Death Walker by Aimée & David Thurlo Page B

approaching, but instead holding out her badge.
    “I can’t help you. I kicked Steven out. He doesn’t live here anymore.” Sally’s gaze shifted to Justine as she too stepped out of the vehicle. In a flash, the annoyance on Sally’s face turned to rage. “You!How dare you come to my home!”
    Sally spun around and unsnapped the chain that anchored an enormous mutt to her clothesline pole. “Sic ’em, boy!”
    The bear-sized chow cross, suddenly free, ran directly at them. Ella and Justine froze, knowing that running was the worst thing to attempt. The dog stopped a dozen feet away and growled menacingly. “Good boy,” Ella encouraged. “Aren’t you a brave dog!”

    After fifteen seconds or so, the dog’s tail started wagging, and he came up and licked Ella’s outstretched hand.
    “You worthless mutt!” Sally yelled. The dog turned, lowered his ears meekly, then walked over and lay down in the shade with an old bone.
    Ella walked cautiously toward Sally Nez, one eye still on the dog. When Justine followed, Sally rushed toward her.
    “How dare you come with her to my house!” Sally yelled.
    Ella glanced at Justine for an answer, but saw only confusion on her cousin’s face. “Calm down, Mrs. Nez. We just wanted to ask you a few questions, and what you’re doing now is just going to send you before a judge.” Ella brought out her handcuffs so Sally could see them.
    “No. Please, don’t do that,” she said wearily. “If you arrest me, there won’t be anyone hereto take care of my kids.”
    Ella felt defiance ebb from Sally Nez and defeat set in. The two children, neither old enough for the first grade, huddled on the steps of the trailer, staring at them fearfully. “We didn’t come here to arrest you, or anyone else. Why did you set your dog on us?”
    “Because you brought her to our home! My children don’t need to see the girl my husband wanted to abandonthem for!” Sally glared at Justine.
    “You mean me? ” Justine was surprised. “I’m a police officer, and I’ve been out of state for the last eight weeks!” She gestured down to the badge she’d clipped to her belt. “I would barely recognize your husband. We’ve never even met.”
    Sally blinked. “You’re not Cindi Dodge? Janet Frazier showed me the photo in the yearbook, and you look just like her.” Sally’sgaze remained distrustful.
    Justine gave the woman a bewildered look, then produced her photo ID. “Honest. I’m Justine Goodluck. I’m twenty-two years old, not some high school kid.”
    Sally’s face crumpled. “I’m really sorry. I thought you were her, looking so young and all. You don’t have any idea how hard it is being married to Steven. He’s good-looking, likes to go dancing, and attracts a lotof girls. He tells them all kinds of stories about how I don’t do this, or do too much of that. Pretty soon they end up feeling sorry for him and agree to meet him. The younger ones particularly. After a few times, they end up coming here to tell me I’m no good, and to beg me to let him go.” She scoffed. “ Let him go? I finally had to kick him out.”
    Now that Sally had mentioned it, Justine didlook a lot like Dodge’s daughter. Ella put away the cuffs. It had been a reasonable mistake, and she’d get far more from this woman by showing some sign of goodwill than any other way.
    Sally gave her a grateful smile. “Thanks. Now tell me how I can help you. I figure you’re here because of the murder.” She turned and waved to her children, letting them know everything was all right. Immediatelythey resumed their game of tag. “Steven didn’t do it, you know, though from what others told me, he hated the old man for messing up his little romance.”
    “Did he speak to you about Cindi’s father?”
    “No. But then again, we never talked much. For the past few years all our conversations have been short, like his paychecks. I’ve always known he made more than he brought home.”
    “Where does he