Tribal Law. Jenna Kernan

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СКАЧАТЬ Mountain Apache. Brother to a known drug trafficker.”

      Dryer was referring now to Gabe’s father. He had been a convicted felon when he had been murdered by a trafficker who went by the name The Viper.

      “My uncle went through FBI screening. He’s clean.”

      “He’s related to people involved with this case, just like your big brother, the tribal councilor.”

      “Clyne? You suspect Clyne? He’s incorruptible.”

      “Everyone’s corruptible, Chief. Your dad. Your tribal council...your big brother...you. Hey,” he said his voice full of forced enthusiasm. “You back to seeing Frasco’s daughter?”

      Gabe was stunned speechless. How would Dryer know that he’d once seen Selena?

      “I hear you two spent some quality time together. But be careful. You know the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.”

      Gabe spun him with one hand and hit Dryer squarely across the jaw. The DOJ field agent dropped like a stone. It took both Kino and Detective Juris to drag Gabe back. It was only after the red haze had cleared that he realized he had just struck a federal officer.

      Gabe watched Dryer shake off the blow as Gabe tried to decide if he should arrest him, cooperate with his investigation or hit him again.

      Dryer struggled to his feet. Neither Juris nor Kino lifted a hand to help him.

      “I wish I’d done that,” said Juris.

      Dryer rubbed his jaw. “That was worse than getting shot,” he said.

      Gabe glanced at Selena, feeling embarrassed now for his outburst. How much could she hear back there through the raised windows?

      She met his gaze and tried to exit the unit but found the doors locked from the outside. She was trapped. Gabe lifted a hand and she flopped back in the seat, clearly impatient with her captivity. But if what Dryer said was true, arresting her was at least a way to keep her safe.

      Gabe turned to Dryer. “Do you want to press charges?”

      Dryer cocked his head. “Against you?” He snorted. “No.”

      It was hard, but Gabe thanked him and Dryer offered his hand. The handshake was brief and halfhearted.

      “Okay,” said Dryer, as if getting back to business. “No comments about Selena. Got it. But that box truck. It can’t be mentioned in your reports or on the radio. I know Escalanti listens to the police scanner. So, no mention of the truck, the Doselas or me.”

      Gabe’s gaze flicked to the DOJ agent, wishing he could put him in a gag as well as handcuffs. “If there’s no box truck, why did I shoot Jason Leekela and an unknown gunman again?”

      “I don’t know...brandishing a weapon. Shooting at you.”

      “So you want me to lie.”

      “I want you to keep a lid on the undercover operation.”

      “In exchange for full disclosure,” said Gabe.

      Dryer considered his offer. Then qualified. “To you, only. Not to the council.”

      “I could get fired for doing that.”

      “And you could catch these guys if you do what I’m telling you.”

      Gabe didn’t like being told what to do by outsiders.

      “My brother and first officer here already know.”

      “That’s all they know from here forward, and you keep them quiet.”

      Both his men put their hands on their hips, clearly not liking that plan.

      “Deal?” Dryer offered his hand.

      Gabe thought of all the deals offered by white men to Indians and grimaced. This one didn’t seem any better.

       Chapter Seven

      “No deal,” said Gabe, and turned toward his unit and Selena.

      “Oh, you’re going to blow this whole operation.”

      Gabe kept walking.

      “And you’re going to get Selena killed.”

      Gabe stopped walking.

      He turned back to Dryer, feeling trapped and angry and afraid for the first time in many years.

      “You brought this here,” said Gabe.

      “I brought an investigation. The rest was already here.”

      He was right and that pissed Gabe off.

      “Updates daily,” said Gabe. “And you tell Selena who you are.”

      Dryer grinned, knowing he had won. “Sure. Sure. Mind if I release Frasco? I got to clean up his face, if I can.”

      “He needs a stitch or two,” said Juris.

      “Use snow,” said Kino. “Helps with the swelling.”

      Dryer walked between Kino and Juris to the unit where Frasco waited.

      Juris helped Frasco up out of the rear seat. Frasco still held the towel to his face.

      “How you going to explain that?” asked Gabe.

      Dryer glanced at Frasco. “Fell on the ice. I just told them we had to use chains.”

      Gabe left the men and returned to his SUV where Selena waited. He opened the rear door. Selena stepped through the gap.

      “Are they safe?” she asked.

      Her family, of course. They were always her first concern.

      “I have units on-site.”

      She blew out a breath and her features momentarily relaxed.

      “Thank you,” she whispered.

      Selena had every quality he admired in a woman. She worked hard, cared for her family, was funny, gracious and kind. But he better than most understood that a family’s reputation was just as important as an individual’s. Maybe more important here than elsewhere. There was a reason Apache gave their first name only after they had given the names of their tribe, parents and clan. Apache people understood that who and where you came from was more important than who you were.

      But now he didn’t know what to think.

      Selena stood bracing her feet, with her arms folded across her chest. Her gloved hands gripped each sleeve. His gaze swept her form, taking in her work boots, tight faded jeans and that shapeless, unlined brown СКАЧАТЬ