Better To Rest Part 22

"Why? She almost wailed it.

He stepped from the Cessna and s.n.a.t.c.hed her up into a comprehensive embrace. "Because its what I do. Come on.

They drove to the post in the Blazer, and if the state of Alaska had been peering in the windows it would have been shocked at the behavior going on in the front seat of this vehicle, purchased and maintained for the purpose of enforcing the law and apprehending the violators thereof. Once Liam pulled off and for a few breathless moments Wy feared that they were going to do something Liam could arrest them for. A little farther down the road he drove into the ditch, churned through the snow, uprooted a birch and a couple of alders, and skidded back up on the road. "Keep your hands to yourself next time, he said severely.

The post, not surprisingly, was empty, since it was nearly four oclock. "Five minutes, Liam said, giving Wy a brief, fierce kiss.

Inside, he found Princes notes in the computer and scrolled through them. The stuff on Karen was interesting. Mad about something in the will, was she? Something Betsy and Jerry and Stan Jr. got that she wanted? Something even loser Jerry noticed she wanted? Badly enough to confront one of them for it? Bad enough to start a fight over it, and lose?

And no visible means of support and a paid-up mortgage, or what looked like one. Although the Visa bill was odd.

The most likely scenario was that the person who had killed Lydia had killed Karen. Lydia had died of a blow to the head suffered in a struggle that could likely have begun without murderous intent, according to Brillo Pad. Lydias death could have been involuntary manslaughter, not murder.

Karens death was murder, though. He thought again of her bodys outline on the kitchen floor. A murder that had been made to look as if it had been done by someone caught in the act of robbing the house. Thereby suggesting a stranger. Which, ergo, suggested no such thing.

He sat down at his desk and pulled a sheet of paper from the printer. He penciled a square in the center and labeled it Lydia. Lydia. He penciled another square just below it, labeled it He penciled another square just below it, labeled it Karen Karen and connected the two with a line. He made three other squares and labeled them and connected the two with a line. He made three other squares and labeled them Betsy, Stan Jr. Betsy, Stan Jr. and and Jerry, Jerry, and connected them to Lydia and to Karen. and connected them to Lydia and to Karen.

In the upper right-hand corner he made another square and labeled it the boyfriend the boyfriend and connected it to Lydia. and connected it to Lydia.

The boyfriend hadnt come forward. Could be scared. Could be guilty. Could be nonexistent; witnesses had been wrong before, and Sharon hadnt seen the boyfriend, only his flowers. Or flowers Lydia said had come from him. Had Prince tracked down those flowers yet? He found a note in the file. Shed called Alaska Airlines Goldstreak; they hadnt gotten back to her.

He made another box and labeled it blackmailer? blackmailer? and connected it to Karen. Karen lived a pretty high and free lifestyle, according to just about everyone. So far as he could tell, he was the only functional male in the bay who hadnt slept with her. Ripe for blackmail. Look at that Visa bill, at total odds with the paid-up mortgage and bills. If she had money, and it wasnt going to pay her Visa bill, where was it going? Except then there was the bank account, a very healthy ten grand. And why would her blackmailer kill her, thereby killing his cash cow? And it wasnt like she tried to hide what she did, and she didnt have anyone to hide it from, no husband, no children, and her family didnt seem to care one way or the other. and connected it to Karen. Karen lived a pretty high and free lifestyle, according to just about everyone. So far as he could tell, he was the only functional male in the bay who hadnt slept with her. Ripe for blackmail. Look at that Visa bill, at total odds with the paid-up mortgage and bills. If she had money, and it wasnt going to pay her Visa bill, where was it going? Except then there was the bank account, a very healthy ten grand. And why would her blackmailer kill her, thereby killing his cash cow? And it wasnt like she tried to hide what she did, and she didnt have anyone to hide it from, no husband, no children, and her family didnt seem to care one way or the other.

Odd, that. Lydia was Yupik, at least part, and the Yupik had some of the strongest cultural ties to family that Liam had ever seen. The Three Musketeers could take lessons; it really was all for one and one for all on the Yukon-Kuskokwim River delta. Still, there were dysfunctional families of every race, color and creed. And the Tompkinses werent dysfunctional, exactly, just not that close. It wasnt a sin, it wasnt all that unusual, and it certainly wasnt a crime.

He looked at Lydias chair, and remembered what Clarence had said over the chessboard. That girl had boys buzzing around like mosquitoes, wanting to suck that juicy little thing dry. That girl had boys buzzing around like mosquitoes, wanting to suck that juicy little thing dry.

He tried to imagine a teenage Clarence, and failed. He tried to imagine a teenage Lydia, and was more successful. Stan Tompkins Sr. must have been one h.e.l.l of a guy to come out ahead of the bunch chasing Lydia. She was seventy-four when she had died, which meant she would have been a teenager during World War II. He doodled some numbers. She would have been born in 1926. A kindergartner in 1931, sweet sixteen in 1941, able to vote in 1946.

