“Let Natalie see Tim.
Wy made a face. “I didnt really have a choice. The judge ordered visitation. Limited, supervised, but still.
“Bullshit, Bill said, speaking with all the authority of the magistrate she was. “You could have run her off. You still could. Why havent you, if its making the boy so miserable, and you miserable with it?
Wy drank beer. Bill waited.
“Shes his mother, Bill, Wy said at last. “Shes got rights.
“Just because you didnt give birth to him doesnt make him any less your son. Crying out loud, Wy, I could tell you stories from now until next year about cases Ive had before my court, parents arent fit to keep a dog, much less a child. Shes one of them.
“She is when shes drunk, Wy agreed. “Maybe if she stays here...
“What? You going to give him back?
Wys head snapped up, her eyes narrowing.
“I didnt think so, Bill said, her voice very dry.
“It was right to let her see him. It was right for him to see her, so that he doesnt always remember her as the drunken monster who beat him. Damn it, Bill, it was the right thing to do!
Bill sipped her Coke. “Want another beer?
Wy looked at the bottom of her now empty glass. “No. Im just trying to put off going home.
“Want some takeout?
Wy brightened. Tim was notoriously susceptible to Bills fatburgers and greasy fries. “Make it two, and a double order of fries for Tim.
Bill raised an eyebrow.
“Oh, all right, Wy said. “Three. Not that Liam Campbell deserved any special consideration in the way of meals. Or a roof. A roof it looked like he wouldnt be under for longer than it took to pack for a move back to Anchorage.
“Hey, big spender.
Wy looked around and a smile broke out across her face. It was a good smile; it displayed white teeth saved from perfection by overlapping incisors, crinkled the corners of her brown eyes, and seemed somehow to make her bronze-streaked brown hair curl out of its long braid even more than it already did. “Jo!
The two women hugged. “What are you doing in Newenham? Wy said. “I cant believe your editor let you come down again so soon. Is there some story going on around here I dont know about that the Anchorage News is crying out for copy on?
“No, I just grabbed a couple of vacation days cause I could, Jo said. She was a chunky blonde with intense green eyes and a short cap of curls. A newspaper reporter with the wit of Dorothy L. Parker and none of the nastiness, shed been Wys closest friend since college and, for a few months, her sister-in-law. “Garys back in Anchorage.
“Is he?
“Yeah, he came down with me. Jo didnt look at Wy when she said this, thanking Bill for the draft beer instead. “Dont worry; were not going to land ourselves on youweve got a room at the Bay View. But we were hoping youd have time for us.
“Sure, Wy said, and managed a smile. “Always time for you, Jo. And you wouldnt be landing yourselves on me, either one of you. So long as one of you doesnt mind sleeping on the floor.
Jo laughed. “Thanks, but no thanks.
“How about I order up a couple more hamburgers?
“How about we eat right here and have a steak?
Wy cocked an eyebrow at Bill, who shouted a cancellation through the pass-through to the kitchen. Dottie, her fry cook, growled an acknowledgment and slammed the burger patties back into the fridge.
“Let me call Tim. Wy went to the pay phone in the corner and dialed her home number.
“Yeah?
“Hey, Tim.
“Hi, Wy.
He had been calling her Mom right up until the first time shed admitted Natalie to their home. “Jos here, and her brother, Gary. Were going to have dinner at Bills. Ill be there in ten.
She hung up and turned to Jo, standing just behind her. “Dont worry; hell come. The combination of his favorite auntie and one of Bills steaks will offset having to sit next to me.
Jo followed Wy out to her truck. “Whats the problem with Tim?
Wy sighed. “Its not just Tim.
Jo went very still. “Liam?
Wy nodded.
Jo bristled. “Whats that prick up to now?
Wy turned. “Why do you always automatically assume the worst about Liam, Jo?
“Lets just say I stand on his record. Hes always beating up on my best friend.
“He doesnt beat up on me.
“Emotionally he sure as hell does.
Wy was silent. Jos fierce loyalty to the people she loved was one of her best qualities. It could also be one of her worst.
“Whats wrong this time? His wife is still dead, isnt she? Jo said in sudden suspicion. “He didnt go and get married again just so the two of you could have another hopeless love affair?
