The nights were warmer in Nevada. Dogs barked. Trucks and cars rumbled past. Crickets sang. Hawke missed the night sounds of the reservation.
Doug patted Hawke’s shoulder. “Let’s get back in the van for a while. The guys usually have water and soda on ice. I want to check over the monitors, too.”
Melina and Hawke sat next to each other, sipping their water. She covered his hand with hers. “I love it when you tell the stories. You always put so much feeling into it. You’ll make a good medicine man one day.”
Hawke turned his hand over and entwined his fingers with hers. “And you’ll make a good medicine man’s wife.”
“Got company, boss,” one of the police officers staffing the monitors remarked
Doug, Hawke, and Melina all crowded around the police officer to view the monitors. A black van pulled up the driveway to the house. Three doors opened. Hawke was relieved to see Amy get out of the vehicle on her own. Pete walked very close to her, but it was obvious Ian was the one in control. He wrapped his arm around her shoulder.
“Doug, the man with his arm around Ms. Winters is Ian Guidara. The man following, scoping out the area for any lurkers is Pete Crowe. I hope your men are well hidden.”
“Don’t you worry about them. I’ve got them well trained.”
The two suspects and their innocent companion went inside the house. Soon, a silver Corvette pulled in. A man in a suit got out.
“Zoom in on him,” Doug instructed the officer at the camera controls. When the camera panned the man strolling up the driveway, Doug swore under his breath. “He owns one of the big casinos here. I had no clue he was involved with drugs or this outfit.”
Five minutes later, the man in the suit ran back to his car.
Hawke glanced at Doug. “Did your listening devices pick up the conversation that just went on in there?”
The young man wearing headphones turned and smiled. “Every drug-dealin’ word.”
“What about Ms. Winters? Can you hear her?”
“She’s in her bedroom at the back of the house. Ian told her she needed to get to bed early. He has things planned for her tomorrow.”
Melina leaned her head against Hawke’s shoulder. “Thank goodness she’s still okay.”
Soon, the garage door raised and a motorcycle roared to life. Ian backed it out of the three-car garage.
Doug punched some keys on his cell. “I’m texting one of my men to follow him. Now that I know where this lowlife is, I’m not letting him out of my department’s sight.”
For over a month, the case of Abby’s murder had moved at a snail’s pace. Now it raced like a crazed rabbit. Hawke prayed for a sign from the Great Mystery. He offered a prayer. “Father Sky and Mother Earth. Please protect Amy Winters from evil. Help us catch these evil men. Thank you for all the knowledge you have given me. Great Mystery, guide me in the right direction and forgive me for the things I have no control over.”
His words echoed only for the ears of the ones addressed. He would do what was necessary to finish the job. His heart felt a huge sense of kindness. A showing of what was yet to come.
“It’s so hot in here, Hawke. I need fresh air.” He squeezed Melina’s hand and slid the side door open, eager to do something to make the woman he loved more comfortable. Suddenly, Hawke noticed a turtle crossing the parking lot. “The turtle symbolizes Mother Earth.”
He kept his eye on it as he remembered the story his grandfather told him about this sacred animal. Lost in his own world as he heard the whispers of his grandfather sprinkle across his thoughts.
“Grandson, the turtle represents Mother Earth. Here is the story about him. There’s a large lake by a village of the Chippewa where a large turtle lived and called home. This turtle was one of a kind because he would visit the people of the village. He would speak with the chief of this village for most of the day.
“The chief realized just how smart and wise this old turtle had become, so when he needed help solving something he would call upon his friend the turtle to help him.
“One day two parties of the tribe got into an argument. Worried blood would be shed, the chief could not decide who was at fault. So he called upon his turtle friend in hopes he could help figure out something to cease this ensuing fight.
“The turtle must decide who was right and who was wrong. The turtle came to the village and listened to both sides. He thought hard before making a decision. After much consideration, he made his decision. He stood and gave a speech. ‘My friends, I must decide for both parties. You are all right and all wrong. So in this case you both share in the right and wrong.’
