"My grandfather used to tell stories about killings that happened before the big drought," Yazzie continued."Would have been fifty years ago now.Several murders where victims were found with medicine herbs stuffed in their mouths."
"On the reservation?"Kari asked.
"Some on, some near.I was just a boy, so I don't remember many details.But the herbs were significant—something about purification or prevention."Yazzie's expression was troubled."I never knew if they were real cases or just stories to keep us kids from wandering too far."
"We could check the archives," Ben suggested."The department has case files going back to the 1960s, though the older ones aren't digitized."
Yazzie nodded."Worth investigating any potential connection, especially given the specific nature of this scene."
"First I'd like to speak with the hikers who found him," Kari said."Then we can head back to the station and start digging through the historical cases."
Officer Nez directed her to where the two students waited—a young man and woman in their early twenties, both still visibly shaken by their discovery.Marcos Begay and Eleanor Tso had arrived at the overlook around 5:30 AM, hoping to capture sunrise photographs for a landscape photography class.They'd discovered Reynolds' body while setting up their equipment and immediately hiked back down to call emergency services.
"Did you notice anything unusual on the trail when you hiked up?"Kari asked, keeping her tone gentle but matter-of-fact."Any signs someone else had been here recently?"
Eleanor shook her head."Nothing stood out.There were a few fresh footprints near the trailhead, but that's not unusual.This is a popular spot."
"And you didn't see any vehicles in the parking area when you arrived?"
"Just ours," Marcos said."This early, it's usually empty.Most hikers come later in the day."
"What about yesterday?Either of you visit the overlook then?"
Both shook their heads."We were in class all day," Eleanor explained."Photography workshop until 6, then dinner in town."
Their statements aligned with what Officer Nez had already documented.Neither had any connection to Reynolds, and both seemed genuinely traumatized by finding a murdered man during what should have been a routine class assignment.
"Thank you both," Kari said."Officer Nez will take your contact information in case we have follow-up questions, but you're free to go for now."
As the students departed, Ben joined her at the edge of the overlook.The forensics team is finishing up.Dr.Hatathli is preparing to transport the body."
Kari nodded, gazing out at the expansive view."Fifty years ago," she said quietly."Multiple victims with herbs in their mouths."
"You think this is connected to those old cases?"Ben asked.
"I think there are no coincidences in murder," Kari replied."Especially not murder with such specific ritual elements."She turned to face him."We need those old files.We need to understand what happened back then before we can make sense of what's happening now."
Ben studied her face, recognizing the focused determination that had emerged during their previous cases together."The department archives are in the basement.Ancient filing cabinets, minimal organization, probably dusty as hell."
"Then we'd better get started," Kari said."Captain Yazzie only remembers fragments from childhood stories.The actual case files will tell us what really happened—and potentially why it's happening again fifty years later."
As they descended the trail, leaving the crime scene team to complete their work, Kari found her thoughts returning to Ruth and their morning of gathering healing herbs.The plants they had collected with such care were intended to restore balance, to heal sickness of body and spirit.Yet someone had perverted similar plants into a grotesque signature on a violent killing, just as someone may have done five decades earlier.
"I want to visit my grandmother after we check the archives," Kari told Ben as they reached their vehicles."She might recognize the white flower mixed with the more common herbs."
"Think she'll talk about it?"Ben asked."Ruth can be...selective about what traditional knowledge she shares, especially with law enforcement."
"She'll talk to me," Kari said with more confidence than she felt.For all the progress in their relationship over the past months, Ruth still maintained certain boundaries around her knowledge—particularly regarding ceremonies and plants with specific spiritual purposes."At least, she will if I can convince her it's necessary to prevent more deaths."
Ben nodded, understanding the delicate navigation required."I'll meet you at the station.We can start with the archive search, then visit Ruth if we need more specific plant identification."
As she got into her Jeep and followed Ben's vehicle down the winding road toward headquarters, Kari couldn't shake the feeling that the ceremonial element made this case different—more complex, more dangerous—than the routine homicides she'd handled since the uranium mine investigation.Someone was deliberately invoking traditional practices, possibly creating echoes of murders from five decades past.
The question was why.And whether they planned to continue
CHAPTER THREE
The tribal police archives smelled of dust and forgotten things.
