CHAPTER SIXTEEN #2
They located Councilman Silver's office at the end of the hallway, slightly smaller than Begay's but similarly organized.
Unlike Begay's pragmatic space, however, Silver's office displayed numerous cultural items—a traditional weaving on one wall, ceremonial baskets carefully arranged on shelves, and books on Navajo history and traditions filling a large bookcase.
David Silver sat reviewing documents when they knocked on his open door.
He looked to be in his early fifties, with features that reflected his mixed heritage—his father's height and build combined with distinctly Navajo facial characteristics from his mother.
He looked up, his expression calm and assessing.
"Councilman Silver?" Kari said. "I'm Detective Kari Blackhorse, and this is Detective Ben Tsosie. We're investigating Jason Haskie's death. Councilman Begay suggested we speak with you."
Silver rose, extending his hand. "Please come in," he said, his voice carrying a quiet intensity that immediately commanded attention. "Jason's death is a terrible shock. I was looking forward to his presentation today."
"If I may ask, how did you learn about Mr. Haskie's death?" Ben asked, his tone professionally curious. "We're trying to understand how information is flowing through the community."
Silver nodded. "Captain Yazzie called the council office this morning.
He wanted to make sure we were aware before media reports began circulating.
As members of the Infrastructure Committee that hired Jason, we were all notified immediately.
" He gestured to his phone on the desk. "We also received an official email from the Chairman's office about forty minutes ago, informing all council members and requesting our full cooperation with the investigation. "
"Thank you for clarifying," Kari said, satisfied with the straightforward explanation. "We're speaking with everyone who had contact with Mr. Haskie recently."
They settled into chairs across from his desk, and Kari noted the careful organization of his workspace—files arranged in precise stacks, reference materials within easy reach, a leather-bound notebook open beside his computer.
"Councilman Begay mentioned you were particularly interested in Mr. Haskie's work on the fleet management project," Ben said.
Silver nodded. "My committee oversees resource allocation, and vehicle maintenance represents a significant portion of our annual budget. Jason's recommendations promised substantial improvements in efficiency." He studied them carefully. "But I suspect that's not why you're really here."
Kari appreciated his directness. "You're right. We understand you're Remy Silver's son."
"That's right." Silver studied her closely. "You look familiar. Blackhorse, you said?" He drummed his fingers on the desk. "You wouldn't be Anna Chee's daughter, would you?"
"Anna Chee was my mother, yes," Kari said, a little surprised.
Silver nodded. "My father and your grandfather worked together for many years."
"Partners," Kari agreed. "During several significant investigations, including the Shadow Walker cases in 1973-74."
Silver's expression shifted subtly—not surprise, but a deepening attention.
"Those cases had a profound impact on my father.
He spoke of them rarely, but when he did, it was with a kind of reverence for the complexity they represented.
" He leaned forward. "You believe Haskie's death is connected to those historical cases. "
It wasn't a question. Kari decided honesty would serve them best with this perceptive man. "We believe someone is recreating the murder pattern from fifty years ago. Same locations, same ceremonial elements."
Silver was quiet for a moment, processing this information. "That explains the questions about traditional knowledge. You're looking for insights beyond what appears in the official records."
"Yes," Kari said. "My grandfather kept separate notes on those cases. We believe your father may have done the same."
"He did," Silver said without hesitation.
"My father was a meticulous documenter. He believed in preserving knowledge that might not fit neatly into official reports but could prove valuable to future generations.
" He gestured to the bookshelves behind him.
"After he passed, I inherited boxes of his journals, case notes, and personal observations.
Many are written in Navajo—he became fluent during his years on the reservation. "
"Those journals might contain crucial information about the original investigation," Kari said, trying to contain her excitement at this potential breakthrough. "Details that could help us understand what's happening now."
Silver nodded thoughtfully. "I've read some of them over the years, particularly those dealing with traditional practices.
My father had unique access as both an outsider respected enough to be included in certain ceremonies and an investigator trained to observe and document systematically.
" He paused. "If those journals contain anything that could help prevent further deaths, I would consider it my duty to share that information. "
"We would be extremely grateful," Ben said.
"The challenge will be finding relevant information quickly," Silver said. "There are dozens of journals spanning my father's twenty-year career here. And as I mentioned, many sections are written in Navajo—a language I speak but read less fluently than English."
"Would you be willing to help us locate and translate relevant passages?" Kari asked.
"Of course," Silver said without hesitation. "I can begin reviewing the journals from 1973-74 immediately. Translation will take time, but I can identify potentially valuable sections quickly based on dates and locations mentioned."
