“Davie would never harm a woman, even Evelyn,” she said.

“You know what she’s suffered in the past, right?”

Betty squeezed in front of her husband. “Everyone knows what she’s suffered. She’s made a big deal of it on the news. Talking about the man who attacked her, garnering sympathy. Those were the antics she used to put that damn prison in our backyard. Doesn’t seem to matter what she’s doing to the rest of us.” When she started to tear up, Davie pulled her back, out of the way.

“I’ve got this,” he murmured. “Go finish your show.”

“What’s happening, Dad?” Junior emerged from somewhere, probably his bedroom.

“Amarok is asking about Dr. Talbot.”

“He’s here? Why?”

“Wants to know if we’ve seen her.”

“Us? What the hell! One of those bastards finally got to her. That’s what happened. We all knew it was only a matter of time.”

Amarok didn’t hear any regret in that statement. “The question is … which bastard?”

“I’m only going to say this once, Amarok,” Davie broke in. “You’re jumping to the wrong conclusion.”

When Makita growled deep and low in his throat, taking exception to their tone and body language, Amarok barked a command for him to stay where he was and looked past Davie. “Junior? What do you have to say for yourself?”

Junior nudged his father aside. “I say the same thing as my dad. You’re going after the wrong people.”

“Now we’ve both told you,” Davie said, reasserting his authority. “I’m going to try to forget that you came over here to accuse us of a felony, because you’re probably out of your mind with grief. I know what that’s like, so I’m willing to cut you some slack—this time. But unless you have some kind of evidence, besides the fact that we hate the woman who cost us the loss of our oldest daughter, you’d better not ever come back here.”

Amarok rested one hand on the side of the door and leaned into it to make himself appear friendlier, more relaxed and less defensive and accusing, but he was carefully watching everyone he could see—and he knew Makita was doing the same. “Evelyn didn’t cause Sandy’s murder, Davie. She was about the only one fighting to keep Lyman Bishop behind bars. You seem to forget that.”

“And you seem to forget that Lyman Bishop would never have been in Alaska, if not for her.”

“Someone has to do the research. And it can’t always be someone else.” Amarok was using Evelyn’s line—one she’d used in various arguments with him—but after living with her for so long he’d become convinced that her work was important.

“Yeah, well, we’ll see if that’s any solace to you now that she’s gone.”

He started to close the door, but Amarok stopped its forward motion. “She’s six months pregnant, Davie.”

For the first time, he seemed to feel some empathy. “Then I’m sorry for the baby.”

There was nothing more he could say. Amarok let the door close, after which he stood on their front porch, staring at the ground, feeling more bereft and helpless than ever before in his life. Evelyn had been missing all day, and he didn’t have the slightest clue who’d taken her or why.