieutenant to get off on some sort of oversight or a damn technicality. You may have already done some damage, talking with Mrs. Benally. You should have left every bit of that to Chee and Wheeler.”
    Bernie felt her face grow hot, anger rising. “What was I supposed to do, sit on my thumbs?”
    “Exactly. And keep your mouth shut.”
    Largo pressed his hands together, looked grim. “The way I see it, this is the most important case we’ve ever handled. Your not being involved is routine procedure. Routine. It’s not personal. It’s not punishment. It’s the way we do things. I am not saying this again. Clear?”
    Bernie said, “This case is personal. I saw him fall. I promised I’d find whoever shot him.”
    Largo stood and leaned toward her. “Get out of here, Manuelito. Cool down. Your only, I repeat only , job is to find Louisa and Leaphorn’s kinfolks. Period. I don’t want to see you here again. Or talk to you until I invite you back to work.”
    Bernie rose, standing next to Chee.
    “I don’t want to have to fire you,” Largo said. “But I will if you can’t follow orders.”

4

    B ernie walked to the parking lot in silence, heading to her car. Chee followed.
    “You’ve been through a lot today,” he said. “It wouldn’t hurt you to—”
    “Don’t start. I don’t need you or Largo to protect me. Largo thinks I should have done more for the lieutenant. No matter what he says, he is punishing me by taking me off the case.”
    She felt Chee’s hands on her shoulders, shrugged him away.
    “You’re wrong,” Chee said. “Largo doesn’t operate like that and never has. He’s been tough on me, too. Tough but fair. Stop beating yourself up. It’s totally routine for an officer involved in a shooting to—”
    “I didn’t act like an officer out there. If I’d been faster, I could have gotten a real description, maybe even gotten off a shot.”
    “Stop, honey. It’s over.”
    She noticed his look of concern and surprise. She rarely showed her anger. And she couldn’t remember ever being this furious.
    “We’re all in this together,” Chee said. “We all want to solve