"How long do you think it might take?" Ben asked.
Silver considered the question. "The journals from that period fill at least three notebooks. To review them thoroughly and translate relevant sections... I could have preliminary findings by tomorrow afternoon."
Tomorrow afternoon. Kari felt a prickle of concern at the timeline. The fourth victim could already be targeted by then. But she couldn't rush a process that required careful reading and accurate translation.
"That would be incredibly helpful," she said, masking her concern behind professional gratitude. "We appreciate your willingness to assist our investigation."
"These deaths must stop," Silver said simply.
"If my father's observations can help prevent further tragedy, nothing could be more important.
" He rose, moving to a calendar hanging on his wall.
"I have council obligations until five today, but I'll begin work on the journals immediately afterward.
Perhaps you could return tomorrow around two?
I should have significant portions translated by then. "
"We'll be here," Kari promised. She hesitated, then added, "Did your father ever mention Samuel Manuelito in connection with the original cases?"
A flash of recognition crossed Silver's face. "Manuelito appears throughout my father's journals. He described him as 'a man walking between worlds' who understood boundaries most people never perceived." Silver's expression grew curious. "You've spoken with him?"
"Recently," Ben said.
Silver nodded. "My father believed Manuelito possessed unique knowledge about the ceremonial aspects of the original cases—knowledge that made him both valuable and potentially dangerous to the investigation.
" He shook his head. "But I should review the actual journals rather than relying on distant memories of my father's words. "
As they prepared to leave, Silver added, "Detective Blackhorse, my father had tremendous respect for Joseph. He often said no one else could have navigated those cases with the same balance of traditional understanding and investigative discipline."
The comment touched Kari unexpectedly. "Thank you for telling me that," she said. "I never knew my grandfather, but I've been learning more about him through this investigation."
"Perhaps there's a purpose in that," Silver said, his voice carrying a gentle weight. "Knowledge often reveals itself when it's most needed, not necessarily when we first seek it."
Outside in the hallway, Kari and Ben walked in silence for several moments, both processing the unexpected connection they'd discovered.
"Silver seems genuinely helpful," Ben said as they exited the council building into the afternoon heat. "And those journals could be exactly what we need."
"But tomorrow might be too late," Kari said, giving voice to her earlier concern. "If the killer maintains the accelerated timeline, we could be facing another victim tonight or tomorrow morning."
Ben nodded grimly. "We need to pursue multiple leads simultaneously. Split up, cover more ground."
They reached their vehicle, standing beside it in the shade of a cottonwood tree as they considered their next steps.
"I'll follow up with Marcus Tso," Ben suggested. "The Sacred Pathways tour guide. His knowledge of ceremonial herbs and access to the first two victims is too significant to ignore. I want to know whether there's any connection between him and Jason Haskie."
"Good idea," Kari agreed. "I wasn't fully satisfied with his explanation during our initial interview. There's something he's not telling us."
"And he has a background in anthropology," Ben added, "which connects to the academic profile of the first two victims. The fact that he specializes in the exact herbs used in the murders can't be coincidence."
"What's your approach?" Kari asked.
"I'll track his movements and Haskie's as best I can," Ben said. "See if they ever intersect. Then I'll check his movements during the times of the murders, see if he has alibis or witnesses who can place him elsewhere."
"Be careful," Kari said. "If he is involved, he's dangerous and highly intelligent."
"Always," Ben assured her. "Where will you focus your efforts?"
Kari considered. "I want to review what we have on the original victims again. Now that we have Haskie as our third victim, there might be connections we didn't see before. And I'll coordinate with the surveillance teams at the remaining two historical sites."
"Echo Cave," Ben said, naming the fifth location from the original murder sequence. "If the killer maintains the pattern but continues adapting to avoid our surveillance, that's where we should expect the final murder."
"Assuming there are only five," Kari said, voicing the concern that had been growing in her mind. "My grandfather's notes mentioned five victims corresponding to five sacred sites. But what if that's just one complete cycle? What if the killer plans to continue beyond the original pattern?"
Neither spoke for several long moments.
"Let's meet back at the station by six," Kari suggested. "Compare what we've found before deciding next steps."
Ben nodded, already reaching for his phone to arrange transportation back to where Marcus Tso's tour company operated. "I'll call if I find anything significant before then."
As they prepared to go their separate ways, Kari felt the weight of time pressing down on her.
Somewhere on the reservation, the killer was likely already preparing for the next ceremonial murder.
The race to understand the pattern—to break it before it could be completed—had never felt more urgent.
Or more personal