Cold Case #930218

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Victim: Charley Hansen

Date of Death: 04/28/1974

Cause of Death: Forced Drowning

Location: Navajo Reservation, AZ

 

 

The house had grown eerily quiet, which usually meant one of two things. Either Alaina went for a run, or she was in confidential informant mode. Given the time of day, Caden suspected it was the latter and rose from his seat in their home office to go looking for her.

 

He found Alaina curled in a chair with her feet tucked under her thigh and a cozy throw tossed over her knees. A fire crackled behind her, and Norman lay stretched out beside her chair, his gaze ever watchful as he appeared to be following some entity pacing the room.

 

The October sky was a bit dreary, with heavy clouds hanging overhead, but the leaves of the trees and the forest surrounding the property were bright with varying shades of red, green and gold. Alaina gazed through the wide French doors at the flower garden, where the majority of her collection had already gone to seed, but Caden suspected she saw none of it.

 

So as not to interrupt whatever murdered soul spoke to her today, he sat on his heels in front of her and waited quietly for her gaze to come into focus. It didn't take long. "Hey, you," he greeted her. "In work mode, I take it?"

 

She nodded. "Another murder of passion, I'm afraid."

 

"Was this one at least determined to be a murder, or am I going to have a lot of digging to do?"

 

Alaina chuckled. "What you really mean to ask is if Brian is going to have a lot of digging to do because I know you love delegating that part of the investigation. And you'll have to tell me what the verdict was once Brian starts his digging."

 

Caden stood, lifted her from the chair and then took her place with Alaina on his lap. "So, where am I off to next?"

 

"Northeastern Arizona. Nearest town is Tusayan, some forty miles away."

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"Where was this one killed?"

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"In the Little Colorado River on the Navajo Reservation."

 

"Hmm... Sounds like I might want to bring a certain doctor with me."

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"Gray? He's not Navajo, is he?"

 

"To tell you the truth, I have no idea. As you know, he's not much of a talker. But having a Native American along could be helpful when dealing with jurisdictional issues."

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"Maybe. And maybe not." She hummed in thought. "His psychometry abilities could come in handy with this one. Charley was wearing a silver bracelet, last she remembers. The bracelet should be in evidence, right?"

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"Charley's the victim?" he asked, and Alaina nodded. "Well, if they recognized it was murder and if the bracelet was still intact when her body was found, then yes."

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"Well, from what Charley's told me, both should be the case."

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Caden squirmed in his chair. No matter how much time he spent with Alaina, it could be years, he would never be comfortable knowing dead people were hanging around.

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"She's not still here, is she?"

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Alaina fell into laughter and cuddled closer before looking up into his eyes. "You are so predictable. And you know what? She is, and Charley says you're a hunk."

 

He scoffed. "Great. Tell her 'thanks,' and ask her to come back later. Like tomorrow after I leave for the office."

 

"Maybe she should stay while I tell you her story. You know, just in case I get something wrong. That way, she can correct me."

 

"I'd rather hear her story after you've transcribed your notes. Besides, I had something else in mind to pass this lazy Saturday afternoon."

 

"Oh yeah?"

 

"Yeah." He pulled her into his arms and stood to carry her off to bed. Norman barked once and rose to follow. prompting Caden to halt mid-step.

 

He turned to the loyal German shepherd. "Why don't you stay here with Charley and whoever else is waiting in line? You know, keep them occupied."

 

Alaina giggled, and Caden squeezed her to him as he started off again. "Don't worry," she told him. "I've made the rules quite clear. We're not exhibitionists, and the bedroom is off-limits."

 

"Okay, but how do I know they're following the rules?"

 

"I guess you'll just have to trust me."