"Liam? He looked up and saw Wy yawning in the doorway. "I must have dozed off, she said. "What are you doing?

"Oh, h.e.l.l, Wy, Im sorry, he said, shoving the grid to one side and standing up. "I started doodling and I lost track of time.

"Its okay. She slid into his lap and tucked her head beneath his chin. Her firm, soft weight felt very sweet. She looked down at the grid. "Oh, youre doing that square thing you do. She pulled it toward her. "Lydia was born in 1926? G.o.d. I wonder what the world was like then. About all I know is they couldnt use boats with engines to fish for salmon on Bristol Bay. Plus we were a territory, not a state.

He stared down at the grid, something tickling at the back of his brain, something he ought to be seeing.

Wy stirred. "She was born in Newenham, right?

"Yeah. Its on her birth certificate.

"She has a birth certificate?

"Why wouldnt she?

"A lot of people her age who were born in the Bush dont have birth certificates. No hospitals and d.a.m.n few doctors back then. Its hard for Native elders to get social security sometimes because they cant prove they were born in the U.S. Her finger traced the line to the box where he had written Lydias milestone dates. "Sixteen in 1941. Wasnt that the year that C-47 augered into Carryall Mountain?

He stared at the top of her head.

"I was wondering if you could have seen the crash from town, she said. "It isnt that far away, and if it was a clear night...

"I need to get a new job, he said.

"What? She blinked up at him, soft-eyed and sleepy.

"Filing at City Hall ought to be just about my speed.

"Liam "I love you, he said, and kissed her hard.

She blinked. "Okay.

"No, I mean it, I love you, but its just that right now I love you because you have the one working brain between us. All thoughts of sleep vanished and he dumped her unceremoniously off his lap and pulled a fresh sheet of paper to him. "Look. He drew a grid this time, and put a list of dates down one side. "Lydia was sixteen in 1941. On the night of December twentieth, 1941, a C-47 crashes into Carryall Mountain. Suppose it was clear enough between here and there to see the crash? What would you do if you saw something like that?

She leaned against the desk, crossing her arms and hugging them to her. "Id go look.

"You bet your a.s.s you would. Maybe you went looking to aid survivors, maybe you went just to see what you could see, but you would go look, and so would anyone else who saw it happen.

"Im sorry, what does this have to do with Lydia?

"Wy. The wreck is found one day, and the next day Lydia is murdered in her own kitchen, with no signs of forcible entry, which means she most probably knew her attacker. And in Newenham, that could be someone she has known a long time. I was just talking to Clarence down to the bar and he has some very fond memories of Lydia in high school. So did Moses. I wonder who else did?

"I am really, really tired, Wy said. "Youre going to have to explain better than that.

"Okay, try this on for size. Its December twentieth, 1941. Nineteen forty-one, h.e.l.l, I didnt even think of that! Pearl Harbor was attacked ten days before. We were at war, and Alaska was way too close to j.a.pan. They practically started building the Alaska Highway the next day.

"I still "Think a minute! He actually gave her a little shake. "The attack had been ten days before, and it was so kick-a.s.s that the military from Nome to San Diego was expecting an invasion at practically any moment. They would have alerted every American coastal community on the Pacific Ocean to be on the watch.

"So, if somebody saw the C-47 go into the mountain, they might have thought it was the beginning of an invasion?

"Why not? The blood wasnt dry from Pearl. Midway hadnt happened yet, and j.a.pan looked invincible. So say a guy was out with a girlClarence told me the big deal was to get hold of a truck and drive your girl and your friends and their girls to Icky and have an all-day party on the beach at One Lake. Thats forty miles closer to Carryall Mountain and Bear Glacier.

"An all-day party on the beach at One Lake, she said, considering. "I hate to rain all over your parade, Liam, but I dont think so.

"Why not?

"It was December.

"Oh. Oh. Well, h.e.l.l. Okay, maybe not. d.a.m.n it. He couldnt stand it; he had to pace. He rose to his feet and began to quarter the office. "Okay, then they saw it from Newenham.

"Liam, Im willing to stipulate that they saw the plane go in. They werent that long out of Nome and they were probably pretty heavy with fuel, so it probably went off with one h.e.l.l of a bang. I just dont know, she said pointedly, "what all this has to do with Lydia.

"If Im right, it has everything to do with Lydia. Listen, Wy. He sat down again and pulled a third sheet of paper toward him. "Here is Lydia, sweet sixteen, out on a date with one of her many swains. He drew two boxes, one Lydia, one swain. "Its eveningwhat did they say; they think the plane went in around midnight. Maybe theyre parking and making out.

"Did they make out in 1941?

"Then boom boom ! and fire on the mountain. Theyre curious, so they go take a look. The plane is a total loss, but something has been thrown clear. ! and fire on the mountain. Theyre curious, so they go take a look. The plane is a total loss, but something has been thrown clear.

