Better To Rest Part 2

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 b.u.t.ton-fly jeans and a blue cashmere sweater with a b.u.t.ton-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 a.s.s, watched Liams hand settle on the b.u.t.t 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 advertis.e.m.e.nts 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 b.u.t.t, 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 click-click-click s and s and craaaa-ack craaaa-ack s. A stiff breeze blew on sh.o.r.e 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. s. A stiff breeze blew on sh.o.r.e 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 b.a.s.t.a.r.d. 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 st.u.r.dy 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 Sat.u.r.day-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 h.e.l.l 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 pa.s.sing 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 p.i.s.sing off John Barton, too, who was calling on average once a day before breakfast to bellow down the line for Liam to s.h.i.t 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 a.s.saults 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.

Newenham, population two thousand, was a fishing town and regional market hub sitting on the eastern edge of Bristol Bay. It was built on a thick deposit of silt and clay washed down by the Nushugak River, and its topography consisted mostly of rolling hills covered with stands of birch and alder and fireweed and spruce cl.u.s.tered around houses with vinyl siding and trailers and mobile homes and log cabins with sod roofs and Quonset huts left over from World War II. There wasnt a straight street downtown; a series of looping curves wound around that part of Newenham with delusions of grandeur, city and business buildings in all their prefabricated glory and even a town house condominium complex sitting at the edge of the river overlooking the small boat harbor. A forest of masts of varying heights crowded the slips like nursing piglets, their backs to the bay and another bad fishing season. By February only a quarter of their skippers would have filed for bankruptcy, if the town was lucky. Meanwhile, they were all drinking their misery away, and their good sense with it.

Wy could have offered some solace, some counsel, he thought, taking a corner too fast. Instead she had withdrawn behind a facade that was as cool as it was irritating. Anyone would think she didnt care if he went or stayed. Anyone would think that she was just waiting for him to screw up so shed have the opportunity to kick him out.

Not that shed ever asked him to move in in the first place. What was her problem with that, anyway? They were single, in love, in heat, had a boy who needed two parents, had jobs that gave them financial security; just what the h.e.l.l was was her problem? Was it him? Was it marriage? her problem? Was it him? Was it marriage?

He could have asked. He could win everything or lose it all, but he feared his fate too much. What was the name of that poem? After a moments thought it came to him. "My Dear and Only Love. Figured. The author, as he recalled, had wound up with his head on a pike outside London, the only proper end for anyone who dared to put that much truth into rhyme. The road straightened out and he stepped on the gas, only to send the vehicle into a protesting fishtail.

"Did you say something, sir? Diana Prince said, knuckles white on the door handle.

He let up on the gas. "No.

Sometimes he thought he read too much poetry.

John Kvichaks house sat on the rivers bank, too, although too far upstream of Wys house for Liam to see the lights. Liam hoped she wasnt p.i.s.sed that he was late. He could have called before he left the office. But then she might have picked up instead of the answering machine, and he would have had to talk to her. Or Tim.

Tim hadnt exactly been a barrel of laughs lately, either. Seeing his first girlfriend shot in front of his eyes the month before had been traumatic enough. Now his adoptive mother Wy had invited his birth mother into the house. This was the same woman under whose porch Wy had discovered a broken and bleeding Tim a little over two years before. Tims hatred of Natalie Gosuk was fierce and visceral; he openly resented being forced to spend time with her, and the house was, to say the least, unsettled after one of her visits. Wy was allowing one a week. Today had been her third. Liam and Tim had been forging a relationship one cautious step at a time, their mutual love for Wy the impetus behind the journey. Now Tim had barricaded himself behind a wall of resentment that even Wy was having trouble getting through. Not that she would stop trying. Shed die first.

Liam had met Wy three years before, when hed had to fly into the Bush to investigate a murder. It hadnt been a memorable murder, a subsistence fisherman shooting a sports fisherman over some alleged trespa.s.sing of fishing territory. He couldnt even remember now if the investigation and subsequent arrest had resulted in a conviction.

But he could remember every single second of the flights out and back, and for once his memories had nothing to do with his fear of flying. He remembered Wy had her hair pulled back into a ponytail, the easier to wear the headset. He remembered hearing her laugh, loving the sound of it, and trying deliberately to provoke a repeat. He remembered the feeling of instant recognition when she introduced herself as his pilot, the brief feeling of incredulous dizziness when their hands clasped for the first time in greeting, the dismayed realization of instantaneous attraction, of sharp-edged, undeniable need.

A need that a four-day weekend in Anchorage had only whetted. A weekend that, due to Wys uncomfortable conscience, const.i.tuted the main portion of their affair, before she sent him back to his wife and son. They had parted in grief and in anger, and the first time they had seen each other again they had coupled in the front seat of her truck like a pair of randy teenagers.

Oh, yeah, the need was still there, as strong and as certain as it had ever been. Need wasnt enough, though. Sometimes even love wasnt enough. He used to know what was, but he was no longer as sure of himself as he had once been.

It was with relief that he pulled up in front of Johns house, where, to judge from the lack of parking s.p.a.ces, there appeared to be a monster truck rally in progress, and consigned his personal life to a folder in the back of his mind marked Later. Later. Wy would be there when he was ready to open it again. Wy would be there when he was ready to open it again.

