BETTER TO REST
LIAM CAMPBELL BOOK 04
Dana Stabenow
Contents
ONE
TWO
THREE
FOUR
FIVE
SIX
SEVEN
EIGHT
NINE
TEN
ELEVEN
TWELVE
THIRTEEN
FOURTEEN
FIFTEEN
SIXTEEN
SEVENTEEN
EIGHTEEN
NINETEEN
TWENTY
A DF Books NERDs Release
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are either the product of the authors imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events or locales is entirely coincidental.
BETTER TO REST
A New American Library Book / published by arrangement with the author
All rights reserved.
Copyright 2002 by Dana Stabenow
This book may not be reproduced in whole or part, by mimeograph or any other means, without permission. Making or distributing electronic copies of this book constitutes copyright infringement and could subject the infringer to criminal and civil liability.
For information address:
The Berkley Publishing Group, a division of Penguin Putnam Inc.,
375 Hudson Street, New York, New York 10014.
The Penguin Putnam Inc. World Wide Web site address is http://www.penguinputnam.com
ISBN: 0-7865-3626-8
A NEW AMERICAN LIBRARY BOOK
New American Library Books first published by The New American Library Publishing Group, a member of Penguin Putnam Inc.,
375 Hudson Street, New York, New York 10014.
NEW AMERICAN LIBRARY and the “ NAL design are trademarks belonging to Penguin Putnam Inc.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are either the product of the authors Imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events or locales is entirely coincidental.
The Penguin Putnam Inc. World Wide Web site address is
http://www.penguinputnam.com
For Susan B. English,
my first and still my favorite librarian
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
My thanks to the Literary Ladies of Anchorage, Alaska, for their (until now) unwitting loan of their name to the book club described herein, which is at best only a pale imitation of the magnificent original.
During World War II, 8,094 American-built aircraft were ferried up through Canada to Nome and Krasnoyarsk, many of them the ubiquitous and much-beloved Gooney Bird flown by Amerian crews. The story about the medevac comes from an account by Lt. Alta Mae Thompson, 805th Medical Air Evacuation Squadron, of a trip she made in September 1943 from Elmendorf to Dutch Harbor and back. They were heroes all.
Thanksgiving, 1941
Turkey and stuffing in the mess. It was awful. The cook runs a laundry in Memphis Tennessee in civilian life. He says he told them that when he signed up and doesnt know how he got assigned to be a cook. Typical army situation normal all fucked up.
It never gets this cold in Birmingham. There arnt any hangars so the mechanics are working on the aircraft right out in the snow. There arent any quarters either just tents and theyve got these heaters like big bunsen burners that keep catching the tents on fire. Ive only been here two weeks and in that time three tents have burnt down. A guy on one of the other crews got burnt pretty bad and everybodys scared of the tents and the heaters but theres nowheres else to go. Were all glad to get in the air. Its cold in the cockpit of a Gooney Bird but it aint as cold as it is on the ground.
I got a letter from Helen. Shes pregnant. We were so careful I dont know what happened. I dont know what Im going to do my pay isnt enough to pay for a kid. I could get promoted pretty soon though if Roepke doesnt get us kilt first. That would mean more pay not much but some. Ive got to figure out a way to get more money home. I joined up so I could provide for us and they send me to Alaska. I still cant believe it.
I better hide this log I dont want anybody else reading it. But I have to tell someone what Im thinking even if its only my own self and I cant write the truth to Helen because of the censers. Ill keep it in my flightsuit. I never take it off its too cold.
ONE
“Im a vampire.
“Of course you are, Diana Prince said.
“I suck blood.
“Of course you do.
The young woman sitting on the other side of Diana Princes desk was thin to the point of emaciation, with sharp cheekbones emphasized by fine, black, almost certainly dyed hair sleeked into a severe knot at the back of her head. Her eyebrows, eyelids and lips were painted black, and she wore a high-necked, long-sleeved, ankle-length dress of some dense fabric that seemed to suck up all the available light, which, considering that the ceiling of the post was wall-to-wall fluorescent tubing, was quite a trick. Maybe she really was a vampire.
