Time seemed to stand still. DeShay sat by the fire, warming her hands. The month of December, or Moon of Long Nights, was just around the corner.
She could not believe she had decided to go back out to Eagle Nest Butte. For the life of her, she couldn’t explain what pulled her back to this sacred place, other than a feeling of need.
Since she discovered the remains of Abby Winters, she felt a connection to her—and to this place.
It was getting chilly, but she remained seated. A small breeze blew gently just to make its presence known. Another hour and it would be dark.
The cold from the ground seeped through DeShay’s clothes. She ignored it, mesmerized by her surroundings.
She stared at the medicine wheel or sacred hoop held tightly in her hand. A gentle breeze blew again. This made her think of the four sacred directions. At an early age, she was taught the four gifts or sacred directions on the medicine wheel. The east represents fire, the north represents air, the west represents the earth, and the south represents water.
DeShay was lost in the memory of her childhood. Her grandfather would always tell her to keep harmony with nature and herself. He taught her the medicine wheel provided direction for the people to obtain balance. His words floated back on the breeze. “Listen to your emotions and beware of your qualities. This will help strengthen the actions and decisions you make, which will allow you to live in harmony with the world around you.”
DeShay pulled the blanket over her shoulders. Why was she out in the middle of Eagle Nest Butte, on a cold night? What had led her back here?
All day long, she’d felt a nagging, pulling feeling. When she fed her cat, Tail Feather, he even sensed something, because he constantly meowed and ran to the door.
Finally, she’d headed to Eagle Nest Butte. Something about this sacred ground had enticed her to revisit. Somehow, she realized it would help solve the murders.
She wondered how Detective Hawke and Agent Wolfe were doing in Nevada. Her heart went out to both of them, Hawke, especially, for he struggled with all of this.
The blowing wind, the medicine wheel, the four sacred directions, and Eagle Nest Butte. What connection did these things have in common?
She rocked gently, as she sat by the fire. The glittering embers seemed to hypnotize her. She listened to her inner feelings.
All she could hear were the four sacred directions. “Okay, DeShay, you must concentrate.” She caught herself talking aloud.
As her mind raced, she wondered when it would all connect in her mind. She got up on her knees, as the wind once again blew. She reached and grabbed a nearby twig. Then she sprinkled sage upon the ground and then began to draw the image of the medicine wheel. She labeled the four directions.
Then it hit her. She jumped to her feet, threw water on the fire . Grabbing her flashlight, she ran to the area where Abby’s remains had been found. She stood in the exact spot.
She turned to face the north, then the west, then south, and then east and stopped. She began to walk toward the magnificent butte.
She kept walking until she was face to face with the butte. The wind blew slightly as a noise caught her attention. Her eyes followed the noise, as a small rabbit emerged out of the bushes.
DeShay smiled at the small creature. Suddenly, she felt fear, which did not surprise her for the rabbit represented fear. What had caused her to sense it? She dismissed it and continued on her journey. Then she saw what appeared to be a ledge sticking out of the mountain. She made her way to it. As she got closer, she noticed a something bulging out of the ground.
Finally, she stood within reach. A small opening, big enough to stick your arm into, or items you would not want anybody to find. She lay on her stomach and shined a flashlight down into it.
She gasped at what she saw. Lying there, as if it had been placed there for safekeeping, was what appeared to be clothing and a purse? Possibly Abby’s?
She reached into her pocket and pulled out a pair of gloves. She thought of Hawke’s words, “Always be prepared.” This was the reason she had brought gloves along. She did not want to ruin any evidence.
As she reached down into the hole, she exhaled a long breath to calm herself. She pulled a pair of jeans, a T-shirt, and a purse from the confines of this small hole. Just as she started to get up, something else caught her eye. She moved the flashlight’s beam back and forth to examine the item. A man’s ring, with the letters IG in gold, along with a business card with the address in Nevada.
DeShay’s heart raced even more. She had to get officers on the scene to preserve what she had found. She ran as hard as she could to her vehicle where she had left her phone.
Breathing heavily, she dialed the police department.
“Pine Ridge Police, how can I help you?”
“Kylee, this is DeShay. Long story but please send an officer, with a camera, to Eagle Nest Butte. I have found what I believe to be items that belong to Abby Winters. I have also found a ring with the initial’s IG engraved on it.” She paused.
Kylee chuckled, “Girl you are something else. I will get Officer Creek en route. Then I will call Detective Hawke.”
“Sounds great, Kylee. Thanks so much. I will wait by my vehicle.”
DeShay grew anxious. She could not wait to hear Hawke’s reaction.
***
Doug navigated traffic to Hawke and Melina’s hotel. The men were quiet, both lost in their thoughts. Melina slept.
Hawke’s phone rang. “Hello, Hawke here.”
“Sir, I’m sorry to bother you, but I felt you would want to know about this.”
Hawke knew when he heard Kylee’s voice it must be very important news. “Go ahead.”
“Well, DeShay just called me stating she was out at Eagle Nest Butte, and she found some items she believed would help in the investigation. She believes they belong to Abby. Then she stated she also found a man’s ring with the initials IG on it. You ought to hire her as a detective, sir.”
Hawke chuckled, “Yeah she is something else. Who do you have en route to her?”
