A/N - Surprise! I had an easy week. Enjoy.

Dani

10 – Enough

Major Jim Maitland sat behind his desk in the Intelligence Office at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri. The S2 officer had two piles of paperwork stacked on each corner: the in-box on the left was considerably taller than the out-box on the right. He sighed. Join the Army. See the world… through a mound of paper… Okay, in all fairness, he had done his time. Twenty years. Afghanistan and Iran mostly; but days like today, when he had a pile of mindless paperwork in front of him, well… it just wasn't in the job description.

He looked longingly at his computer on a separate table just a chair wheel away. He didn't even have to get up to access it. Just shift position and push. It was always on and the imposing entrance gate of the fort was his screen saver. Careen man. He shook his head. He wished it could be the serene desert scene he longed for.

With another sigh, he pulled the next file onto his blotter, startling when the phone near his right hand rang.

"Maitland," he answered sharply. The voice on the other end grabbed his attention, and a small smile grew on his lips.

xxxxxxx

The Community Center was empty. Construction debris lay strewn in a heap near the front door ready to be loaded onto pick-up trucks to be taken to the dump. Some of the material had been salvaged and recycled by anyone who wanted to take it but the rest was just trash. The work crew would be arriving within the hour: volunteers, both adults and teens, to begin the new addition to the building. It was an exciting project that had stirred another sense of community on the Rez.

Mathias arrived first parking his Ford Ranger out front. Walt arrived about five minutes later parking his Bronco in the back, out of sight. Inside, at the rectangular planning table in the center of the room, Henry sat with Julia, Frank and Tommy, waiting for the law to arrive. It had been a month since the cameras had been planted at the Red Pony but with the discovery of the one at the house, it was agreed that enough was enough. Something had to be done.

When everyone was settled, Henry snapped on a pair of latex gloves and began removing the three cameras and listening device from a paper bag by his feet placing them on the table in front of everyone. Walt and Mathias curiously watched. Henry had made sure that he and Frank had worn the gloves when they originally set the cameras to avoid putting their fingerprints on them.

The story was explained: from Frank and Tommy's disappearance in June to Frank being threatened and beaten by Darius, to Henry and Frank positioning the cameras and bug, and, subsequently, to the discovery of the third camera outside Henry's house.

Walt and Mathias listened, each formulating their own questions, but one was common – Why? Why was Strand so intent on having the Red Pony? Why was he so focused on Henry and Julia? It seemed to go beyond revenge.

Within twenty minutes, Frank and Tommy had told their story as well and Mathias promised to keep watch over Frank and his family. As for the Rez, he intended to keep his ears open for any talk of what Malachi was up to. Strand's tentacles were still deeply entrenched in the community, especially with those more zealous about their way of life: the Native American Brotherhood, otherwise known as the Go Red or Go Dead crew.

Walt agreed to start looking into Strand's more "legitimate" work in town and would take the devices to be checked for fingerprints.

Both lawmen had more questions but neither wanted to continue in front of Frank and Tommy. So, with the impression of ending the conversation, all rose and began to leave. Frank and Tommy would stay behind and wait for the other workers to arrive. Henry and Julia, Walt and Mathias headed for the doors. Mathias suddenly stopped, turning to the other three.

"This can't end here. There has to be more," he said under his breath.

Walt gave a half nod in a rare show of agreement.

Henry gave a slow, flat-handed swipe indicating to leave the subject alone for now, and lowly saying that they should meet again in an hour.

xxxxxxx

The whispered voices in the back room of the hall were further muted by the sound of hammers and saws.

"I don't get it. What do you mean?"

"I mean we have to keep watch. This guy is harassing Henry and Julia."

"That's silly. Why would anyone do that?"

"I don't know. But, my dad got beat up when he refused to go along. So, he pretended. Henry's been good to us. If it wasn't for him, I'd be in juvie. And, my dad would be out of work. And, Julia brought us all together. It was the two of them that got this youth group up and going, even with him in jail last summer. Even with her gone, I heard she was still working with Anita looking for people to run it. They're good people. We have to help."

"This isn't the same as helping Otis Foxworth or Gemma Light Night or even looking out for Maggie. Malachi Strand is bad news."

Six heads nodded vigorously, eager eyes bright.

"We've all heard the stories. But, like Julia says – we're stronger when we stand together. We keep our eyes open and our mouths shut to everyone but each other for now."

"And, what if we see something?"

"Then, we meet and talk and decide together."

"Unless it's an emergency."

"No, duh. Use your head. Be smart. We owe them."

xxxxxxx

Ferg was confused but was proficient with his task anyway. He swept the entire Sheriff's department looking for any electronic device that didn't belong while the rest of the staff curiously watched.

