Long Road to Mercy (Atlee Pine, #1)(30)

Pine nodded. “He was with some sunburned jerk who has a beef with the feds. I had to take him down a peg.”

“Tim Mallory. He got kicked out of the Army for drinking and drugs. He moved here last year from Philadelphia. Joe’s been hanging out with him.”

“He’s not a good influence. And Joe said he was there to meet up with Kyle Chavez. Also not a good influence.”

Yazzie said, “I didn’t know he’d been messing around with Kyle.”

“They were also smoking weed and drinking. Look, I know that’s not unusual with young guys, but I don’t want to see Joe get into trouble that he can’t get out of.”

“His father’s been trying to get him to try out for the police, but he has no interest.”

“What is he doing?”

“Not much. He works odd jobs. He comes home sometimes. I cook him meals, try to get him motivated about his future. But not much seems to work with him.”

“His brothers?”

“Thomas is in college in Portland, Oregon. Matt’s a senior. He’s going to West Point.”

“That’s great, very impressive.”

“But not Joe. His father isn’t happy. It’s all he thinks about. His namesake. You know.”

“I don’t know because I’ve never had kids. But I imagine it can really mess with you.”

“Joe’s at his wit’s end. Nothing he says seems to get through.” She shrugged and smiled sadly. “My son’s Navajo name is Ahiga. Do you know what that means?”

Pine shook her head.

Yazzie sighed resignedly and said, “It translates to ‘he fights.’ And Joe Jr. has lived up to that name. At least when it comes to his parents.”

“I just wanted to give you a heads-up.”

“Thanks, Atlee. I’ll let my husband know too. And good luck with your missing person case.”

Pine walked out into the heat and sun thinking that she would need something a lot stronger than luck. And she was also thinking that motherhood was not for her.

She dropped Brennan off at the park, turned around, and drove straight back to Shattered Rock.

Carol Blum rose from her desk when Pine entered the office.

“The IT folks have been over our computers. They actually did it remotely. They found some things on there that shouldn’t have been and removed them.”

“So the computers had been compromised?”

“Yes. They’re checking to see where it might have come from. I’m thinking it might have happened when I went on that website. If so, I’m very sorry, Agent Pine.”

“Don’t worry about it,” said Pine. “I think it might have happened regardless.”

“They also checked out our phones. Both our cell and landlines. They’re fine.”

“Good. Because I’m out of quarters.”

“You did have a message from the forensics lab at Flagstaff. They wanted you to call. I have the number.”

Pine took this information into her office and closed the door.

She called the number. On the second ring a person picked up.

She was Marjorie Parks, an assistant medical examiner with the FBI. Pine had worked with her before.

“Well, Atlee, I have to admit, I’ve never done a postmortem on a mule before. Well, technically with an animal it’s referred to as a necropsy. I guess I have you to thank for that.”

“Yeah, it was a first for me, too. What’d you find out?”

“The death wound was performed with a long-bladed knife with an upward angle, not quite a scythe shape, but something along those lines.”

“The letters on the hide?”

“They were done with a knife as well. Any idea what j and k refer to?”

“We did some research on our own and might have pulled up a lead.”

“Good luck on that.”

“So what drug was used on Sallie Belle?”

“Who told you about that?” said Parks in surprise. “I was saving that for last.”

“You’re not going to start cutting a half-ton mule without knocking it out first.”

“I’m sure. Okay, the tests show that the drug used was romifidine. It’s a sedative typically used in veterinary medicine with large animals, like horses and mules.”

“Okay, we know the how. Now the only questions are who and why.”

“And those are usually the toughest of all to answer.”

“It’s why I get paid the big bucks.”





Chapter

16



FOR SOME STRANGE REASON, Pine had a hard time deciding what to wear to meet Kettler for dinner and a beer.

“It’s not like you’ve never been on a date, Pine,” she said to herself, as she held up one outfit after another in front of the mirror tacked to the back of her closet door. “Though it has been a while.”

In the end, she settled on a sundress with a sweater on over it, and sandals. She’d carry her Glock in her purse and leave the Beretta home. She hoped the date wouldn’t warrant a backup weapon.

The drive there took only a few minutes. She saw the Jeep parked at the curb and looked at her watch. One minute to seven. Mr. Kettler apparently liked to be early.