“No, no, no, Wy said. “Cut him some slack, Jo, Jesus.
“He hurt you, Jo said. “What hurts you, hurts me. When I get hurt, I get pissed off. When I get pissed off, I get even. Im not square with Liam yet.
“That why you brought Gary to Newenham with you?
Jo ignored the question with a dignity that didnt look quite natural on her pugnacious face. “Whats up, Wy? Whats going on?
Wy leaned back against the door of the truck. “You know this last case, the serial killer?
“Hairy Man? Sure. Hes still in jail, so far as I know. Its been a month. Got to be some kind of record.
Jo Dunaways ideal Supreme Court would have had all the justices named Scalia, but then she was a reporter and had seen firsthand the evil that men do far too often. Had she but known it, Liams ideal Supremes would all have been named Rehnquist. Wy thought about making the obvious comment but her courage failed her.
“Anyway, Jo said, “whats that got to do with anything?
“John Barton, Liams boss, called. Said Liam had done so well in Newenham that John was promoting him back to sergeant.
Jo digested this. “Wow. That was quick.
“Its partly your fault. You wrote that story with all those quotes making Liam sound like a hero.
Jo looked at her. “So youre not just pissed at Liam, youre pissed at me, too.
“Shit. Wy smoothed back the curls that had escaped the braid falling down her back. “Im not, Jo. Really, Im not. Its just that things were... Its not like we dont have other issues to deal with, you know? And now weve got to deal with this, too.
“Liam must feel like a yo-yo, Jo said.
“Yeah, well, apparently youre only disgraced in the Alaska state troopers so long as youre not clearing cases. When you are...
“Youre undisgraced. Back in favor. Back on the fast track, Jo said in sudden realization. “Okay. Got that. What else?
“John offered him his old job back.
“His old job?
“Uh-huh.
“His old job, as in, his old job in Anchorage?
“Uh-huh.
“Oh.
“So you see.
“I sure do. Where can I buy a gun?
“Jo.
“If he dumps you again, Wy, I swear Ill
“He didnt dump me last time; I dumped him.
“He could have left his wife, and he didnt.
“He had a baby son at the time. He couldnt leave both of them.
“He could if hed loved you enough.
“He could if he was a total slimeball, Jo, and that wasnt the guy I fell for. Now knock it off. Im done with that, and you should be, too.
A brief silence while Jo battled her baser self. “So whats he going to do?
“I dont know.
Jo raised an eyebrow.
“What? Wy said. She knew that eyebrow.
“You havent asked him.
“He hasnt said.
“You havent asked him? Jo said, making it a question this time.
“I dont think he knows.
“You havent asked him!
Wy gave a quick glance around to see who was listening. “Stop yelling. He hasnt given John an answer,
okay? And John asked almost a month ago.
“Ahuh. Well. Jo put her hands on her hips and surveyed Wy from head to toe. “Things must be pretty tense around the Chouinard household. You let Liam move in yet?
Wy hunched a shoulder.
“Right. Why not?
Wy didnt answer.
“Yeah, Jo said. “So, getting so much in the way of solid commitment from you, naturally he would leap at the chance to blow off his boss offer of promotion and spend the rest of his life in Newenham.
Wy was as affronted at this turnabout on the part of her first, best friend as she had been annoyed at Jos attack on Liam. “So now youre on his side?
“Somebody has to be, poor bastard.
“Up yours, Dunaway.
“Backatcha times two, Jo said promptly. “Okay, enough with this. You go get Tim, Ill go get Gary, and dont worry, all will be well. She waved all-inclusive hands. “Leave it to me; Auntie Jo will fix everything.
“Thats what Im afraid of, Wy said, but she was saying it to Jos back going away.
November 30, 1941
A C-47 came in today with the heat exchanger out. One of the passengers kept his feet warm with a blowtorch all the way from Watson Lake. Man Im glad I wasnt on board that flight.
The airstrip isnt even paved and everytime we land we kick dirt and ice up against the fuselage. I hope none of that stuff is making it up into the props or the engines.
To cold today to snow. Gray overcast about ten thousand feet. Saw a dozen moose laying next to a frozen river southwest of Anchorage. They looked like theyd laid down to die and I dint blame them but theres an old Eskimo guy who hangs around the base doing odd jobs for cash who says the moose are conserving energy and that they dont move around much in the winter.
