Jenna Kernan - Native Born

“What was that?” asked Tully.

“Custody battle,” she said.

“I know all about that. What I’m asking about is why are you fighting with a tribal councilman?”

“Perhaps I’m not the right one for this assignment,” she said, hating herself for saying it. She’d never turned down an assignment before.

“I agree. But I need an agent up there on Black Mountain. One who is not Apache and Chief Cosen just gave me an in. So you’re it. Find out what’s going on up there. You got it? We’ve got permission for two agents on that rez. That’s never happened before. So shut your mouth and do your job.”

“Yes, sir.” Cassidy had a thought. “Do you think the Cosens might be involved with the distribution ring?”

“How do I know? That’s for you to find out.”

Cassidy’s mood brightened.

If she were up there, in his home, in his community, perhaps she could find some chink in the Cosen armor, something to make them unfit to raise a twelve-year-old child.

But if that were so, then why in the wide world would Chief Gabe Cosen allow her up in his territory?

She had a terrible thought. What if the Cosen brothers wanted her up there, away from the protection of other agents, so that something bad could happen to her? That would remove her from the equation when it came to the custody of her daughter.

Cassidy drew in a breath and faced her boss. It was a gamble. But it was the only way she could see to keep Amanda without putting her daughter in the position to choose.

A twelve-year-old should not have to choose between her mother and her brothers. It wasn’t fair to ask a child to make such a choice. But Amanda would have to, if it came down to that.

Cassidy squared her shoulders as if she were still at attention in lineup. Then she met the analytical gaze of Donald Tully.

“If I do this, will you put in that recommendation for my transfer to DC?” she asked.

Tully’s mouth went tight, but the glimmer in his eyes showed he knew she had won. “You know we do some good work here, too.”

“Answer the question.”

“Yes, damn it. I will.”

“All right. I’ll do it.”

* * *

HIS BROTHER ANSWERED on the first ring.

“I got her!” he said, his voice full of jubilation.

“You sure?” asked his brother, Johnny.

“Gray Volvo station wagon, right?”

“That’s what I said.”

Johnny had tailed her the day she’d shown up in court to testify on a big case. She’d lost the tail easily but now they knew the make and model of her personal vehicle.

“She heading to the hospital?” Johnny asked.

“Don’t know,” he said.

“Damned, I hit her dead center. Should have knocked her down, at least. Then I would have had another shot,” said Johnny.

“We need to get that tungsten ammo.”

“We don’t. Common caliber will get the job done.”

“If it’s a head shot.”

“It was a head shot,” said Johnny. “She moved. Jumped on him.”

“What about a bigger caliber or a hollow point?”

“We buy that and we might as well wave a red flag in front of the Feds’ eyes. No reason to buy that ammo but one.”

“No guts, no glory,” he said, using Johnny’s favorite expression.

“Hey, I’m all about hitting the target. Just don’t want a spot next to Brett’s.”

“What do you mean?”

“In the cemetery, stupid,” said Johnny.

“Right,” he said. Johnny was always the smart one. “She’s heading for the interstate.”

“Heading home, maybe. That’d be a break. Get her address if you can,” said Johnny.

“Sure. Sure.”

“Hey, kid? Finding her car? Ya done good.”

He basked in the praise. Truth was, he didn’t mind a cell next to Johnny’s. Just so long as he took care of business first.

Chapter Four

Seemed you only needed to get shot to get the rest of the day off. Cassidy’s boss sent her to the hospital. But she didn’t go. Instead, she went home to her daughter. The drive from Tucson to Phoenix took three hours, but it didn’t matter. She made it in time for supper.

She arrived with pizza and found Diane waiting with the table set. Amanda bounded off the couch and accepted a kiss and then the boxes, which she carried to the kitchen dinette.

Gerard’s mother retrieved the milk from the refrigerator for Amanda and then took her seat. Diane had many good qualities. Cooking was not one of them. But she was the only other family Amanda had. Cassidy gritted her teeth at the lie. The only family that Cassidy wanted her to have. Was that selfish?

“Finally,” said Diane. “I’m starving.”

Diane was sixty-three, black and didn’t look a day over fifty. She had taken an early retirement from UPS five years ago when her only son had been killed in action. Her skin was a lighter brown than her son’s had been and she chose to straighten her hair, instead of leaving it natural, as Gerard had.

When Cassidy had transferred from California to Arizona, Diane had joined them. Her decision to help raise Amanda had allowed Cassidy to take Amanda out of the school keeper’s programs and allowed Cassidy to move into fieldwork, which she truly loved.

Cassidy excused herself to change. Using a mirror, she checked the sight of the impact and noted the purplish bruise that spread across her back. She took four ibuprofens and slipped into a button-up blouse because it hurt too much to lift her arms over her head. Then she rejoined her mother-in-law and daughter.

After dinner it was past nine on a school night. Amanda headed off to bed. Cassidy joined her, sitting on the foot of the twin bed, trying not to look at the photo of her husband on his second deployment that rested on Amanda’s nightstand.

“You’re leaving again, aren’t you?” said Amanda.

Cassidy stroked her daughter’s glossy black hair away from her face. Clyne’s hair had been just this color. Gabe and Kino kept their hair so short it was hard to compare and she had yet to meet Clay, the middle brother.

“Yes, doodlebug. I have to pack tonight. I’ll be gone before you get up.”

“We have another game on Wednesday.”

“I’m sorry.”

“Where?” Her daughter knew that her mother couldn’t say much about her assignments. But this time, somehow, it seemed important that she know.

“Black Mountain.”

“On the reservation?” Her daughter’s voice now rose with excitement. “Oh, Mom. Why didn’t you tell me?”

Because she tried to keep her daughter away from the people who were attempting to take Amanda away from her.

“Can I come?”

“Of course you can’t come.”

Her daughter continued on and Cassidy wished she had not mentioned the location of her assignment.

“Are you going to Pinyon Fort? Will you see the museum? There are two hotels on Black Mountain, the ski resort and the casino. Where will you stay?”

It was like watching a train pick up speed and having no way to slow it down.

Ever since Cassidy had told her daughter that she was not really Sioux, as they had been told, but Apache, Amanda had been Googling the Black Mountain tribe’s website and studying Apache history.

“I’m not sure yet.” Cassidy pressed a hand to her forehead.

“You have to tell me everything, what it’s like. They had snow there today. I checked. I haven’t seen snow since we left South Dakota. I wish I could come, too.”

Cassidy stroked her daughter’s head and forced a smile.

“Maybe next time.”

“Will you see them?”

“Yes.”

Amanda’s eyes widened. “Oh, I want to go!”

“I know.”

“What if the judge says I have to go with them? Wouldn’t it be better if I had at least met them?”