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As she left the Geology Building, the mid-afternoon sun cast shadows across the campus.Somewhere nearby, her father was going about his day, perhaps already calling old contacts for information on her case.The thought irritated her, but she pushed it aside.Personal feelings had no place in a homicide investigation.

Right now, her focus needed to be on Natoni Begay—the last person known to have argued with Mark Harrington before his death, the man who had warned him away from Monster’s Hand during the full moon.

The man who might know what really happened that night in the canyon.

CHAPTER FIVE

Sacred and profane—the two words circled in Kari’s mind as she stood at the edge of Canyon de Chelly, waiting for Tsosie.

The sacred: ancient stories embedded in stone, ceremonies performed for countless generations, boundaries that were not to be crossed.The profane: a professor’s broken body arranged in a mockery of ritual, blood soaking into sandstone older than human memory.

The visitor center parking lot shimmered in the late afternoon heat.Tourists clustered around their vehicles, applying sunscreen and adjusting hats before setting off on the approved trails.None of them knew that just a few miles away, a man had died violently after venturing where he shouldn’t.

Kari checked her watch.Tsosie was three minutes late, unusual for him.As if summoned by her impatience, his department SUV appeared, dust billowing behind it as he pulled into the lot.He parked beside her Jeep and climbed out, his expression unreadable as always.

“Traffic on the reservation?”she asked, the hint of a smile softening the question.

“Sheep crossing,” Tsosie said, completely serious.“Half a mile back.”

Of course.Some things about reservation life never changed, no matter how urgent your business.

“I didn’t tell you everything Dr.Hatathli told me,” Tsosie said, cutting straight to the point.“There was more.”

They moved to a patch of shade cast by the visitor center building, away from curious tourists.

“What are you talking about?”Kari asked.

“The ME found multiple types of injuries,” Tsosie continued.“The lacerations we saw were caused by a knife, but there were also numerous contusions from direct impact—fists, most likely.And the blunt force trauma came from a rock, based on mineral fragments embedded in the wounds.”

“A rock,” Kari repeated, picturing the stone-strewn landscape where they’d found Harrington.“Could have been grabbed in the moment.”

Tsosie nodded.“The overall picture is one of uncontrolled fury.The attack was frenzied, excessive—personal.”

“Which suggests our victim and his attacker knew each other,” Kari said.

“Or Harrington represented something the killer hated.”Tsosie glanced toward the visitor center entrance.“Natoni’s inside.Rangers say he just finished giving a tour.”

“What’s your read on him?”Kari asked.

“Respected in the community.Knowledgeable about the old ways.Strong opinions about outsiders accessing sacred sites.”Tsosie’s expression remained neutral.“But no history of violence.”

“Let’s see what he has to say.”Kari started toward the building, then paused.“How do you want to handle this?Good cop, bad cop?Or straight down the middle?”

“Just be yourself, Blackhorse,” Tsosie said.“I’ll follow your lead.”

The visitor center was cool and dim after the harsh sunlight outside.A few tourists browsed the display cases of pottery and baskets, while a ranger answered questions about trail conditions.Near the back, a man in his early thirties stood examining a large topographical map of the canyon.His long black hair was pulled back in a traditional bun, his khaki guide uniform crisp despite the day’s heat.

“Mr.Begay?”Kari approached, showing her badge.“I’m Detective Kari Blackhorse, Navajo Nation Police.This is my partner, Detective Ben Tsosie.We’d like to ask you some questions about Dr.Mark Harrington.”

Natoni turned, his eyes narrowing as he took in their badges.“The professor who went missing.”It wasn’t a question.“I heard they found him.”

“We’d prefer to speak somewhere private,” Tsosie said.

Natoni nodded once, gesturing toward a door marked “Staff Only.”“The break room should be empty this time of day.”

The room was small but functional—a table with four chairs, a mini-fridge, a coffee maker.Natoni took a seat facing the door.

“You know why we’re here,” Kari said, sitting across from him.

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