One Day in a Small-Town Desert, chapter 14, page 1

(start of book) (previous chapter) (previous page)

Chapter 14: Abandonment



Detective Sétıpímo Marıdaré glared at Senior Lawman Vomıvé, waiting for his decision. The dozen assembled lawmen and Enforcers collectively held their breaths, or so it seemed.

The middle-aged lawman crinkled his nose and said, “I think it would be best if we don’t anger Mrs. Kılímí any further. Neither of our departments would benefit from full disclosure of the scenario that transpired within the house--and certainly not after the media’s spin.”

Vomıvé showed a hint of a smile as he said it, as if he had more reasons than that to counter the Enforcer. Sétıpímo suspected it was mostly the lawman displaying his power, like some strutting caribou buck. But if his machismo kept poor Vata protected, Sétıpímo was all for it.

The head Colonial Enforcer lieutenant clenched his teeth, staring at Vomıvé with furrowed brow. Eventually, he snorted and nodded sharply. “Agreed.”

He turned to face another Enforcer and the whole group relaxed. The two forces couldn’t be pointing blame at each other for Pí‘oro’s death. They were equal accomplices.

“Now, let’s get going on this search,” snapped the lieutenant. “Vorıso, you take your group to sweep the desert west of here. Search the boulders and anywhere else they might be hiding from the helicopter--caves, trap doors, anything.” He continued dispatching orders to other Enforcers while the senior lawman did the same with the local police.

Sétıpímo turned away from their organizing. He wasn’t a part of it. His job was to investigate the crime scenes. Since he had just succeeded in closing off the crime scenes in the Kılímos’ house, that left just the driveway and the automobiles on the road.

He spat a stream of tobacco juice into the bushes as he started walking down the cement path. The wad had lost its potency, so he spat it out, too, and took his tin from his hip pocket.

They had three vehicles with broken windows, three guns in police care, and one dead Enforcer. How lucky would Sétıpímo be if he found connections between them all? More likely, none would have any interrelated evidence, whatsoever.

A strong cup of coffee was in order, if he could get it, but that certainly didn’t seem likely. His best bet was to finish his investigation as quickly and efficiently as possible, then get a good night’s sleep.

He stuck a new clump of tobacco between his gum and cheek and put the tin away.

How efficient could he be, however, if he kept having to do other people’s jobs for them?

(next page)