He says hes a gold miner and that he sells it to Russians because their money is no good and they pay more than Americans will. He has to be careful because its illegal anymore for private citizens to own gold. Im wondering what the Russians buy the gold with if their money is no good but thats what he says.
THREE
Liam and Diana were still recovering from the fit of giggles caused by the vampire-disposal kit when they pulled up in front of the small square building with the Last Frontier Bank sign over the door. A burly man waited for them on the steps. He had a belly like a beer barrel, a head like a rectangular bullet, hair that stood up all over it in stiff white bristles, and a scowl carving lines into his cheeks and forehead. He wore button-fly jeans and a blue cashmere sweater with a button-down collar peeking out from underneath the crew neck. Liam suspected that the laces on his boots were ironed. “Brewster, he said as he stepped out of the white Chevy Blazer with the badge of his service emblazoned on its door.
The burly man gave a curt nod. “Campbell. Took your time getting here.
Liam felt rather than saw Diana stiffen. “We had some things to take care of at the post. He hitched up his gun belt. “Molly says somebody tried to steal your ATM again.
Brewster Gibbons, manager of Newenhams only bank and general pain in the civic ass, watched Liams hand settle on the butt of the nine-millimeter Smith & Wesson strapped to his right hip. “Yes.
Liam ambled forward to inspect the machine secured to the wall of the bank. Its corners were dented. Further investigation found a length of heavy galvanized chain tossed in a careless heap beneath the porch, as well as a horizontal burn in the right-hand upright of the porch railing, and two deep ruts in the driveway. The last two links of the chain were bent open, as if the chain had been made from clay. “Looks like someone tried to haul it off, all right.
In spite of its wounds, the machines screen continued to flash advertisements for credit cards and car loans and home mortgages. Liam got out his wallet and inserted his cash card. Obediently, the machine spit out fifty dollars. “Although it doesnt seem to have hurt it much. He stuffed the cash into his wallet and the wallet back into his pocket. “My turn to cook dinner, he told the bank manager. “Im thinking take-out chicken from the deli counter at Eagle.
Prince made a face. “I dont know, sir, that burrito I got from there was pretty awful. You might want to reconsider.
“What I want to know, Brewster said, his face tight and his eyes angry, “is what you intend to do about it.
“I dont know, Liam said. “Probably pick up some Maalox on my way through the checkout counter.
Brewster Gibbons took a visible breath, looked again at the hand resting on the gun butt, and bit back what he had been about to say.
A ravens soft croak sounded from a nearby tree, followed by a series of click-click-click s and craaaa-ack s. A stiff breeze blew on shore from Bristol Bay, dropping the already crisp chill factor to a temperature close to freezing. After a summers absence the stars had returned to the Alaskan sky, and Liam looked up to let the Big Dipper show him the way to the North Star.
Brewster stood it for as long as he could. “Well? Somebody tried to rob my bank! I want to know what youre going to do about this! When Anchorage finds out, theyre going to want some answers, and theyre going to be talking to our friends in Juneau!
Diana Prince hadnt been working with Liam Campbell for even four months, but it was long enough to look at Brewster Gibbons and think, You poor dumb bastard. Every two years Brewster Gibbons contributed five hundred dollars to the campaign of anyone of the Democratic, Republican or Libertarian persuasion running for state office from the Newenham district and thought that bought him influence. It was the maximum amount allowed by law, as anyone in Alaska could have told him, and was standard operating procedure for any businessman covering his political bets. It hardly rated a thank-you note. But then, shed always been something of a cynic when it came to politics.
Without ceasing communion with the celestial beings overhead, Liam said, “Trooper Prince? How many times has someone attempted to kidnap Mr. Gibbons cash machine?
“I believe this makes it four times, sir.
“Uh-huh. And the first time was, when, exactly?
“That would be June. June sixth, I believe.
“Hmmm. And the method used?
“The first time they wrapped an electrical cord around the machine and pulled. The cord snapped.
“I see. And the second?
“The second time was eight days later, the fourteenth. This time they tried to open it up with a saw.
