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

smiled. “I’m pretty sure both of us were born in this country. Makes us both Native Americans, if you ask me.”
    In that moment, Ron decided he’d like to hear John Tall Wolf and Oliver Gosden have a conversation about personal identity. He also chose to give the big fed the benefit of the doubt.
    “Special Agent, the truth is I’m up to my eyeballs in work right now. My deputy chief left town for a week this morning right before everything went to hell. I should be on my way to a murder investigation right now, and I will be in a minute. Given your experience, I’m thinking of asking if you’d like to come along and offer me the benefit of your judgment, unofficially of course.”
    “Of course,” Tall Wolf said. “I’d be happy to help.”
    “Great. For the next thirty seconds or so, why don’t you tell me what brings you to town?”
    Tall Wolf was concise. “I’m here to check out a possible case of domestic terrorism.”
    Ron stiffened in his seat. Tall Wolf didn’t miss the response.
    The federal agent took a sheet of paper out of the case that held his laptop computer. Slid it over Ron’s desk to the chief. Ron took in the diagram on it at a glance.
    “That’s a copy,” Tall Wolf said. “The Environmental Protection Agency received the original. It’s described as a detonator, a plastic explosive charge, C4 to be exact, and a payload of ten kilograms of Cobalt 60, highly radioactive medical waste. Put all those things together, you’ve got a very dirty bomb. Word is it’s coming to your town. Question is whether that’s an empty threat or a real one. What do you think, Chief?”
    Ron shook his head. It was no empty threat.
    “That bomb is my other big case right now. I found it less than an hour ago.”
     

Chapter 4
     
    Helios “Sonny” Spaneas was the first person out the door of the Renaissance Hotel as soon as the cop car cruised by and announced people were free to go outside again. The cops didn’t say what had been going on, but they let everyone know they were sorry for the inconvenience. Cops with manners, Sonny thought. What was the world coming to?
    As part of their announcement, the cops also said the mayor would be speaking on public access television at noon. Maybe he’d explain all the hubbub. Sonny knew who the mayor of Goldstrike was, of course. Even illegals who just sneaked across the border knew that.
    Clay Steadman, badass movie star.
    Sonny wondered how tough the old geezer really was.
    The day was still beautiful, just as Marjorie Fitzroy had said a couple hours ago, but by now Sonny was anxious to get his business done. He had his car brought around, tipped the valet and drove straight to the bank at the top of the list Marjorie had given him, Sierra National. The first desk he came to had a placard on it, home equity loans. Showed a family admiring their new boat.
    Seated at the desk was an older woman who reminded Sonny of one of his aunts.
    “Pardon me, ma’am, I know it’s not your job, but can you tell me who I’d see to rent a safe deposit box?” Sonny asked.
    “That would be Marian. She usually sits right there.”
    The woman nodded her head at an empty desk.
    “Her daughter gave birth to Marian’s first grandchild two days ago. She went to help out. That being the case, I’d be happy to help you. My name is Darla Winstead.”
    Sonny liked that name, Darla. Could be your grandma, could be your cupcake.
    Minding his manners, he said, “Thank you, Ms. Winstead.”
    “What size box would you like, Mr. …”
    “Kolovis. Theodore Kolovis. Something big enough for, say, a bowling ball.”
    Darla smiled. Looked as if she wanted to crack a joke. Like they didn’t have many bowling balls on deposit. But she kept her thought to herself. Just walked over to the empty desk, got a form for him to fill out, looked at the phony Nevada driver’s license he showed her, accepted a cash payment for a year’s rental and took him to his new safe deposit box.
    He