"Done," he finally said, putting the equipment away. "Nothing."

"What the hell was that all about?" Vic sputtered in astonishment rolling her hockey puck between her fingers while she lounged in her seat.

"Malachi Strand is playing games," Walt offered. "I don't want us to be a part of it." He turned to enter his office, then as if an afterthought, added to Ruby, "Mathias will be stopping by. Show him in when he does."

"Okay," she returned to her desk, puzzled, as Vic shrugged at her.

Half an hour later, Mathias arrived. Henry and Julia had arrived just a few moments before using Walt's private entrance and the four of them gathered around Walt's desk.

"Something tells me this didn't just start recently." Walt sat on the edge of his desk while Henry and Julia took the couch and Mathias stood by the chair.

"Where to begin," Henry sighed.

"Try the beginning, Standing Bear," Mathias quietly ordered.

Henry took Julia's hand onto his knee and held it for a moment. Which beginning? he wondered. She shook her head reluctantly, squeezing his fingers.

"You remember how I warned you to keep your eyes open when I first got out of jail? That Malachi was up to something?" Henry began.

Mathias nodded. "It's been going on since last summer?" he asked incredulously, hands on hips turning in a half circle away from them for a moment.

Walt raised his hand in a calming manner. "Let's hear this out," he directed at the Tribal Police Chief, turning his attention back to his friend.

"Maybe I should explain," Julia interjected and began the story from Strand's original harassment of Henry at the Red Pony the year earlier, his offer to buy the place and the pressure that ensued. She took them through the discovery of the GPS tracker hidden in her car in Missouri with Darius Burn's fingerprints and blood on it, and the clandestine investigation for Walt's wife's murderer which led to the unexpected discovery of information regarding Malachi Strand's organization. All of the information was on a thumb drive which was safely stored with a confidential source. She explained about the deal she had made with Strand upon returning to Durant and that, up until recently, it seemed that he kept his end of it. She wondered what had changed.

Both lawmen listened intently until she was done.

"You realize you've just admitted to blackmail," Mathias stated.

"Yes," Julia acknowledged. "Strand's pockets are deep and his connections are wide spread. Everything from the common thugs to a couple of judges. He's dirtier than the Ganges River, but has the ability and connections to look legitimate. That's hard to stay safe from. We needed leverage to get him off our backs and to protect people we care about, and it worked."

"Yet, by doing this, you've allowed him to continue his operation," Walt added, not too pleased with what they'd done.

I have a contact who is still monitoring Strand's activities. On the surface, everything looks legal. There is nothing … yet… to hold him on or charge him with. We're telling you this now because we will be meeting with him soon. We want to know why he's targeting us now."

"What about Burns?" Mathias asked.

"I'm working on him. I'm good at reading people and… there's something there… I may be able to turn him."

Mathias snorted. "This isn't some spy movie."

"No, but that's how I work. It's part of Knowing Your Enemy 101," I smirked. "How do you get people to side with you? Talk with them. Work with them. Get them to see that your side is right or better. I didn't last as long as I did in my job without this skill. I have hope where Darius is concerned."

"Where is this thumb drive now?" Walt asked arms folded across his chest.

Julia shook her head. "I won't say. It's safe and instructions are clear. The last straw being: if anything happens to me it goes straight to the Director of the FBI."

"Does Malachi know this?" Walt asked.

Julia nodded. "There were very strict stipulations in our agreement. Henry and I even met with him in the winter about adjusting one of the terms. It gave him a bit more slack but it was a reasonable adjustment, one that made sense."

"You cut him more slack." Mathias leaned onto the chair, hitching his hip, his head shaking.

Julia nodded again. "It came after the car accident. That was also when my relationship with Darius changed. We were stuck together for a couple of days, remember? He was fair with me. The change was subtle but still something to work with."

Walt tipped his head in disbelief. "Well, good luck to you. The man's dangerous and has quite the rap sheet."

"I'm aware. I've read it and have a copy."

"So, what do we do now?" Mathias straightened.

"I do not think there is anything you can do at the moment. We wanted you to know what was going on in case anything… unexpected… happens." Henry sat with his hands loosely in his lap.

Mathias shook his head but agreed. "Okay. As far as I can see, there's harassment going on, invasion of privacy, but you guys are going to handle it. But," he jabbed a finger at the pair, "if it gets worse, I want to know immediately."

"That goes for me, too," Walt added.

Henry and Julia nodded in agreement.

xxxxxxx

The large glass door to Nighthorse's development office glared in the mid-afternoon sun. Henry and I sat in the Rezdawg watching. Nighthorse's sapphire blue Denali sat out front but Strand's black Explorer was not in sight. Patience was wearing thin and I began to fidget. Startling when a quick double knock sounded at the edge of my window, the body was lumbering away before I could react, but the message had been clear.