Then again, Diana was well into overtime, after a day of duty that had had its moments, highlighted by the disarming of an enraged father bent on avenging the defloration of his seventeen-year-old daughter by her fisherman boyfriend, who was a little less than six months older than she was. It was also the last day of what had proven to be a labor-intensive week. Maybe it was just that she was tired, and about to fall face-forward into the now cold bean burrito sitting on her desk.
“Officer Prince, the vampire said, leaning forward in her chair, every line of her gaunt body taut with earnest sincerity, “I dont want to hurt anyone else. So if you will... She proffered the items in her lap in mute appeal.
Diana eyed what looked like a leathercrafters rubber mallet and a wooden stake that appeared to have been carved from the limb of a very dead spruce, and gave an inward sigh.
From what she could hear, her boss was doing a lot better than she was, and he looked like he was in love.
“So there I was, arms around four bags full of groceries, and coming out of the store I see this guy breaking into my car.
“And that was when you hit him with the jar of tomatoes, Alaska state trooper Sgt. Liam Campbell said, his gaze rapt.
“Sun-dried tomatoes, the woman sitting next to his desk said. She uncrossed and crossed her legs, rearranged the skirt of her blue-flowered housedress, fussed with a short, smooth cap of still-black hair, and smiled at Liam. “And no, or at least not then. I was going to hit him with the two-pound loaf of Tillamook sharp, but it just didnt seem hard enough to stop him. He is a pretty big guy.
They both turned to look at the six feet, five inches and two hundred twenty pounds of Guamanian male, by way of Chicago and Anchorage, handcuffed to the chair on the opposite side of the desk. He was bent over, his free hand cupping the left side of his face. His left eye was swollen shut with the beginnings of what looked to become a shiner of truly fabulous hue. The left shoulder of his blue T-shirt was stained a dark brown. He pulled his hand away from his face and looked at his bloody palm. “Fuck, man, how come you aint arresting her? How come she aint in the cuffs? She assaulted me! Im wounded here, man! Im bleeding!
Liam opened a drawer and handed him a Washn Dri. “Here, Harvey, see if you cant clean yourself up a little. You look disgusting. He turned back to Mrs. Lydia Tompkins, a seventy-four-year-old housewife, mother of four, grandmother of two, who topped out at four-foot-eight and couldnt have weighed a hundred pounds wringing wet with six-pound lead weights strapped to each ankle. “S
o, he said, radiating a quiet joy, “instead of hitting him with the cheese, you hit him with the tomatoesexcuse me, the sun-dried tomatoes.
“Well, yes, said Mrs. Tompkins, “but not yet. I was going to hit him with the artichoke hearts, but its an awfully big jardid you want to see?
“Absolutely, Liam said.
“Oh, fuck me, man, do I have to sit here and listen to this?
“Shut up, Harvey, Liam said.
Harvey shut up. He was the bouncer at the Bay View Inn and he and Liam had already met professionally.
Mrs. Tompkins dove headfirst into one of the four plastic shopping bags clustered at her feet. She upset her purse on the way down and a couple of coins rolled out. She pounced on them, holding them up to the light and squinting at them. She frowned. “No good, she said, and caught Liams eye. “Except to spend.
She dove back into the shopping bag and emerged flushed and triumphant, jar of artichokes in hand. It was a big jar, Liam noted with respect, forty-eight ounces, and always assuming it hit its target, would have put a hell of a dent in Harveys head. Funny how Harvey didnt look grateful for the reprieve.
“It was too big, I thought, Mrs. Tompkins said with the air of a woman who had right on her side and who knew it. “I mean, I didnt want to kill him; I just wanted to protect my property.
“Of course.
“There he was, breaking into my car, and that cars my property.
“Certainly.
“And I really didnt know how else to stop him.
“Perfectly understandable, Liam said. “So that was when you hit him with the sun-dried tomatoes.