John Kvichaks house had started life as a dugout, a pit with sod walls and roof, and over the intervening hundred and fifty years had migrated up and out. One wall was log, another plywood with tar-paper shingles, the third and widest of round river rock that rose into a chimney that, however unsteady in construction, appeared to be functional, if the smoke pouring out of it was any indication. The fourth was a bright blue vinyl siding Liam tried to convince himself wasnt the same shade as the new siding Seafood North sported across from the small boat harbor. On a drive-through of the dock area the day before, Liam had noticed that part of one wall of the cannery was still bare except for the Tyvek house wrap. Probably, he told himself, Seafood North had ordered short. Probably.

"Dont look now; its Delinquentville, Diana Prince said. "Thats Teddys Ranchero, isnt it? And Kelley MacCormicks Dakota? And Paul Urbanos Cherokee Chief. Whats with those tires, anyway? He could drive over a moose without grazing the rack, the body sits so high. She released her seat belt and looked at Liam. "The gangs almost all here. You think theyre planning their next heist?

"I hope not, Liam said, and he meant it. He didnt know Paul that well, but Teddy and John were the sole support of their families, and pretty good at it so long as they stayed sober. Mac MacCormick was fresh out of the hospital and was in no shape to do more time. "Might as well get it over with.

He got out of the Blazer just in time to see Brewster Gibbons haul his Eddie Bauer Ford Explorer to a halt and bounce out. Gibbons must have been behind them the whole way and Liam had been so preoccupied that he hadnt spotted him, which did not improve his temper. "Brewster, he said, his voice very different from the irritating drawl he had used before, "what are you doing here? We dont need you. Go home.

"I didnt think you were going to do anything. Gibbons panted up, full of righteous wrath. "I came to warn them to stay away from my bank.

"As you can see, its not necessary. Were here, and well handle it. Now go home. To underscore his command, he stepped forward to take Gibbons arm and escort him back to the SUV. He even went so far as to open the door. With bad grace, Gibbons climbed in.

Liam caught Diana as she reached the porch, which along with the stairs up to it and the overhang looked brand-new, the wooden planks neatly lined up and not yet gray from weathering. Liam wondered who next would be pounding on the trooper posts door to report a theft.

The door swung open.

"Hi, John, Diana Prince began.

She didnt have time to say anything else. The man standing in the door took one look at her uniform, another at Liams blue-clad bulk looming up behind her, said, "Oh, s.h.i.t, and vanished.

From behind him there was a panicked yell and some shouts and a lot of swearing and a rush of footsteps. Something crashed inside the room and the lights went out. There was a thump and a moan and some more swearing.

"Okay, guys, were coming in, Diana Prince said, pushing the door wide and feeling for a wall switch. She found one. An overhead light revealed a terrified Teddy Engebretsen with something in his hand and that hand pulled back to throw. "Whats Teddy? Teddy, what the h.e.l.l is that? Teddy, dont Christ! Look out, sir!

She ducked, and on instinct Liam followed suit. Something pale and elongated sailed over their heads.

There was a loud smack! smack! followed by a howl of outrage and the thump of a b.u.t.t hitting the ground, hard. followed by a howl of outrage and the thump of a b.u.t.t hitting the ground, hard.

Still crouching, Liam turned to look.

Brewster Gibbons was sitting on his f.a.n.n.y in the snow at the foot of the stairs, staring at the thing lying half on the bottom step and half on his lap. As Liam watched, he let out a yell and scuttled backward on his hands and feet. The thing slid from his lap and skidded across the icy path to bounce off the berm on one side and back off the other. "Keep it away from me! Keep it away from me!

"What the h.e.l.l? Liam said, and went to investigate.

On closer inspection, he didnt blame Brewster for yelling.

The object was a human arm, the left, severed above the elbow.

Its hand was clenched into a tight fist.

FOUR.

They were having a great time until Liam walked in.

Tim was a math whiz, and Gary, a building contractor, was showing him how to calculate how many trusses were needed to hold up the roof of your average split-level house. Jo was not helping by telling the story of the time Gary had made the family of a burned-out home wait through three tries before he got the truss size right.

"It wasnt me; it was the fabricator, Gary said in protest. "And in the interest of full disclosure, he told Tim, "it took four tries for them to get it right. I was downtime thirteen days on that job. He shook his head and drained his beer. "Plus the granite for the kitchen counter kept breaking. Hard to get quality work done right and on time in this state.

"Unless they get you to do it, Jo said, regarding him with a sisters sapient eye.

Gary grinned and did not deny the accusation.

"So you build peoples houses, Tim said.

"And remodel them.

"Remodel?

"Yeah, rip em apart and start over.

"Like?

Gary tucked into his New York strip. Wy had always appreciated an enthusiastic appet.i.te, being a feeder herself. "I just finished up the remodel of a split-level home in Spenard. The owner has had the house for three years and shes just getting around to correcting everything the previous owners did to it.

"Like?

Gary cut off another piece of steak and used it for punctuation. "Like, they put up teak paneling, and stained all the trim mahogany and took down the old kitchen shelves and put the new ones up wrong. In the bathroom, they walled off the window and put in a six-hundred-dollar wall-hung toilet, which leaked. Lucky there wasnt any insulation between the floors.

"Why lucky?