"He's parked in the back."

Pressing a satisfied smile together, I cast a look to my partner. "Shall we?"

"You trust him?"

"Trust has to start sometime, but just in case, be prepared."

We stepped out of the truck, looked both ways as a couple of cars passed, then crossed the street to the modern building. Pushing the door open, Henry let me enter first. Jacob was in the lobby speaking with his secretary and was surprised by our visit. Ever the suave business man, a smile appeared on his face and he strode to us, hand extended in a pleasant greeting.

"Henry. Julia. To what do I owe this pleasure?"

Henry shook Jacob's hand returning a cautious smile. "We are here to speak with Malachi. I hope he is not too busy," Henry replied casually.

"Hmm," Jacob thought, a bit suspicious. "I don't know. Do you have an appointment?"

"No, but we have something to return to him. He made need this." Henry shifted the bag he was carrying.

"Oh," he seemed genuinely surprised. "Sylvie," he called to his secretary. "Is Mr. Strand in his office?"

"Yes, Sir. I haven't seen him leave."

"Come then. I'll take you back."

I shot Henry a questioning look. Did Nighthorse know about the cameras? If so, that put a whole new twist on things. If not, should we confront Strand in front of him? Strand did tell him about the original agreement.

We didn't have the chance to make the decision as Jacob knocked on Malachi's door and opened it before a reply.

"Malachi, you have visitors," Jacob announced as he stepped in.

The large security officer was sitting behind his desk, leaning on his arms, reading a document in front of him. His head rose and eyes narrowed when he saw us standing in the doorway. He was expressionless as Henry repositioned the paper bag in his arms. There was silence as they glared at each other.

"Henry had something to return to you." Jacob motioned to the bag.

"These were left at the Red Pony and at my home." Henry watched as Malachi's eyes shift between him, the bag, his boss, and Julia. "Would you like to see?"

When he didn't get an answer, Henry stepped forward and dumped the contents onto Malachi's desk, black powder spilling onto the light surface, miniature black surveillance equipment tumbling onto his blotter.

"What's this? This isn't mine," Malachi protested pushing back.

"Your fingerprints are on them as are Mica Dullknife's and Darius Burn's, depending on which item you refer to. Be careful of that powder," I warned. "It's a pain to get off." Stepped forward, I took a defensive stance in front of his desk. "I only hope that these are the only ones out there. This was a clear violation of our agreement, Mr. Strand. Now, seeing as how you made Mr. Nighthorse privy to our original conversation last summer, would you like to continue this conversation in his presence?"

Malachi's chin rose arrogantly. "If you have such clear proof that I've done this, why haven't you gone to the police?"

"That's where the fingerprint powder came from. And, the ID on the three of you."

"So? What are you going to do?" He inhaled, chin rising further.

I could feel Henry boil beside me and put my hand calmly on his wrist. "We have bigger fish to fry, Mr. Strand." My lip curled up menacingly. "We simply would just like to know why?"

"And by answering that, I would be confessing to what you are accusing me of."

I stepped to the desk, knuckles down, leaning close. "I have already made a phone call, Mr. Strand. You have broken our agreement."

"Make all the threats you like." He sat back, arms crossed, smirking. "Nothing can touch me."

I stood, returning the smirk. "Don't be so sure of that. Judge Thornton can't help you anymore. As we speak, his home and office is being searched by the FBI."

Malachi visibly reacted but inhaled to retain his composure.

"He's just one. The first," I continued, "But, I have a list of the others. One by one, Mr. Strand, they will come tumbling down, and all roads of their fall will lead back to you. You will not be so safe then. Now, what is it about the Red Pony that you are so desperate to have?"

xxxxxxx

"Remind me not to get on your bad side. You are dangerous." Henry shook his head as we drove away from Nighthorse's office.

"I made myself very clear at each step. I will fight to protect what is important to me. It looks like Jacob didn't know. He didn't seem pleased. I'd love to be a fly on the wall to hear that conversation." I grinned.

"Is the FBI really searching Judge Thornton's?"

"Yes," I nodded. "It wasn't a play I wanted to make but when dealing with a man like Malachi; you have to be ready to carry through on your warnings. If Malachi wants to play hard ball, then so will I. You can't show fear with a man like him."

xxxxxxx

The dusty landline rang on the rickety little end table in a shack on the far side of the Rez. The Indian slumped in the thread bare armchair put his beer bottle down and reached for it.

When he heard the voice on the other end, his lips curled into a spiteful sneer. With a humorless chuckle, he replied, "It will be my pleasure."