A Novel by Kawika A. Stafford

Chapter 43

As in many battles, the element
of surprise is often the sine qua non to victory.

George Armstrong Custer knew this, as he had slaughtered many native inhabitants of these lands in their sleep. The media of his time dubbed him an indian fighter, but in truth he preyed primarily upon old men, women, and small children in his brief,
self serving existence upon the planet.

Nadia,
unlike Custer,
understood the value of teamwork, and did not fight this battle for personal glory.
Nadia and Natalia were the young, and educated, merging their respective cultures for a common cause; to be treated fairly as human beings walking on the same earth as the domineering culture of today.
As a team, they manned their computers, phones, laptops, and
fax machines, interacting with various media outlets, and sucking down their Starbucks with the best of them.

Moreover, they also waged a cultural war against the long standing ignorance, and the continued brutalization of indigenous people with little to no consequence to law enforcement for doing so. These two women had worked all night editing, and once the editing was complete Nadia would soon notify Wes to begin printing the second story post haste.

Sonny Ray would be front and center of this second article of their exposé.

Nadia had met Wes Studi over in neighboring Williams a few years ago at a pow wow, and had learned he was a retired publisher, and editor. Wes had been owner operator of his own homegrown newspaper back in his hometown of Santa Fe, New Mexico. He too had burning the midnight oil. It gave Wes the feeling of having something positive to contribute to his community.

The first article of the exposé involving Officer Bob and his victim, Jesse Coyote had seemingly been successfully dismissed by the smooth talking Chief of Police. But now with more allegations being presented against officer Bob, Nadia felt the chances of this story being revisited were going to fall in their favor.

Nadia knew this second article of her exposé would be in every market and select businesses around town. College coffee shops, restaurants, convenience stores, supermarkets, would be abuzz. The media would be everywhere, like a swarm of locusts. Tomorrow after the second story began to be circulated throughout the community, this little sleepy town would awaken to a firestorm.

The foursome now sat eating, as all were in a festive mood. After a few minutes though, the real conversation began. Nadia, and many of the surrounding native communities had a vested interest in seeing these two corrupt cops out of their country. Nadia knew once the second article of their exposé of officer Bob and his assault of Sonny Ray was released to the public, all hell was going to break loose. Officer Bob’s bracelet would connect him directly to the assault of Sonny Ray under the color of office.

In addition to him losing his job, Nadia hoped the City attorney’s office would push for some jail time. However she was realistic. Nadia knew more often than not bad cops often walked with little to no jail time.
But in the end, getting that brute out of Antelope Springs would be a victory to both native and non native alike. Natalia, Dwayne, and Sonny Ray had all left Nadia’s office to go home and get showered up, and catch a few hours of sleep.

Nadia sat at her desk now with a towel turban that encapsulated her long black hair.
She had set the house alarm, and now sat on the cozy couch sipping some hot chai.

After staying up over twenty four hours the hot chai was like a warm blanket on a cold night.

She ended up falling asleep on the couch, and did not wake up until early the following morning.

Nadia’s eyes began to reluctantly flutter.

The sound of her office phone, and cell phone ringing at the same time,

jolted her into a semi attentive state.

The tide had now
turned
in favor
of
the home team.

Copyright 2003 All Rights Reserved #blackeagledream