And he’d recommend that Mako’s trust cover the expense. Not that he’d mention that to Glenda. He and Caz wanted Bull to remain as the front man for the trust. It helped that very few people had ever met Mako or knew about his kids.

Although Glenda’s scowl had disappeared, a line appeared between her eyes. “Do you think the vandalism will keep happening?”

Optimism gone, he eyed the graffiti. “So it seems. However, I plan to install some security cameras.” Gabe motioned toward the streetlight outside Dante’s store. “We’ll cover high-target areas, including your store. No one will be monitoring real-time, but we should be able to identify the culprit.”

“That’s very reassuring. Thank you, Gabe.”

After a disconcerted moment, he headed back to the patrol car. No civilian in a city would call him by his first name. But he rather liked Glenda’s informality.

A shame he was so unfamiliar with small towns. Growing up, they hadn’t been part of town life. Mako’d taken them into Seward only a few times a year for groceries, the post office, or home schooling checkups.

As he started to unlock the patrol car, a shout drew his attention.

Turning, he huffed a laugh.

A moose was sauntering down Grebe Avenue. After crossing Main, it stopped to nibble on a young budding tree.

Only in Alaska...

Outside the coffee shop, three tourists bounced up and down with excitement. “A moose! Right in town!”

A couple of old-timers heading into the grocery paused, probably in hopes of a bloody human-versus-moose battle.

Attracted by the commotion, more people exited the coffee shop—followed by Baumer.

The officer noticed Gabe and loped across the street, detouring widely around the moose. He skidded to a stop and stared at the patrol car. “Lookee there. Is that ours?”

“It is. Whoever’s on duty gets the vehicle, otherwise it’ll be in the parking lot in case one of us gets called in. Your keys are on your desk.”

After opening the cargo door, Gabe grabbed the shotgun and loaded it with beanbag ammo.

Baumer’s eyes narrowed. “You look like you know what you’re doing.”

Jesus, the officer acted like Gabe’d never seen a moose before, let alone dealt with one. Then again, Baumer might not know more than Gabe had served in the LAPD as a lieutenant.

“Oh-oh,” Baumer muttered.

Gabe turned to see two young men and a woman headed straight for the moose. “Oh, hell.”

“Tourists.” Baumer snorted. “They’re dumber than rocks.”

“They’re from Outside. Probably think moose are as skittish as deer.” Gabe raised his voice. “You three. Get back to the sidewalk, or I’ll arrest you for jaywalking.”

“That’s a threat?” Baumer asked in disbelief.

“It is in the city.”

“Guess you’d know, wouldn’t you?” The comment fell…just…short of being insulting.