Michael McGarrity - The Judas judge

As Kerney came out from behind the desk, Andy gave him a reassuring pat on the shoulder. Kerney squeezed Andy's arm in response and continued out the door.

Kerney's shot-up gut didn't handle coffee very well, and he rarely drank it. He sipped water while Lee Sedillo waved his empty coffee cup at the waitress. She stepped over to the table, poured a refill, and moved on, looking for more customers wanting top-offs.

The restaurant catered to the German military personnel and families stationed at Holloman Air Force Base a few miles outside of Alamogordo. Most of the menu items Kerney had never encountered before, nor did he want to. Every plate the waitress carried past the table was loaded with dumplings and overcooked meat covered with a sludge like gravy.

He wondered if stomach pumps were offered as a courtesy after the final course.

"I'll get everybody looking for Eric Langsford," Lee said.

"Let's hope he hasn't left the state," Kerney said. "Put out an additional APB, just in case. What have we missed, Lee?"

"I don't know, Chief. We haven't found any handgun sales made to the suspects, or any record of firearms training. Our interviews with people who knew the Langsfords turned up squat. On the surface, they look like the all-American family."

"We know better," Kerney said. "Go over every agent's field notes, investigation reports, and activity log. Look for undeveloped leads, incomplete witness statements, or possible hard evidence that might have been missed."

Lee nodded. "The owners of the bed and breakfast in Creede confirmed that Linda Langsford was a guest the night her father was killed. That leaves only Eric as a primary suspect."

Kerney put a few dollar bills on the table to cover the coffee and the tip. "I'm going to Roswell for a couple of days. You run things here."

"What's up with that, Chief?"

Kerney shrugged. "A fishing expedition." You're not convinced Eric is our boy, are you?"

"Won't be until we get either a voluntary confession or hard evidence that confirms his guilt."

Sedillo bit his lip.

"What's on your mind, Lee?" Kerney asked.

"Remember that rape case we worked together in Santa Fe when you were with the PD? Those three punks who got the victim loaded and raped her in a hot tub? The DA wouldn't prosecute because the, girl voluntarily got into the tub wearing her bra and panties."

"I remember. He didn't want to risk losing the case in court; it would make his yearly conviction rate look bad. What's your point, Lee?"

"Maybe you're expecting too much."

"Meaning?"

"I know you'd like to nail down an ironclad conviction. But cases don't always break the way you want them to, especially after prosecutors and judges get their hands on them."

"You think my ego is too wrapped up in this?"

"Mine would be, if I was in your shoes."

"Did Andy Baca ask you to have a little chat with me?" Kerney asked.

A pained look crossed Lee's face. "You know me better than that."

Kerney got up from the table. "I take it back, Lee. Forget I said anything. You're right; we can only take it as far as it goes. But I'm still heading out to Roswell."

"I wasn't trying to change your mind, Chief."

A knock at the motel room door came just as Kerney finished packing.

He opened it to find Isabel Istee looking up at him with sober eyes, her hands clasped together primly at her waist. A dark skirt, demure white blouse, and sensible shoes accented the reserved look on her face.

"Do you have some time to talk?" she asked.

"Come in," Kerney replied.

Isabel hesitated before cautiously stepping into the room. "Please leave the door open," she asked.

Kerney grabbed a travel bag from the bed and used it as a doorstop. He turned to find Isabel standing stiffly in the center of the room.

"What would you like to talk about?" he asked.

"Although he appreciates the fact that you are his father, Clayton sees no purpose in establishing a relationship with you," Isabel said.

Her words sounded rehearsed. Kerney took a crack at breaking through the formality. "In other words, he thinks I'm a racist."

"That isn't the issue."

"That's the impression I get from him," Kerney countered.

Isabel shrugged a shoulder slightly in concession. "I know he tested you. He's cautious when it comes to prejudicial attitudes. All of us are."

"I've tried not to be intrusive. Has that been misunderstood as a lack of interest on my part?"

"No."

"Then what is it?"

Isabel measured Kerney with unsmiling eyes that seemed to be asking an unspoken question.

He waited for a long minute and said, "Tell me why you're here, Isabel."

"Clayton will become a tribal leader someday, Kevin. He will be our next chief of police, and when his career in law enforcement ends he'll serve on the tribal council. He has much to offer, and he is highly regarded by the elders."

"I can see that potential in him," Kerney said. "But it still doesn't answer my question."

"We have a strong tradition of tolerance when it comes to relationships outside the tribe," Isabel said, coloring slightly. "Having you as a father is not a barrier to him."

"So, it's politics," Kerney said, thinking that Clayton's tribal ambitions would be a good reason to keep his distance from a gringo parent.

"You could say that."

"Whose politics are we talking about?" Kerney asked.

"Partially mine, partially his, partially the tribal elders."

"I see."

Kerney said. "Was Clayton's assistance in my murder investigation politically motivated?"

"The tribal administrator and police chief asked him to informally give you the information. Otherwise, you never would have been allowed to question any tribal members. We wanted you to understand that no Mescalero had a part in either the murder of Judge Langsford or his wife."

"We?"

"I played a role in that decision. I serve on the tribal council."

"Have I been given all the facts, Isabel?"

"Nothing was withheld from you."

"So why all the game playing?"

"Allowing the state police to conduct an official investigation was unacceptable. Your department has no authority on our land, and we have no desire to set a dangerous precedent. Another way had to be found to give you the information you wanted. That's where I played a role. I've always believed you to be fair-minded, and I argued that you would not act in a way that would be detrimental to the tribe."

"That's nice to hear." Kerney flashed back on the laughing, spontaneous, lusty, spirited Isabel of his youth. "The world has certainly changed us since we were in college together."

"Not really, Kevin. I never had a desire to make you a part of my world, or be part of yours."

"Obviously."

"Do we have an understanding?"

"It was good of you to come and see me. I know this wasn't an easy thing to do. I won't be a bother."

"Thank you." Isabel smiled, her eyes searching Kerney's face with a hint of warmth. "I never meant to hurt you."

"I know that," Kerney said with a smile.

"When Clayton was a child, I often wondered what you would do if you'd learned of his existence."

"I would have exercised my rights as a parent."

"I thought so," Isabel said. "Even against my wishes?"

"Probably."

"It would have meant that much to you?"

"And now?" Isabel asked.

"I have an empty feeling that I've missed out on something important."

"Yes, I can see that. It speaks well of you. Are you angry with me?"

"No, just disappointed by the circumstances. What would you have done if I'd showed up, way back when?"

"I'm not sure. I never was sure. It was always a question." For a split second Isabel's dark eyes turned playful. "Maybe I would have changed my mind about letting you into my life."