Page 43 of Twice Missing
Sarah steeled herself before continuing. "Look, I'm not saying nothing has been done. There have been nationwide initiatives that have allowed MMIW task forces to be created, an alert system for Natives, and cold case units formed in some states, but that doesn't apply to all states, and the level of attention given by those new initiatives just isn't at the level it should be. It’s more for show than anything else. Why? The funding and resources are just not there, and so with most of these cases, it's the family that finds their loved one, that does the search, that pays a private investigator because law enforcement doesn't participate, or doesn't feel that it's a priority."
"So nothing was done for Kayla?" Noah asked, his voice soft.
"By the cops. No. By the family. Yes. Kayla's sister Abigail has been advocating for her ever since she went missing. When she's not taking care of her father, or working, she's out there searching. The family created abillboard here on the reservation. Raised funds to try and get people to talk but no one has."
Noah nodded, processing the information. "You mentioned you and her were activists?"
"We attended a few protests," Sarah confirmed.
"Before she went missing?"
"We were both at one over on Barnhart Island near Massena."
Noah's interest piqued. "Massena?"
"Yeah, we were protesting over a Mohawk land claim. We put up signs on Barnhart Island, asserting Mohawk sovereignty over the island."
"Who owns it?" Noah asked.
"The New York Power Authority and the hydropower dam across the St. Lawrence River. Anyway they said we were trespassing and intentionally damaging property but how's that so if it belongs to us?”
McKenzie, unable to resist, chimed in. "Possession is nine-tenths of the law," he said, his tone slightly dismissive.
Sarah's scowl deepened. "We've been fighting the state since the early 1800s. They stole thousands of acres of Mohawk land. Only now are we winning."
"Hmmm. Go Natives," McKenzie said sarcastically, fist pumping the air as if the Native people were a sports team. Sarah didn't find it amusing one bit.
Noah rolled his eyes at McKenzie, sensing the rising tension, before he quickly steered the conversation back to Kayla. "Abigail mentioned that some people thought Kayla was seeing someone over in Massena. Do you know anything about that?"
Sarah's expression turned thoughtful. "Rumors swirl. People say all manner of things. Some said she was in a love triangle with some older guy on the reservation, others said she was seeing a man over in Massena. The last I heard she was involved in protesting some solar project. There is new construction over there. Some say she was being trafficked to that man camp. Who knows? The story changes depending on who you speak to."
"This man over in Massena. Did you get a name?" Noah pressed.
"No. But the one she had spent time with here on the reservation is Marcus. Though I would be a little cautious if I was you around him. The guy is a little psychotic."
Just then, a woman's voice called from the store. "Sarah!"
Sarah glanced back at the store, then turned to Noah. "I got to go."
"Thank you, Sarah," Noah said sincerely. She nodded with a pained smile before heading back into the store.
As soon as she was gone, Noah and McKenzie got into their vehicle. Noah turned to his partner, his expression a mix of frustration and disbelief. "Nine-tenths of the law. Go Natives. Really, McKenzie?"
McKenzie shrugged, seemingly oblivious to the offense he might have caused. "What? It’s true.”
“Maybe but it’s not helpful.”
“Ah, hogshit. It seems as if they are all too quick to react.”
Noah shook his head, exasperated. "I think they haveevery reason to. Didn't they teach you about cultural tactfulness when you went through police college?"
"Oh no, that was your generation. In mine, it was a glorious time, when people weren't such snowflakes, dwelling on the past," McKenzie replied dismissively.
"Geesh," Noah said, shaking his head as they reversed out of the parking lot. "You really need to go back to reform school."
"I doubt it would help," McKenzie muttered.
"I doubt it would," Noah added, his tone a mix of frustration and resignation. Biases were real, tensions still present, and ignorance all too prevalent in many.
