Defiled: The Sequel to Nailed Featuring John Tall Wolf (A Ron Ketchum Mystery Book 2) Read Online Free PDF

asked.
    “They do handle counterterrorism.”
    “Terrific.”
    “Have there been any other signs of threats to the community?” Clay asked.
    “If you mean dirty bombs or crap like that, no. But this one was found by accident, didn’t go off by pure good luck, and some of these asshole bombers like to do a series of bangs. One to cause the initial damage, follow-ups to get the first responders and the lookey-loos.”
    “Right. Keep all boaters off the lake until you can make sure there are no other bombs out there. “
    “In progress,” Ron said. “We’re also scouring the town. We want to keep people indoors until we can do a thorough look-see.”
    “All right,” Clay said, “but if you don’t come up with anything, let me know.”
    “You’ll go on TV to give the all clear and tell people what happened?”
    “Yes.”
    “So my cops better be watching for people looking to leave town in a hurry?”
    “I’d recommend it,” Clay said.
    “We’re going to be stretched thin.”
    “Should I ask for help from the state?”
    After a long pause, Ron said, “I’ll let you know if it comes to that. Right now I’ve got a homicide to investigate.”
    The mayor put the phone down. Walt wanted to know what he’d missed.
    Clay told him about the bomb and the murder.
    “What your son didn’t say, at least for now, is he has to consider me a suspect in the death of the man who dared to think he could take my day job from me,” the mayor told Walt.
    “Sure, he does,” Walt said. “Any good cop would.”
    Clay’s smile was even thinner than usual.
    “So who’d you get into your bar fight with?” he asked.
    The elder Ketchum laughed.
    “Same guy you might’ve killed, Hale Tibbot. Looks like I’m a suspect, too.”
     
    Ron stood six-foot-two. He hadn’t had his height measured since his last physical exam two years ago, but at fifty-one years old he didn’t like to think he’d lost so much as a quarter-inch in stature. Even so, the fed calling himself John Tall Wolf had a couple of inches on him, and the guy didn’t slouch at all.
    Didn’t act like he had a stick up his ass either.
    Which, for a fed, was a mark in his favor.
    But he was wearing sunglasses indoors.
    “My eyes are light sensitive,” Tall Wolf said, anticipating the question.
    He presented his credentials to Ron. Sure enough, Bureau of Indian Affairs. He’d never seen anyone from that agency before. Wondered if the man might fit into either of the cases he had on the front burners right now. Of course, he could have his own agenda.
    Ron minded his manners, offered Tall Wolf a seat and took his place behind his desk.
    Tall Wolf told him, “Sorry if I caught you at a bad time, Chief.”
    An Indian calling him chief? Ron wondered if the guy was cracking wise. But he didn’t see any sign of a smirk to go with the comment. Maybe his visitor was just being polite.
    The fed went on to say, “What I’ve got to talk about with you may or may not be important. If you’ve got something going on that won’t wait, I will.”
    Ron grinned and asked, “You sure you’re from the federal government?”
    “My paycheck’s drawn on the U.S. Treasury. I took my law enforcement training at Glynco, Georgia. But people, including my boss, say I tend to go my own way.”
    “That’s allowed?” Ron asked.
    “I also tend to get results. A lot of that stems from giving colleagues as much respect as they earn.”
    “Including local law enforcement?”
    Tall Wolf said, “Wasn’t that long ago, I worked a case with Detective Darton Blake of the Austin, Texas PD. Homicide unit. He’ll let you know what he thinks of me.” The BIA agent provided a phone number.
    Ron had Tall Wolf repeat it and made the call.
    The conversation was brief and Ron thanked Blake.
    He looked back at Tall Wolf and said, “Detective Blake said he’d apply for a job with the BIA if he could work with you all the time. Only he thinks he has the wrong ethnicity.”
    Tall Wolf