“Yes, said Mrs. Tompkins, and fluttered her eyelashes. She was as taken with Liam as he was with her. “I was going to use the olive oil, but it was a plastic bottle. I figured itd just bounce off, and then hed probably hit me.
“Oh, man! Harvey said, unable to resist. “You see how shes dissing me, man! Did I lift a finger to hurt this woman? Did I? He appealed to the room at large. There was only Diana Prince and the vampire at the other desk, so the appeal failed. “No! Alls Im doing is going to the store to buy some smokes and this... this feminazi comes along and brains me with a jar of love apples! I want a lawyer!
“So, Liam said, entering a note in the case file, “ that was when you hit him with the sun-dried tomatoes.
The jar in question was smaller than the jar of artichokes but larger than the loaf of Tillamook, all three lined up on Liams desk. Liam liked the look of them. Mrs. Tompkins arsenal.
“Yes. Mrs. Tompkins sat back in her chair, eyes bright with militant satisfaction. She crossed her legs again. For legs with that many miles on them, they still looked pretty good. Liam allowed himself an admiring glance. Mrs. Tompkins smiled at him again.
The phone on Dianas desk rang. “Excuse me a minute, she said to Draculas bride, who gave the rubber mallet a dismissive wave, and raised the receiver. The steady voice of the dispatcher spoke without haste and to the point. “Okay, well be right there. She hung up and tried not to sound jubilant when she told Liam, “Sir, somebody tried to rip off the ATM machine down at Last Frontier.
“Again? Liam was sorry to end the interview but duty called. “Mrs. Tompkins, weve got to go, but I want to say that its been a real pleasure. Well be in touch.
“Will I have to testify? Mrs. Tompkins looked eager to do her civic duty.
The fierce, diminutive woman glowed with family values and middle-class morality and the Boy Scout oath, for crissake, a woman who was every prosecuting attorneys dream and every defense lawyers nightmare. A slow smile spread across Liams face. He would love to have her sworn in in front of Bill Billington. It was with real regret that he said, “I doubt it. I have a feeling the public defender will recommend a guilty plea. But I will certainly keep you informed on the progress of the case.
“Thank you. Mrs. Tompkins fluttered her eyelashes at him, gathered up her bags of groceries and marched out of the post on her first-class legs. Liam thought there ought to be a trumpet playing somewhere in the background, or at the very least, a round of applause.
“Come on, Harvey, Liam said, “well drop you off at the cop shop on our way.
“Oh, man, you cant put me back there! What are the rest of the guys going to say! Knocked on my ass by a little old lady with a bag of groceries! Campbell, come on, man, have some heart! Then, when Liam uncuffed him from the chair and steered him toward the back door with a determined hand, he shouted, “I want to talk to my lawyer, goddamn it! Im constitutionally entitled to a phone call!
In the meantime, Draculas bride waited with the calm certainty of one who knew she had eternity at her disposal for someone to put an end to her reign of terror.
TWO
“Poor bastard.
“Yeah, I guess.
“Whaddya mean, you guess? He just lost his wife of fifty years a year ago. Hes allowed.
“Accent on the year ago. He was getting better there for a while; I dont know why he had to go off the deep end again. Bill used the bar towel to mop up the vomit around Eric Mollbergs head where it lay sleeping peacefully on the bar. “I oughta call Liam.
“Cut him some slack, woman. Hes been picked up on D-and-D twice already this month.
“Yeah, well. He sits on the city council, for crying out loud.
“Guys on the city council cant get blind drunk when their wives die on them? You wouldnt get blind drunk if I died?
Bill didnt have an answer for that, but the fact remained that Eric Mollberg had gone from city father to public nuisance in a downward spiral that had been dizzying to watch. Still, it was something else they could fight about, not that they had lacked for bones of contention to growl over in the past month. The events at Old Man Creek had taken a toll on both of them, Bill because Moses had been shot and Moses because he had lived. Amelia Gearhart had died. Young, wounded Amelia, scarred by neglectful parents, abused by her husband. Moses had been on a fair way to rescuing her, to breaking the cycle of abuse and setting her feet however shakily on the path to a different life, and then she was dead, shot to death by the same man who had tried to kill him, just when she had begun to learn how to live. Bill and Moses had been snapping and snarling at each other ever since they got back.