"What?

He looked at her. "Gold.

She snapped her fingers. "The coin!

"What if there were more of them? He drew another square and put all Lydias kids inside it. "One thing thats been bothering me, all the Tompkinses have enough money not to work. I know the bay used to be a bonanza for salmon fishermen, but I dont see anyone else in Newenham with a lifestyle like theirs. Most of the old-timers, their houses are paid off and some of them their boats, but theyre still out there hustling for anything with fins that swims into range. Lydia, yes, I could understand her being provided for, but the kids, too, and so well? Well, what if the money came from Lydia, not Stan Sr.? What if it came from what she and her date found at the crash site?

"She could have gone up there alone.

"Then shed still be alive. He sat back. "And then, sixty years later, the wreck resurfaces. I bring the arm to Bills and everybody sees the coin.

Wy was still puzzled. "I still dont understand. Why was Lydia killed?

He was sitting in Lydias chair, and he thought of her again as he had seen her the evening he met her, feisty, strong, independent, with a bawdy eye and a fearless spirit. "Maybe she wanted to tell the truth, that theyd stolen the gold from the crash site. Maybe he didnt want her to.

"Who, Liam? Do you know who?

He looked down at the sheet of paper, and traced over the outline of the box marked swain. swain.

"Yes, he said.

EIGHTEEN.

"I love younger men, Jo said, bouncing into Wys house an hour later. "Give your friend Mr. Wiley my compliments, and tell him I said so.

"First thing on my list, Liam said.

Jo peered at Wy. "You look like youve been up all night.

"So do you, Wy said, and shoved a cup of coffee at her and another one at Liam.

Jo perched on the stool next to Liams. "Your father is a piece of work, she told him.

"Tell me something I dont know, he said before he thought, and then scowled away any lingering trace of willingness to discuss his father with the press, or with anyone, for that mattter.

Jo sipped her coffee, looking at him over the rim of her mug. "He came here planning on retrieving that C-47.

Liam sent Wy a warning glance, and shrugged. "So? Like he said, the air force brings back its own. Nothing new or wrong in that. He kept his inevitable reflections to himself.

"This wasnt an ordinary crash, Jo said. "I just got off the phone with a friend in D.C. This wasnt an ordinary crew on board this flight, either.

"What do you mean?

"The copilots name was Aloysius March.

Liam and Wy exchanged glances. "That name supposed to mean something to us?

"Aloysius March was Walter Marchs father.

"And Walter March is...?

Jo huffed out an impatient sigh. "How the h.e.l.l am I supposed to make a living if my own friends wont read my own paper? Snit over, she smiled, and it was a low-down, mean, dirty, nasty little snake of a smile. "Gen. Walter March is the nominee for chief of staff for the U.S. Air Force.

They absorbed that in startled silence. "So Dads going after his bosss dads body, Liam said. "Sucking up to the n n th degree, one more step up on the career ladder, but so what? th degree, one more step up on the career ladder, but so what?

"Hes using air force funds to do it.

"Im shockedshockedto hear of misappropriation of funds going on in the U.S. armed forces, Liam said, very dry.

Wy agreed. "I dont see the big scandal here. Like he said, hes going after three of their own. I dont think thats a bad thing, frankly. I think its kind of, I dont know, right. Were still looking for the bodies of American servicemen in Vietnam. We should be. How is this any different, other than being a different war?

Jo added half-and-half to her coffee. "I dont think recovering the bodies of the honored dead is what this is about, Wy.

"Why not? Why does it have to be any more complicated than that? Honest to G.o.d, Jo, you see more conspiracies than John Birch.

"Maybe youre right, Wy, maybe Ive been in the newspaper game too long, I cant see the simple truth when its staring me in the face. But I dont think so. Not this time, anyway.

"Why not?

"Because I asked my friend to pull the service records of the three crew members.

"And?

"And he couldnt. Theyre listed as cla.s.sified.

Moses side of the bed was empty when Bill woke up. She found him down at the bar when she got there, back in the office growling at the computer. "If this keeps up, Im going to hire you to keep the books, she told him.

"Id rather spend the rest of my life listening to Puff Daddy, he said. "Look at this.

She came around the desk to look over his shoulder. "Oh, man. Are you back at that?

"I think its important.

"Think, or is something telling you so?

He leaned back. "Im telling you, babe, theres nothing going on here except my nose is itching.

"I can fix that, she said.

He dodged her hand. "Wheres the coin?

"I gave it to Liam.

"d.a.m.n it. Id like to get another look at it.

It was an hour before opening and she had time to humor him. "Tell me why you think its important.

He decided to give her a little history. "The U.S. didnt even make twenty-dollar gold pieces until the California gold rush. Until then, 1849, the U.S. minted only one-dollar, two-fifty, five-dollar and ten-dollar gold coins.

"Two-fifty?