A Novel by Kawika A. Stafford

Chapter 35

The phone had rung incessantly since the two journalists had arrived to their office. “You Are On Indian Land, the paper of the people, this is Natalia, how may I help you? Okay, okay, I’ll let her know, yes, right now, okay thanks bye.” Natalia, the assistant editor to her best friend Nadia, hung up the phone. “Nadia, we gotta go. Chief Edwards is calling for a press conference in one hour.” Nadia looked up at her wall clock with a perplexed look etched on her face.

Nadia knew this was a calculated move on the part of local law enforcement. Since the release of the first report of her two part exposé, the Police Chief was in damage control mode. To call a press conference this late in the day in this sleepy town was generally not done. Chief Edwards had pulled this crap before. Nadia was also upset that she had missed Dwayne’s call prior to him going to New Mexico.

She wondered what Dwayne had to tell her, and it was presently irritating the shit out of her.

Men.

She had to really listen to them because their thought processes generally involved sex, a solution, mansplaining, food, more sex, money, sports and cars but not necessarily in that order.

Nadia was very passionate about her chosen field of journalism. Natalia and Nadia had met in college, and they shared a likeness in their work. Natalia was Puerto Rican via New York City, and was very educated and articulate.

“Come the hell on bitch, we gotta go now,” Natalia articulated, as she dropped some recording equipment on her bosses desk.

Natalia flashed her sassy smile and waited. Nadia stood up. She was mentally drained. She smiled at her friend. Natalia always kept her spirit up when she wasn’t feeling it. The two women gathered up their equipment and headed out into town.

Nadia hoped Dwayne and Sonny Ray were doing okay, she knew that Cyrus was very ill and only had a short time to live. Nadia and Dwayne talked occasionally.

She liked him, but was not rushing into anything. He was a quiet man, but had a nice sense of humor. He was Navajo and she was white mountain Apache. Perhaps an intertribal love connect in the making.

Nadia turned onto the highway. She knew that Police Chief Edwards was not to be trusted.

She would have to listen carefully if she were to catch this word whisperer.

Nadia and Natalia finally arrived into Antelope Springs.

The town was buzzing with activity.

This growing mountain town had not seen this much activity in years. The two women headed into the press conference.

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