“When the parties heard his decision, it opened their eyes, and they realized the turtle was very wise and right. The tribe realized if it had not been for this wise decision by the turtle, then a lot of blood might have been spilled. Therefore, they voted for him to become the judge on all things disputed. The chief was so thrilled with him and his decision for ceasing all the trouble, he gave him his daughter.
“The daughter of the chief was a radiant beauty. Many warriors had tried to win her heart, but she would not accept them, for her father must be the one to approve her marriage.
“When the young men of the village heard of their upcoming union, they grew jealous and angry, but the beautiful girl married the turtle. The young men made fun of him by asking, ‘How do you have such a flat stomach?’
“The turtle would always answer, ‘Do you want to know how I got my flat stomach? Maybe if you knew then you would understand. So, here is how it came to be. Two great tribes, the Sioux and Chippewa, engaged in a great battle. I was a warrior on the Chippewa side, and the Sioux were catching up to us fast.
“I saw some tall grass, so I ran to hide in it. I heaved myself stomach first down into the tall grass. The Sioux had already killed at least four, if not more, so I prayed they would not find me in the tall grass.
“After they were gone, I stood, and my stomach is as you see it now, flat. I had pushed it so hard to the ground, it never went back to the original shape.’
“After hearing of the turtle’s bravery, the warriors of the village decided they would never bother him again. Not long, after this, the Sioux attacked again, and the entire village was deserted. The turtle could not travel as fast and was left behind.
“It was a very hot day, and the turtle grew thirsty. Finally, he smelled the water and jumped into the river. He took his bath, swam towards the center of the river, and plunged down deep, until he found some huge rocks. He was so tired he decided to rest there for a while.
“After waking up from his nap, he swam to the shore, taking note summer had arrived. He had slept all winter long. He observed the lovely songs of the birds and the green grass smell.
“The turtle got to the bank of the river and starting looking for his Chippewa camp. After days of searching, he found his people. He longed for his wife, so she was the first he sought out to find. He found her at the opposite side of the camp, holding and caring for her baby. To his surprise, the baby did not favor him at all. This made him angry so he charged back to the river. He stayed there eating flies and living on seaweed for the rest of his life.”
For the next half an hour, Hawke’s mind flitted like a butterfly from one thought to the next. Was Ms. Winters safe? Would they gather enough evidence to convict these men? Would they find out the truth behind Abby’s murder?
The loud rumble of motorcycles pierced the night air. Headlights illuminated Ian’s driveway. Hawke stepped back into the van and closed the door. “What’s happening?”
Doug looked up from the monitors. “Ian Guidara just came back with some motorcycle gang members.”
If a motorcycle gang was involved with Ian then the drugs were worse than he had thought.
“Could you tell which gang it is?”
Melina glanced at him, then at Doug. “I think they are out of El Paso, Texas. The markings some of them have on their helmets and jackets indicate as much.”
Doug ran a hand over his head. “If they are coming from out of El Paso area, then the drugs are bigger than what my department ever thought of. The stakes would be bigger for them, and they would kill anybody that got in their way.”
As Hawke watched the monitors, taking in all the motorcycles lining lined the driveway, he knew without doubt why Abby was killed. She’d figured out what Ian involved himself in, and the members of the gang ordered her death.
Ian’s connection must run deep with the drug rings of El Paso. They were not stupid people, and they would kill just to prove a point.
“This investigation just got twice as dangerous.” Hawke feared for Melina’s safety. As he turned to gaze into her loving eyes, he knew she would never back away from this. She would never ever let them scare her away.
“Hawke, I know what’s going through your mind. They don’t scare me, and you know that. I can take care of myself.”
He knew there was no way she would leave, so the only thing he could do was stay close to her, protecting her with his life. He would protect her or die trying. The evil walking upon this earth scared him.
He winked at her. Surely, she knew he would be watching her back at all times.