Kylee laughed, “I’ve got Officer Creek heading her way.”
“Good job. Officer Creek is one of the best at collecting evidence. Tell him to send the items to the lab in Sioux City. Thanks Kylee, and tell DeShay way to go. I hope to be back soon.”
“So, you have no idea when that will be?”
“Not sure, right now. Maybe a week or so.”
“Okay, sir, take care.”
***
Lights headed up the dirt road. DeShay was relieved to see them. It seemed it had taken forever.
She waved as Officer Creek turned his vehicle off.
“Hello, DeShay. So, you have been exploring again, and I heard you may have found some interesting items involving the murder of Abby.”
“Officer Creek, bring your camera. We have to do this by the book.”
He proved himself to be a good man, polite, efficient, and goodhearted. DeShay had known him since they were children. He had always live on the rez, although he’d never married.
“It’s up by the mountain.”
“Lead the way!” Officer Creek carried the brown bag and gloves. He was always professional at his job.
They made their way up to the mouth of the mountain.
“Well, DeShay you have found a lot of stuff. Things we officers should have found.”
DeShay glanced over at him, “Not necessarily so.”
Officer Creek looked puzzled. “What do you mean?”
“Well, I think these things have just recently been put here.”
Officer Creek remained puzzled. “Who would have put them here? The men we think are responsible for her murder are still being investigated, so why would they do something like this?”
“Yeah, I know but I started having these feelings yesterday. So, I know the items have just recently been placed here.”
Officer Creek nodded. “Detective Hawke is in Nevada. He will definitely be excited over this.”
They made their way up to the base of the mountain. DeShay led him to the site. Officer Creek picked the jeans and T-shirt up and placed them in the bag. Then he lifted the purse. It was leather with a wolf face embroidered on it.
DeShay stayed focused as Officer Creek glanced through the purse. It contain some lipstick, a brush, a checkbook, and a wallet. He opened the wallet. Inside was Abby Winters’ driver’s license.
“This is definitely Abby Winters’ stuff.”
Then he retrieved the ring. “A man’s ring, and, look, it has the initial’s IG engraved into it. Wonder whom that could stand for? No doubt Hawke will know.”
DeShay nodded. “I cannot believe people can harm others in such a way.”
“It’s really awful. The world and its people are not in harmony.” He checked the area again for anything he could have missed.
DeShay stared at the big rock, not far from where the items had been found. As she focused her attention on the rock, a lizard came into view.
Officer Creek walked over. “Look, a lizard. It’s a sign of dreaming. It’s the shadow of all things that are real. It’s where your dreams are epitomized before you can see them clearly enough to make them physical.”
“Officer Creek, thank you. I did not know the lizard symbolized a person’s dreams in that way. Now I understand why the feeling of coming to this sacred place was so strong. I have dreamed about it repeatedly. Are you ready?”
Officer Creek nodded. “I checked the area thoroughly. At first light, I will send officers out to look once more just to make sure. Sunlight helps the eye to see well.”
DeShay nodded and exhaled a long breath. “Okay. I am at peace now.”
They walked past the lizard, as it scurried away. Life had a way of making things right.
As they approached their vehicles, Officer Creek turned to DeShay. “Sometime, would you like to get a bite to eat?”
DeShay’s face heated. “Sure, that would be great.”
“I’ll call you. You lead the way. I’ll follow you out to the main road, so I’ll know you got out of here okay.” He climbed into his SUV and.
Calm enveloped her. It was true. The haunting feeling was Abby Winters trying to tell her she must go to Eagle Nest Butte and find the items placed there.
She stood under the night sky, watching the stars twinkle. Abby Winters had led her there. Maybe this was a sign that Abby trusted her.
Suddenly, a falling star cascaded across the sky and down to the ground. The sound of coyotes howling caught her attention.
This land was sacred. Her ancestors had walked upon it, as had Abby Winters. DeShay felt her presence there, walking upon Mother Earth, trying to get justice.
“I shall walk the path with you, Abby. Please know you are not alone.”
DeShay started her jeep and headed down the dirt road, to return home to Tail Feather. Officer Creek started the squad car and followed her. She glanced once at him in the rear view mirror, and he waved. Soon she’d be home with Tail Feather. The thought of her cat sent happiness through her. Tail Feather was a very special cat. His markings resembled a hawk feather. Her father had given him to her.
The thought of him lying in the window waiting patiently for her to return sent a warm feeling to her heart. He was the best cat in the world. One she cherished more and more each day.
The drive home gave her time to think. Her goal was to help the spirits. She would help solve murders. She could locate items of murder victims.
The thought of Officer Creek set her stomach to fluttering. He was single, and, as far as she knew, he did not have a steady girlfriend. She hoped to change that very soon. The time had come for her to take control of her life, get married, and have some children. Officer Creek was a good man.
She wondered how Detective Hawke had taken the news. She could not wait for him to return. Now her dreams fit just like a puzzle and she understood them.
She would contribute to solving cases by her dreams. Her knowledge of archaeology and then her dreams would connect the dots for the detectives. Now she knew her purpose upon Mother Earth.
She was here to help deliver the beliefs of her heritage. In her dreams, she could locate things and direct the detectives onto the right path. Finally, she realized her true calling. To assist in locating murder victims and getting them justice. And she would do a great job.