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witchcraft?”
    It took all her willpower not to punch him for that. “My brother is a hataalii, a medicine man. What you’re suggesting is unspeakably obscene.”
    “All I know is that he’s acquired quite a following, and that he’s reputed to have some vague supernatural powers. I heard one of the tribal copson the case muttering about witchcraft, but he wouldn’t elaborate. I don’t believe in that crock, and I know you don’t either. I’ve looked into your background. You’re a no-nonsense, show-me-results agent. So let’s cut the mysticism crap and get down to basics. A —Reverend Destea is killed in some ritualistic fashion. B —your brother ran from the cops. C —coincidentally your brother is a self-styledmystic who opposes everything your father stood for. That all adds up to D —Clifford is our most likely suspect. Now where is he?”
    “I have no idea.”
    “When you find out, and I have no doubt you will, I want you to call me. If he’s innocent, he’s jeopardizing our chances of catching the real murderer.”
    “As you’ve pointed out to me, I’m not here as an agent. Now it seems you want me to do someinvestigating for you. Does this mean you’ve changed your mind about having me involved?”
    “And countermand my supervisors? Forget it, lady. I have my career to think about. If I can solve this case, I might finally get transferred out of this wasteland. If you block me in any way, I’ll see you spend the next decade sharpening pencils in some jurisdiction even worse than this one.”
    “Don’t threatenme, Blalock. Ever. You don’t outrank me, and it’s extremely unlikely you ever will.”
    He held her gaze. “Don’t stand in my way. Ever.”
    He strode off and joined Clah by the Jeep. Ella waited until they were out of sight, then stepped back inside.
    Her mother was absently tracing the pattern of the fabric on the arm of the sofa with her index finger. “They just don’t understand. Clifford and yourfather have been arguing for years. If your father said the grass was green, Clifford claimed he was color blind. It meant nothing. Although their beliefs were radically different, both of them saw violence as repugnant. Murder—unspeakable.”
    “Don’t let Blalock upset you. He doesn’t know enough about our culture or our family. But he’s going after Clifford, so I have to find him first, Mom. Helpme, please. Tell me what you know.”
    “Where do your loyalties lie?” Rose watched her daughter carefully.
    “With those of us who’ve been robbed of someone we love. Whoever killed dad will pay for it.”
    “And will you believe all that that Anglo tells you? He’d have you arrest your own brother.”
    “I know Clifford isn’t guilty of murder, but he must have knowledge of the crime or he wouldn’t be hiding.Maybe he can give me some leads.” She paused, searching for a way to make her mother understand. “What scares me is that I think he’s going to try to handle this on his own. That’ll be a big mistake.”
    “I agree with you. I suspect the same thing. But I still can’t help you. Clifford didn’t say where he was going, probably because he was afraid I might tell you.”
    “Mom, none of this makes sense.My brother fears no one. He’s never run away from a confrontation in his life.” She shook her head slowly. “He knows his influence here on the Rez is considerable. They couldn’t railroad him even if they wanted to.”
    “Clifford may not be thinking right,” Rose answered slowly. “He’s still unsettled by the loss of his son.”
    Ella nodded. She had heard the news a month ago, and had called to comfortClifford. The child, his first, had been stillborn.
    “That very nearly broke him, and his wife hasn’t been the same since. In a way, I think Loretta blames him, but he did everything he could. He used all the knowledge he possessed as a hataalii to ensure the safety of his child.” Her mother stared out the window at the mesa as if