As testified to by Evan Gray, one of Bills regular customers currently seated three stools down. He was also Newenhams main connection for dope. If you rolled your own, you went to the Moccasin Man (so called because he wore beaded buckskin from head to toe) for the best grade of Thunderfoot from Wasilla or Kona Gold from Hawaii. “Gets kind of tiresome, cleaning puke off the bar, he said. Evan was also a serious rounder, and he smiled at Bill Billington, happy to give her aid and comfort in her argument with Moses.
Moses Alakuyak, certified Alaskan old fart, only smiled, albeit his nastiest, dirtiest, most spawn-of-Satan smile. “Playing out of your league, sonny. Shed eat you alive.
Bills spine stiffened and she glared at Moses. Never mind that theyd been lovers from the night of the day they had met. When he got proprietary she got her back up.
And even when he didnt. “I beg your pardon? she said, her tone frosty.
“You can make your apology horizontally, Moses said. “Later.
The other patrons sitting at the bar roared their approval, including the women.
Bill slapped the bar towel down. “Thats it, Alakuyak. Out. Out!
He repeated his evil grin, only it was a lot more personal this time. He didnt leave, either, instead swaggering over to the jukebox. Moments later, Jimmy Buffett was singing about a smart woman in a real short skirt. Bill, her eagles mane of white hair considerably ruffled, ignored him, and called Liam to come pry Eric Mollberg off her bar.
There was no answer. She left a message that should have melted down the voice-mail circuitry and slammed the phone into its cradle.
“Bad day?
She looked up to see Wyanet Chouinard regarding her with a sympathetic eye. “Bad month, she said, casting a sidelong look at Moses, now re
galing a tableful of other old farts with some yarn about a duel to the death with a king salmon the size of Moby Dick.
Wy followed her gaze. “I hate men, she said in agreement.
“Liam?
“And Tim.
“Whats wrong with Tim?
Wy sat on a stool. “Nothing caning wouldnt cure.
Bill, startled out of her irritation, laughed. “Ship him off to Singapore, then. She pulled Wy an Alaskan Amber and set it on the bar in front of the pilot.
Wy took a long pull and said, “I cant do that. Hed probably start a war, and then Id have the State Department all over my ass.
They laughed together this time. “But seriously, folks, Bill said. “Whats wrong with Tim? Usual teenage stuff?
“That, too.
“What else?
“Im letting his mom see him. He hates her. And he hates me for making him see her. Wy took another long, soothing draft of beer, and regarded the mug with a weary kind of satisfaction. “The great thing about winter is that daylight decreases by five minutes and forty-four seconds a day and I can drink earlier every time I come in here.
“Yeah, youre such a heavy drinker, Chouinard.
“Sometimes I wish I were.
Bill looked at Moses over her head. “No, you dont.
Wy sighed. “No, I dont.
“How is Natalie behaving?
“Shes still sober, Wy said. “Shes staying in town, renting a room from Tatiana Anayuk. Got herself a job bagging groceries at Eagle.
“Shes living with Tasha?
“Yeah, I know, the oldest established permanent floating party in Newenham. But theyre cousins, and Natalies pretty much broke. And like I said, shes still sober.
“She must go straight into her room and lock the door. Bill made Moccasin Man another margarita and sent a pitcher of beer over to Moses table. The place was in its usual lull between the people-getting-off-work crowd and the people-coming-in-for-their-after-dinner-drink crowd, and she was able to return to Wy in a few moments. “Why did you do it?
“Do what? Wy said, startled out of her absorption with beer suds.
Stabenow, Dana - Liam Campbell 04 - Better To Rest Page 1
