The trail down was easier, but they stopped several times to take in the view. The white light of the day was gone, replaced by the late afternoon sun with a deep yellow fire that colored the rocks. Part of the valley was in shadow and the sandstone had lost its bright reflection; it was now just harder earth, dark as dried blood. By the time they reached the bottom, even the sky had changed, its steady blue beginning to streak with color.
“My legs are going to feel this later,” he said, rubbing his calf.
“Tired?”
“Not too tired.”
She grinned. “That’s good. We’ve miles to go.”
“Where now?”
“We’ll drive north to Nageezi, then cut across on the road to Taos.”
“Can’t we stop at Nageezi?”
“That’s just for the maps. There isn’t anything there-it’s a trading post. Just a filling station. When it’s open.”
“Where, then?”
“Anxious? I thought we’d go to Hannah’s.”
“That’s hours from here.”
“Everything’s hours. We’d have it to ourselves.”
“We’ll be exhausted,” he said, taking her by the waist.
“You can sleep in. All day.”
He smiled. “Let’s go. What if we find something on the way?”
“It would be a mirage,” she said, getting in the car. “There isn’t anything. Don’t worry-I’m worth the wait.”
They said a courtesy goodbye to the ranger, then headed northwest out of the valley into the orange sky. This access road was rougher than the one to the south, and Connolly, driving now, cursed as the car bounced through deeper holes. Even on a straight stretch of dirt he was forced to slow down, dodging rocks. Emma put her head back against the seat, squinting dreamily into the light.
“Why did you ask about the turquoise?” she said, mildly curious.
“I was thinking about Karl.”
“Oh,” she said, opening her eyes. “Why him?”
“He left turquoise behind in his room. It just seemed an odd coincidence, hearing about it. Well, not really a coincidence. It just reminded me of it, that’s all.”
“What was he doing with turquoise?” she said, genuinely surprised.
“I don’t know.”
“Is that why he was robbed?”
“No. It was in his room.”
“Oh. So it’s a mystery.”
“For now it is.”
“But you don’t like mysteries,” she said.
“I don’t like this one.”
She laid her head back again. “Is it so important to you? He’s dead, isn’t he? Like my Indians. What does it matter what happened to them?”
“You don’t believe that.”
“I suppose not. But sometimes-oh, why not let things be? Let them be mysteries.” She looked out the window, arguing with the landscape.
“This didn’t happen eight hundred years ago. Whoever killed him is still around.”
“I thought he was robbed in the park. Whoever did it must be long gone.”
“Maybe. Maybe he’s on the Hill.”
She was silent. “Is that what you think?”
“It’s possible.”
“That’s horrible. Then it wouldn’t be an accident-some robbery, I mean. You think someone murdered him? Planned to kill him?”
He was quiet for a minute, thinking. “Planned? That’s interesting. No, I don’t think so. Not planned. I think it just-happened.”
“How do you mean?”
“He may have provoked someone. Like the snake,” he said, a sudden thought. “They only attack if they’re provoked. Isn’t that what you said?”
“Well, surprised. They’re defending themselves, that’s all.”
“Yes,” he said, his voice drifting off again.
“Anyway, it wasn’t a snake. Murder,” she said softly. “No. Why would anyone want to murder Karl?”
But he wasn’t listening.
“What is it?” she said, bringing him back.
“What you said. I hadn’t thought of that. What if he surprised someone?”
“Doing what?” she said. He didn’t answer. “I hate all this. It scares me. You just want to believe he was murdered. It’s too absurd. Things like that don’t happen.”
“Yes they do.”
“Not here.” And then, before he could contradict her, “But why not a robber? It’s the obvious answer.”
“I thought you didn’t approve of obvious answers.”
“But you’re just guessing. Is that how this works? You make a guess and see if it fits?”
“No,” he said, “that’s how science works, or so they tell me. I need a little more than that.”
She looked over at him. “Is that why you’re here? It is, isn’t it.”
“The army just wants to know what happened.”
She turned away to look out the window again. “So you’ll turn over every rock in the place. I wonder what else you’ll find.”
“I haven’t found anything yet,” he said lightly. “Not even one skeleton in the closet.”
She looked back at him. “Be careful you don’t surprise someone too.”
“That would be one way of finding out, wouldn’t it?”
“I’m serious.”
“So am I,” he said, still light. “Don’t worry, I can take care of myself.”
“God, listen to you. It must be the Irish cop in you.”
“Which don’t you like, the Irish or the cop?”
She smiled. “The cop, I suppose.”
“Good. Not much I can do about the Irish. We can retire the cop, though. Today, anyway.”
She shook her head. “Maybe it’s all of a piece.” She laughed. “I never thought I’d end up going to bed with a cop.”
“Technically speaking, we haven’t actually been to bed yet,” he said, smiling.
She put her hand on his knee, a promise. “No, we haven’t, have we?”
“You’ll make me go off the road,” he said, turning to her.
