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“Skeleton Canyon is real enough, but I’m not going to try to give you directions over the phone. Meet me at the Double Adobe turnoff on Highway 80 just as soon as you can. I’ll drive you there. That’ll be easier for all concerned.”
“All right,” George said. “But I’ll need to jump in the shower first.”
“Fine,” Joa
“Hiking boots? Why?”
“Because the body’s twenty yards off the nearest trail down a mountainside,” Joa
“Thanks for the warning,” George said. “I’ll have to do the best I can.”
Abandoning her now-cold cup of coffee, Joa
Unlocking it, she picked up the radio. “I’m going to be out of radio contact,” she told Tica Romero. “I’ll be in my Eagle. It doesn’t have a radio or air-conditioning, but at least it has four-wheel drive.” She was about to end the contact when she remembered it was Sunday.
“When you have a chance, Tica, I’ll need you to call a few people for me. My in-laws are expecting me to drop by after church for di
“And the other call?”
“Make that one to Reverend Maria
Joa
“What gives, Sheriff Brady? Do you need help?”
Joa
Ernie nodded. “The guy’s still pretty much of a greenhorn. I hope he gets a move on, though. Looking at those clouds over there, we may not have much time.”
“You two go on,” Joa
“Are you sure you’re all right, Sheriff Brady?” Ernie asked. “Tica told us about Angie Kellogg being missing as well. I know she’s a friend of yours.”
“Thanks, Ernie,” she said. “I’m okay and I’m sure Angie will be fine. She’ll find her way out. Once you get out there, though, you might want to turn on your siren. It’ll make it easier for her to know where you are.”
“Right,” Ernie said. “Will do.”
The two detectives started away. “Detective Carbajal?” Joa
“Yes, ma’am?”
“Remember,” she said, leveling a reproving look in his direction, “sirens yes, but whoever was in that pickup is already dead. You’re not out to set land speed records here. This isn’t a hot pursuit situation, and I don’t want it treated as such.”
With a meaningful glance at Ernie, who had no doubt been urging him on, Jaime nodded. “Right, Sheriff Brady,” he said. “I’ll be sure to slow it down.”
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
Ernie and Jaime had just pulled away when George Winfield arrived in the converted hearse that doubled as his coroner’s wagon. When George walked up to the window of Joa
“Ellie says Skeleton Canyon is somewhere over here in the Pelon…” He paused. “How do you say it? The Pelonsillios?”
He pronounced the word in true gringo fashion with the word silly taking the place of the two silent l’s. The sound of it grated on Joa
“It’s Spanish,” she explained, without bothering to cover up her irritation. “That means you don’t pronounce the double 1. It’s Pelon-si-yos.”
George shook his head. “I’ll never be able to say all these god-awful Spanish and Indian words. Whatever happened to good old American English?”
“You mean like Mi
Realizing he had stepped in something but unsure what it was, Winfield regarded her warily. “I guess we’d better get started.”
“I guess we’d better,” Joa
Winfield went back to the hearse and removed a heavy leather satchel, which he lugged over and loaded into the back of the Eagle. By the time he climbed into the rider’s seat, Joa
The turnoff to the north entrance of Skeleton Canyon was at a crossroads presuming to be a village that called itself Apache. From Double Adobe Road to the turnoff was a good fifty-five miles. The drive took them east across the southern end of the Sulphur Springs Valley and then north through the San Bernardino Valley. Most of the time on a drive like this, Joa
Absorbed in her own thoughts, Joa
Joa
Thinking about the realities of Angie out walking around, unprepared, in the wild, rock-strewn landscape that made up the Peloncillos, Joa
“Are those the only shoes you have along?” she asked.
“Unfortunately yes,” he said. “I’m not much for hiking. I haven’t quite gotten around to buying any hiking boots yet.”
“What about water?” she asked. “I don’t suppose you brought along any of that, either.”
“I brought along my crime scene kit.”
“But no water to drink?”
“No.”
Joa
“Is that why they call the place we’re going to Skeleton Canyon?” Winfield asked. “Because people died out there?” Joa