“A saw. Refresh my memory. What happened?
“The blade snapped in two. Mr. Gibbons found pieces of it on the porch when he came in in the morning. She added, “The night before, a Ferdinand Volinario called to say that his shop had been broken into, and that he was missing some tools, including an electric Skilsaw.
“Id forgotten all about Nando, Liam said. “Well done, Trooper Prince. And the third time?
She hesitated just long enough to make it interesting. “We think a sledgehammer, sir, but were not absolutely sure. The machine was pretty severely dented. You can still see some of the dents. She pointed.
Liam lowered his eyes to peer at the machine. “So you can. He laid hands on the machine and tried to rock it loose. It wouldnt budge. “Pretty sturdy piece of equipment, he told Gibbons, his tone congratulatory. “Youve got it fastened down pretty solid, too.
“We can only hope they ripped their axle out, Prince said.
“Your security camera working yet? Liam said.
Gibbons flush was easy to see from the light over the door. “I need to pull it and send it to Anchorage to get it fixed.
“Yeah. Camera on the machine itself working yet?
“Not since June.
“Uh-huh. Did you see anything yourself?
Gibbons lost patience. “I didnt have to! It was Teddy Engebretsen or John Kvichak or Paul Urbano or Mac MacCormick or one of that worthless bunch, or maybe the whole boiling lot of them together! You know it as well as I do! I want you to go over there and arrest them!
“Did you see Teddy Engebretsen this evening, Brewster? A brief silence. “Brewster?
Did you see Teddy Engebretsen trying to kidnap your ATM machine?
“No, Gibbons said, his face sullen.
“How about John Kvichak? No? Then Paul Urbano? Again no? Brewster, I know you watch a lot of television, with that fancy new satellite dish and all, so I know you have at least a speaking acquaintance with probable cause. Absent witnesses, absent evidence, I have no reason to suspect Teddy or John or Paul of anything except smoking a little dope at Tasha Anayuks Saturday-night party. Not lately, anyway, he thought. “In the meantime, in spite of someones best efforts, it doesnt look like your machine is going anywhere. Get your security cameras fixed or hire a security guard or both, and maybe well catch them in the act next time.
“Next time! I dont want there to be a next time! And where the hell am I supposed to hire a security guard in Newenham?
“Job Service in Anchorage always has clients looking for employment, Liam said, and tipped his flat-brimmed Mountie hat in grave salute on his way back to the Blazer.
“Job Service! Sure, if I wanted hire a moron who The rest of Brewster Gibbons words were cut off when Liams door closed.
“All the same, Prince said when he put it in gear, “it probably was Teddy or John or Paul. Or Art Inga and Dave Iverson. Or
“Probably, Liam agreed. “Which is why were going over to Johns to say hi.
“Did I mention that I have a hot date tonight? Prince wondered out loud. “And that Im already late?
“Did I mention that so do I, and so am I, and that Ive got a better chance of getting laid at the end of it than you do? Liam said, wondering if it was true.
“Just a passing comment, Prince said, and slumped in her seat with a sigh.
Liam pulled out onto the road and put the Blazer into a skid over the icy ruts. The road looked like his life. He hit the gas and powered out of the skid, the rear wheels missing the ditch by a hair. Next to him Prince let out a pent-up breath.
Things had cooled off considerably between Liam and Wy since John Bartons offer to bring Liam back to Anchorage. It was the difference between fire and ice, and ice, as the poet foretold, for destruction was also great and would suffice. He knew it was partly his fault; he was holding both Wy and Tim in limbo, which made him feel guilty. He was pissing off John Barton, too, who was calling on average once a day before breakfast to bellow down the line for Liam to shit or get off the pot in tones clearly audible all over Wys house. The job wasnt helping much, either. He and Prince had been hard at it for a solid month, responding to a series of burglaries, robberies and assaults aggravated by the rapidly weakening economy. It was the first practical lesson Liam had learned in the practice of law enforcement: It was easy to obey the law when your kids had full bellies. He understood, but it was not comforting to watch the lives of the people under his protection fall apart. Especially while he seemed to be helpless to stop the deterioration of his own.
Stabenow, Dana - Liam Campbell 04 - Better To Rest Page 2