“Why is that kind of shit allowed to slide?”
“Because it’s easier to ignore it than admitting one of your relatives is capable of raping a two-year-old. Or that burning a six-year-old with a cigarette is an acceptable form of discipline. Or sexually assaulting an eight-year-old with beer bottles and kitchen utensils is a form of entertainment. And those I mentioned? They’re not the worst cases.”
Bile rose, and I swallowed it down with a gulp of water. “How do you know that?”
“I’ve lived here my whole life. I’ve watched how no jobs, no purpose, and too much alcohol affect the tribe.”
“What if I can make a difference?”
Rollie raised his eyes to mine. “Because you’ve got a dab of Indian blood?”
I blinked at him. That was more than a little snarky coming from the man who’d encouraged me to enroll in the tribe about eight months ago.
“Besides, you can’t make a difference. No one can. Watch yourself, Mercy, when you go digging into this bad stuff. There’s always someone wantin’ to keep their sick little secrets. There’s always someone wantin’ to prove they’re smarter than you.”
“Can you stop talking in riddles for one damn minute?”
He picked at the toasted meringue. As I formulated my next question, Rollie demanded, “Did Latimer bring in the feds right away when she went missin’?”
“Why?”
“’Cause he’ll milk this tragedy for all it’s worth, even though he really don’t give a damn about that girl.”
“No love lost between you and the tribal president?”
“He’s a self-serving prick who reeks of false piety.”
Harsh. “That doesn’t seem to be the general attitude on the rez. People have great hopes he’ll implement changes.”
“Two words that mean nothin’ in politics: hope and change. Especially not when it comes to his ideas.”
That didn’t sound like differing philosophies; it sounded personal. “How long have you known Latimer Elk Thunder?”
“Since before he became a white man in Indian skin.”
For Rollie that was an unforgivable offense-in men, anyway. “Are you guys business rivals or something?”
“Since he owns the only gas station on the rez, he ain’t got no rivals.”
“So were you rivals over a woman? You said some nasty stuff about my dad because you believe he stole my mother from you.”
He harrumphed and ate another bite of his pie.
“So you weren’t in love with his wife and she threw you over for Latimer?” I joked.
“Not hardly. I ain’t ever been impressed with her, either. Though she’s awful damn impressed with herself.” His black eyes met mine. “How was the niece killed?”
That was an abrupt subject change. “I’m not at liberty to disclose that information.”